DACA’s future in Congress remains in limbo.
What the battle over the Dream Act means for the West
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Why the National Park advisory board imploded
An interview with board chairman Tony Knowles.
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When Copper Kings leave, what happens to the slag?
To jolt its economy, a town explores the many uses of the byproduct of its smelting history.
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Want to revitalize a depressed economy? The EPA can help.
A Montana town is using an obscure program to help clean up contaminated areas.
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Libby, Montana, tries to shake its ‘Superfund stigma’
Rebranding could help the town distance itself from past asbestos pollution.
Posted inFebruary 5, 2018: Caught Between Crises
We have better options than killing bison
Annual culls, loss of genetic diversity and climate change set the odds against American bison.
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Timeline: A brief history of the Sagebrush Rebellion
An interactive, year-by-year look at the current insurgency.
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Social services give rural families a safety net
Issues of affordable housing and transportation impede rural families from getting out of poverty.
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Rural areas short on workers turn to overseas professionals
Montana has a shortage of nurses, teachers and other workers.
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As a rancher, I see failure on both sides of the Bundy trial
It takes wisdom, patience and humanity to make federal land management work.
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In a shuttered mill, a Montana town sees business potential
Frenchtown is waiting on a Superfund designation to clean up toxic remnants.
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In a district losing money, students from afar fill the gap
After a mill closure, a town is offseting losses by allowing out-of-district students.
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On the outskirts of Missoula, growth comes with challenges
An influx of new people to nearby communities has strained town systems.
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No zoning? No problem.
Lack of zoning laws allow entrepreneurs to thrive in East Missoula.
Posted inFebruary 19, 2018: Unfrozen North
‘Orphaned’ oil and gas wells are on the rise
Wells left behind by industry threaten to overwhelm Western states.
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In Montana, houses are replacing farmland
Can lessons from Vermont keep local agriculture alive?
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A rancher’s claim to tribal land
Cliven Bundy refuses to pay grazing fees on federal land taken at great cost to the Southern Paiutes.
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What the two-wheeled tourist can offer tiny towns
Cycling tourism contributes nearly $377 million annually to Montana’s economy.
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How to turn motorized rec into a sustainable economy
In 2010, Challis, Idaho, created a trail for ATV riders. Now, it’s enjoying an economic boost.
Posted inMay 14, 2018: Death in the Alpine
Craft breweries aren’t a new trend — but co-op pubs are
In Montana, the town of Ronan hops on the brewery bandwagon.