Adjutant general to retire in June
The state’s adjutant general is part of the governor’s cabinet as the principal military adviser and serves as commanding officer of the Montana National Guard. The position’s responsibilities include natural disaster management, homeland security and veterans affairs.
Latest Government Reporting
State Supreme Court sides with media outlets in public meetings lawsuit
The state Supreme Court has upheld Montanans’ right to open government meetings and public disclosure concerning the governor’s appointment of replacement judges for state district court.
State Supreme Court Justice Beth Baker won’t run again
Montana Supreme Court Justice Beth Baker said that she won’t seek a third term in 2026, saying that 16 years on the bench is enough.
Reinstatement, back pay ordered for fired MHP trooper
Roughly a year after the Montana Highway Patrol terminated trooper and union president Alicia Bragg on grounds she provided the results of a workplace climate survey to the Montana Federation of Public Employees despite being ordered not to share it, an arbitrator ordered the agency to reinstate Bragg and issue backpay.
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Judges question treatment of Knudsen in disciplinary case
A panel of justices and substitute judges from state district courts met to hear arguments on what kind of disciplinary action they should take against Knudsen. Knudsen was found in violation of 41 rules of conduct by Montana’s Commission on Practice in October 2024, but only a fraction of those charges was forwarded to the…
Montana State Prison warden has returned from leave
The state Department of Corrections has confirmed to ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ that Montana State Prison Warden Jim Salmonsen, who was on leave from his position for 47 days starting Jan. 14, reassumed his role on March 3.
Montana Department of Labor and Industry mobilizes ‘rapid response event’ to address federal layoffs
The agency said it set up the event, scheduled for March 12, 2025, to “guide affected workers back into the workforce.†Impacted workers who attend the event can also receive assistance filing unemployment insurance claims.
Substitute judges selected to decide discipline measures for Montana attorney general
The Montana Supreme Court selected five district court judges to decide what discipline Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen will face for 41 findings of professional conduct violations stemming from a period in 2021 when the AG refused to comply with a Supreme Court order and disparaged justices.
Montana commerce department director leaves position
Paul Green said in an interview that he’s leaving the commerce department to take a job at Big Sky Economic Development, the regional economic development authority that serves the Billings area. That job, he said, will let him work closer to his family farm and ranch outside Hardin.
TikTok’s future in Montana returns to an uncertain status
Social media app TikTok faces an uncertain future in Montana after the weekend’s nationwide blackout. Gov. Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen both maintained their pro-ban position after Trump extended ByteDance’s window to sell TikTok.
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MORE GOVERNMENT REPORTING
Montana eyes $30M revamp of mental health, developmental disability facilities
Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration is looking into moving a facility for people with developmental disabilities, beefing up renovations at the Montana State Hospital and creating a Helena unit of that psychiatric hospital.
Legislative records that shine a light on bill drafting process public again, judge orders
Back-channel communications between Montana lawmakers, lobbyists and stakeholders when drafting bills are once again open to the public following a court order.
Montana State Prison warden on leave
Warden Jim Salmonsen’s leave started Jan. 14 and Associate Warden Scott McNeil is acting as warden. The leave comes as the governor’s administration is asking for $150 million to expand the Deer Lodge facility.
Fish and Wildlife Commission sued over open-meeting law, black bear quotas
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission was sued for its actions in a December meeting, where wildlife and conservation group members say they didn’t follow open meeting laws.
Sex-segregated bathroom bill clears key House vote
House lawmakers in the Montana Legislature approved a bill in a preliminary vote Wednesday that requires bathroom and sleeping-area use based on a person’s chromosomes and reproductive biology.
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