Kathleen Shannon
@kathleenshannon.bsky.social
journalist, radio producer with the Public News Service. University of Montana j-school grad.
Following last year's historic drought in Montana and hot temps early this spring, the Blackfoot River is running at roughly 25% of normal levels. Water rights have shifted some this year but experts said management will continue to be community-driven. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-07-07/w...
MT’s dry conditions test updated Blackfoot River drought plan
Following last year's historic drought in Montana and hot temperatures early this spring, the Blackfoot River is running at roughly 25% of normal water levels. Water rights have shifted some this yea...
www.publicnewsservice.org
July 7, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Following last year's historic drought in Montana and hot temps early this spring, the Blackfoot River is running at roughly 25% of normal levels. Water rights have shifted some this year but experts said management will continue to be community-driven. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-07-07/w...
After the DOGE cut AmeriCorps funding earlier this year, a federal judge last week granted a temporary halt to the cuts on behalf of a group of states that filed a lawsuit against the move. Montana is not on the list. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-06-10/b...
Judge restores AmeriCorps funding in 24 states but not Montana
After the Department of Government Efficiency cut AmeriCorps funding earlier this year, a federal judge last week granted a temporary halt to the cuts on behalf of a group of states that filed a lawsu...
www.publicnewsservice.org
June 10, 2025 at 5:32 PM
After the DOGE cut AmeriCorps funding earlier this year, a federal judge last week granted a temporary halt to the cuts on behalf of a group of states that filed a lawsuit against the move. Montana is not on the list. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-06-10/b...
A new University of Wyoming survey found 39% of state residents think climate change is caused by humans and 47% think it is not. Causes aside, more than 80% of respondents said their communities should plan for shifting water resources. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-05-27/c...
Survey: 81% of Wyomingites think state should plan for water supply shifts
Wyomingites are split on what is causing climate change, but 86% of residents in the state agree it is happening, according to a new survey. Kristen Landreville, a researcher at the University of Wyo...
www.publicnewsservice.org
May 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
A new University of Wyoming survey found 39% of state residents think climate change is caused by humans and 47% think it is not. Causes aside, more than 80% of respondents said their communities should plan for shifting water resources. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-05-27/c...
Rep. Ryan Zinke and others launched the bipartisan Congressional Public Lands Caucus, as the House Committee on Natural Resources passed a Republican budget package including an amendment to authorize the sale of federal public lands in Nevada and Utah. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-05-12/p...
Public land sales voted down in MT Statehouse, added to federal budget bill
Montana lawmakers this session voted down a bill supporting the transfer of federal public lands to states but a similar conversation is growing on the national stage. Last year, Utah sued the United...
www.publicnewsservice.org
May 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Rep. Ryan Zinke and others launched the bipartisan Congressional Public Lands Caucus, as the House Committee on Natural Resources passed a Republican budget package including an amendment to authorize the sale of federal public lands in Nevada and Utah. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-05-12/p...
Protections for Indigenous rock art in Wyoming are in limbo after state lawmakers and the Trump administration took potentially conflicting actions related to them. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-05-07/n...
Actions by Wyoming, feds could have opposing effects on Indigenous rock art
Protections for Indigenous rock art in Wyoming are in limbo after state lawmakers and the Trump administration took potentially conflicting actions related to them. Senate File 91, which handily pass...
www.publicnewsservice.org
May 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Protections for Indigenous rock art in Wyoming are in limbo after state lawmakers and the Trump administration took potentially conflicting actions related to them. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-05-07/n...
A new report shows Montana receives a larger share of federal funding than the national average. Adam Jespersen with @mtnonprofit.bsky.social warned "even microreductions would have dramatic impacts." www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-04-22/e...
Federal funding cuts could hit Montana harder than other states, says report
A new report showed Montana receives a larger share of federal funding than the national average and the effects of continued cuts could be "dramatic." For every dollar Montana contributes ...
www.publicnewsservice.org
April 22, 2025 at 11:45 PM
A new report shows Montana receives a larger share of federal funding than the national average. Adam Jespersen with @mtnonprofit.bsky.social warned "even microreductions would have dramatic impacts." www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-04-22/e...
84% of wildland firefighters are men. Women's training bootcamps have helped diversify the workforce. But 14 scheduled for this year have been canceled because of federal DEI rollbacks. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-03-26/w...
Women’s wildland firefighting boot camps axed by new DEI policies
Wildland firefighting is a tough job and the industry has long struggled with worker retention. Training boot camps have helped bring new firefighters, especially women, into the fold in recent years,...
www.publicnewsservice.org
March 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
84% of wildland firefighters are men. Women's training bootcamps have helped diversify the workforce. But 14 scheduled for this year have been canceled because of federal DEI rollbacks. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-03-26/w...
With DOGE cuts to @noaa.gov expected, David Dickson @coveringclimatenow.org says: "To argue against NOAA not being useful because we have private companies offering weather apps would be to argue against farmers because we have grocery stores." www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-03-18/e...
Experts say cuts to NOAA could affect Montana fire, weather warnings
One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Scientists said it will threaten Americans' safety, especially in states with extreme weather events, including Montana. NOAA employees are bracing for expected staffing cuts of up to 20%, or more than 1,000 jobs. ...
www.publicnewsservice.org
March 18, 2025 at 4:44 PM
With DOGE cuts to @noaa.gov expected, David Dickson @coveringclimatenow.org says: "To argue against NOAA not being useful because we have private companies offering weather apps would be to argue against farmers because we have grocery stores." www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-03-18/e...
1,000 U.S. political scientists signed a statement on how they feel Trump's actions are threatening democracy. One from Montana, MSU Professor Sara Rushing, says that "while cutting expenses may be a good business strategy, democracy is not a business." www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-03-10/c...
'Democracy is not a business,' warns MT political scientist
Nearly 1,000 political scientists from across the U.S., including Montana, have signed a statement expressing how they feel the Trump administration's actions are threatening American democracy. The...
www.publicnewsservice.org
March 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
1,000 U.S. political scientists signed a statement on how they feel Trump's actions are threatening democracy. One from Montana, MSU Professor Sara Rushing, says that "while cutting expenses may be a good business strategy, democracy is not a business." www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-03-10/c...
In its 15th year of polling on Conservation in the West, @coloradocollege.bsky.social's State of the Rockies Project this year has found support for conservation by some of the highest margins to date, including among self-identified #MAGA Republicans. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-02-25/p...
Poll: 2 of 3 Republicans oppose funding cuts to federal land management
In its 15th annual year of polling on Conservation in the West, the State of the Rockies Project this year has found support for conservation by some of the highest margins to date and notably across ...
www.publicnewsservice.org
February 25, 2025 at 5:33 PM
In its 15th year of polling on Conservation in the West, @coloradocollege.bsky.social's State of the Rockies Project this year has found support for conservation by some of the highest margins to date, including among self-identified #MAGA Republicans. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-02-25/p...
In November, some states voted on both abortion rights and their state's supreme court justices. And in some of those some, there are legal tensions. Here's a radio version of a @kffhealthnews.org story by @realbrambo.bsky.social and Katheryn Houghton. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-02-19/r...
Montana voters backed abortion rights but state judges have final say
By Bram Sable-Smith and Katheryn Houghton for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Big Sky Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Collaboration In Novem...
www.publicnewsservice.org
February 19, 2025 at 8:53 PM
In November, some states voted on both abortion rights and their state's supreme court justices. And in some of those some, there are legal tensions. Here's a radio version of a @kffhealthnews.org story by @realbrambo.bsky.social and Katheryn Houghton. www.publicnewsservice.org/2025-02-19/r...
Reposted by Kathleen Shannon
The nation's highest court has declined to hear a case about Montana voting laws which would have disproportionately affected Native people.
U.S. Supreme Court declines Montana voting rights case
The nation's highest court has declined to hear a case about Montana voting laws which would have disproportionately affected Native people. Last year, Montana's Supreme Court decided two laws passed...
publicnewsservice.org
January 28, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The nation's highest court has declined to hear a case about Montana voting laws which would have disproportionately affected Native people.