MONTANA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Jun 04 2026EDUCATION

Planning for tomorrow’s schools today

School districts don’t work in isolation; they mirror the towns they serve. In the Freeport area, leaders have spent the past year not just running classrooms but also mapping out what those classrooms might look like years from now. Instead of focusing only on immediate needs like bus schedules or

reading time less than a minute
Jun 02 2026POLITICS

Data Centers and Power Rules: A Fresh Look

Montana’s energy scene has a long history of watchdogs and reformers. A former state senator, who spent two decades in the legislature, played a key role in tightening how utilities bill customers. Back in 1975 he pushed for a bill that cut out the so‑called “fair value” clause, which had let power

reading time less than a minute
May 29 2026SPORTS

Weather forces fast changes to Montana’s big baseball finals

Montana’s high school baseball tournament just got squeezed by rain and wind. Organizers scrapped the original four-day plan and folded everything into Friday and Saturday at 3 Legends Stadium in Butte. The final championship game now starts at 7 p. m. Friday, just one day after most teams were supp

reading time less than a minute
May 28 2026HEALTH

Mapping the Hidden Risks of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a silent threat that can lead to serious health problems. Scientists have long known that the places we live affect our health, yet most tools to predict hypertension ignore this. A new study tackles that gap by adding location data into prediction models. The researche

reading time less than a minute
May 18 2026POLITICS

Reducing School Costs Through State‑Wide Health Coverage

School districts in Maine are facing a sharp rise in health insurance expenses. In one district with more than 600 staff members, premiums have climbed by over $1 million, pushing the total employer outlay to nearly $10 million. These figures only represent the portion paid by schools; employees the

reading time less than a minute
May 17 2026POLITICS

Gas Prices and Big Decisions: Why Some Voters Stand by Trump

High gas prices are hitting rural Colorado hard. Amy Van Duyn, who works at Stubs liquor store in Wiggins, now pays 50% more to fill up than she did when Trump returned to office. She used to spend $36 for a full tank. Now, that money buys barely half. Her coworker Tonyah Bruyette feels the pinch to

reading time less than a minute
May 17 2026ENVIRONMENT

Public Lands in Montana: Who Really Benefits?

Montana’s open spaces, forests, and wildlife belong to everyone—not just a few. Yet state leaders keep pushing to sell or lease these shared treasures to the highest bidder. These moves often favor short-term profits over long-term health, ignoring the fact that public lands support local jobs in to

reading time less than a minute
May 12 2026SPORTS

Who’s carrying Southwest Michigan’s spring sports scene?

High school athletes across Southwest Michigan are putting up numbers that turn heads this spring. From softball sluggers to track stars, the latest Athlete of the Week poll highlights athletes who are pushing their teams forward with performances that stand out. Baseball diamonds are seeing some s

reading time less than a minute
May 09 2026EDUCATION

A New Look at Highlands School Culture

Highlands High School’s assistant principal, Kaitlyn Selfridge, stepped down in April after a year of growing frustration. She wrote that the district’s leadership had turned her job into a hostile environment, citing repeated principal changes and what she described as demeaning remarks about appea

reading time less than a minute
May 08 2026EDUCATION

Finding time for free play in school

Schools often focus on structured lessons, but a new study suggests something simple might help kids more: free play. Researchers looked at 125 elementary students in a high-poverty area. The kids were split into groups that got 12 weeks of 45-minute free play sessions either in fall or spring. The

reading time less than a minute