KGPR Great Falls Public Radio

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Emmett Whall and Varian Lewis (39:55)

Host David Saslav welcomes Varian Lewis and Emmett Whall, co-leaders of Strong Towns Great Falls, to discuss the national Strong Towns principles and how they apply locally. They cover the suburban experiment, zoning reforms, infill and "The Missing Middle" housing, walkability, and reducing car dependence to improve affordability and community life.

The guests explain practical, bottom-up strategies for incremental growth, invite listeners to public meetings (every other Monday at 6PM at The Station, next on June 1st), and share how residents can get involved to help make Great Falls more livable and financially resilient.

Planning the Roads Ahead: MDT’s Central Montana Transportation Study

Host David Saslav interviews Sarah Nicolai of Robert Petschian Associates and Jim Wingener of the Montana Department of Transportation about the Central Montana Transportation Study. The study examines existing conditions across nine counties, with a focus on Great Falls and Lewistown, and evaluates how urban growth and military changes (including the Sentinel mission) will affect roads, bridges, and multi-modal connections.

The episode covers proposed study activities, public open houses (in-person and virtual), opportunities for public comment via interactive maps, potential improvement types, funding pathways, partner agencies, and the project timeline for draft reports and final recommendations.

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Sarah Nicolai and Jim Wingerter (21:00)

David Saslav speaks with Sarah Nicolai from RPA and Jim Wingerter from MDT about the ongoing Central Montana Transportation Study

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Shaun Tatarka (22:00)

David Saslav interviews Great Falls Community Food Bank Director Shaun Tatarka about this coming Saturday's annual Letter Carriers' "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive" (more at http://nalc.org/community-service/food-drive ) and how the Food Banks benefits our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity.  

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Thomas Trunkle and Jeannie Reeves Hansen (28:29)

David Saslav interviews Thomas Trunkle and Jeannie Reeves Hansen from the Ursuline Centre, about the many ways it affects life in Great Falls.

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Jolene Schalper (25:58)

David Saslav interviews Jolene Schalper, the 2026 Great Falls Chamber of Commerce's Athena Award Winner for notable women in business, about her award, her selection and surprise notification; about Great Falls as a city of opportunity for women entrepreneurs, her own downtown business, how to get started with networking, how to gauge our candidates for their support of Great Falls' business, and a new Giving Circle being formed by 100 women of Great Falls to make significant monetary impacts on local non-profits.

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Clark Aasom and Karen Thornton (30:21)

David Saslav interviews Fish Wildlife and Parks manager Clark Aasom, and Karen Thornton, Chairperson of Northern Plains Resource Council's Golden Triangle affliate, Golden Triangle Resource Council, about upcoming Earth Day activities the public can partake in.

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Brock Cherry (31:04)

Great Falls City Planning and Community Development Director Brock Cherry discusses the final phases of the nearly three-year process of updating the Great Falls City Growth Policy.

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Stephanie Erdmann (28:48)

David Saslav interviews Stephanie Erdmann about her recent announcement that she is stepping down as Dean and CEO of Great Falls College / MSU, the accomplishments of her tenure at the College, and what's next for Stephanie Erdmann.

Voices and Views V2.0: Interview with Cheryl Cohen and Sheila Rice (38:49)

David Saslav interviews Cheryl Cohen and Sheila Rice, both with the Montana State Department of Commerce's Board of Housing, about the current competitive round of applications for new housing starts brought about by an important appropriation in the 2025 Montana Legislature, sparked by the Governor's Housing Task Force.