Montana’s younger generation is taking initiative on the state’s constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment amid the global environmental crisis. While NASA, NOAA, and the World Health Organization each determined 2023 to be the hottest year on record, 16 young people from Montana won the verdict in a U.S climate litigation case for the first time in history.  

Bats reign supreme over the night skies across Montana, playing a vital but often underrepresented role in our ecosystem. Montana has 15 species of bats, and despite their quiet presence, they’re everywhere. “You can find bats anywhere in the state, including your neighborhood,” said state bat biologist Shannon Hilty in a statement to Bitterroot. 

Montana is not immune to the inflated costs of higher education, and small-town communities may face unique challenges in supporting their youth financially for further schooling. 

For many, rising education costs require sizeable loans, as well as battling it out on the enormous and difficult-to-navigate scholarship circuit. The search is grueling, and the additional discouragement of running into applications with seemingly hyper-specific eligibility requirements can cause serious frustration.