Will Wet Winter Finally Erase Montana’s Multi-Year Drought?

We may feel like we've seen a lot of rain this fall, but it still hasn't been enough to curb the multi-year drought in the Blackfoot River Basin.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map this week shows the Upper Blackfoot in Lewis and Clark County, and the southwestern edge of Teton County along the Dearborn River continue in "extreme drought" conditions. Portions of the Lower Clark Fork Basin near the Bitterroot Divide, from northern Ravalli County to Sanders County along the Idaho border, are also in "extreme drought". That's an extension of the drought in Northern Idaho, where some counties are in D4 conditions, which means "exceptional drought", the highest category.

     🌵 The rest of West Central and Northwest Montana, including the Rocky Mountain Front, remain in "severe drought."

Southeast Montana is the only part of the state not dealing with some level of drought this fall, with the region from Park County in the west to Dawson and Wibaux counties in the east showing no evidence of drought.

The U-S Drought Monitor this week shows areas of "moderate drought", or "abnormally dry"
conditions across Central, North Central, and Northeast Montana, including the counties along the HiLine.

Daines Says GOP Senators Have a "Beef" with Argentina Imports

Senator Steve Daines says senators from "ranching states" are turning up the heat on the Trump Administration, passing along concerns from ranchers who worry the U-S is about to import more beef from Argentina.

Although no specific plans have been announced, comments from President Trump about an aid package for the country have sparked a backlash from ranchers here, who are already struggling.

Daines says Republican Senators passed along those concerns at their weekly lunch in Washington yesterday with Vice President JD Vance.

"He got an earful today from those of us from cattle ranching states about what's going on with beef prices right now." -Senator Steve Daines

Montana ranchers have said those prices have climbed more than 50% since the pandemic, trimming already tight margins and calls for "country of origin" labeling.

Belgrade officer involved shooting update

Belgrade Police Chief Dustin Lensing says the officer who was seriously injured in a shooting Monday night was sitting in his patrol car when he "came under heavy gunfire."

The shooting happened in a development off Crockett Way, on the west side of town. A second patrolman, described as an "assisting officer," returned fire, killing the suspect.

Lensing says the injured officer, whose name hasn't been released, is recovering at the hospital in Bozeman.

The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office and Montana DCI are handling the independent investigation, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting.

      The chief says no further names or info will be released until that investigation is complete.

Charges filed in Bozeman murder

A 51-year-old Bozeman woman is now facing homicide and arson charges for an early morning van fire resulting in the death of a 44-year-old man.

Over the weekend, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office said it had arrested Beth Bakken the night of the fire on unrelated charges, with the additional charges filed after the initial investigation.

Get ready for the Montana lottery lines

For thousands of people, the most important day this week will be Saturday, and for a change the immensely popular Montana Millionaire lottery tickets will be sold on a morning off for many lottery players.

     🙌🏻  Chris Wolfe has the insider information on this year's game.

READ MORE: Why This Weekend Will Be One to Remember in Montana

Yellowstone roads ready for winter shutdown

We're in the last few days of being able to drive through PART of the interior of Yellowstone National Park, with park officials setting this year's shutdown date for Friday, October 31st.

Most roads were reopened Tuesday after crews cleared away the aftermath of Sunday's heavy snow. All the roads are open, with the exception of the road between Tower Falls and Canyon Village over Dunraven Pass, which is already closed for the season.

Griz ready for even MORE football in 2026

The 2025 campaign isn't even over, but we already have an idea of where and when the University of Montana Grizzlies will be playing football next season.

UM announced yesterday that they've firmed up a nine-game schedule for the newly re-aligned Big Sky conference in 2026, opening Southern Utah on August 29th. The Thunderbirds are one of two new teams joining the conference next year. The 3rd game next year on September 12th will be against the other new Big Sky team, Utah Tech.