Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Revolting hot dog eating contest tactics to win revealed as Joey Chestnut returns to famous Nathan's competition
Hot dog eating contests may look like a gross display of ravenous gluttony, but there's actually a science behind eating dozens of hot dogs in mere minutes. The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York is the Super Bowl for competitive eaters,...

Montana State names former Rutgers assistant Hailey Barrett new women's tennis head coach
MSU Sports Information and Chronicle Staff Hailey Barrett, who recently completed her third season as an assistant at Rutgers University, has been named Montana State’s next women’s head tennis coach, MSU Director of Athletics Leon Costello...

Montana Legal Employment And Government Accountability In Effect
Montana’s Legal Employment And Government Accountability Law Now In Effect The Montana Department of Labor and Industry announced Tuesday it will begin enforcing the new Legal Employment and Government Accountability Law. It requires employers to...

Science The Independent Here are all the places in the US that you can see the northern lights tonight
People in some parts of the U.S. may be able to see the northern lights this evening. Weather permitting, residents of more than a dozen states could hit the jackpot, according to the most recent forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric...

New Montana High School Sport
It would make a lot of sense to add this sport in Montana. Montana High School Sports High school sports are pure and beautiful. Montana might not have any professional sports teams, but we love what we have. There are several colleges with sports...

Researchers capture adorable images after checking in black bear mother's den — here's what they found
The research team has been tracking this comeback, and this current finding is particularly good news. by Lindy WhitehouseJuly 1, 2025 Researchers in Texas were over the moon when they discovered three tiny cubs cuddled up with their mother while...

Montana program supports adults with vision loss
At the Montana Association for the Blind’s Summer Orientation Program, students who are blind or visually impaired are learn practical skills, and build confidence along the way. After losing her vision, artist Kristi Eagle Horse thought her...

'Big, Beautiful Bill' projected to slash Montana Medicaid
MISSOULA, Mont. — President Donald Trump's controversial “Big, Beautiful Bill" is onto the U.S. House of Representatives after passing in the U.S. Senate Tuesday. The bill is expected to increase the federal deficit by trillions, while slashing...

Montana State senior receives astronaut scholarship for STEM excellence
Amberly Guerrero, a senior at Montana State University, has been awarded a scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation in 2025. Guerrero is pursuing dual degrees in chemical and biological engineering. She was one of 74 students selected...

Revolutionary building technology promises safer, more affordable homes for North America
Nestled in Montana’s Stillwater Valley, with the rugged Beartooth Mountains as its backdrop, the Shane Ridge residence in Columbus stands as a bold vision of the future of North American homebuilding. This showcase residence, currently under...

Montana propane retailer adds efficiencies with sonar-based sensors at Growth Summit
Moving propane to and through western Montana presents challenges. Snow can fall in any month of the year in this mountainous region. Railroad terminals are relatively scarce. That’s why Energy Partners LLC, a propane retailer with headquarters in...

Montana Could See Rise in Tick-Linked Meat Allergy
There is a tick that can cause you to become allergic to red meat. And yeah, it’s spreading. Fast. This same tick, the lone star, named for the speck of white on its back, has been causing a surge in something called alpha-gal syndrome. One bite,...

2025 WREC-Dryland Field Days Scientists To Speak On Edge Of Research Important To Region July 16-17
At the upcoming 2025 NDSU-WREC Dryland Field Days in Williston, ND, on July 16-17, those in attendance will have the opportunity to hear from the scientists at the edge of research important to our region and what the local stations are currently...

Forbes Magazine Names Stockman Bank As Montana's #1 Best-In-State Bank For 2025
Stockman Bank in Montana has once again been recognized on Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Banks, ranking this year as the #1 bank in Montana. The ranking is based on an independent survey of over 26,000 customers in the U.S. The award list...
Eastern Ag Research Center Field Day Explores New Bean Crops For Local Farmers
Local farmers and community members will have a chance to learn about new crop possibilities at this year's Eastern Agricultural Research Center (EARC) Field Day July 9, where one of the featured topics will be the adaptation of different bean...

Important New Warning From TSA For Montana Travelers
TSA Issues New Travel Warning Ahead Of Summer Vacations Planning a vacation requires more than just picking your destination. If you are planning to fly to your vacation destination this year, it is important to be aware of the many new changes...

Chinook and Turner Students Explore Quantum Science at MSU Summer Academy
HomeLocal NewsChinook and Turner Students Explore Quantum Science at MSU Summer Academy BOZEMAN, Mont. — High school students from Chinook and Turner were among nearly 30 students statewide who attended the Quantum Summer Academy at Montana State...

World UFO Day And The Strange Skies Over Montana
Today is an out of this world holiday. Do you believe that they are out there.... if so, this holiday is for you. It was created by the World UFO Day Organization as a way to bring together UFO enthusiasts and to raise awareness about UFOs and...

The silent mental health crisis on the frontlines of fire
Thank you for being a member of Montana Free Press. This quality reporting was made possible due in part to your contribution. Thank you for supporting in-depth journalism in Montana. This story contains discussions about suicide. If you or...

Citizen scientists search for an elusive reptile south of Miles City
Mandie Hilger and two dozen other people climbed across the hills south of Miles city on a recent weekend in Custer County, using sticks to poke around the rocky brush. John Collins / National Park Service A Greater Short-Horned Lizard pictured at...