An angler ice fishing for trout on Island Park Reservoir on January 3, 2026, unexpectedly caught a 5-inch Yellow Perch, a species that does not belong in the reservoir. The angler reported the catch immediately to the Citizens Against Poaching hotline. Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officers met the angler on the ice and confirmed Read More…
The Montana Department of Administration (DOA) announced a leadership change at the Office of Public Defender (OPD) today, naming Koan Mercer as the agency’s new director. Mercer will replace Brett Schandelson, who is stepping down after nearly eight years with the office. “Schandelson’s work during his time at OPD was highly impactful and effective,” DOA Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined Johnson Metal Works in Bozeman to celebrate the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities that prepare Montana students for high-demand, well-paying careers. “Apprenticeships open doors for Montanans to learn valuable skills, earn while they learn, and step directly into rewarding careers,” Gianforte said. “Thanks to employers like Johnson Metal Works, we are connecting Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen has appointed Anne Dormady as the new administrator of the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA), following the retirement of former administrator Joel Wendland. Dormady previously served as bureau chief for the Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Crime Information Bureau. “I am proud to appoint Anne to lead the Montana Law Enforcement Read More…
in recognition of National Radon Action Month, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is encouraging residents to test their homes for radon by offering discounted radon test kits throughout January. The kits, which typically cost between $12 and $40, are being made available at a reduced price to help Montanans assess radon levels in Read More…
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced that thousands of Montana investors will receive more than $160,000 in restitution following enforcement actions against several national brokerage firms accused of charging unreasonable commissions on certain equity transactions. The cases involve small principal equity trades conducted between May 2020 and the end Read More…
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown issued a statement following the Montana Supreme Court’s dismissal of a complaint filed against Attorney General Austin Knudsen, calling the decision a reaffirmation of constitutional principles and the separation of powers. In his statement, Brown said the court’s ruling confirmed that the complaint was Read More…
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) has confirmed that an animal from a Gallatin County livestock herd within Montana’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) tested positive for brucellosis, marking the second detection of the disease in Montana livestock in 2025. State officials said the affected herd has been placed under quarantine and an epidemiological investigation is Read More…
North Dakota has been awarded $199 million in federal funding to support the first year of a new statewide Rural Health Transformation Program aimed at strengthening health care delivery in rural communities, Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced today. The funding, awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is part of a five-year initiative Read More…
Warren Buffett, one of the most influential investors in history, has retired as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway, marking the end of a more than six-decade run that reshaped American business and investing. Buffett, 95, officially stepped down as CEO at the start of the year, handing day-to-day leadership of the Omaha-based conglomerate to Read More…
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon praised the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s finalized Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA), saying the decision affirms Wyoming’s authority over wildlife management and reflects years of collaborative work between the state and federal officials. Gordon received the Record of Decision (ROD) for the plan, which governs management of greater Read More…
(The Center Square) – Democratic lawmakers criticized President Donald Trump’s announcement of land strikes against Venezuela and leader Nicolas Maduro’s capture. In a post to social media, Trump announced the U.S. carried out a “large scale strike” against Venezuela, capturing Maduro and his wife. The two are in U.S. custody and charged with “narco-terrorism conspiracy, Read More…
(The Center Square) – As more is revealed about the potential daycare fraud within the Somali community in Washington state and the Department of Children, Youth & Families scrambles to respond, one large daycare provider is sharing his frustrations with The Center Square. On Monday, The Center Square visited several Somali-run home daycares in Federal Way, but Read More…
(The Center Square) – Following U.S. strikes against Venezuela resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Saturday the Maduros have been indicted in the Southern District of New York and will be tried on U.S. soil. In a social media post, Bondi confirmed Maduro and Read More…
The Montana Supreme Court has rejected a recommendation that Attorney General Austin Knudsen be temporarily suspended from office, ruling that the misconduct proceedings against him violated his due process rights. In a 149-page decision issued Wednesday, the court concluded a five-year legal dispute rooted in a broader separation-of-powers conflict between Montana’s legislative and judicial branches. Read More…
2025 was a historic year for Montana. Tim Sheehy, a former Navy Seal, joined me in the U.S. Senate, along with Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke in the U.S. House. Working together, we’ve made major strides advancing Montana priorities, from increasing our energy dominance, protecting our public lands, and supporting farmers, ranchers, veterans, and working Read More…
Wall Street finished the first full trading week of 2026 on a mixed note, with major U.S. indexes posting modest losses for the week as investors digested the end of the holiday trading lull and looked ahead to key economic data and corporate news. Stocks start the year with modest gains but weekly lossesThe Dow Read More…
When the Montana Supreme Court stripped identifying information from more than a thousand convicted sexual and violent offenders, including 90 classified as Tier 3 the highest risk to the public, it didn’t just rewrite our registry laws. It made a conscious decision to protect criminals at the expense of our communities. The court’s ruling in Read More…
The state of Montana has revoked the medical license of Dr. Thomas Weiner, the former director of St. Peter’s Health Cancer Treatment Center, following findings that he harmed patients through unnecessary treatments and violated professional standards of care. The Adjudication Panel of the Montana Board of Medical Examiners voted unanimously last week to revoke Weiner’s Read More…
The Wyoming Department of Transportation has launched an online, self-guided public meeting as part of its update to the Statewide Rail Plan, giving residents and stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the process and provide feedback. The online meeting is open now and will remain available through Jan. 31, 2026, and can be accessed Read More…
Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Friday welcomed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ release of its final Environmental Impact Statement on the Dakota Access Pipeline, which recommends maintaining pipeline operations and reinstating the easement allowing the line to cross Lake Oahe. In a statement, Armstrong said the decision marks a significant step toward ending what he Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has asked a circuit court to order two companies to stop what he calls deceptive advertising related to abortion pills and abortion services in the state. Jackley filed a motion Monday in Hughes County Circuit Court seeking a preliminary or permanent injunction against Mayday Medicines Inc., doing business as Read More…
The Montana Lottery on Friday announced the winning numbers for this year’s Montana Millionaire game, which awarded five $1 million prizes. The winning ticket numbers are: #1: 200837 #2: 315500 #3: 387095 #4: 582688 #5: 589431 Players holding winning tickets are encouraged to begin the claims process by visiting the Montana Lottery’s website at montanalottery.com/claim-your-prize. Read More…
The University of Montana Western has appointed Dr. Estee Aiken as interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, effective Dec. 27, 2025, university officials announced. Aiken will succeed Dr. Brian Elliott, who has served in the interim role for the past seven months. University leaders thanked Elliott for his service and leadership during a Read More…
(The Center Square) – A limited ban on stock trading by Congress might get a vote next year after a 2012 law did not do enough to stem the practice that critics say is legal insider trading. The Center Square has been investigating the trades of lawmakers on key committees, finding trades that raise questions Read More…
(The Center Square) – With Christmas approaching, the coming week will be light on fresh economic data. That does not mean markets – or policymakers – are flying blind. Last week’s inflation and labor market reports, while noisy, still offer important clues about where the economy stands as the year comes to a close. The Read More…
(The Center Square) – Wyoming lawmakers passed legislation to expand education savings accounts and property tax protections in 2025. However, the legislature remained divided on substantial spending increases to boost particular school capital construction projects. The Club for Growth Foundation reviewed 875 floor votes in the Wyoming legislature, with a specific focus on 19 votes Read More…
Farmers and ranchers across western Montana are invited to participate in Better Together: A Wellness Series for Farmers and Ranchers, a free, in-person workshop series made possible through a newly awarded U.S. Department of Agriculture Western Regional Agricultural Stress Assistance Program grant. The series is led by MSU Extension in Missoula County in partnership with Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced his approval of the 406 JOBS Year One Work Plan, a comprehensive roadmap developed by the State Workforce Innovation Board aimed at modernizing Montana’s workforce development system. “Government usually struggles to move at the speed of business, but 406 JOBS is proving that wrong,” Gianforte said in a statement. “We launched Read More…
U.S. stock markets delivered a strong holiday-week performance as major indexes climbed and closed at or near record highs ahead of Christmas, even as trading volumes were light during the shortened session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both hit fresh record closing levels midweek, part of a broad advance across equities Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte has appointed Eric Strauss as director of the Montana Department of Corrections, with Strauss set to assume the role on Jan. 6. The appointment follows the announcement in October that current DOC Director Brian Gootkin was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as U.S. marshal for the District of Montana. Read More…
“Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.” (John Fitzgerald Kennedy) World War I is considered the most important event of the 20th century. Just about everything that occurred worldwide was a result of WWI: The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, World War II, the Holocaust, and the atomic bomb. Read More…
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines joined Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., in leading a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice urging the agency to adopt Congress’s intent behind a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that eliminated the $200 National Firearms Act excise tax on certain firearms and accessories. In the letter, the lawmakers Read More…
President Donald J. Trump on signed a presidential memorandum aimed at securing the radio spectrum needed to ensure American leadership in the development of sixth-generation, or 6G, wireless technology. The memorandum directs federal agencies to begin immediate planning to relocate government systems currently operating in the 7.125–7.4 gigahertz band, with the goal of clearing the Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen on filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging the ridesharing and delivery company engaged in unfair and deceptive practices related to its Uber One subscription service. The lawsuit was filed in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission, 22 states, and the District of Columbia. It raises concerns about Uber’s enrollment, billing Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 26-state coalition of attorneys general in requesting a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into two climate activist organizations with alleged ties to China, citing potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In a letter sent Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Read More…
Montana Highway Patrol troopers conducted a multi-day interdiction operation in St. Regis earlier this month aimed at combating criminal activity and removing illicit drugs from the community. The operation ran from Dec. 7 through Dec. 11 and involved MHP’s Criminal Interdiction Team (CIT) and Strategic Enforcement Traffic Team (SETT), working in partnership with the United Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ action to bar “sex-rejecting” transgender procedures for minors has met with approval from groups that aim to protect children from harmful ideology, with some calling the move “long overdue,” stating that taxpayers should not be forced to pay for procedures that lack proven Read More…
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines on led a letter to major airline executives urging them to increase flight options from Montana to Nashville, Tennessee, ahead of the FCS National Championship Game. Daines was joined by Sen. Tim Sheehy and U.S. Reps. Ryan Zinke, R-MT-01, and Troy Downing, R-MT-02, in sending the letter to the CEOs of Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced that President Donald J. Trump has approved Montana’s request for a presidential emergency declaration to help the state respond to severe flooding in northwestern Montana. “Thanks to President Trump’s quick response, Montana is securing the additional resources our communities need to respond to this emergency,” Gianforte said in a statement. “While Read More…