The 120th Airlift Wing of the Montana Air National Guard made its first cargo drop on its new drop zone near Power on April 6. It’s a “long time coming,” said Brig. Gen. Trace Thomas, commander of the Montana Air National Guard, who previously commanded the 120th. He was a fighter pilot who transitioned to cargo pilots when the 120th
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The city’s new tax increment financing advisory board is scheduled to meet for the first time at 2 p.m. April 7. No agenda has yet been posted on the city website. City Commissioners appointed the fifth member, Don Ryan, during a February meeting as the county representative, which is required under a 2025 state law change. Ryan is a former
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The Montana Supreme Court upheld another local district court order related to jury selection issues. Felicia Hinkle appealed her sentencing order and judgment from Judge Elizabeth Best after a jury found her guilty of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and paraphernalia. In her appeal, she challenged Best’s denial of her motion to discharge the jury panel without a hearing. The
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Judge John Kutzman has denied a motion to dismiss charges charges against Jeremiah Gideon, who is accused of running over a credit union employee with a vehicle in 2024. Kutzman issued the order on March 11, finding that the state did not violate a 90-day deadline related to fitness, as delays at the Montana State Hospital have brought some criminal
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The Great Falls Public Schools board voted unanimously not to participate at this time in Bridged Health Alliance, established by the 2023 Montana Legislature as a health and wellness benefits trust for public school systems. Bridged Health Alliance is the formal name of the trust that was established by the Montana Schools Insurance Alliance. The GFPS board took the recommendation of
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The Great Falls Public Schools board budget committee voted during their Feb. 17 meeting to recommend that the district forgo a levy this year. The district is hosting a budget town hall on March 5 and the full board will consider the budget committee’s recommendation at its Feb. 23 meeting. But, the committee members, Paige Turoski, Bill Bronson and Kim
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The city solicited applications for a county representative to the tax increment financing advisory committee for a four-year term through Dec. 31, 2029. The opening was posted for a week, opening on Feb. 6 and closing on Feb. 13. The applicant must be a Cascade County employee to be considered, according to the city’s vacancy posting. The city received one
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City staff are proposing to dissolve its board of adjustment/appeals, among other structure changes, to comply with the Montana Land Use Planning Act, passed by the Legislature in 2023. Brock Cherry, city planning director, told City Commissioners during their Jan. 20 work session that the existing planning board and zoning commission are the same body, but use one name or
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Great Falls Public Schools is kicking off a new summer learning program this year using funds raised through the state innovative educational tax credit program. The program is starting small with three programs: American Indian Astronomy and Earth Science, June 8-9 for grades 4-6, limited to 20 registered students: a two-day summer program blending hands-on science with traditional ecological knowledge. Students
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Great Falls Public Schools received $1,008,000 from 30 community members in this year’s innovative educational tax credit program. The state created a tax credit program for education during the 2021 Legislature and the window to claim those credits is coming up. Registration for the dollar-for-dollar tax credit opened Jan. 21, 2026. This year’s statewide cap is $7.2 million and GFPS is
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