Montana officially began implementing community engagement requirements for its Medicaid expansion program July 1, making the state one of the first in the nation to enforce the new rules, which stem from federal legislation signed into law last year. The requirements, known formally as community engagement requirements, mandate that most adults between the ages of Read More…
Medicare and Medicaid funding accounted for almost $12 billion of services provided through assisted living facilities, according to a new report released by the Government Accountability Office. The independent nonpartisan agency examined spending for services in assisted living facilities in 2024, the year with the most recently available data. The agency found $3.5 billion in Read More…
Microsoft announced layoffs Monday impacting 605 workers based out of Washington, part of a planned broader corporate restructuring that will eliminate 4,800 employees globally. According to the Washington Employment Security Department WARN database, the permanent job cuts were formally logged on Monday and are scheduled to take effect on Sept. 4. The 605-person filing represents the Read More…
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled the federal government can’t hold undocumented immigrants for more than 90 days without a bond hearing, rejecting a Trump administration policy that requires immigration agents to hold immigrants until they are deported. In 2-1 ruling, the three-judge panel based in New Orleans said the federal government Read More…
The Texas Stock Exchange commenced trading on Monday, kickstarting the first real test of one of the most well-funded new exchanges to launch in decades. The Texas Stock Exchange, a Dallas-based startup, is initiating a phased rollout to take place over the course of July. On Monday, the exchange opened to TXSE members, including approved Read More…
A Gallatin County man accused of strangling his now-deceased wife has been offered a plea deal that would result in no prison time, drawing public outrage and calls for the Montana attorney general to intervene — the latest controversy for a county attorney’s office already embroiled in a lawsuit over its refusal to cooperate with Read More…
The Justice Department announced charges against eight alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in two separate cases involving kidnappings and murders in Texas and Illinois, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche saying all eight entered the United States illegally between December 2021 and April 2024. In the Texas case, a grand jury Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced that $250,000 in grant funding has been awarded to two Montana communities to support public safety and development projects in coal-impacted areas, allocated by the Montana Coal Board. “Commerce is proud to support the people who live in Montana’s coal country,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “In the last Read More…
A former Powell County Sheriff’s Office captain and high school wrestling coach has been charged with sexual intercourse without consent involving a student, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced. John Austin Micu, 42, was charged Wednesday in Powell County District Court following a more than year-long investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a student and Read More…
Two hundred and fifty years after 56 delegates affixed their signatures to the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, the United States is marking its semiquincentennial — one of the rarest milestones a nation can reach — with a yearlong wave of celebrations, commemorations and reflection stretching from coast to coast. July 4, 2026 is the Read More…
Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced that a series of enforcement settlements with entities that failed to properly file required notices of business activity in Montana has added roughly $60,000 to the state’s Securities Fraud Restitution Assistance Fund in 2026. The fund provides financial assistance to Montana residents harmed in cases prosecuted Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced it will accept large philanthropic contributions of publicly traded stock to support Trump Accounts, the federal child investment program launching July 4 to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary. Under the new process, eligible philanthropic contributors may transfer approved publicly traded stock to Treasury, which will then distribute the Read More…
The U.S. Justice Department sued California and Virginia Wednesday over new gun laws that went into effect the same day. Both states used their Democratic trifectas – a Democratic governor and both legislative chambers under Democratic control – to pass more restrictive gun laws earlier this year that went into effect on July 1. California Read More…
A watchdog group wants the Department of the Interior to investigate whether the National Wildlife Federation misused federal grant money tied to political spending in Montana’s 2024 U.S. Senate race. The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) filed the complaint Thursday with the department’s inspector general. The complaint says the Bureau of Land Management Read More…
As Americans prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, there will be no shortage of fireworks, parades, speeches and reflections on our history. Those celebrations are appropriate. The signing of the Declaration of Independence remains one of the most consequential events in human history. Its ideas changed the world. Across the globe, they inspired movements Read More…
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources announced that the Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved $54.8 million in loans and grants for water, wastewater and solid waste projects across the state. The $54,856,749 total consists of $52,400,000 in low-interest loans, $2,000,000 in principal forgiveness and $456,749 in grants to be Read More…
The University of Montana recently selected Dr. Paul Lukacs to serve as interim vice president for research and creative scholarship. Starting July 2, he will take the reins of UM’s “R1” research enterprise, which tallied nearly $150 million in science expenditures in fiscal year 2025. Lukacs will serve as interim for one year, reporting directly Read More…
President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission delivered its final draft report to the president during an Oval Office presentation, capping a yearlong review of religious-liberty issues across education, healthcare, the military and the private sector. Chairman Dan Patrick, the Texas lieutenant governor, and Vice Chairman Ben Carson presented the 224-page report alongside other commission members. Trump Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce and North Dakota Information Technology have partnered to launch Dakota BOT, a new AI-powered chatbot designed to improve how citizens, businesses and visitors access information across ND.gov and affiliated state agency websites. Dakota BOT serves as a digital front door to state government, offering 24/7 support, multilingual assistance and Read More…
The Montana Lottery released sports wagering data for the week ending June 20, reporting a handle of $1,161,501, a payout of $955,500, gross gaming revenue of $206,001 and sales agent commissions of $34,845. The top three sports by share of total handle were baseball at 39.9%, soccer at 36.2% and MMA at 7.7%. The Montana Read More…
An Arizona woman pleaded guilty to attempting to steal more than $7.7 million in government funds by filing false tax returns with the IRS. According to court documents, Regina Durkin of New River, Ariz., conspired with others to defraud the United States by submitting false quarterly employment tax returns to the IRS. “No matter the Read More…
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision on Monday, ruled that states can accept and count mail-in ballots received after the federal Election Day. The decision comes out of the high court’s ruling in Watson v. RNC, a case challenging Mississippi’s acceptance of mail-in ballots up to five days after Election Day as long Read More…
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal by Robb Elementary students and teachers who argued failures by the Department of Public Safety and Uvalde County contributed to a botched response to the 2022 shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers. The court’s order, issued without comment, upheld a February ruling by the Read More…
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision on Monday, allowed President Donald Trump to fire Rebecca Slaughter, a member of the Federal Trade Commission. Trump fired Slaughter in March 2025. Under federal law, members of the FTC can only be fired for a certain cause, but Trump did not include a cause. Justices on Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit recently uncovered more than $1 million in fraudulent Medicaid claims and filed charges in two cases, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced. The investigations were part of the National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a federal effort to combat fraud, waste and abuse in taxpayer-funded programs. “I am Read More…
Seth Bodnar has spent his Senate campaign positioning himself as a red-state outsider unbeholden to party machinery, but the financial picture behind his candidacy tells a more complicated story than the independent label suggests. Bodnar has led the field in fundraising, pulling in more than $2 million since March, and has collected endorsements from prominent Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley’s office issued an official opinion clarifying that public school districts must follow state competitive bidding and design-build procurement laws when entering into construction contracts valued at $100,000 or more. The opinion states that districts may not use cooperative purchasing organizations to bypass those statutory requirements. “Open and fair bidding Read More…
Montana State University’s most prestigious scholarship was awarded to 22 high school graduates from across the nation and the world, including 13 students from Montana. The MSU Presidential Scholarship is awarded based on scholastic achievement, demonstrated leadership and exemplary public service. Recipients receive an annual stipend plus a tuition waiver, renewable for three additional years Read More…
Montana’s unemployment rate ticked down to 3.4% in May, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced, remaining below the national unemployment rate, which held steady at 4.3% over the month. “Since taking office, we’ve been focused on unleashing Montana’s economy to support business owners who create good-paying jobs, strengthen our workforce, and reduce barriers to employment,” Gianforte said. Read More…
Gov. Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of Cassidy Stalley as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, filling a vacancy created by the appointment of Justice Robert Gusinsky to the South Dakota Supreme Court. “Cassidy is a bright, talented and highly respected professional who is deeply passionate about serving South Dakota,” Rhoden said. Read More…
A grassroots group of Laurel residents is asking a state judge to halt all planning and construction of a proposed forensic mental health facility after the state purchased 114 acres of farmland for the project west of town. Laurel Citizens Advocating for Responsible Economic Development, known as C.A.R.E.D., a group that formed in January 2025, Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation applauded the U.S. Forest Service’s Montana Tri-Forest Federal Sustained-Yield Unit management plan, which is intended to support the state’s timber industry and improve forest health. “This is a key step to strengthen forest management and the infrastructure we rely on to keep our Read More…
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced Sen. Tim Sheehy’s bipartisan VA Home Loan Awareness Act as part of a larger package of housing legislation, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, sending the bill to President Trump’s desk. The measure is the first piece of legislation Sheehy introduced as a senator. “The VA Home Loan Read More…
Carlos Javier Padron, 36, an illegal alien from Venezuela, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs across the United States, a scheme known as “ATM jackpotting.” His co-defendant, Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba, 37, also an illegal alien from Venezuela Read More…
Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke celebrated the release of $53,889,068 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes funding for Montana counties, an increase of more than $7.3 million over 2025 disbursements. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Zinke said he played a major role in securing the funds. “Public Read More…
Montana Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar will remain unable to work from the PSC’s offices in Helena for now, after a federal judge denied his request for an order allowing him back into the building. The ruling means the commissioner, who represents Billings and much of south-central Montana, will continue participating in the regulatory body’s Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has awarded $600,000 through the Native American Small Business Support Program to help Native American-owned small businesses expand operations, strengthen competitiveness and create lasting economic impact across the state. The program was established through funding appropriated by the 69th Legislative Assembly and provides flexible financial assistance to Native American Read More…
The Department of War’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy announced the launch of an interactive public website tracking the department’s investments in domestic and allied supply chains, mapping more than $6.7 billion in Defense Production Act and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment funding made since 2015. The Investment Intelligence Read More…
After a long absence from politics, former legislator Jim Peterson has returned, seeking the limelight once again, this time to criticize the Montana Republican Party for amending its bylaws. You have probably never heard of Peterson, so here is a quick refresher. Jim Peterson is a former Senate Majority Leader and President, most famous for Read More…
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden’s anti-doxxing bills, House Bill 1084 and House Bill 1298, will take effect July 1. “Protecting our law enforcement officers and public servants from doxxing is of utmost importance,” Rhoden said. “They are on the frontlines every day, working hard to keep us strong, safe, and free, and they should never Read More…