A wave of new economic data is pointing to broad-based strength across the American economy, with improvements in housing, manufacturing, consumer confidence, and the labor market. Housing New residential construction surged last month to its highest level in more than a year, reflecting strong momentum in expanding housing supply. Home prices declined on an annual Read More…
Montana has topped the nation in year-over-year increases in single-family home permits, according to a new report from the National Association of Home Builders. The Washington, D.C.-based trade association, which represents over 140,000 members in the residential construction industry, reported that seven states recorded year-over-year increases in single-family permits in January. Gains ranged from 25.5 Read More…
U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) have introduced the China-Africa Mining Transparency Act of 2026, a bipartisan bill aimed at exposing China’s use of forced labor, child labor, and environmental abuse in critical mineral mining operations across Africa. “As we restore American energy dominance and onshore critical mineral production, it is imperative Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has invoked supervisory control over Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell, following her failure to issue a memorandum clarifying that Gallatin County may share confidential criminal justice information (CCJI) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement functions. On April 2, Attorney General Knudsen sent a letter to Read More…
A wave of new economic data is pointing to broad-based strength across the American economy, with improvements in housing, manufacturing, consumer confidence, and the labor market. Housing New residential construction surged last month to its highest level in more than a year, reflecting strong momentum in expanding housing supply. Home prices declined on an annual Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced that the North Dakota Development Fund Inc. (NDDF) has expanded its eligibility criteria to include non-primary sector businesses. The change is intended to open financing opportunities for more rural businesses and community organizations that previously did not qualify for support. The updated guidelines allow for-profit businesses, specific nonprofits Read More…
sophomore in Montana State University’s Honors College double-majoring in cell biology and neuroscience and biochemistry was recently accepted to the highly selective University of Virginia Law School Roadmap Scholars program. Neva Clark is one of 12 students nationwide admitted to the program and the first to be accepted from MSU. The program by the top-tier Read More…
A Pakistani national has pleaded guilty to operating an international human smuggling network that charged migrants as much as $40,000 each to be illegally transported into the United States, the Justice Department announced. Abbas Ali Haider, 49, of Sialkot, Pakistan, operated two fake Pakistan-based companies — Diamond TV World Productions and Multimedia Advertising Ltd. — Read More…
U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) have introduced a bipartisan resolution commemorating May 5th, 2026, as a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. “On this year’s National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, we remember with a heavy heart all those who have Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) at a press conference in Washington, D.C. to support the Trump Administration’s efforts to strengthen the Second Amendment and reduce burdens on law-abiding gun owners. “Today is a day of celebration for lawful gun Read More…
U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) have introduced the China-Africa Mining Transparency Act of 2026, a bipartisan bill aimed at exposing China’s use of forced labor, child labor, and environmental abuse in critical mineral mining operations across Africa. “As we restore American energy dominance and onshore critical mineral production, it is imperative Read More…
U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with Congressmen Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and Troy Downing (MT-02), sent a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation requesting funding to repair the St. Mary Diversion Dam and Canal in northwestern Montana. The delegation is urging the Bureau of Reclamation to consider the St. Mary Diversion Dam Read More…
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept—it is already shaping how Americans live, work, and access essential services. From lowering healthcare costs to improving housing markets and streamlining everyday transactions, AI holds enormous promise for consumers. But realizing those benefits depends on one critical factor: a clear, consistent national approach to regulation. Without it, Read More…
Rail transportation is the backbone of the American economy, and a proposed $85 billion merger threatens to concentrate market power in an already highly consolidated industry in the hands of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. The consequences will ripple across the economy, raising transportation costs, weakening service, and squeezing industries that depend on rail, from Read More…
As everyone expected, a lawsuit was filed on April 9, 2026, in Klickitat Superior Court challenging the unconstitutional income tax adopted this year in Washington. The lead attorneys are former state Attorney General Rob McKenna, a former Democratic state lawmaker and Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge, and Jackson Maynard of the Citizen Action Defense Fund. Discussing the Read More…
200 years ago, the Luddites destroyed textile looms and cropping machines in a vain effort to resist technological innovation. Now, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) are trying to do the same thing with the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act. Or at least they’re acting the part of modern-day Luddites to secure political control over Read More…
Bridger Photonics, the global leader in emissions detection and intelligence, has announced the launch of Bridger Command™, an interactive emissions management platform designed to help oil and gas operators turn emissions data into faster, more confident decisions. Oil and gas operators make thousands of decisions daily across operations, maintenance, safety, regulatory, and capital planning. Over Read More…
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported net earnings attributable to shareholders of $10.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, more than double the $4.6 billion reported in the same period a year ago, according to the company’s quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2026. The results were driven by strong Read More…
Spirit Airlines announced on May 2 that it was suspending all operations after years of financial hardships, compounded by a recent spike in fuel prices, leaving travelers scrambling for alternative flights and refunds. All Spirit flights have been canceled and the airline’s customer service is no longer available. “For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines Read More…
Wall Street capped a strong week with fresh all-time highs on Friday, as upbeat earnings from Apple and hopes for a resolution to the U.S.-Iran conflict helped push major indexes higher for a fifth consecutive week. The Nasdaq led the way, surpassing the 25,000 level and closing at 25,114.44, a new record. The S&P 500 Read More…