June 2026, The Anaconda Leader shuts down after run of 55 years

Summary: The Anaconda Leader, a twice-weekly local newspaper serving southwest Montana for more than five decades, announced it has closed, ending its print and online operations. The owner cited rising operational costs and inflation pressures that made continued publication unsustainable. The closure follows a wider national trend of small community outlets folding as advertising and subscription revenues decline and expenses rise. Staff layoffs and the loss of the paper mean reduced local news coverage for the region, leaving important civic reporting and community notices without a long-standing local platform.