U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., released the following statement celebrating the news that Amtrak will restore daily service to the Empire Builder line across northern Montana beginning May 23: “This announcement is long overdue, and it’s great news for folks living on the Hi-Line who depend on daily Amtrak service to support our state’s rural economies and to stay connected to family and friends.

The Montana Highway Patrol’s Jeff Kent asked the Northern Plains Independent to share a public service announcement in anticipation of Memorial Day. Kent says to expect increased patrols in Roosevelt County as part of a nationwide “Click It or Ticket” mobilization. For many Montanans, Memorial Day weekend kicks off the start of summer travel, culminating with Labor Day weekend.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., stressed the importance for ranchers and consumers of having his two bills passed that address consolidation in the ag industry. The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act will increase transparency in the market and set regional mandatory minimum thresholds for negotiated cattle purchases. Meat Packing Special Investigator Act will put teeth back in

The 2022 paddlefishing season on the Yellowstone and Lower Missouri rivers started on Sunday, May 15. Anglers should be aware that the first two days of this season, Sunday and Monday, are not harvest days. Harvest days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays on the Yellowstone and Lower Missouri. On Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, anglers are limited to catch and release of paddlefish,

The 10-year fisheries management plan for Fort Peck Reservoir will expire in 2022, prompting Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to begin updating the plan for next 10 years. FWP is seeking anglers’ assistance with this plan, starting with an online survey. This will be the fourth 10-year management plan for the popular reservoir. Each of these plans have been developed with regional and statewide

The National Weather Service in Glasgow received reports of 2.10 inches of rainfall at Wolf Point’s L.M. Clayton Airport during the May 12-13 precipitation event across the area. Other area totals include 1.83 inches were recorded at the Poplar River, with 1.56 inches at Scobey by the afternoon on May 13 and a little over an inch at Lustre. Bainville saw 2.7 inches by 11 a.m., with 2.06

The Biden administration canceled major oil and gas lease sales pending before the Department of the Interior last week. The oil and gas leases consisted of over 1 million acres in Alaska’s Cook inlet and two additional lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. This move comes amid record-high gas prices, which continue to climb, and half-hearted attempts by the Biden administration to tackle inflation

sen noted that Welch’s behavior was unprofessional and in violation of her contract. Trustee Mark Zilkoski said the hearing sought the quest for truth. He was disappointed that a witness talked to the school district’s attorney but didn’t speak in person to the school board. “I need to hear it from the horse’s mouth,” he said. Hansen said that trustees had two different informations