In 2025, Montana Free Press published over 1,000 stories and newsletters. As the year ends, they spotlight their most read, shared, and impactful stories. These stories reflect significant topics that captured the audience’s attention throughout the year. Here are some of the standout stories that defined the year.
MOST-READ STORY OF 2025: ‘Forest Service authorizes controversial land swap along the eastern portion of the Crazy Mountains’
Credit Amanda Eggert MTFP
SECOND-MOST-READ STORY OF 2025: ‘Man detained after being pulled over by Whitefish police sues city, police department’
In April, Venezuelan refugee Beker Rengifo Del Castillo was detained by Whitefish police for a faulty taillight and then taken by ICE. Tom Lutey covered Castillo’s lawsuit against the city, which alleged racial profiling.
THIRD-MOST-READ STORY OF 2025: ‘Anaconda angles toward self-reliance’
Reporter Zeke Lloyd highlighted Anaconda’s economic choices between tourism and struggling industry. The report resonated, drawing a readership much larger than the town’s population.
FOURTH-MOST-READ STORY OF 2025: ‘Four dead in shooting at Anaconda bar, search for suspected shooter continues’
In August, reporters Zeke Lloyd and Eric Dietrich covered one of Montana’s largest mass shootings at the Owl Bar in Anaconda, highlighting a continuing search for the shooter.
FIFTH-MOST-READ STORY OF 2025: ‘Talented individuals’ laid off from agency will find ‘countless’ opportunities outside of government
Amanda Eggert’s February report on Trump administration’s Forest Service layoffs sparked interest in Montana, where the U.S. Department of Agriculture is a major employer. This story and the labor board’s reinstatement order were among the year’s top reads.
Credit Amanda Eggert MTFP
SIXTH-MOST-READ STORY OF 2025: ‘Montana community divided by Mormon doctrine, land rights and tithing’
Pinesdale residents sued for land they claimed belonged to them, challenging a fundamentalist Mormon group controlling it. The church argued it was never theirs.
Credit Nathan Boddy MTFP
SEVENTH-MOST-READ STORY OF 2025: ‘The city of Big Timber is set to sell millions of gallons of its water to Crazy Mountain Ranch’
The city of Big Timber planned to sell water to irrigate Crazy Mountain Ranch’s golf course. Intense public reaction led to the town canceling the sale.
MOST-VIEWED STORY ON INSTAGRAM: ‘For the first time, Montana officially celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day’
2025 marked the inaugural official celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Montana, following years of informal observances. The state’s decision to recognize it as a state holiday gained widespread attention.
MOST-SHARED STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ‘State approves Big Sky Resort plan to turn wastewater into snow’
Big Sky Resort’s innovative plan to create snow from treated wastewater gained traction online, becoming the most shared story on Instagram.
Credit courtesy of Big Sky Resort
MOST-REPUBLISHED STORY IN MONTANA MEDIA: ‘Landowner looks to appeal corner-crossing case to U.S. Supreme Court’
The story of corner-crossing’s legal battles in the Montana land-access debate reached new heights as it followed the appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court from Wyoming, highlighting its significance.
BONUS: MTFP’S BIGGEST-IMPACT STORY OF 2025: ‘An addiction program was supposed to help nurses. Then one took her own life.’
In September, Mara Silvers revealed the tragic suicide of a nurse in a state-mandated addiction program. Her story led to a state review of the program following a reassessment by the labor department and Maximus’ planned contract exit.
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