All posts by Big Sky Headlines

Head of North Dakota Commerce Department retains attorney as audit sparks criminal investigation

7 years ago   Featured, News, Regional News

The head of North Dakota’s Commerce Department has personally retained an attorney amid a criminal investigation into audit findings of potential state law violations.   Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer appeared Wednesday before the Legislature’s Audit and Fiscal Review Committee to answer lawmakers’ questions related to audit findings that agency officials mishandled appropriations and also skirted public Read More…

Brutal deaths of North Dakota mother, 4 kids in Mexico ‘heart-wrenching,’ says state senator who knows family

7 years ago   Featured, News, Regional News

MEXICO CITY — A Williston, N.D., woman and four of her children were among those killed during a series of brutal attacks in northern Mexico on Monday, Nov. 4, according to a family member’s Facebook post. The onslaught has sent shock waves through two countries and prompted impassioned responses from political leaders.   Kenny LeBaron Read More…

Wyoming lawmakers toy with overhauling utility commission to buoy coal

7 years ago   Featured, Politics, Regional Politics

Wyoming utility regulators may soon be in for a wild ride.   For decades, the Wyoming Public Service Commission has upheld an unequivocal mission: “provide safe and reliable service to customers at just and reasonable rates.”   It’s a mantra that state regulators repeatedly declared Tuesday when testifying before the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee.   Read More…

Montana State bucks national trends on growth, spending

7 years ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana News, News

In a decade when many American universities are struggling with falling enrollment, Montana State University’s student population has grown, along with its graduation numbers and spending on instruction.   MSU’s fall report card on itself also showed that while the Bozeman campus still has more tenured and tenure-track faculty than non-tenured or adjunct instructors, the Read More…

Wilson named Montanan of the Week by Sen. Daines

7 years ago   Featured, Montana News, News

A local businesswoman and activist in Havre has been recognized on the floor of the Senate. The office of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said he recognized Havre’s Dottie Wilson for her tremendous impact on the state of Montana in his “Montanan of the Week” this week. Each week Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting Read More…

Bullock releases first TV campaign ads in Iowa

7 years ago   Featured, Montana Politics, Politics

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) unveiled his first two television ads in Iowa Wednesday as the White House hopeful seeks to gin up support for his presidential bid in the first-in-the-nation caucus state. The ads seek to promote Bullock’s electability by promoting his ability to win statewide in a rural state that backed President Trump in 2016. The Bullock campaign told Read More…

Pro-Business House Democrat Loses Union Money as AOC Backs Rival

7 years ago   Featured, National Politics, Politics

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) has always been an unusual Democrat. Representing a district that Hillary Clinton carried by nearly 20 percentage points in the 2016 presidential election, Cuellar increasingly has sided with Republicans and business groups on workplace policy, not to mention on guns and abortion. That approach has served Cuellar well. He’s represented the district that Read More…

Anthony Scaramucci and Steve Bullock trade jabs over prank endorsement

7 years ago   Featured, National Politics, Politics

Anthony Scaramucci, President Donald Trump’s short-lived White House communications director-turned-detractor, saw his fame exploited Thursday in a campaign stunt by a Democratic presidential candidate. The stunt unfolded on Twitter when Steve Bullock — Montana’s governor and a long-shot candidate who’s failed to qualify for all but one Democratic primary debate this year — posted a Read More…

State of Idaho to assist with California wildfire efforts

7 years ago   Featured, News, Regional News

BOISE, Idaho — Governor Brad Little approved an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) agreement with California to assist with recovery efforts following wildfires. “Idaho has an amazing depth of emergency management professionals that are willing to step up and help our fellow Americans during their times of need,” Governor Little said. “Their skills and expertise Read More…

Tlaib joins fellow Squad members AOC and Omar in endorsing Sanders

7 years ago   Featured, Home Featured, National Politics, Politics

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) became the latest member of the influential “Squad” to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for president when she appeared at his campaign rally in Detroit on Sunday night. Why it matters: It’s a welcome boost for Sanders as polls indicate his popularity has slipped. Tlaib is the third member of the quartet of freshman Democratic lawmakers Read More…

Gov. Doug Burgum announces reelection campaign

7 years ago   Featured, Politics, Regional Politics

Gov. Doug Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford are running for reelection. The duo announced their campaign in a video released early Thursday morning, Oct. 24. “North Dakota is certainly headed in the right direction,” Burgum said during the two-minute plus video. “Jobs are up, wages are higher, unemployment is down, young people are staying.” Read More…

Governor Gordon appoints new Wyoming State Engineer

7 years ago   Featured, News, Regional News

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  Governor Mark Gordon announced today he has appointed Greg Lanning Wyoming State Engineer. Lanning takes over for Pat Tyrrell, who retired in January after serving as State Engineer for 18 years. The State Engineer is a position established by the Wyoming Constitution and has a term of six years. The State Engineer serves Read More…

Exxon Mobil seeks buyer for Montana refinery: sources

7 years ago   Featured, Montana News, News

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) is seeking a potential buyer for its roughly 60,000 barrel per day Billings, Montana refinery, according to three sources familiar with Exxon’s plans. Representatives for large refiners, including Valero Energy Corp (VLO.N) and Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC.N), have toured the refinery, two of the people said, speaking Read More…

Gianforte is strongest candidate

7 years ago   Featured, Opinion

For four terms I served at the Montana Legislature representing HD 36. One thing has become obvious; conservative legislation can be vetoed by a liberal governor. For eight years there has been conservative legislation passed by the House and Senate, but the measures were dead on arrival at the governor’s desk. In 2020 we are Read More…

Montana’s Small Business Development Centers Expand Access to Services and Rural Outreach

7 years ago   Business, Featured, Montana Business News

HELENA, Mont. – Three Small Business Development Centers are expanding access to services and outreach to rural areas by hiring additional staff to better serve small business owners and entrepreneurs across Montana. The Great Falls SBDC, based at the Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA), has hired a rural business adviser – a new position created to make business Read More…

U.S. Census plans to hire thousands of workers in Montana

7 years ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana News, News

According to the Montana Census Complete Count Committee, Montana will need thousands of U.S. Census workers to help complete the 2020 census. The census helps determine how much federal money Montana will receive for things like infrastructure, medical assistance, educational programs, and public assistance. Currently, Montana receives about $2 billion in federal funds each year Read More…

Helena Man Charged with Sex Crime

7 years ago   Featured, Montana News, News

A Helena man is accused of filming himself undressing a girl under the age of 16. 20-year-old Ching Man Chan has been charged with one count of sexual abuse of children , a felony. Chan allegedly filmed himself lifting the bra off a underage girl. His bond was set at $25,000 and he will make a plea Read More…

Wyoming legislators look at redistricting

7 years ago   Featured, Politics, Regional Politics

CASPER – At the close of the 2020 census, Wyoming’s lawmakers – like those in half the states around the nation – will sink their teeth into the arduous task of drawing up the legislative districts that will decide the landscape of the state’s elections over the next decade. The Joint Committee on Corporations, Elections Read More…