Montana
The Top 10 Daily Montanan stories for 2024 • Daily Montanan
We’re not certain if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but the staff at the Daily Montanan had a lot of discussion about what stories belong on the Top 10 story list, and which ones didn’t make the cut.
Translation: It was a very newsy year, and Montana was part of many larger stories, from its unparalleled and turbulent election cycle that began even before the calendar turned to “2024” to the effects of climate change and the Held trial, which was part of 2023, and played a very big role recently.
Every year, news organizations compile these lists, and every year, people point out something they didn’t like; or something we missed; or argued about our rankings. That is part of what it means to read and consume news: Asking the questions about what all of this means, and how it will affect your household. Regardless of what you think about our list and our rankings, we’re glad you’re here.
And now, in the waning moments of 2024, are the Daily Montanan’s Top 10 stories as chosen by the staff:
Montana will have a new Senator
But Sheehy was not without problems on the campaign trail. Not only did the race bring in as much as $350 million to the state of just 1.2 million people, it also brought intense media scrutiny of Sheehy’s background, including many questions that have never been completely answered. Those rumors were far-ranging and spotlighted in national media, far beyond the state’s borders. Those included questions of a bullet wound in Glacier National Park, a financially distressed company, more questions about military training in Glacier, and allegations of plagiarism in a book meant to introduce himself as a pilot, soldier and firefighter. Sheehy also ducked and dodged much of the media, speaking to carefully curated audiences. Leaked audio of some of those speeches included disparaging remarks about Native Americans and insulting comments about women.
2. Montana Supreme Court says ‘clean and healthful environment’ means what it says
a Helena District Court, grabbing headlines around the world as the first climate change trial of its kind. Following seven days of testimony from the youth and expert witnesses, Judge Kathy Seeley ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, saying they have a “fundamental right to a clean and healthful environment, which includes climate as part of the environmental life support system.”
3. Knudsen is found guilty on ethics charges, will be suspended
More than three years after two attorneys filed ethics grievances against Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen and his deputies alleging he committed misconduct while representing the Legislature in a fight with the Supreme Court and court administrator regarding subpoenaed judiciary emails, Knudsen faced a Commission on Practice panel during a two-day hearing in October to determine if he would face any discipline from the commission and Montana Supreme Court.
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel had charged Knudsen with multiple legal ethical violations in a 41-count complaint, while Knudsen’s attorneys told the commission panel that Knudsen had either made or agreed to sign off on statements from his deputies simply because he was rigorously defending his client, the Legislature.
But the panel sent down a recommendation that the Supreme Court suspend Knudsen from practicing law for 90 days because of his conduct in 2021 and 2022. Montana’s attorney general must be an attorney in good standing with the State Bar, and a suspension would in theory prohibit Knudsen from doing his job if the Supreme Court agrees that is the discipline that should be handed down.
Knudsen, who handily won re-election in November to another four years in office, is appealing the recommendation to the Supreme Court and has until the end of the day on Monday, Jan. 6 – also the first day of the 2025 legislative session – in order to file his objection to the recommendations.
4. Constitutional initiative that will enshrine abortion passes handily
Montanans voted 58% to 42% in November to pass Constitutional Initiative 128, which enshrines abortion protections in Montana’s Constitution and keeps a person’s medical decisions regarding abortions protected from government interference at least until a fetus is viable. Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, the consortium of organizations that ran the initiative, called the measure’s broadly supported passage a “consequential day” for Montana because the measure will add new language protecting abortion rights to the constitution in addition to the long-held state Supreme Court precedent from 1999 that said Montana’s right to privacy includes a right to abortion.
The measure was one of several run in different states during the general election, as groups sought to put abortion protections into state constitutions in the wake of the Dobbs U.S. Supreme Court decision that undid Roe v. Wade protections and put the question of abortion legality into the hands of each state government. Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights faced hurdles throughout the process of even getting the language finalized and out for petition, as Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen challenged the language and initiative process for the measure before the Montana Supreme Court allowed the measure to go out for signature gathering.
Despite opposition groups running an anti-128 campaign during the signature gathering phase, proponents ended up submitting a state record 117,000 signatures from all 56 counties, and after verification by the counties, the measure was certified for November’s ballot – one of three constitutional amendments Montanans voted on this year.
The measure is set to take effect July 1, 2025, but abortion providers and others working to help people obtain and pay for them said earlier this month they still have concerns that the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Greg Gianforte will try to undermine and get ahead of the measure taking effect by seeking to pass more laws to restrict abortion access and other reproductive medical care where possible.
5. Rosendale jumps in, out and away
other ideas as Rosendale’s time in Congress’ lower chamber had earned him a reputation of being an ultra-conservative firebrand who wasn’t afraid to characterize some Republican leaders, including minority leader Mitch McConnell, as part of a swamp and cabal. That led Daines to pick Sheehy, who ultimately received the endorsement of Trump.
6. St. Marys siphon disaster
7. Problems with Medicaid as rolls cut
This year saw the official end of a massive undertaking to review the eligibility of Montanans enrolled in Medicaid, but not the end of the problems related to redetermination, or “unwinding.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a public health emergency, and it generally prohibited states from cutting off most people from insurance through Medicaid.
On April 1, 2023, states could start terminating people again based on eligibility, and Montana released a final report on “Medicaid Unwind” this summer.
The report said the Department of Public Health and Human Services assessed eligibility for 280,180 individuals, and of those, 51% were renewed, 41% were disenrolled and 8% were still pending.
The health department said the number of people who remained enrolled in Medicaid wasn’t far off from the number of people it had projected.
However critics pointed out that 64% of people who lost coverage did so for procedural reasons, such as botched paperwork, and the American Academy of Pediatrics found Montana had the highest portion of children who lost coverage in the U.S. from April through December 2023, a 26.6% loss based on federal data.
Nursing homes saw delays in reimbursements related to both redetermination and new applications, and at one point, late payments totaled $8.8 million for 25 nursing facilities, according to the Montana Health Care Association.
Charlie Brereton, head of the health department, said redetermination revealed some cracks in the public assistance delivery system — ones his agency pledged to address.
8. Property taxes become one of the biggest issues in the state’s affordable housing crisis
The portion of property taxes coming from residential payers has increased from 51% in 2023 to 59% this year, and just last month, Montana lawmakers heard property taxes could jump again.
The sticker shock from a huge increase after the 2023 session led to legal fights and finger pointing in 2024.
At a meeting in November, the Department of Revenue told lawmakers that market values are expected to increase 21% for the 2025 reappraisal cycle, but payments could be offset by reducing the assessment rate.
A Republican-controlled Montana Legislature didn’t take that step in 2023, and homeowners faced a 21% median property tax increase.
Gianforte proposed rebates to help, although those $675 payments in 2024 and 2023 brought their own package of criticisms, including that renters were left out.
The governor, though, also formed a task force to figure out a solution to property taxes, and proposals are headed to the 2025 Montana Legislature.
In the meantime, at least one lawsuit that estimates residential property taxpayers have been overcharged more than $100 million is still pending.
9. GOP sweeps most state offices, but Dems break a supermajority
In November, Montana turned a new shade of red amid record voter turnout.
Voters ousted Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, meaning Montana has an all-GOP Congressional delegation. U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke will head back to the House, and incoming Rep. Troy Downing will join him. In the U.S. Senate, political newcomer and Sen.-elect Timothy Sheehy will join soon-to-be senior Sen. Steve Daines.
The five-member Montana Public Service Commission and all statewide elected offices remain all Republican, and Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte coasted to re-election to lead Montana for a second term.
In the legislature in 2023, Republicans strutted their supercontrol of the Montana Legislature, but redistricting cut into their margin this time around. In 2025, the GOP still will have majority control, but not a veto proof one.
10. MHP investigation shows massive problems with leadership, morale
A deep division between Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the Montana Highway Patrol division revealed itself this year.
A workplace climate survey showed troopers don’t have a lot of faith in Knudsen’s leadership, and financial reports show a high vacancy rate persists at the Highway Patrol.
The Attorney General’s Office tried, unsuccessfully, to keep the survey results under wraps.
Survey participants and top leaders who left the Highway Patrol under Knudsen said the division is in turmoil under Knudsen. They alleged the Attorney General’s Office micromanages the agency and improperly uses human resources.
At least a couple of related complaints are pending.
One filed by the Montana Federation of Public Employees alleged retaliation and wrongful termination of a trooper. Another, filed in district court by the former head of the Highway Patrol, also alleges wrongful termination and forced resignation.
The Attorney General’s Office has denied the allegations.
MISSOULA — Four out of five members of Montana’s Public Service Commission were in a federal courtroom in Missoula Thursday morning, as the PSC’s former president challenges the disciplinary action taken against him earlier this year. Now, newly released documents are shedding more light on to what led up to this point.
(Watch the video for a closer look at the case.)
New documents shed light Montana PSC dispute
Commissioner Brad Molnar has sued President Jeff Welborn, Vice President Jennifer Fielder and Commissioner Annie Bukacek – the three PSC members who voted in May to require him to work remotely, after an investigation into complaints about his workplace conduct. Molnar has claimed he is being unfairly punished for constitutionally protected speech, and he asked Senior U.S District Judge Donald Molloy to allow him to return to the PSC offices.
Matthew Monforton, Molnar’s attorney, told the judge that barring Molnar from the building was limiting his ability to do his job.
“He has not been officially kicked out of office, but his voice has clearly been diminished,” said Monforton.
But Natasha Jones, an attorney representing the other three commissioners, said the findings were about behavior, not just speech, and that the PSC’s action was a reasonable response.
“These are serious concerns about a pattern of conduct that has made employees quit,” she said.
Jonathon Ambarian
On Tuesday, Molloy ordered the release of redacted versions of two full investigative reports into Molnar’s conduct – more than 100 pages of documents. Monforton had moved for the full reports to be made public, and Molloy ruled attorneys for the other PSC members hadn’t shown a compelling reason to keep the documents under seal as long as the names of people involved in the investigation were obscured.
While the names remained redacted in the investigation reports, the attorneys for Welborn, Fielder and Bukacek also filed additional documents – including a public declaration from Bukacek and from former PSC executive director Alana Lake, providing information about their allegations against Molnar.
The two reports, from an outside investigator, cover Molnar’s alleged actions over two periods: the first from February to August 2025, and the second from August to October 2025. The investigation began after the first formal complaint, filed by Bukacek in May 2025 – though the reports say employees had been bringing up concerns about Molnar’s behavior informally for several months prior.
Bukacek’s complaint claimed Molnar had repeatedly made what she called “sexualized and demeaning comments.” The examples she cited included saying the PSC should replace “Taco Tuesdays” with “Topless Tuesdays,” reminiscing about watching girls in bikinis as a teenager, and commenting about the beauty of women in areas of China who didn’t get “old and wrinkly.”
In her declaration, Bukacek also claimed Molnar had “maliciously disseminated false information” about her and “engaged in behavior that was dismissive, derisive and otherwise abusive.”
“My primary concern now is not for my safety nor my feelings, but for the rest of the staff who may not have the temperament to speak up or may feel too intimidated to speak up given concerns over job security,” Bukacek said in her declaration.
MTN News
The investigators determined Molnar had violated the PSC’s code of conduct by making comments of a sexual nature, and that it appeared his behavior had continued for some time after he was warned about it. They also found he had behaved unprofessionally and in a belittling manner toward Bukacek, though they said Bukacek herself had at times used “language that could be considered inappropriate” in emails to staff or other commissioners. Bukacek told MTN she “readily self corrected” any behaviors that were brought to her attention.
The investigation also found a violation in connection with a complaint from a PSC staff member, who said he “felt bullied” by Molnar when the commissioner sent an email complaining about his team not being “people with competence.”
However, much of the first report and the entire second report was focused on conduct after the initial complaints, when Molnar was accused of retaliating against people who participated in the investigation. Lake said in her declaration that she saw “an immediate and significant change in his behavior toward staff involved in the process.” She claimed he said he would use an attorney and private investigator to go after people who filed complaints, and she accused him of publicly criticizing her in interviews and removing her job responsibilities because of her handling of the investigation.
Lake said Molnar’s actions led to “declining morale within the agency,” undermined staff members’ ability to do their jobs and damaged her reputation. She said that led her to resign as executive director.
“I believe no employee should be forced to choose between reporting misconduct and protecting their career, reputation, or personal well-being,” she said in her declaration.
Lake has since become Helena city manager.
Jonathon Ambarian
The report said there was evidence to show Molnar had retaliated, including by “making disparaging statements about investigation participants” including Lake, by sending an email warning he could file complaints of his own against people involved, and by taking other actions investigators said could dissuade employees from reporting behavior in the future.
Monforton said during Thursday’s hearing that the initial comments Bukacek complained about were jokes Molnar had admitted were inappropriate, that he regretted saying them, and that he hasn’t made any similar comments in about a year. But he argued the vast majority of the findings against Molnar were about retaliation – and that those were primarily based on speech that the other commissioners don’t have the right to interfere with.
Monforton said it’s unreasonable to punish Molnar for what he said in the July news conference where he announced he was under investigation, in interviews with the media or in commission meetings. He said Molnar’s conduct doesn’t rise to the level of actual retaliation.
“This is an elected official, engaging in speech in his forum,” Monforton said.
He said Molnar may have made harsh comments toward staff, but that he had the right to raise objections about the way the agency does business.
Jonathon Ambarian
Monforton also argued the retaliation claims no longer justify keeping Molnar out of the office, since Welborn, Fielder and Bukacek voted to remove him as president in October and he no longer has the authority he’s accused of misusing. He said there haven’t been further complaints about his behavior since that time.
“We’re not asking for the moon and stars, we’re asking for the status quo as it existed for the last seven months,” he said.
Jones said there is enough evidence to show Molnar would have been punished regardless of whether any protected speech was excluded.
“This is not about a couple of jokes,” she said.
Jones said Molnar made maliciously false statements about people like Lake, and that type of statement isn’t covered by free speech protections.
She also said Molnar’s exclusion from the PSC offices is temporary, and that the PSC will reconsider whether to let him return if he apologizes for his actions, accepts the agency’s code of conduct and undergoes training.
Molloy indicated he saw indications that there was “acrimony” on both sides of the situation, and said he was skeptical it would be resolved easily.
“It would be nice if instead of juvenile behavior, there was professional behavior,” he said.
However, the judge said there was an avenue for Molnar to pursue if he wanted to reach a resolution.
Molloy took no immediate action Thursday. He told the parties he would rule as quickly as he could.
Carrie Gilbertson has been executive director of Cancer Support Community Montana for just under two months, stepping into the role in April with more than 15 years of nonprofit experience and a lifetime of Montana roots.
The organization provides psychosocial and mental health support to anyone affected by cancer — not just those with a diagnosis, but also family members and others walking alongside them.
WATCH: Meet the new leader of Cancer Support Community Montana 🎗️
Cancer Support Community Montana names new executive director
“This mission of providing psycho-social supports and mental health supports for anyone impacted by cancer, not just that person who has the diagnosis, but also family members, anyone who is walking alongside someone as they experience that often scary diagnosis, that’s just something that’s important to me,” Gilbertson said.
Gilbertson’s role extends beyond the Bozeman office. Cancer Support Community Montana’s Missoula location is already up and running, and a Helena location is expected to be operating soon. Each presents its own set of challenges.
“Each hospital is different. They might have different resources. Their social workers might be connecting to things in a different way. So understanding what those hospitals need, what different participants need in each community, is going to be different just because the communities are different, resources are different,” Gilbertson said.
The Bozeman office has been operating for more than 20 years, providing a foundation that supports the organization’s broader statewide efforts.
“I think this is a crew that looks at what does this community need what do our participants need what are some of the changing landscapes in cancer care what things are the gaps that we see that we can maybe just jump right in and you know let’s see if we can provide that for people so that’s something I really love about this crew that I work with and just this mission that there is some flexibility in being able to adjust and adapt as we learn more,” Gilbertson said.
Those adaptations show up in unexpected ways. The organization converts its parking lot into a pickleball court every Friday morning.
“I didn’t know there was a pickleball court. I pulled in actually with my daughter pulled in and she was is that pickleball court and I was like oh, it kind of looks like it is so yeah that’s fun, every Friday morning we clear out the parking lot and put up the net and I haven’t played yet I’ve been watching just to kind of see how that game works but they take it pretty seriously,” Gilbertson said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 17, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 17 drawing
03-26-49-53-61, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 17 drawing
11-16-18-33-51, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 05
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 17 drawing
01-16-17-27, Bonus: 01
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from June 17 drawing
13-22-35-36-39
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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