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 cha...
Jul 21, 2020•17 min
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...
Jun 17, 2020•21 min
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...
Jun 11, 2020•18 min
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 nbcm...
May 20, 2020•9 min
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.
Apr 29, 2020•18 min
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 ...
Apr 15, 2020•20 min
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.
Mar 25, 2020•17 min
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.
Mar 18, 2020•22 min
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.
Mar 04, 2020•18 min
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.
Feb 26, 2020•13 min
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 pod...
Feb 19, 2020•14 min
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....
Feb 05, 2020•12 min
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 progra...
Jan 22, 2020•15 min
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.
Jan 15, 2020•16 min
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.
Jan 08, 2020•19 min
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.
Dec 18, 2019•17 min
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....
Dec 11, 2019•19 min
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.
Dec 04, 2019•14 min
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...
Nov 13, 2019•16 min
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. ...
Sep 04, 2019•18 min
We continue our series of podcasts on the opioid crisis. Our latest Spotlight Montana podcast focuses on the pharmaceutical side of the crisis with guest Kim Madson, faculty member, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Montana. Learn how the crisis is impacting pharmacists, how it’s changing the curriculum for pharmacy students, the stigma of the epidemic, what the public can do to help and new information offering hope.
Aug 07, 2019•15 min
Our latest Spotlight Montana podcast focuses on wildfire season with Jordan Koppen from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Find out what officials are seeing for fire activity so far and how the current weather forecast could impact the outlook for the rest of the season. Also hear what homeowners can do now to prepare and the misconceptions to avoid.
Jul 17, 2019•16 min
Our latest Spotlight Montana podcast focuses on the opioid crisis. In the spotlight Detective Dean Chrestenson of the Missoula Police Department and addiction recovery advocate Levi Bessette. Learn how the crisis is impacting the region and what's being done to fight it along with what needs to happen to curb it. Also hear Levi's story of his path to recovery and what he now wants to public to know.
Jun 26, 2019•17 min
Human trafficking is on the rise and a Missoula couple is working to turn that around. Tami and Lowell Hochhalter join NBC Montana’s Laurel Staples for this week’s Spotlight Montana podcast. They are the founders of The LifeGuard Group. It’s a non-profit committed to fighting human trafficking and helping agencies and families search for those missing. Hear the latest on their efforts to locate those missing, what it’s like for the victims and survivors of human trafficking, the warning signs pa...
Jun 19, 2019•16 min
Hundreds of communities across the country are centering on a 10 year plan to end homelessness including Missoula. That's the focus of this week's Spotlight Montana podcast. Missoula's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Hear from those behind the plan. Is it working? What really defines an end to homelessness? What are the misconceptions and who are the homeless in the Missoula area? The answer to that question just might surprise you.
Jun 05, 2019•16 min
As of Wednesday, May 29, there are 136 confirmed cases of whooping cough in Missoula County. How long will the outbreak last and what is the Missoula City-County Health Department bracing for now? Also, new information on vaccines that just might surprise you. Learn the answers to those questions and much more in this week’s episode of Spotlight Montana featuring Cindy Farr of the Missoula City-County Health Department. You can listen to the podcast at nbcmontana.com, Itunes or Spotify....
May 29, 2019•14 min
NBC Montana’s Laurel Staples interviews Eric Komberec, chairman of the Miss Montana to Normandy project and Jeff Sholty, project volunteer. Volunteers are preparing the historic C-47, “Miss Montana”, to join the D-Day Squadron and the Daks Over Normandy in commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 2019. Miss Montana will depart from Missoula on May 13. Eric Komberec and Jeff Shulty share the latest on preparations and what’s next for Miss Montana following the tribute in France....
Apr 24, 2019•23 min
NBC Montana’s Laurel Staples follows up with Crime Prevention Officer Ethan Smith on recent complaints by residents and businesses in Missoula’s West Broadway corridor.
Apr 10, 2019•21 min
NBC Montana’s Laurel Staples interviews Lowell Hochhalter, Chaplain for the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office. Click here to listen to full Podcast Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Lowell Hochhalter joins Laurel Staples for Spotlight Montana. Hochhalter provides support to officers going through difficult on-the-job situations including the recent shootings in Missoula and Evaro. He takes us through the events that unfolded that night and into the next day. Hochhalter shares insight into...
Apr 03, 2019•13 min
NBC Montana’s own Chief Meteorologist Mark Heyka joins Laurel Staples for Spotlight Montana. Mark Heyka grew up on a wheat and cattle farm near Belleville, Kansas. His love of weather goes back to childhood. He would watch the weather report on TV. He would then draw maps on chalkboards and pretend to be a weatherman! March 2019 marks his 20th anniversary with NBC Montana. In this segment of Spotlight Montana, Mark talks about his 20 years of covering weather patterns in Montana, what weather tr...
Mar 21, 2019•18 min•Season 1Ep. 2
