Montana Morning Headlines: Thursday, October 30, 2025

WESTERN MONTANA — Here's a look at Western Montana's top news stories for Thursday. Missoula Developer and former Montana Grizzlies Football Player Cole Bergquist announced plans on Wednesday for Higgins Waterfront, a mixed-use development at the...

Lowenthal, a well-known fur boutique in Virginia Beach, set to close after 70 years in business

For the past 70 years, specialty fur shop Lowenthal Outerwear Boutique has been a staple in Hampton Roads. Lowenthal’s has carried a variety of designer furs — from mink to fox, sable to chinchilla and beaver to shearling — and outfitted countless...

Nonprofit does what US government can't: Keeps Saguaro National Park open

The federal government has been shut down all month, but you can hardly tell the difference on the west side of Saguaro National Park. At the Red Hills Visitor Center off Kinney Road in the Tucson Mountains, you can browse the exhibits, watch the...

“Buddy” Westphal named as a 2026 inductee in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame

The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame recently announced their crop of 2026 inductees into the organization. Their mission is to” to honor our cowboy way of life, American Indian cultures, and collective Montana Western heritage.” They picked a good...

Town Pump grants $2 million to combat Montana hunger

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation is providing $2 million in grants this fall to combat hunger in Montana, including local Ronan and Polson food banks. The Foundation is matching $1.2 million to help raise $4 million during its annual Help Those...

Montana congressional delegation responds to SNAP funding running out

With SNAP running out of money Nov. 1, almost 42 million Americans will be impacted. NBC Montana reached out to the Montana congressional delegation to a response to the growing concern. We offered an on-camera interview, which nobody took up. We...

Virginia, Kansas, and Kentucky: The Challenge of Holding an Open Governorship in a Hostile State

Dear Readers: Today we’re featuring a piece from Ryan Jakubowski, who interned with the Crystal Ball over the summer and is a high school senior in Stamford, Connecticut. Ryan also is an election forecasting online content creator who produces...

Montana groups urge Governor Gianforte to support SNAP benefits

MONTANA - The Montana Food Bank Network, along with 50 other organizations, has reached out to Governor Greg Gianforte, urging him to use state funds to support SNAP recipients in Montana. In a letter to the governor, these organizations requested...

The Montana Plan To Kill Citizens United

A group of Montana activists is pushing a ballot initiative attacking Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that granted corporations the right to spend unlimited money in politics. Montana’s Republican Attorney General attempted to...

Montana Renewables Launches New Sustainable Aviation Fuel

GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Montana Renewables, in collaboration with Calumet Montana Refining, has commissioned onsite blending and shipping facilities to offer a nominal 50/50 blend of renewable and fossil jet fuel certified under ASTM D7566 and ASTM...

Native Americans Feed the People During the Government Shutdown

The Blackfeet Nation in Montana is preparing to feed the people during the government shutdown by distributing buffalo meat and organizing an elk hunt. In Rapid City, South Dakota, Lakota are organizing mutual aid. In North Dakota, the Turtle...

Montana GOP Leaders Target Teachers’ Union, Vow Legislative Action Aimed at ‘Woke’ Annual Conference

Montana’s superintendent of public instruction and Senate president took joint aim at the Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE) — the state’s largest union which represents public schoolteachers — on Monday, announcing in a press release...

Nurses, doctor sue Montana recovery program in class-action lawsuit

Stay up-to-date on the latest breaking news. Get MTFP's in-depth, independent reporting sent directly to your inbox. A group of Montana doctors and nurses is suing the national company that runs a rigorous, often mandatory monitoring program for...

Montana Host Runs Into Vice President Vance at Capitol

Schumer feels the heat over the Democrats shutdown, while Montana Senator Steve Daines says it was all beef at the GOP luncheon. I tell you what...sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. Tuesday afternoon, AFP-Montana's Jesse Ramos and I...

Montana CSI appoints new lead financial analyst

Dakota Terry (pictured) has been appointed to the position of lead financial analyst - captive insurance regulation, at the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. She is based in Helena, Montana. Terry was previously a financial...

Montana Stockgrowers Association Responds to President Trump's Comments on Beef Prices

HELENA, Mont. (October 20, 2025) - The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is deeply concerned by recent comments from the Trump Administration to intervene in domestic beef prices and to expand beef imports from Argentina. MSGA strongly...

Montana Millionaire tickets go on sale soon

GREAT FALLS — The Montana Lottery will add 120,000 more tickets and a fifth million-dollar prize for the 2025 Montana Millionaire. This year, the lottery will sell 620,000 tickets, offer five $1 million grand prizes (up from four last year),...

Government shutdown latest challenge for Glacier NP, surrounding communities

When it comes to tourism in northwest Montana, there’s no greater draw than Glacier National Park. So, the ongoing government shutdown, even though it’s occurring long after the peak of the summer tourist season, is having a “ripple effect” on the...

Montana Millionaire tickets on sale soon

GREAT FALLS — The Montana Lottery will add 120,000 more tickets and a fifth million-dollar prize for the 2025 Montana Millionaire. This year, the lottery will sell 620,000 tickets, offer five $1 million grand prizes (up from four last year),...

Montana Ag Network: New flour mill promotes food sovereignty on Rocky Boy's Reservation

BOX ELDER — A project nearly a decade in the making is providing food sovereignty on the Rocky Boy's Reservation through a new flour mill that processes locally grown Kamut wheat. Tribal and agricultural leaders recently celebrated the...