Montana

Lawsuit challenging Montana PSC districts still moving forward

Published

2 years ago

July 8, 2024

Lawsuit challenging Montana PSC districts still moving forward

HELENA — For the second time in three years, a lawsuit is challenging the district lines used to elect the members of Montana’s Public Service Commission. The two sides in the case met Monday in a Helena courtroom, as a judge considers how a trial should be conducted.

The PSC has five members, each elected from a geographical district. They’re responsible for regulating public utilities, railroads and other industries in the state.

PSC districts have been at the center of legal disputes since 2021, when plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit, claiming they were invalid because their populations were too unequal. The district lines hadn’t been updated since 2003, and population shifts meant some districts had significantly more residents than others. The federal court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and drew its own map, used during the 2022 PSC elections.

In 2023, the Montana Legislature came up with its own plan. Senate Bill 109, which passed with support from majority Republicans, switched from drawing districts based on county lines to using the newly created state legislative districts. The new map also split the state’s largest cities, including Billings, Missoula, Bozeman and Great Falls, between two districts.

After the new map went into effect, a group of plaintiffs – including eight individuals and the organization Montana Conservation Voters – sued in state court, saying SB 109 was a partisan gerrymander intended to give Republicans control in all five districts. They argued the law denied other voters a real opportunity to influence the election results in their districts, and that the map was selected because of those effects, not in spite of it. Plaintiffs said the law was an unconstitutional violation of the rights of suffrage and equal protection.

Attorneys for the state, defending the law, said the map wasn’t an intentional gerrymander and that leaders had legitimate interests in bringing it forward. When introducing SB 109 on the Senate floor last year, sponsor Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, argued the use of legislative districts ensured the five districts’ populations would remain more equal, and that splitting larger communities would mean two commissioners looking out for their interests instead of one.

Monday’s hearing focused on whether the trial in this case should be before a jury. State attorneys asked for a jury, saying it was appropriate for them to decide factual questions like the intent behind the legislation.

“Even if the court said, ‘Okay, I’m not going to put that on to the jury, that would be for the judge,’ causation is clearly a fact issue, and whether there was other justification for it is clearly a fact issue,” said Thane Johnson, an assistant attorney general.

Plaintiffs said there’s no history of gerrymandering cases going before juries, and that the type of questions at issue here are more appropriate for a judge to decide.

“The court is able to instruct the jury on what crosses the line into unlawful discrimination,” said attorney Dimitrios Tsolakidis, referring to another type of case where he said a jury might make more sense. “There is no pattern here for instructing the jury on how much partisanship is permissible in a political gerrymandering case.”

Regardless of whether a jury is called or not, the trial is scheduled to start December 10.

Three seats on the PSC are open in this year’s elections, and those races will be held under the new district lines. In February, District Judge Chris Abbott denied plaintiffs’ request to put an injunction on the new map. He said plaintiffs had a good chance of showing the map was unconstitutional, but that he didn’t think it would be appropriate for the court to draw its own lines at this time. He said in the ruling that he hoped the case would be resolved before the 2025 legislative session, giving the Legislature a chance to try to get in compliance if the final ruling goes against SB 109.

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Montana

Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek near Red Lodge

Published

4 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek near Red Lodge

CARBON COUNTY — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is working to acquire two senior water rights along the West Fork of Rock Creek near Red Lodge to address critically low water levels that are threatening the fish population.

The creek, which flows around the Red Lodge community, may appear full to casual observers, but wildlife officials say the flow is dangerously low for fish survival.

Watch FWP discuss the need for these water rights for Rock Creek:

Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek

“To have these water levels, it can have an impact on the fishery over there,” Chrissy Webb with Fish, Wildlife and Parks said. “Over the past few years, we’ve been seeing really low water levels for these trout, which is obviously a huge issue. Fish, of course, need water.”

The proposed solution involves purchasing two senior water rights that were previously used for irrigation and transferring them to remain in the stream for fishery protection.

“This would be water that was once diverted for irrigation. Those water rights would transfer to remain in the stream for the protection of this fishery,” Webb said.

Acquiring water rights is a complex process, but Webb emphasized the urgency of the situation. Without intervention, the fish population could decline quickly.

“We need water levels to be at a certain level for fish to survive. And we need water temperatures to be low enough for these trout to survive. And then, like I said, some places in Rock Creek have even experienced total dewatering of the stream bed,” Webb said.

FWP plans to purchase the water rights for $330,000. The process involves the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

“They’re working with the owner of those water rights to transfer their purpose from irrigation to being in stream flows,” Webb said.

The DNRC will ultimately decide whether FWP has the authority to purchase the water rights. The access to water would come from Giant Springs in Great Falls.

Michael Downey with the DNRC said mid to low elevation areas are particularly lacking adequate stream levels, but is confident they will rise as the year continues.

“If you look at where snowpack is right now, even those places that are below normal, certainly that Rock Creek drainage is probably the one in the area that looks worse than most,” Downey said.

On Feb. 12, the DNRC will decide if the FWP has the authority to purchase those water rights.

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Montana

Indiana lands commitment from Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams

Published

16 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Indiana lands commitment from Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams

Indiana football continued its reload in the secondary on Sunday with the commitment of Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, Williams made his commitment to head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers after a weekend visit to Indiana. Williams has three years of eligibility remaining.

MORE: Transfer Portal Thread | Indiana football transfer portal tracker | Indiana football’s transfer portal wish list: A position-by-position breakdown of 2026 needs

Williams, who hails from Houston, Texas, amassed 46 total tackles, eight pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2025 with the Bobcats. He also forced and recovered a fumble this past season.

The 2025 season was Williams’ second at the college level after he redshirted in 2024 as a true freshman.

Entering this portal cycle, cornerback was a large question mark for the Hoosiers. D’Angelo Ponds could potentially leave early for the NFL Draft and depth corner Amariyun Knighten has already entered the portal, but outside of those two, Indiana returns everyone else at cornerback.

Williams now joins a 2026 cornerback room that features returners Jamari Sharpe, Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell, while Ponds’ decision on his future is expected to come following Indiana’s run in the College Football Playoff.

Williams is rated as the No. 795 overall transfer and the No. 91-ranked cornerback in the portal.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 10, 2026

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

17-24-36-38-43, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

06-15-20-22-25, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

03-07-20-23, Bonus: 13

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

10-19-39-47-67, Powerball: 18

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

06-12-17-18-25

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.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

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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