Edward O'Brien
Edward O'Brien is Montana Public Radio's Associate News Director.
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Federal and state land managers in Montana are not yet fully staffed with their usual number of seasonal firefighters. During its hiring process, the U.S. Forest Service has faced the same workforce shortage pressures affecting the private sector.
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Potential for significant wildland fire is anticipated to be normal this June, according to the latest forecast from the National Interagency Fire Center. However, that could change later this summer, especially in areas east of the Continental Divide.
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State troopers starting this weekend will increase their presence on Montana roads and highways, cracking down on unsafe drivers. Excessive speed and impaired driving are among the most common factors leading to fatal crashes.
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Congressional bargainers are celebrating a deal they say could pave the way for the passage of legislation that would help millions of veterans exposed to toxins from burn pits during their time in the military. The deal could help roughly two-thirds of Montana veterans.
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Supreme Court campaigns are non-partisan, but this year’s races are taking place amid an unusually charged political atmosphere. Meet the candidates running for Montana's open Supreme Court seats.
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Gas prices are anticipated to be the most expensive on record for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. While more Americans are planning road trips compared to last year, a recent survey shows they're still hesitant to lock in summer plans.
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Western Montanans are being asked to report sightings of a specific reptile native to eastern Montana but considered an increasingly harmful invasive species west of the Divide.
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More water is expected to flow through Montana’s rivers than previously forecast. April’s precipitation provided a badly needed boost to the state’s snowpack.
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Western Montana’s wildfire outlook is still uncertain. Forecasters are watching the precipitation, but say significant wildfires remain a risk in Montana this season.
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Missoula County’s new protocol, put in place in mid-April, changes the way first responders and law enforcement respond to strangulation and prioritize the cases for prosecution.