Phil Drake

@Victoria_Eavis @mtfreepress Best of luck to you. Backgammon forever!

I'm sad to leave the newspapers (please, I am begging you, subscribe to your local paper) but I'm excited for what's next. Starting next week, I'll join @mtfreepress as a frequent contributor, still covering politics.

Today is my last day with @LeeEntNews State Bureau in Montana. I've learned so much over the past 2.5 years reporting on MT, but most of what I've learned came from my talented coworkers. Any reporter would be lucky to work with the team I was a part of: journalismjobs.com/1692787-montan…

After sheriff steps down, undersheriff takes over in Broadwater County helenair.com/news/local/art… via @helenaironline Good story by @thom_g_bridge

The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is being brought in to investigate the death of an inmate Saturday evening at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center. helenair.com/news/local/cri…

Five new cases of measles were confirmed in Lewis and Clark County after exposure was reported at St. Peter’s Emergency Department late Sunday and early Monday morning, officials announced Tuesday. helenair.com/news/local/art…

Yikes!

🚨 NEW: Montana Senate candidate @KurtAlme joins @ScottJenningsKY to discuss his vision for the Big Sky State. From his background as U.S. Attorney to filling the seat of retiring Sen. Steve Daines—here is the plan for Montana. 🏔️🇺🇸

No Kings rally in Helena. Former Montana Gov. and AG Steve Bullock among the speakers today. #mtpol

After 11 months, Montana officials break stalemate on bill defining sex as binary #tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">helenair.com/news/state-reg… via @SeabornLarson #mtpol #mtnews

Montana Sec of State quietly pays for controversial mailers using federal elections grant #tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">helenair.com/news/state-reg… @Victoria_Eavis #mtpol #mtnews

NEW: Montana Supreme Court holds 5-0 for the Daily Montanan, Montana Free Press, Lee Enterprises, et al in their Petition for Supervisory Control against the Third Judicial District over the media restrictions on the Anaconda Mass Shooting case #mtpol #mtnews

East Helena man charged with vehicular homicide DUI after crash; motorcyclist victim ID'd helenair.com/news/local/cri… @helenaironline #mtnews

Ohio man charged with felony after alleged threats to blow up the Helena airport #tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">helenair.com/news/local/art… @thom_g_bridge @helenaironline #mtnews

NEWS: Don Peoples dies at 86; former chief executive remembered as 'Butte's greatest leader' mtstandard.com/news/local/art… via Duncan Adams and Tracy Thornton @MontanaStandard #mtnews #mtpol

@MacFarlaneNews Best of luck. I thot your coverage of the Jan. 6 trials was simply the best. I look forward to these notes.

My daily editorial notes (which I used to circulate inside CBS News) are now posting here ===> @macfarlanenews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">substack.com/@macfarlanenews

Helena Family Promise: 16-room shelter formerly called Ruth's Place aims to open in June #tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">helenair.com/news/local/art… via @ChCompton__ #mtnews

"Do the right thing, you know?" Ellsworth's lawyer said to the district court judge overseeing his official misconduct case. Abbott said he'd rule quickly on Ellsworth's claim that he's covered by legislative immunity #mtnews via @Victoria_Eavis helenair.com/news/state-reg…

Did they spiff up the train in the park in Helena’s Sixth Ward? Looks great! You know, the train really holds the park together. With apologies to The Dude.

Great Falls mayor says Chick-fil-A and WinCo are coming to town krtv.com/news/great-fal…

I wrote about the radio show Congressional candidate Aaron Flint started in 2018, and hosted until recently, Montana Talks. New #mtpol longform, from me: dailymontanan.com/2026/03/05/mon…

Who’s running: A roundup of Butte-area candidates for the Montana Legislature #tracking-source=home-top-story" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">mtstandard.com/news/local/art… #mtpol #mtnews