Montana is in many ways a land of two halves: a western Montana of snow-capped mountains and national forests joined in political unity with an eastern Montana of wide-open plains and flatland agriculture. It’s a time-honored divide: peaks versus plains, Missoula versus Miles City, Flathead versus Fort Peck lakes. But where exactly is the dividing line? As it turns out, there’s no clear

Montana voters’ generations- long aversion to a state sales tax is alive and well, according to a poll conducted by Montana Free Press and the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Despite support in recent years from business groups that argue the state’s tax structure should adapt to an increasingly tourism-focused economy, a majority of voters polled in late December and

The Montana Department of Agriculture, in partnership the Montana Food & Agriculture Development Network, is announcing the launch of the new Concept to Consumer Course. Concept to Consumer was created to outline and give direction to Montana business surrounding food industry requirements and regulations, and to create an awareness of business considerations and processing resources and

When residents or their families in Montana’s nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other long-term care settings need a voice, they may turn to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Ombudsmen are trained advocates dedicated to protecting residents’ rights, resolving problems, and improving quality of care across the state. In Montana, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a federally

Saying it was the “best policy around,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said a flat income tax rate was a goal of his heading into the 2027 Legislative session. Gianforte has cut state income taxes significantly since taking office in 2020 – the highest bracket taxpayers paid 6.9 percent in 2021. In 2027, after legislation passed during the 2025 session, that number will be 5.4 percent for the highest