The SNAP Scramble Begins in Montana

The Department of Public Health and Human Services is confirming that SNAP clients will NOT be receiving their benefits on November 1st because of the shutdown of the federal government.

Last week, DPHHS issued a warning that SNAP vouchers MIGHT not be coming next month; however, there was a chance the USDA could opt to issue checks by utilizing backup funds that Congress allocated in the past for just such emergencies. But over the weekend, USDA informed the states it wasn't going to do that, leaving nearly 78,000 people, or roughly 7% of Montanans, on their own. That, plus the furlough of federal workers, is expected to put extreme pressure on local food banks and pantries in the coming weeks.

USDA has said that "the suspension of benefits shall not affect the determination of the eligibility of applicant households".

But food banks and pantries, and their supporters, were already ramping up efforts to try and help for the past several weeks. Larger operations, like the Missoula Food Bank, had already been gearing up for increased demand for essential food items. Others, like the Montana Rescue Mission in Billings, have started offering free hot meals on weekends.

However, the demand is expected to be especially acute in the smaller communities, where, frequently, donors are hit nearly as hard by tough economic factors like the recession as the clients using the food pantries.

     The Montana Food Bank Network was already laying in extra supplies for distribution, using the advantage of having more capacity at the new MFBN warehouse in Missoula.

READ MORE: Montana Food Bank Network Opens Just in Time

BNSF hopes to complete big safety upgrade in December

Burlington Northern Santa Fe says it should be able to complete an important safety improvement on several hundred miles of track here in Montana by the year, once more bringing its system back up to complete deployment of the technology.

Two years ago, BNSF had completed installation of PTC, or Positive Train Control, over 100% of its territory as mandated by the federal government. The system is designed to prevent train-to-train collisions and derailments.

BNSF says that when it took over Montana Rail Link operations in 2024, it meant several hundred additional miles also needed PTC conversion. By June, the carrier says it had finished 36 miles of conversion, with work underway on the remaining 570 miles, with plans to finish the project by the end of the year.

Powell County, DCI, is working new murder case

The Montana Department of Criminal Investigations is helping the Powell County Sheriff sort out details of that shooting last Thursday evening that resulted in the death of a woman on Eastside Road near Deer Lodge.

Powell County authorities say another man at the home had multiple gunshot wounds that required him to be airlifted to a second hospital for advanced care.

     Two suspects were arrested at the scene and are facing murder and attempted murder charges, in addition to tampering with evidence at the scene.

2025 hunting season off to solid start

Even with the stormy weather, it was a big weekend for Montana hunters. FWP reporting check stations in West Central Montana saw about the same amount of elk last year, with deer harvest up a bit over 2024. Elk harvest in the Blackfoot Valley was off somewhat, but deer were numerous.

In Northwest Montana, FWP reports nearly 2,000 hunters went through check stations in Region 1, with numbers for elk and white-tailed deer up a bit from last fall, but mule deer numbers were down.

Urban deer hunt set for Roundup

Speaking of deer, FWP is reporting everything is set for the Mule Deer Management Hunt in Roundup to start on December 1st. 50 licenses will go on sale on November 4th for the archery-only hunt that's aimed at controlling the town's growing deer populations.

     The hunt will take place on city property.