The MT Lowdown is a weekly digest that showcases a more personal side of Montana Free Press’ high-quality reporting while keeping you up to speed on the biggest news impacting Montanans. Want to see the MT Lowdown in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. Sign up Three years ago this fall, I attended the Missoula Tenant Union’s first birthday celebration while reporting about the organization. While a lot has changed for the union since, organizers say their core principle has stayed the same.  “We’re all renters, and we want to make it easier for people to control their homes, whatever that looks like,” Jackson Sapp, one of the union’s founding organizers, told me last month.  The Missoula union and a similar organization in Bozeman are part of a growing number of tenant unions forming nationwide.  Greg Baltz, an assistant professor of law and co-director of the Housing Justice and Tenant Solidarity Clinic at Rutgers Law School in New Jersey, told me that tenant organizing has roots in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and the 2007 foreclosure crisis but was recently accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of pathways to home ownership is a “strong motivator to get organizing,” he said.  That housing crisis inspired Bozeman and Missoula organizers to start the tenant unions, which officially formed in 2022. The unions have both helped organize individual properties and pushed for tenant protections at the local level. The organizations are also aiming to build political and economic power to bolster tenant rights.  While that may seem a bit far-fetched to some in a state like Montana, Tara Raghuveer, director of the national Tenant Union Federation, said the organization is invested in growing tenants’ unions in Montana and other less-populated states where tenants have more political sway per capita than in more populous states.  The Bozeman and Missoula unions are planning to bring their fight to improve the rights of tenants and mobile home owners to the 2027 Montana legislative session.   While most residents of mobile home parks own their homes, they rent the lots underneath. Despite the name, most of the homes are difficult and expensive to move. In recent years, many mobile home parks in Montana have been purchased by out-of-state companies, which often institute large rent hikes, straining residents on tight budgets.  The Bozeman and Missoula unions have helped multiple trailer parks unionize and push back against rent hikes. In Missoula, members of the Travois Village and Harvey’s Park mobile home park unions earlier this year negotiated with their Texas-based owner, Oak Wood Ventures, for a new lease. While the company told the union it agreed to a 3% cap on any rent increase next year, residents didn’t see that in writing until last weekend.  In a Sunday text message, Erik Brilz, a Travois resident and bargaining team member, told me Oak Wood posted the new lease to its online tenant portal. As negotiated, the lease included the 3% rent cap and removed language giving the landlord the right of first refusal if residents sell their trailers, he said.  “This will lock in two out of our three top demands,” he wrote. “And like Meat Loaf said, that ain’t bad!”  You can read more about the Missoula and Bozeman tenant unions and how they fit into the larger movement in my story here.  — Katie Fairbanks  Say Again? 🤔 A “Real Housewives” franchise based under the Big Sky? Maybe one day, but not so fast… Earlier this week, the U.S. Sun tabloid broke the news of a possible “Real Housewives” series set in Gallatin County, causing a stir among locals and on social media. But when I contacted a network executive — who declined to be named — she called that story “pretty much false.”  For those that are lucky enough to be unfamiliar with the show (I can say this because I watch it), the “Real Housewives” reality TV show that airs on NBC’s Bravo network follows groups of affluent women in different areas of the country, such as New York City, Beverly Hills, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Potomac, Orange County, California and more. The series is fueled by staggering displays of wealth, rampant infighting that can get violent and, in some cases, federal crimes.  According to an Instagram post, a production company appears to be casting a Montana-based “Real Housewives” spin-off, but the Bravo executive said it is independent of the network.  “There’s no ‘Real Housewives of Montana’ in the works,” she said when reached by phone, explaining that the production companies will shop the idea around and later pitch the network.  In the same breath that she shut the rumors down, she also left the door open. “Not to say that it could never happen,” the Bravo spokesperson added.  The key to a “Real Housewives” spin-off is wealthy women. The tabloid reported that this franchise may be based in Gallatin County, which is home to luxury stores and some of the highest home and cocktail prices in the state (although the latter is anecdotal). The article also pointed out that the Yellowstone Club, a members-only ski resort for the ultra-wealthy where home values dwarf even those in Gallatin County, is located nearby.  Will this production company be able to find a cast under the big sky and successfully pitch Bravo on a Montana-based franchise? We’ll keep you posted on any developments.  – Victoria Eavis, “Real Housewives” beat reporter  Following the Law ⚖️ Earlier this week, a Missoula District Court judge heard arguments in a case challenging a 2025 state law that could change how some Montanans use public bathrooms.  The ACLU of Montana, the ACLU and Legal Voice, a nonprofit advocating for gender justice, filed the lawsuit against the state the same day that Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law House Bill 121, which requires public and some private facilities to enforce sex-segregated bathrooms and other spaces. The law also allows members of the public to sue any qualifying facility for noncompliance. A month after the lawsuit was filed, a District Court judge temporarily blocked its enforcement while the case continues.  At the core of the lawsuit is the law’s constitutionality. Plaintiffs, who include several transgender and intersex Montanans, argue the law violates their rights to privacy and due process. The state argues that the law is constitutional and is meant to protect women and girls.  During the hearing Thursday, District Court Judge Leslie Halligan pressed Thane Johnson, an attorney representing the state, on how the law would be enforced. Johnson said if a restroom user suspects another person of using a bathroom not aligned with their biological sex, they will likely take a photo of the individual with their cell phone as evidence. The facility where the incident occurred could then be sued for “not taking reasonable steps” to comply with the law, he said. When Halligan asked what those reasonable steps could be, Johnson replied, “That’s what the courts are going to have to decide.” Johnson also repeatedly referenced WNBA player Sophie Cunningham’s recent comments that it’s “common sense” to keep transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. He also quoted ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith’s statements on the same subject, saying sports provided “a good analogy” to the lawsuit.  “There is a 100% difference in the explosive rate between men and women in sports,” Johnson said at one point during the hearing.  ACLU lawyer Terry Ding said he could have thought he was in the wrong courtroom for the wrong case, given Johnson’s arguments.  “He came out with a fire hose and sprayed arguments about all sorts of things: sports, Stephen A. Smith, basketball players in Europe, the explosiveness of different athletes. None of that has anything to do with the law that is at issue in this case,” Ding said. “HB 121 specifically restricts trans and intersex Montanans from using vital public facilities consistent with their gender identity. And the state’s focus on unrelated contexts and issues not before the court highlights that they have no justification for imposing those restrictions.” The hearing concluded after three hours of testimony. Halligan can rule to permanently strike down or uphold the law without the need for a trial. She can also determine that the case should go to trial. Read more about Thursday’s hearing here.  — Nora Mabie By the Numbers 🔢 That’s how many wildfires have ignited across Montana in the last week as of Tuesday. After a relatively cool and wet early summer, Montana was mostly off the hook as much of the rest of the West burned over the last couple of months. Now, things have changed. Fires have scorched more than 100,000 acres in the state. According to Montana’s wildfire dashboard, there are 25 active large fires in Montana right now. At more than 27,700 acres, Sand Creek is the largest, burning through Maverick Ski Area in southwest Montana’s Pioneer Mountains. Across the country, more than 30,000 firefighters are suppressing 84 large fires. So far this year, fires have burned just shy of 6.5 million acres nationwide — the most of any year since 2017. — Nick Mott Glad You Asked 🙋🏻 You don’t need me to tell you it’s been smoky, just check out Nick’s “By the Numbers” on how many fires have started in the last week! Some scattered storms have cleared things up in some areas, and I woke up Thursday morning to a clear sky over Missoula and realized I forgot what that looks like.  My world has been shrouded in the soupy haze of smoke for several weeks. In theory, I knew Trapper Peak was still there, but I hadn’t laid eyes on it since the smoke rolled in. Based on Thursday’s clarity, I can confirm the mountains have returned! But with fires in Canada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and here in the Big Sky state, we could be in for quite a few more smoky, bad air days.  When the smoke rolls in, we’re often told to stay indoors. But research shows that it isn’t necessarily getting you out of the smoke. Proper indoor air filtration is key to giving your lungs a break. University of Montana epidemiologist Ethan Walker recently told me that you can think of inhaling smoke from a fire like smoking cigarettes. “A few here and there might not give you lung cancer, but the more you smoke over a lifetime, it puts you at higher risk. You can think of [wildfire] smoke the same way.” You can read the rest of my story about the effects of wildfire-caused smoke here. If you’re a NorthWestern Energy customer, the utility has extended its rebate program and will reimburse up to $100 for the cost of a high-efficiency particulate air filter. It is a type of air filter that can trap 99.97% of tiny particles, such as dust, pollen and bits of smoke.  There are also free designated clean indoor air spaces at locations across the state. Many are in libraries, community centers and schools; it’s part of a statewide effort to protect Montanans from smoke spearheaded by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Stay safe!  — Ellis Juhlin Highlights ☀️ In other news this week — Missoula reporter Katie Fairbanks wrote about a new apartment complex that offers a housing option to young renters leaving the foster care system. Democrat Alani Bankhead is staying in the race for U.S. Senate, and, as political observers told Tom Lutey — and as strange as it sounds — Republican candidate Kurt Alme is probably really happy about that. Our most-read story during the last week was Rob Chaney’s story about the fire threatening Maverick Mountain Ski Area.  On Our Radar Nick E. — A tip of the cap to the Montana Little Leaguers, a scrappy bunch from Billings, who routed Utah, 12-4, Thursday and will play Nevada Friday, with the winner advancing to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The game starts at 3 p.m. Montana time and will be televised on ESPN. You can find the recap of Thursday’s game here. Jacob — The Voyager probes have been living on borrowed time for decades. Nearly 50 years into a mission meant to last less than one-tenth that, NASA has found a few more watts to work with from its plutonium-powered generator. It’s an extraordinary feat of remote engineering, particularly when “remote” means nearly a full day away, even at the speed of light. The extra power should help carry the probes beyond their 50th anniversary next year.  Nora — I’ve been spending a lot of time inside to get away from the smoke, and movies have provided a wonderful way to pass the time. First, like everyone else, I saw “The Odyssey” last weekend and loved it. I also watched “Tuner,” a lesser-known movie available on streaming platforms. It’s about a piano tuner who, upon discovering a unique skill, finds himself entrapped in an organized crime ring. It’s captivating, relatively short (one hour 49 minutes, compared to The Odyssey’s three hours) and a fun watch! Zeke — Through our Reporter Residency program, Montana Free Press sends out staff writers each summer to work alongside journalists at local newspapers. I’m in eastern Montana this week at the Glendive Ranger-Review. Despite my cozy lodging — a large garage converted into a cabin-like Airbnb — I felt quite restless the first night in my bunk bed. As it turns out, a lot of people struggle to fall asleep in a new place, according to the Associated Press. A recent AP article validated my affliction and offered some simple tips to mitigate the “first-night effect.”  Mara — This week, members of my household have been rooting through the dry goods in our pantry to try to make our pocketbooks stretch a little further. Lo and behold, we found cups and cups (and cups) of lentils just looking for a purpose. Thus, our cooking motto for the week became MLFA — Make Lentils Fun Again. Thankfully, there’s a Madhur Jaffrey cookbook for that. *Some stories may require a subscription. Subscribe! Lowdown is edited by Nick Ehli, with additional copy editing by Mara Silvers. The post Locking in demands: Tenant unions finding a foothold appeared first on Montana Free Press. ...read more read less