All posts by Big Sky Headlines

Governor Gianforte Declares Flooding Disaster in Northwestern Montana

Governor Greg Gianforte has issued an executive order declaring a flooding disaster in northwestern Montana as historic rainfall and snowmelt swell local rivers. “Continued rainfall across northwestern Montana has flooded some of our communities, including the town of Libby,” Gianforte said. “This order will ensure resources are deployed quickly and effectively to protect Montanans and Read More…

President Trump Signs Executive Order on Politically-Motivated Proxy Advisors

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at curbing the influence of proxy advisory firms that critics say have prioritized political agendas over the financial interests of American investors. The move is intended to protect retirement savings in 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions from policies driven by “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) and “environmental, Read More…

Knudsen Urges AG Organizations to Deny Membership to Virginia AG-Elect Over “Abhorrent” Texts

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has called on the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) and the Attorney General Alliance (AGA) to deny membership to Virginia Attorney General-elect Jay Jones, citing a series of “abhorrent” text messages Jones sent in 2022 that expressed violent fantasies toward his political opponent and the opponent’s children. The texts Read More…

Montana Unemployment Insurance Reforms Save Businesses $23 Million

More than 32,000 Montana businesses will see a reduction in unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates in 2026, resulting in over $23 million in savings, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry announced. “By reforming our tax code and cutting back the thicket of red tape tying up job creators, we’re helping Montana businesses grow and Read More…

Armstrong Supports Revised WOTUS Definition,

Governor Armstrong voiced strong support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed revision to the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) definition, calling it a common-sense approach that benefits North Dakota farmers, ranchers, energy producers, and businesses. The proposed rule, which is open for public comment through Jan. 5, Read More…

Montana Supreme Court Sides With Liberal-Backed Judicial Initiative Group

In a ruling that has drawn sharp criticism from Montana conservatives, the state Supreme Court has sided with backers of a proposed ballot measure requiring judicial elections to remain nonpartisan, overturning the decision of Attorney General Austin Knudsen. The initiative, Constitutional Initiative 131 (CI-131), is sponsored by Montanans for Fair and Impartial Judges (MFIJ), a Read More…

House Republicans Introduce Bill to Lower Health Care Premiums, Expand Access

House Republicans unveiled the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, legislation aimed at reducing health care costs, expanding access, and increasing transparency across the U.S. health care system. The bill is expected to be considered by the House next week. “Nearly 15 years ago, the Democrats’ Unaffordable Care Act broke the American health Read More…

New Data Shows Stronger Outcomes for North Dakota Students

North Dakotans can now review updated school accountability reports and the first results from the state’s new ND A+ summative assessment, State School Superintendent Levi Bachmeier announced Friday. The information—published on the state’s Insights education portal—comes as part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires states to release annual accountability reports for every Read More…

President Trump Signs H.J. Res 133 and H.R. 1512 into Law

Two congressional bills, H.J. Res 133 and H.R. 1512, have been signed into law, advancing measures related to national heritage displays and U.S.-Taiwan relations. H.J. Res 133 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to approve unique, one-time arrangements for displays on the National Mall and the Washington Monument during the period from December 31, 2025, Read More…

Attorney General Jackley Joins National ‘Robocall Roundup’

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Monday that Phase 2 of the National Operation Robocall Roundup is underway, with warning letters issued to four telecommunications companies accused of allowing illegal robocalls to pass through their networks. Jackley is a member of the 51-state Attorneys General Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force, created in 2022 to combat Read More…

Montana Awards Over $8 Million in Federal Funding for Affordable Housing Projects

The Montana Department of Commerce announced that six organizations will share more than $8 million in federal funding through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The grants support the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing while bolstering the state’s economy with good-paying jobs. Read More…

Daines Announces 2025 Service Academy Nominees

U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) has announced his nomination of four Montana students seeking enrollment at the nation’s U.S. military academies. “As the son of a U.S. Marine, it is an honor and a privilege to nominate outstanding young Montanans to compete for an appointment to the United States service academies,” Daines said. “All of Read More…

SpaceX Eyes Late 2026 IPO

paceX has informed investors and financial institutions that it plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of 2026, according to a report by The Information on Friday. The rocket company, founded by Elon Musk, is reportedly considering a public listing of the entire company, which could include Starlink, its growing Read More…

Montana DOJ Warns Public About Fake County Jail Websites

The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is warning residents about scammers operating fraudulent county jail websites that target families of inmates in an effort to steal personal and financial information. OCP has received reports of a fake website, musselshellcountyjail.org, which impersonates the official Musselshell County Detention Center. The site falsely offers Read More…

Attorney General Labrador Honors Idaho ICAC Detectives

Attorney General Raúl Labrador recognized Detective Jared Mendenhall of the Idaho Falls Police Department and Detective Korey Payne of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office for achieving 100 combined arrests through the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The milestone highlights years of work protecting vulnerable children from online predators across the state. Both Read More…

Zinke, Veteran Lawmakers Introduce Resolution Condemning Democrat Calls for Military Disobedience

Western Montana Congressman and former Navy SEAL Commander Ryan Zinke, along with Representative Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and 16 other veteran lawmakers, introduced a resolution this week condemning several Democratic lawmakers for urging members of the U.S. military and intelligence community to independently judge and refuse orders from the Commander in Chief. The resolution specifically targets Read More…

Judge Clears Justice Department to Release Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts

A Florida federal judge on Friday authorized the U.S. Justice Department to release grand jury transcripts from its sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, potentially revealing new details about the late financier’s connections to high-profile individuals, including former President Donald Trump. https://bigskyheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MVD-office15.mp4 The Justice Department requested the unsealing after Congress, under Republican control, passed legislation Read More…

Volkswagen to Invest $186 Billion Through 2030

Volkswagen Group will invest 160 billion euros—approximately $186 billion—through 2030 as the automaker tightens its long-term spending plans in response to mounting challenges in its two largest markets, CEO Oliver Blume announced this week. The updated figure is part of Volkswagen’s annual rolling five-year investment plan and reflects a continued pullback from previous spending peaks. Read More…

U.S. Lawmakers Urge Google, Apple to Remove Apps Tracking Immigration Agents

Lawmakers on the House Committee on Homeland Security are pressing Google and Apple to remove mobile applications that allow users to track federal immigration officers, citing concerns that such apps endanger Department of Homeland Security personnel. In letters sent Friday to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook, committee leaders highlighted ICEBlock, an Read More…

Meta Strikes Multiple AI Deals with Major News Publishers

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, has entered into a series of commercial AI agreements with prominent news publishers, including USA Today, People Inc., CNN, Fox News, The Daily Caller, Washington Examiner, and Le Monde, the company announced Friday. The partnerships will allow Meta to provide “real-time” news and updates through its AI Read More…

Sheehy Introduces Bill to Protect Veterans from Overprescription at the VA

Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) has introduced the Written Informed Consent Act, a measure designed to ensure veterans are fully informed about the intended effects and potential risks of certain high-risk medications prescribed through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also aims to combat widespread overprescription within the VA system. “America’s veterans put their Read More…

Governor Gordon Emphasizes Economic Development as Key to Wyoming’s Future

Governor Mark Gordon has highlighted economic development as a central focus of his administration, stressing the importance of creating a climate that encourages business growth and job creation across Wyoming. “Economic development is truly economic growth. Wyoming’s government must foster an environment where individuals who create and build businesses can flourish,” Gordon said in his Read More…

Governor Gianforte Highlights Veteran Therapy Program in “12 Days of Giving”

On the fifth day of his annual “12 Days of Giving” campaign, Governor Greg Gianforte spotlighted Underwater Soldiers, a Montana nonprofit that provides therapeutic scuba diving for veterans while helping clean the state’s waterways. “Montana veterans have given so much to protect our freedoms and serve our communities,” Gianforte said. “Underwater Soldiers gives veterans a Read More…

Daines’ Bill Protecting Mothers Traveling With Breast Milk Signed Into Law

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines on announced that his bipartisan “BABES Enhancement Act” has been signed into law by President Donald Trump, marking a significant win for parents traveling with breast milk, formula, and other infant nutrition products. “I’m thrilled to see our bipartisan BABES Enhancement Act officially signed into law by President Trump,” Daines said. Read More…

Warner Bros Discovery to Sell Studio and Streaming Assets to Netflix in $72 Billion Deal

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has agreed to sell its iconic studio and streaming assets to Netflix (NFLX) for $72 billion, a blockbuster deal that will reshape Hollywood and create a vertically integrated media powerhouse. The deal ends a weeks-long bidding war with Paramount Skydance and Comcast, coming amid sweeping changes in the media industry as Read More…

MVD Rolls Out Next-Generation Driver Licenses and IDs

The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) unveiled a redesigned driver license and identification card today, featuring enhanced security elements aimed at reducing driver license fraud and identity theft. The new credentials, described as among the most secure in the nation, will begin issuance in December 2025. Current cards will remain valid until their expiration dates. Read More…

President Trump Announces Reset of Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards

President Donald J. Trump announced a major rollback of the Biden Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, calling the move a relief for American families facing rising costs. The reset lowers fuel economy requirements for passenger cars and trucks to levels achievable with conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles. The Biden-era standards, Trump argued, set Read More…

Daines’ Bills to Boost Funding for Montana’s Rural Communities Gain Bipartisan Support

U.S. Senator Steve Daines highlighted two key bills aimed at strengthening Montana’s rural counties during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing this week. Daines discussed his Small County PILT Parity Act, designed to ensure that counties with populations under 5,000 receive fair compensation through the federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Read More…

Little Signs Agreement to Double Timber Output

Governor Brad Little joined U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Director Dustin Miller today to renew and expand Idaho’s Shared Stewardship agreement with the federal government, aiming to increase the pace and scale of forest management across the state. “Idaho’s early leadership with the Good Neighbor Authority laid the Read More…

Supreme Court to Weigh Legality of Trump Move to Limit Birthright Citizenship

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide the legality of former President Donald Trump’s directive aimed at restricting birthright citizenship, a key and controversial part of his immigration agenda. The high court will consider an appeal from the Justice Department following a lower court’s ruling that blocked Trump’s executive order. The order instructed Read More…

Armstrong Eyes Jan. 21 for Tentative Special Legislative Session on Rural Health Funding

Gov. Kelly Armstrong today informed legislative leaders that he has tentatively set Jan. 21 for a special session of the 69th Legislative Assembly to act on anticipated federal funding for North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program. North Dakota submitted its funding application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Nov. 3. The Read More…

Assaults against ICE up 1,153% in 11 months

The Center Square) – Assaults against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are up 1,153% in 11 months, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As ICE officers continue to arrest the most violent criminals nationwide, U.S. citizens have increasingly obstructed their efforts, including physically attacking them and threatening to kill them, according to Read More…