AMES, Iowa, Aug. 2 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: As wildfires continue to rage in parts of the west, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fire Program has started to dispatch wildland firefighters to Montana and Texas. The fire program recently sent seven Iowa wildland firefighters to Montana to the Bowles Creek Fire. Seven wildland firefighters along with 13 others from Missouri are headed to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.   more

MISSOULA, Montana, Aug. 1 -- The University of Montana issued the following news release: Accelerate Montana announced a partnership today with Microsoft TechSpark to foster regional digital inclusion, job creation and technological innovation in the Treasure State. Accelerate Montana, the University of Montana's economic and workforce development partner, will use a new grant with Microsoft TechSpark to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all Montanans have equal access to digital resou  more

HELENA, Montana, Aug. 4 -- Gov. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: Amid low trout counts in the Jefferson Basin, Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday convened a roundtable discussion in Wise River with fishing guides, anglers, irrigators, ag producers, biologists, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Director Dustin Temple. "Montana's prized rivers and waterways are a part of what define our way of life and they support the livelihoods of thousands of Montanans,"   more

HELENA, Montana, Aug. 4 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release: At last week's Behavioral Health Commission meeting, established by HB 872, the Gianforte Administration announced that they would be spending up to $10 million dollars to hire an outside consultant to formulate a 'strategic plan,' before putting any funds towards improving the state's behavioral and mental health care system. The consultants' work is expected to take up to 12 months, and could delay dis  more

HELENA, Montana, Aug. 4 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release: New reporting from NBC News raised additional questions about the potential conflicts of interest Tim Sheehy is facing as he campaigns for U.S. Senate - while heading up a company that makes its millions off of federal contracts. Bridger Aerospace has "explicit rules about political contributions and activities," including that "employees are not permitted to engage in politics while on company time." Bu  more

HELENA, Montana, Aug. 4 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release: The Republican-controlled Montana Public Service Commission is set to approve a 9.1% rate hike for residential customers in Eastern Montana, after PSC staff made the recommendation at Monday's meeting, despite strong opposition from residents and customers. At a community meeting in Sidney, MT, the CEO of Prairie Community Hospital said that their monthly power bill had jumped from $831.89 to $2,368.14 b  more

BILLINGS, Montana, Aug. 1 -- Montana State University-Billings issued the following news: By Shiloh Skillen-Robison, MARCOM ops manager of University Communications & Marketing Montana State University Billings Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance, Alex Shafer, Ph.D., has been chosen as the recipient of the 2022-2023 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Faculty Mentor Award. Presented annually by the GNAC SAAC, the Faculty Mentor Award r  more

BOZEMAN, Montana, Aug. 3 (TNSres) -- Montana State University issued the following news release: As she looked ahead to starting her teaching career this fall in her home an hour's drive north of Billings, Savanna Wolff was also looking for opportunities to strengthen her skills in science and other STEM fields. So she jumped at the chance to work alongside educators in a summer research program at Montana State University. As one of nine elementary teachers participating in MSU's six-week Res  more

MISSOULA, Montana, Aug. 4 -- The University of Montana issued the following news release: The University of Montana Alumni Association has selected six recipients for this year's Distinguished Alumni Awards. Recipients of the award are individuals who have distinguished themselves in a particular field, bringing honor to the University, the state or the nation. The recipients are respected in their careers and communities. Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are selected by a committee of U  more