All posts by Big Sky Headlines

UPS to cut 12,000 jobs

In response to a lower-than-projected revenue, UPS has declared a significant workforce reduction of 12,000 employees. The shipping company witnessed a 7.8% decline in revenue, dropping from $27 billion to $24.9 billion over the past year. Notably, UPS experienced a 7.4% decrease in shipping within North America and an 8.3% drop internationally. CEO Carol Tome Read More…

Montana State appoints Jason Browning as chief data officer

BOZEMAN – Montana State University announced today that it has hired Jason Browning as its first chief data officer. Browning, previously senior director of partner technology with the higher education consulting firm EAB, is a business intelligence and analytics expert with experience helping universities sort through data to make strategic decisions. He will begin his Read More…

Montana State professor to discuss rural education in provost’s lecture Feb. 13

BOZEMAN — An internationally recognized scholar will discuss rural education in the next installment of Montana State University’s 2023-24 Provost’s Distinguished Lecturer Series. Jayne Downey, professor in the Department of Education in the College of Education, Health and Human Development and director of the MSU Center for Research on Rural Education, will deliver “Rural Education Read More…

Noem says border crisis affects South Dakota

(The Center Square) – South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem told state lawmakers Wednesday the crisis at the southern border is affecting the state. Noem is exploring various legal options on how South Dakota can support Texas and force the federal government to do their job. She said she is consulting with the Adjutant General, the Read More…

(The Center Square) – The Employee Retention Tax Credit, designed to help businesses keep employees on the payroll during pandemic shutdowns, could end up costing taxpayers seven times more than initially projected. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said initial projections for the Employee Retention Tax Credit, or ERC, put the cost of the Read More…

Colorado SOS files brief with U.S. Supreme Court in Trump case

(The Center Square) – Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case involving former President Donald Trump’s removal from the 2024 Colorado Republican presidential primary ballot. The brief comes after Griswold recently petitioned the court to argue her side of the case along with attorneys for Trump Read More…

California proposes legalizing public drinking as public intox goes unprosecuted

(The Center Square) – A new California bill could allow for city and county-approved public drinking zones as some counties decline to enforce anti-public intoxication. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who introduced the bill, says these new “entertainment zones” could “give bars and restaurants and the surrounding businesses a much-needed boost.” In Los Angeles Read More…

More than 370,000 illegal border crossers in December most in US history

(The Center Square) – There were 371,036 foreign nationals reported to have illegally entered the U.S. nationwide in December, the largest number for the month in U.S. history. There were 302,034 foreign nationals who illegally entered the southwest land border, with the majority, 249,785, being apprehended between ports of entry, according to U.S. Customs and Read More…

U.S. House committee to file impeachment articles against Mayorkas

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) – After nearly a year of investigations and hearings, the U.S. House Committee of Homeland Security is preparing to impeach U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Committee chairman Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., has led the charge for impeachment, arguing Mayorkas is derelict Read More…

38 years since the Challenger disaster

The second space shuttle launched by NASA to enter space was the Challenger. Tragically, during its 10th mission on January 28, 1986, just 73 seconds after liftoff, the Challenger exploded, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members and bringing about lasting changes to NASA’s space program. Prior to this devastating incident, the Challenger Read More…

Johnson says House will vote on Mayorkas impeachment

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (The Center Square) – House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a letter Friday that the House will soon vote to make Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas the second Cabinet secretary in history to be impeached. “When we return next week, by necessity, the House Homeland Security Committee will move Read More…

Knudsen calls on Biden administration to protect ammunition manufacturing facility

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen spearheaded a coalition urging the Biden administration to maintain the operations of a significant commercial ammunition manufacturing plant. This call to action was prompted by requests from Democrat attorneys general to investigate the plant, a move that could disrupt production, diminish ammunition supply, and compromise national security. In a letter Read More…

Governor Gianforte Invests $8 Million to Improve Behavioral Health Crisis Response in Montana

Governor Greg Gianforte announced an investment of up to $8 million to improve community-based response services for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. As recommended by the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG) Commission, the investment represents the second allocation of $300 million in funding the governor devoted last year to reform and improve Read More…

25 Governors Issue Joint Statement Supporting Texas’ Constitutional Right to Self-Defense

A collective statement was issued by 25 Republican governors, expressing solidarity with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and affirming Texas’ constitutional right to self-defense. This unified declaration coincides with ongoing criticism from the Biden Administration towards Texas, coupled with a lack of action or acknowledgment of responsibility for the challenges at the Southern border. “President Biden Read More…

Montana Sets New Records for Employment, Labor Force in December

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana set new records for total employment and labor force in December, according to data compiled by Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). “More Montanans are working than ever before thanks to the hard work of job creators and Read More…

Burgum not seeking third term as North Dakota governor

(The Center Square) – North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said Monday he would not seek a third term. Burgum’s current term expires in December. He was first elected in 2016. “We’ve made incredible progress these past seven years, from record tax relief and historic investments in infrastructure, education and other priorities, to guiding our state Read More…

Idaho voters support school choice

(The Center Square) – A bill providing educational savings accounts for school choice failed last year to gain traction in the Idaho Legislature. Boise State University’s Eighth Annual Public Policy Survey indicates that might change in 2024. Idaho spends about $8,000 per student on K-12 education. The question posed by BSU to a  representative sample Read More…

Education policy based on facts – not emotion

There are 187 studies on impact of education choice – and the results are overwhelming By Chris Cargill | Mountain States Policy Center If you had these odds, you’d buy a lottery ticket. This is the week each year that we celebrate education choice. Those across the political spectrum have recognized the need to provide Read More…

Montana State students find research opportunities abound at inaugural event

BOZEMAN — Montana State University hosted its inaugural Undergraduate Research Fair on Monday, Jan. 22. The event, sponsored by MSU’s Office of Research and Economic Development, is designed to introduce students to on-campus research opportunities. “The Undergraduate Research Fair is important as it makes opportunities to participate in research more accessible to all students,” said Read More…

North Dakota Ag Commissioner explores biotechnology at UND

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring visited the UND Center for Innovation (CFI) on Friday, Jan. 12, before continuing on to explore the broader biotechnology ecosystem in Grand Forks. On Friday morning, Goehring toured portions of the CFI to learn about the Center and how it is organized. He met with Amy Whitney, the Center’s Read More…

UND to bring back journalism major

UND will reestablish a journalism major this year, exactly 100 years after first offering what became a popular and highly respected degree. Final approval having been granted from the North Dakota University System, the major will be offered in the Department of Communication, said Soojung Kim, associate professor and chair of the department. Graduates will Read More…