Producer Cole Grant worked at Worden's Market, a downtown convenience store with a killer wine selection in Missoula, Montana. It was monotonous and he sort-of hated it and eventually quit. But that's not Mark's story. Mark has worked there more than 20 years and is happy about it. Every day. With every customer. And it's not an act. You want to know what it's like to go through life as an actual optimist? This story is about that, plus it has great tape and is a lovely mix.

Caroline Keys and Nate Biehl share their original songs, inspired by small town newspaper police blotters, flight attendants and boats covered in snow. And first poems by Caroline’s young student writers inspired by fast food, Covid-19 and Rock Paper Scissors.

In our pilot episode, hosted by Cole Grant and Bree Zender, Cole introduces us to Donnie, a former drug-runner and addict who works at the rest stop. Not too long ago, he was arrested at a traffic stop across the interstate and that’s what started a completely new kind of life.

In this episode, our season finale, Words Out West’s own Jay Kettering writes about a mysterious relationship. Jay Kettering: The Position of Mona and Vi (short story) (dramatic reading by Missoula actors David Mills-Low, Rosie Ayers and Robin Rose) Two women are passing the time with casual conversation until the topic turns to the question of why they are sharing the same space.

Jad Abumrad, co-host and creator of Radiolab, visited Missoula for a couple reasons. "I was especially psyched to be here because I passed through here about 20 years ago, and it was an amazing time. And I have some really good friends here. So I’m here just to talk about the process of making radio, but also just to catch up with a few people,” Abumrad said.

Today through Saturday, the Salish Pend d’Oreille tribal community will be remembering their ancestors by retracing their steps. This Saturday will mark 125 years since the Bitterroot Salish were forcibly removed from the Bitterroot Valley, traveling three days to the Flathead Reservation in Arlee.

Montanans joined in organizing four of the estimated 200 events nationwide yesterday in support of the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Environmental and tribal organizations rallied in Poplar, Lame Deer, Whitefish and Missoula, where our Flathead Valley reporter Nicky Ouellet and Missoula reporter Cole Grant gathered these stories.

A bill in the Montana Legislature would allow Montanans to sell food out of their own kitchens, either directly to customers, or for community social events, like weddings or potlucks. Republican Representative Greg Hertz of Polson is carrying House Bill 352, or the "Montana Local Food Choice Act." "We cook food in our own kitchens every day for our family," says Hertz. "We have our neighbors over. It’s being done; no one’s getting sick."

Democratic Governor Steve Bullock says the number one concern he has with the Legislature’s proposed budget is the lack of funding for essential services. "That’s everything from senior and long term care, to how they’re funding higher education, to what had been done with child protective services," says Bullock.

HELENA — Lawmakers heard proposals Monday for infrastructure projects across the state, from upgrades to university system buildings to wildlife habitat programs. House Bill 5 allocates more than $50 million in federal and state money to infrastructure. The largest portion of that money – $13,324,000 – would go to securing land for the Habitat Montana program, which, among other things, encourages wildlife conservation among landowners.