New Drama for Montana Senate Race

There's a new wrinkle in Montana politics that is adding some drama to the upcoming U.S. Senate race, and also indicating that developments might even outpace the last contest.

For the past few days, rumors have been flying that University of Montana President Seth Bodnar might be entering the race against incumbent Senator Steve Daines as an Independent. Tuesday, the Montana Free Press quoted a spokesman for Bodnar, saying he wasn't ready to discuss a possible run until there's a formal announcement.

He also added that Bodnar would resign his U-M post, which he's held since 2018, if he does enter the race.

Some of the focus is also on whether former Senator Jon Tester supposedly authored a text message saying he would support someone other than the Democratic candidate in the race.

     🎙️ Tester didn't discuss those developments on his weekly podcast.

Daines hopes for "common sense" in transgender sports ruling

Meanwhile, Senator Daines is weighing in on this week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling, where state laws banning transgender athletes continue to be a major point of debate.

"This is about, for me, the science; it's about biological truth. It's about fairness. It's about safety as a father of 2 daughters, now a grandfather of 3 granddaughters. We should never allow biological men to compete in women's sports." -Senator Daines

After the hearing, Daines said he believes there are enough "good guys" on the High Court to "stand with common sense in America" and with the states of Idaho and West Virginia at the center of the lawsuit.

Search continues for Great Falls killer

Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter says the young man who was murdered last week died from multiple stab wounds, according to the initial autopsy report from the State Crime Lab.

The body of 25-year old Terrill Johnson was found on Friday in the 1700 block of 22nd Avenue South.

Slaughter gave the cause of death during a Facebook update Wednesday afternoon, saying the crime lab is giving the case expedited processing.

He also explained that detectives haven't released images of the suspect because the investigation is still active and certain details are still to be confirmed in interviews when an arrest is made.

The sheriff has said investigators have several good leads, but that the suspect is a threat that needs to be "apprehended quickly."

Back to school after a Billings teacher was stabbed

Billings School leaders had a crisis support team and counselors on campus Thursday following the stabbing of a Billings Senior teacher Tuesday afternoon.

School officials have confirmed the teacher was stabbed multiple times in the confrontation with the student, requiring hospitalization. The stabbing happened after school, but there were students and parents on campus for a concert and a wrestling match.

     Classes and activities were canceled on Wednesday.

Flathead fire victim passes

And a sad end to the story of a Flathead County man who has lost his fight for life after being critically burned in a mill fire last month.

Friends of Aaron Walker, who had been raising money to help with his recovery, posted on the fundraising page that Walker had passed away Sunday at the Salt Lake burn center, where he'd been treated.

     Walker, who lived and worked at the mill site in an RV, was caught in the inferno when the Montana Timberline Firewood Company caught fire Don ecember 30th.

Flathead Lake starting to drop

CSKT tribal officials are expecting levels in Flathead Lake to begin dropping over the next few weeks, after December rains brought the lake up to nearly "full pool" on January 1st. And Energy Keepers, which operates the dam at Polson, is anticipating the lake will reach its typical target of 2883 feet by mid-April, which is the typical seasonal plan.

The tribe explains the lake filled so quickly when the Flathead Basin received 238% of normal rain in December, more than 9-inches of rain. That, coupled with decisions by Northwest power managers to ease flooding downstream in the Columbia Basin by using upstream reservoirs to full capacity, meant there was about 5 feet more water in the lake than usual.

     🌊  The tribe advises residents on the lake to use their typical winter precautions to prevent any damage to docks from a sudden freeze… which at this point isn't in the forecast.

Bozeman Airport sets record

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport notched another record, reporting yesterday that more than 2.8 million passengers used the airport in 2024.

That's an increase of more than 6% over the previous record, keeping Bozeman far out in the lead over other Montana airports, although they, too, have been reporting individual records.