Spotlight Montana

The M&M Bar and Cafe in Butte is reopening on St. Patrick’s Day with new sign and a new location 10 months after a devastating fire destroyed the original building.

In this Spotlight Montana owner, Selina Pankovich shares with us an update and explains what it took to make the reopening possible.

We also talk about the day the fire broke out, the items that survived the blaze and what the future holds for the original site.

In this Spotlight Montana, University of Montana associate professor Clint Walker, with the Department of World Languages and Cultures, provides new insight and perspective on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the man behind it, President Vladimir Putin. 

He explains the history and how what’s happening now is impacting his students at UM. 

He also shares stories about his experience living in Russia, its people and culture.

You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.

Butte native and former NFL player Colt Anderson is headed to Super Bowl LVI as a special teams assistant coach for the Bengals.

NBC Montana’s Laurel Staples talked to Anderson before he left for the big game.

In this Spotlight Montana, Anderson discusses how the team is preparing for the game against the Los Angeles Rams and what the experience has been like for him.

Anderson also talks about how his football career started in Butte and the work he and his family are now doing with the Colt Anderson Dream Big Foundation.

You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.

Brad Wilson of Butte is getting ready to compete in his third Olympic games in men's moguls.

In this Spotlight Montana, NBC Montana's Robbie Whittle sits down with Wilson to talk about what he's doing to prepare and how the Olympic games will be a different experience for him this time.

Wilson also talks about how his Olympic journey started in Butte and what it's like to experience this with his brother, Olympic bronze medalist Bryon Wilson, by his side.

You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.

In this Spotlight Montana, Whitefish native Maggie Voisin talks about how she's preparing for the Winter Olympics in Beijing, what's next after the games and how COVID-19 restrictions could impact the experience.

Voisin also discusses life's ups and downs from injury and tremendous heartbreak to healing and how it's changed her.

You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.

NBC Montana is working for you answering your questions about the omicron variant of COVID-19 now detected in the Treasure State.

In this Spotlight Montana, hear from Dr. Neil Ku, an epidemiologist at Billings Clinic.

From vaccines and booster shots to flu season and back-to-school concerns, Ku breaks it all down.

Ku also talks about what concerns him the most going forward and what that means for you.

You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but for the Missoula YWCA, raising awareness, acknowledging survivors and being a voice for victims continues year-round.

In this Spotlight Montana, hear from Pathways program manager Lyndayle Mattis on just out how prevalent domestic violence is locally, where victims can go for help and what challenges the program is facing at this time.

Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.

It's a journey from the streets of Belize to the Olympic Games -- twice.

In this Spotlight Montana, UM track and field sprint coach Paul Reneau shares with us his memories of competing in the games, what it was like racing against legend Carl Lewis and how he's now helping young athletes accomplish their goals.

Find Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, our NBC Montana Facebook page and on our website.

A major heat wave is headed to Montana, a region already experiencing significant drought conditions.

In this Spotlight Montana, experts from the National Weather Service in Missoula breakdown Montana’s heat wave forecast, drought outlook and fire weather forecast.

Warning coordination meteorologist Marty Whitmore and hydrologist Ray Nickless explain the impacts, what you should prepare for, safety precautions to take and how you can help.

They also share new data on Montana’s weather trends, snowpack conditions, precipitation and climate change.

Watch Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com and YouTube or listen on Spotify and iTunes.

In this Spotlight Montana, we hear once again from award winning author Brian D'Ambrosio.

He talks about some of Montana’s most notorious murders from 1903 to 2013, which are highlighted in his recent book, “Montana Murders: Notorious and Unsolved.”

The list includes “Dynamite” Ike's campaign of terror, the murders of actor Patrick Duffy's parents and the Unabomber.

D’Ambrosio also talks about unsolved murder cases in Livingston, the Florence beauty parlor murders and the unsolved murder of reporter Jennifer Servo.

Find Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, our NBC Montana Facebook page and on our website at nbcmontana.com.

October 17, 1991 -- that's when a Missoula teenager vanished in Deming, New Mexico, after using a pay phone at a gas station to talk to her mother.

Fast forward to 2021. On April 4, Jennifer Pentilla would have turned 48.

Now, on this 30TH anniversary of her disappearance, Montana author Brian D’Ambrosio dives into the case.

He just got back from New Mexico, where he retraced her footsteps.

In this Spotlight Montana, D’Ambrosio shares with us what he discovered in New Mexico and how he hopes officials will take another look at this case.

Find Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, our NBC Montana Facebook page and on our website at nbcmontana.com.

Big news for Western Montana Mental Health Center in Missoula. The center will become the first Certified Community Behavioral Health Center after being awarded a two-year grant supporting the center’s transition to a new model of care.

Hear from Levi Anderson, CEO of Western Montana Mental Health Center on what this means for the center, patients and the economy.

In this Spotlight Montana, hear from longtime Missoula news broadcaster Jim Harmon on the 1956 fire that ripped through the American Legion Hall in Missoula.

The building later became a broadcasting station, where Harmon worked for 30 years until he retired. He bring us a behind the scenes look at what it was like in the early days of broadcasting in Missoula.

The American Legion Hall fire is featured in his new book, titled “The ‘Sneakin’est’ Man That Ever Was,” a collection of 46 headline stories from Montana’s early days.

Hear from Robert Saldin, Political Science Professor at the University of Montana and director of the Mansfield Center's Ethics and Public Affairs program, on the future of the GOP party last week's riots in our nation's Capitol, what's next and how Montana is being impacted.

Watch Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com or listen to it on Spotify and iTunes.

This holiday season carries extra weight for many due to the pandemic, and in this Spotlight Montana the focus is on mental health during this time.

Hear from Levi Anderson, CEO of Western Montana Mental Health Center, on ways to cope, services available and how the pandemic is impacting those services.

Watch Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com or listen to it on Spotify and iTunes.

Missoula writer and musician Ednor Therriault, also known as Bob Wire, talks about his new book “Haunted Montana: Ghosts and Strange Phenomema of the Treasure State.”

The book is a collection of ghostly tales, legends and unexplained phenomena from across the state.

Hear about a haunted hiking trail, strange happenings at a popular lake, phantom cowboys and much more.

Are you a firefighter looking for a safety zone while battling a fire? Or a resident or city leader searching for real-time information on an approaching wildfire?

The Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory rolled out some new tools packed with critical real-time fire information to help keep you safe.

In this Spotlight Montana, hear from a team of experts who created two new apps and a website.

You'll also learn about the research behind creating those tools and why experts traveled from Missoula all the way to New Zealand for the research.

Go to nbcmontana.com to watch Spotlight Montana. You can also find it on iTunes and Spotify. 

Following recent devastating fires in Gardiner and Corvallis, we wanted to know more about how fires are investigated and the techniques used to determine the cause.

In this Spotlight Montana, hear from State Fire Marshal Dick Swingley.

He shares with us the latest information on the investigations of the fires in Gardiner and Corvallis, what telltale signs they look for to determine the cause and much more.

Swingley’s career in fire investigating spans 50 years. He discussed some of the new changes he’s seeing in structure fires.

You can find Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com, our Facebook page, Spotify and iTunes.

In this week's Spotlight Montana we talk about Fort Missoula’s role in World War II history and how a new grant aims to restore and preserve a part of it.

Hear from Matt Lautzenheiser, executive director of the Museum at Fort Missoula, on the history of the largest intact World War II internment site, a new grant to restore the barracks and what impact it will have on a national level.

Also hear how the pandemic is impacting the museum as it opens to the public and what restrictions are in place.

S&K Logistics Services of St. Ignatius has been awarded two contracts for the Republic of South Korea Air Force F-15K Slam Eagle aircraft and the Royal Saudi Air Force F-15.

The contracts have a combined value of $30 million.

In Spotlight Montana hear from Troy Felsman, Corporate Project Manager of S&K Technologies, Inc., on what the contracts call for and it’s impact on the company worldwide.

Also hear how S&K Technologies, Inc., a family of companies spanning the globe, impacts the tribes back home and what changes they've made as a result of the pandemic.

What you need to know before you hit the road on Memorial Day weekend.

Memorial Day weekend is almost here and it’s typically a time when millions of people hit the road for the long holiday weekend. But this year it could look a little different as a result of COVID-19.

In Spotlight Montana hear from Sergeant Sean Finley of the Montana Highway Patrol.

How they’re preparing for the long holiday weekend and important advise for drivers to make it a safe one.

You can find Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com, Itunes and Spotify.

We are talking  about some fascinating work happening at the University of Montana in Missoula.

It’s all thanks to a $2.5 million grant awarded to University of Montana for the development of a COVID19 vaccine.

Dr. David Burkhart is the  Associate Director of the Center for Translational Medicine and co-founder of the team working on the vaccine.

Commissioner of Higher Education talks about his recovery from COVID-19 and how the university system is responding to the outbreak.

One of the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 included Montana’s Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian.

He joined me today for an exclusive sit down interview on Spotlight Montana.

Christian talks about his own recovery from the virus and how the university system is responding to the outbreak.

He also discusses what's next for students and faculty and much more.

You can watch Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com or listen to it on Spotify and Itunes.

People are experiencing a lot of stress lately over the coronavirus outbreak and in this Spotlight Montana we are focusing on ways to protect your mental health during this time.

We are here with licensed counselor Patrick Ryan from Western Montana Mental Health.

Laurel Staples sits down with Dr. Marc Mentel, D.O. for a live conversation regarding the Montana Medical Association's call-to-action plan.

Hear from the man behind the plan, Marc Mentel, D.O., president of the Montana Medical Association.

Mentel breaks down the five-step plan.

You can listen to Spotlight Montana on iTunes and Spotify.

Growing fears over the coronavirus is the focus of this week's Spotlight Montana.

Hear from the Ellen Leahy, director of the Missoula City-County Health Department.

She clears up misinformation, rumors and misconceptions surrounding the spread of the virus.

You can listen to Spotlight Montana on Itunes and Spotify.

The documentary, Burger, Fries and Family Ties, is the focus of this week's Spotlight Montana.

It tells the story of Richwine’s Burgerville in Polson.

The film celebrates the drive-in restaurant’s 50 plus years in the business.

Hear from film producer David King and the owner-operator of Richwine’s Burgerville, Marcia Moen.

You can listen to Spotlight Montana on iTunes and Spotify.

Our latest Spotlight Montana focuses on babies born with substance exposure and a new program in Missoula to treat those babies.

Eat, Sleep and Console is a new approach to treating babies with withdrawal symptoms.

Hear from Community Medical Center's staff development coordinator Lara Porrini.

She explains how the program works, the goals of the program and how it involves the baby's mom.

Lara also clears up some of the misperceptions and explains where to go for help.

You can listen to the podcast at nbcmontana.com, Itunes or Spotify.

The fast-spreading coronavirus is the focus of this week's Spotlight Montana podcast.

Hear from infectious disease specialist Pam Whitney with the Missoula City-County Health Department.

She shares important information you need to know, including symptoms and treatment, as well as how to prevent it from spreading.

Also find out what groups are most at risk and what's being done to prepare for it locally and statewide.

You can listen to Spotlight Montana on iTunes and Spotify.

 We continue our series on the opioid crisis. Our latest Spotlight Montana focuses on the development of a vaccine targeting opioid addiction with guest Dr. Jay Evans, director of the Center for Translational Medicine, University of Montana.

UM recently received a $3.3 million contract from the National Institutes of Health for the vaccine. 

Find out how soon clinical trials could start, how the vaccine really works and how it could change pain management.

Also, find out what’s next for the program and what other vaccine projects they are working on.

You can also listen to the podcast at iTunes or Spotify.

In Spotlight Montana we speak with Travis Craft, director of the West Central Montana Avalanche Center in Missoula.

He talks about the recent slides, his own experience getting caught in a slide, important steps to take to stay safe in the backcountry and the science behind avalanches.

You can listen to the podcast at Itunes or Spotify.

In Spotlight Montana we speak with University of Montana Professor of History Mehrdad Kia on U.S. tensions with Iran.

Professor Kia was born and raised in Iran.

Kia shares insights on the crisis, what it was like growing up in Iran and what happened when his father refused to support Iran’s new Islamic regime.

You can listen to the podcast at iTunes or Spotify.

We speak with Butte High senior Catherine Russo and her coach Caty Flikkema of Bozeman.

Catherine recently qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic swim team trials.

In this podcast they talk about preparing for the upcoming trials, Catherine’s plans for college and her long-term goals.

You can listen to the podcast at iTunes or Spotify.

We spoke with Missoula businessman Nick Checota.

He is the owner of Logjam Presents, The Wilma Theater, Top Hat Lounge and the KettleHouse Amphitheater.

He talks about his latest project, the Riverfront Triangle development and what’s next for Missoula.

Checota also shares with us a preview of upcoming concerts, his plans for Bozeman’s music scene, business lessons learned, his background experience and what brought him to Montana.

You can listen to the podcast at Itunes or Spotify.

The dreaded winter blues, seasonal affective disorder.

In the spotlight is Western Montana Mental Health's psychiatric physician assistant Jackie Pfister.

Pfister discusses how to recognize the symptoms, what treatment options are available and ways to cope.

She also shares with us her story of what it’s like to live with seasonal affective disorder and what helped her the most.

David King, director of Flathead Lake International Cinemafest, reflects on his 40 plus years in film and television, why he now calls Montana home, his latest projects, and what’s next.

In the spotlight David King, independent film producer, director of the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest

Independent film producer and director of the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest David King reflects on his 40 plus years of experience in film and television. Some of his projects include the Balto sequels, Lady and the Tramp II and Beauty and the Beast sequel. Recent projects include the award winning productions “My Grandpa’s Fiddle” and “Burgers, Fries and Family Ties”.

David also help create the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest (FLIC) in Polson where organizers are now getting ready to kick off the 8th annual event.

It’s back to school time and our latest Spotlight Montana podcast features the new superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools, Rob Watson.

Hear from Watson on how MCPS is responding to a new whopping cough case and what parents need to know.

Watson discusses early enrollment and what schools could be next for boundary changes,

Watson also explains how a new mass notification system works, breaks downs changes to the lunch the program and what new feature students will see on school buses.

Finally, Watson addresses teacher turnover and retention issues.