Montana

Missoula And Helena: Battling Unhealthy Air Quality Amid Wildfires

Published

9 months ago

April 24, 2025

Missoula And Helena: Battling Unhealthy Air Quality Amid Wildfires

Missoula, and now also Helena, are ranked on the list of worst places in the country for 24-hour particulate air pollution, both making the Top this year because of impacts from wildfire smoke.

The findings come from the American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report released this week.

With only two major fires in close proximity last summer, Missoula’s ranking actually dropped to #17 on the national list, with 7 days when air was listed as “unhealthy” for everyone. But that’s still an “F” grade for 24-hour smoke, and a “fail” in the annual report.

Has Missoula’s air quality rating always been bad from smoke?

The ranking is actually better than in some years, such as the “Big Fire” year, when Missoula was surrounded by major fires in 2017.

MISSOULA: Ranked 15th worst for 24-hour particle pollution out of 225 metropolitan areas and ranked 17th worst for annual particle pollution out of 208 metropolitan areas -American Lung Association

Helena’s fire smoke was bad in ’24

Helena makes this list this year because of the smoke impacts from the Horse Gulch, and other fires, combined with regional fire smoke, placing it at 20th on the national list for 24-hour particulate pollution.

HELENA: Ranked 20th worst for 24-hour particle pollution out of 225 metropolitan areas and ranked 89th worst for annual particle pollution out of 208 metropolitan areas -American Lung Association

However, both locations continue to rank low for the problem of ozone pollution.

Other Montana areas on the list include Fergus County, which received a “C” grade for particulate pollution, with the Lewistown area also being downwind from the big fires in Helena.

URGENT: Nick Chrestenson Reports- Missoula Police Looking for Missing Woman

Charles Etoroma; Unsplash

MT Lawmakers: Close, but no cigar

Indoor smoke won’t be a problem, as the Montana House reverses itself and votes down the bill that would have created so-called “cigar lounges.”

SB 150 was passing on a 51-49 vote on second reading Tuesday, but it failed on a 45-to-54 vote on third reading yesterday.

Anti-smoking interests had expressed alarm over changing the Clean Air Act.

Are foam food containers illegal in Montana?

Almost. Environmental and business interests are locking horns over the proposal to ban polystyrene, or “styrofoam” containers, in Montana. HB 477 is on the governor’s desk, but the measure is sparking a last-minute lobbying effort to phase out or keep single-use food containers.

Shopping at Sam’s Club could be tough without a phone

Sam’s Club in Great Falls and Billings are joining the list of 600 stores dumping in-person checkouts.

Instead, you’ll be asked to use the store’s mobile app for the “Scan & Go” and “Just Walk” systems. An AI scanner will merely check your purchases on the way out.

April 24, 2015- Gov Bullock, CSKT Chair Vernon Findley sing the Flathead Water Compact, Dennis Bragg photo

Montana Throwback Thursday

April 24, 2015, Governor Steve Bullock joins tribal and Legislative leaders for a ceremony signing the landmark Flathead Water Compact, ending decades of dispute over treaty rights and future water management by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

These 9 Small Montana Towns Have Seen The Biggest Growth

Bozeman Real Estate Group looked at the latest Census data and found these 9 small towns in Montana have grown the fastest since 2020.

Gallery Credit: Nick Northern

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Montana

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

Published

12 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

BOZEMAN — For the second consecutive week, Montana State sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick has been named Big Sky Conference player of the week, the league office announced Tuesday.

The 5-foot-11 product of Roberts scored the game-winning basket with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift the Bobcats to a 71-70 upset of Big 12 member Colorado on Sunday afternoon at the CU Events Center. Chirrick finished the contest with 21 points, which included a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line.

Chirrick once again stuffed the stat sheet, pulling down a team-best six rebounds, while adding four steals, three assists and a pair of 3-pointers in the victory.

Chirrick is currently ranked third in the nation averaging 4.5 steals per game, and her 27 total steals rank 14th overall. Her 19.8 points per game rank second in the Big Sky and 28th in the nation.

Montana State opens the Big Sky Conference/Summit League Challenge on Wednesday at North Dakota State in Fargo. Tip is slated for 6 p.m. (MT) in the Scheels Center. The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network.

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Montana

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Published

24 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Justin Hosa / MTN Sports

Montana State topped Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim their first National Championship since 1984.TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Kyle Hansen / MTN Sports

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Montana

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Published

2 days ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Montana State squares off with Illinois State Monday night in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The Bobcats are making their third trip to the title game in the past five seasons under coach Brent Vigen. The program is seeking its first championship since 1984.

MTN Sports has been on the ground in Nashville for the past five days covering the lead-up to the game, including the pregame show “Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest” hosted by Scott Breen and Kyle Hansen.

In it the MTN staff provides game previews, features, facts and figures and sights and sounds from the past several days in Music City in the run-up to the game. To watch, see the video reel below.

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest

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