Jess Sheldahl

Montana State Prison remains on lockdown after a coronavirus outbreak ballooned since being discovered last week.

Gun regulation can cause heated arguments across the nation and especially in Montana, where over half of the citizenry owns a registered firearm. This election Montana voters will decide whether to restrict local governments’ ability to enact their own gun control measures.

Another round of newsroom reductions has hit newspapers owned by Lee Enterprises. At least seven staff members have recently had their employment end with the publishing company that owns newspapers in major cities across Montana.

A coalition of diverse organizations in Montana working to reform the state’s criminal justice system released their platform on Sept. 9. The Montana Coalition for Public Safety says the current system doesn’t always help vulnerable populations such as people with mental illness or those experiencing poverty.

Violent crime in Montana’s most populated county has been on the rise since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Reports police say a majority of the increase in violent crime is connected to drug use.

Fall school sports, like almost everything in 2020, will look different this year due to COVID-19. The biggest difference: Many schools aren’t allowing spectators. Some parents have pushed back against the restrictions.

Plans to remove some 60 United States Postal Service collection boxes in Montana are on pause following pushback from the state’s delegation in Washington, D.C. and others’ complaints.

The superintendent of the largest school district in Montana announced a middle school principal in Billings will remain in her position after being disciplined for offensive posts on social media.

Community members in Billings are painting a mural in the historically low income side of the city in order to bring people together at a time when many of us feel farther apart than ever.

State and local firefighters determined the Falling Star Fire burning within a subdivision northwest of Laurel is human caused. No structures have been destroyed but some have damage.

The Montana Historical Society received a $50,000 grant last week to produce a short documentary about the history of African Americans in Montana.

With the fall semester fast approaching, colleges and universities in Montana are preparing to offer a mix of in person, online and hybrid courses to keep students safe from COVID-19. YPR News’ Jess Sheldahl reviewed state, tribal and private institutions’ reopening plans and shares her reporting with Nicky Ouellet.