Eric Whitney

A new survey done by the University of Montana and Stanford University says a majority of Montana residents support transferring at least some federal public lands here to state control. That contradicts some previous polls.

A new survey done by the University of Montana and Stanford University reveals some surprising opinions on health care in Montana. The statewide representative sample poll was done over landlines and cell phones in February in advance of a conference last week at UM.

The special state committee set up to oversee Medicaid expansion in Montana got its first progress report since expansion began January 1.

"This is just incredible success we’re having," Marie Matthews with the state health department told the committee. "This program has already saved the state general fund about $3 million," she said.

Enrollment in Montana’s expanded Medicaid program is exceeding expectations, and so far has refunded $3 million to the state’s general fund.

That’s according to officials with the state health department who briefed a special expansion oversight committee today.

Montana Democrats rallied in Helena Saturday night around their candidates for six statewide offices. Party Executive Director Nancy Keenan fired up the crowd and set the tone for this year's election.

"We have to make those phone calls, and we have to get out the vote," Keenan said. "Let's go! Let's go win! On to victory!"

A U.S. Senate committee Tuesday heard competing bills co-sponsored by Montana's Senators to fix a veterans health program.

Republican Representative Ryan Zinke announced that he's running for re-election to Montana's lone U.S. House seat last weekend. The former state legislator and U.S. Navy SEAL from Whitefish is facing Democrat Denise Juneau. We caught up with Zinke when he visited the University of Montana's Neural Injury Center yesterday. 

Senator Steve Daines Wednesday criticized the Indian Health Service for what he says is too much spending on administration and not enough on actual health care.

A year-old program intended to reform veterans' health care and help veterans get medical appointments more quickly isn’t working. That’s the conclusion of Montana Senator Jon Tester, who helped push the reform through Congress in the first place.