All posts by Big Sky Headlines

Gianforte Pushes to Ease Business Equipment Tax Burden, Proposes Higher Exemption

As National Agriculture Week comes to a close, Governor Greg Gianforte is ramping up efforts to reform Montana’s business equipment tax, emphasizing its financial strain on small businesses, farms, and ranches. Speaking at a press conference, the governor reiterated his proposal to raise the tax exemption from $1 million to $3 million, a move aimed Read More…

Gov. Little Signs Medicaid Reform and Cost Containment Act

Governor Brad Little has signed House Bill 345, the Medicaid Reform and Cost Containment Act, reinforcing Idaho’s commitment to balancing healthcare access with fiscal responsibility. “We want Idahoans to become as self-sufficient as possible,” said Gov. Little during the bill signing. “House Bill 345 reinforces that goal while reasonably reeling in Medicaid spending so taxpayers Read More…

South Dakota Voters May Decide on Legislative Limits for Ballot Initiatives in 2026

he South Dakota Attorney General’s Office has released the final ballot explanation for a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voter approval for legislative changes to initiative and referendum procedures. The amendment, spearheaded by Rick Weiland of Sioux Falls, aims to ensure that any legislative modifications to citizen-led ballot initiatives and referendums are subject to Read More…

Titan Machinery Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Results for Fiscal 2025

Titan Machinery Inc. (Nasdaq: TITN), a leading network of full-service agricultural and construction equipment stores, today released its financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended January 31, 2025. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, Titan Machinery posted revenue of $759.9 million, down from $852.1 million in the same period last Read More…

Micron Reports Strong Q2 2025 Earnings

Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) announced its second-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings today, reporting $8.05 billion in revenue and record-breaking data center DRAM sales, fueled by robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Key Financial Highlights Revenue: $8.05 billion (down from $8.71 billion in Q1 but up from $5.82 billion year-over-year) GAAP Net Income: $1.58 billion Read More…

Bridger Aerospace Names Sam Davis as New CEO

Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc., one of the largest aerial firefighting companies in the United States, announced today that Sam Davis has been officially appointed as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 17, 2025. Davis had been serving as the interim CEO since July 2024, following the resignation of former CEO Timothy Read More…

Montana State researchers secure $2.5 million to combat microscopic threats to military vehicles

When the U.S. military deploys tactical vehicles to hot and humid climates, microbes can grow on surfaces inside and out, potentially compromising the performance of specialized paints and other protective coatings. These microbes can clump together to form communities called biofilms, and combatting them requires understanding what specific microbes comprise them, according to a research Read More…

The inconvenient truth about electric cars

“Electric cars aren’t pollution-free; they have to get their energy from somewhere.” – Alexandra Paul You’d have to have been asleep in a cocoon for the last decade to escape the doom and gloom heaped upon our energy dependent society by climateers and green energy advocates. The jury is in and then the jury is Read More…

Wyoming governor signs bill that bans foreign funding of ballot measures

(The Center Square) – Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday signed legislation that will ban foreign funding of ballot measures in the state. House Bill 337 prohibits non-U.S. citizens from funding any statewide initiative or referendum petition drive and require political action committees or other organizations that support or oppose such measures to file reports with the Read More…

Trump wants to stop FBI headquarters in Maryland

(The Center Square) – Sparks are flying once again over the plan to build the new FBI headquarters in Maryland, with President Donald Trump saying he plans to keep the headquarters in Washington, D.C. The president said he would “stop” building the new FBI headquarters in Maryland, falsely claiming the site is “three hours away” Read More…

Public health institutions need extreme transparency

Last week, President Trump appeared before a joint session of Congress to lay out a list of policy priorities his administration will pursue over the next three and a half years – one of which is to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). The slogan has become a favorite of moms and dads who are skeptical Read More…

Greenpeace-Energy Transfer lawsuit winding down

(The Center Square) – The long-anticipated North Dakota lawsuit between Energy Transfer and Greenpeace is winding down, with both parties resting their cases Thursday. Energy Transfer installed the Dakota Access Pipeline from 2016-2017 but was met with opposition in North Dakota by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The pipeline would cross through land and waterways Read More…

Montana State engineering students win regional competition

Six students from Montana State University’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering felt their hearts begin to pound as an announcer called each team to the stage in the order they placed at the Associated Schools of Construction’s Region 6 Competition in Reno, Nevada. Third place. Second place. “It’s now or never,” thought Max Demarais, a Read More…

Daktronics Announces Leadership Transition and Fiscal Q3 2025 Results

Daktronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: DAKT), a leading designer and manufacturer of dynamic video communication displays, has announced a major leadership transition alongside its fiscal third-quarter results for 2025. Reece Kurtenbach, who has served as Chairman, President, and CEO, will step down from his roles, transitioning into an advisory position to support the company’s digital transformation efforts. Read More…

Governor Armstrong Announces Application Period for State Band, Orchestra, and Choral Programs

Governor Kelly Armstrong has announced the opening of the application period for North Dakota’s Governor’s Official State Band/Orchestra Program and Choral Program for the 2025-2026 school year. School, community, and church bands, orchestras, and choirs across the state are invited to apply. The Governor and First Lady will select the two groups based on their Read More…

Applications open for Montana State’s $100K Venture Competition, set for April 24

Applications are open for Montana State University’s $100,000 Venture Competition, which is hosted annually by the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the MSU Blackstone LaunchPad. Semifinalists will be notified April 4 and will deliver virtual presentations to the judges the week of April 14. The selected finalists will then compete on April Read More…

Submissions Open for 2025 Montana Law Enforcement Appreciation Poster Contest

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, in partnership with the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) and Stockman Bank, has announced the opening of submissions for the 2025 Law Enforcement Appreciation Poster Contest. The contest invites elementary school students across Montana to create artwork that expresses their appreciation for law enforcement officers. Now in its fourth year, the Read More…

Pennant Group to Present at 2025 Oppenheimer Annual Healthcare Conference

The Pennant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PNTG), a leading provider of home health, hospice, and senior living services, announced its participation in the 2025 Oppenheimer Annual Healthcare MedTech & Services Conference. The event is scheduled to take place on March 18, 2025. Pennant’s leadership team, including Chief Executive Officer Brent Guerisoli, Chief Financial Officer Lynette Walbom, Read More…

DHS ends collective bargaining for some TSA workers, citing productivity concerns

(The Center Square) – Tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees may lose union privileges after the Department of Homeland Security announced Friday it is ending a collective bargaining agreement with the TSA. The decision strips collective bargaining power from unionized Transportation Security Officers (TSO) in particular, who are responsible for screening passengers, Read More…

Bridger Aerospace Announces Schedule for Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BAER, BAERW), one of the nation’s largest aerial firefighting companies, has announced that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, after market close. The company’s management will host an investor conference call on the same day at Read More…

Attorney General Jackley Honors 45 New Law Enforcement Officers at Graduation Ceremony

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley recognized 45 new law enforcement officers graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program in Pierre on Friday, March 7. “This is an important day for the recruits, their families, and their departments,” said Attorney General Jackley. “South Dakota just became even safer today with our newest officers.” The Read More…

State resolutions demand federal fiscal restraints

With the federal government facing a debt of $36 trillion and realizing that 49 out of 50 states have to balance their budgets, Americans are losing patience with the ability of Congress to enact meaningful fiscal discipline. This is why resolutions have been introduced in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming this year calling for a Convention of the Read More…

Attorney General Knudsen Leads 21-State Coalition Urging Congress to Ban China-Based AI Platform on Government Devices

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,” which would ban the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese-based artificial intelligence platform, on all government devices. In a letter sent to congressional leadership on Thursday, Attorney General Knudsen emphasized Read More…

Fed Expected to Cut Rates in June as Job Growth Shows Early Weakness

The Federal Reserve is preparing for its March 18-19 policy meeting amid a strong overall labor market, though signs of potential weakening are emerging. This could place the U.S. central bank in a challenging position if inflation remains elevated and tariffs from the Trump administration continue to put upward pressure on prices. In February, U.S. Read More…

Grand Forks County Partners with Schroeder Middle School for Civics Education and Career Day

Grand Forks County is strengthening its commitment to civics education through an ongoing collaboration with Schroeder Middle School. Judges and court staff have been engaging with eighth-grade History and North Dakota Studies students, offering quarterly presentations on the Constitution and government structure. In December 2024, Northeast Central Judicial District Presiding Judge Don Hager and Kelly Read More…

North Dakota Commits $20 Million to Expedite UND Railroad Underpass Project

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) will allocate $20 million in state funding to accelerate the completion of a long-planned railroad underpass near the University of North Dakota (UND) campus, Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced today during a meeting with Grand Forks officials. The project aims to improve traffic flow and safety by constructing an Read More…

Trump admin ends $400 million to Columbia University for allowing antisemitism

(The Center Square) – The Trump administration announced Friday that $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University would be revoked because of the university’ alleged ongoing tolerance of anti-semitic protests on campus. Columbia University and a few other schools became the center of controversy after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks on Israel Read More…

Governor Gianforte Champions Property Tax Relief for Small Businesses

At a press conference held at Central Plumbing, Heating, Excavation in Great Falls, Governor Greg Gianforte discussed his proposed tax cuts aimed at delivering significant property tax relief for Montana homeowners and small businesses, specifically through the Homestead Rate Cut. “Through the Homestead Rate Cut, we can provide permanent property tax relief, giving Montanans more Read More…

Senate Ethics Committee Investigates Sen. Ellsworth’s Contract

The Senate Ethics Committee convened its first witness testimonies on Friday as part of its investigation into Sen. Jason Ellsworth’s alleged conflict of interest. The inquiry centers on a six-figure state-funded contract Ellsworth arranged without disclosing his long-standing personal relationship with the vendor. A legislative audit in February found that he had structured the contract Read More…