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Darrell Ehrlick

Class-action lawsuit claims Billings water billing system overcharging by thousands

Three years ago, nearly every household in Montana’s largest municipality got rebates for “franchise fees,” which the City of Billings illegally billed for years. Now, Billings residents are pursuing another class-action suit against the city, alleging that a new water billing system has overcharged water users while the

ACLU of Montana steps into challenge lawmakers’ ‘home court advantage’ law

Last week, Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives Brandon Ler tried out a new law passed in 2025 allowing the sponsor of a bill challenged in court to move that legal challenge to their home court — literally. Senate Bill 97 allows the sponsor of challenged legislation to move the

Downing toes Republican talking points during talk of Iran, SAVE America Act and ICE protests

A lot has happened since Montana Congressman Troy Downing held his last telephone town hall. Half of the state’s all-Republican delegation announced it would not seek re-election, leaving Downing as the only incumbent standing for possible re-election in November. And while the landscape across Montana and

Montana Supreme Court said zoning laws meant to ease housing crisis are valid

The Montana Supreme Court has upheld laws passed by the 2023 Legislature meant to help cities address affordable housing shortages through allowing higher density housing in neighborhoods where it would otherwise have been limited or illegal. The state’s highest court also reversed a ruling from Gallatin District County Judge

Lawsuit claims Forest Service project will harm whitebark pine near Yellowstone

Three organizations and an individual are suing the United States Forest Service — specifically the Gardiner District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest — for a plan they say hurts the already-endangered whitebark pine tree while ignoring lynx and grizzly habitat, and relying on unproven studies. The groups say the federal

Federal appeals court upholds injunction against Montana’s drag ban

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal judge’s injunction against House Bill 359, passed by the Montana Legislature in 2023, which banned drag performers and popular events like “drag story hour” under threat of criminal penalties, saying it was likely a violation of First Amendment

Before they were against it, Laurel leaders expressed support for psychiatric hospital

Before at least one state legislator was against a state psychiatric facility in Laurel, he was for it. And despite accusations of the community of backroom deals and discussions by Laurel’s city leaders, a meeting in October showed that many of the details residents have alleged have been kept