The Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) and the Missoula County Attorney’s Office have charged an Idaho man with conspiracy to defraud investors, including elderly Montanans, through a scheme tied to cryptocurrency investments. According to charging documents, Shawn Cutting, an Idaho resident, along with two unidentified co-conspirators — one from Idaho and one from Read More…
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) announced Wednesday the filing of a new lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act (NFA), seeking to eliminate registration requirements for certain firearms. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas under case number 2:25-cv-00223, the case — Jensen v. ATF — names the Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 20 states in backing President Donald Trump’s deployment of federal and National Guard forces to Portland, Oregon, in response to violent protests and threats against federal officers. The coalition filed an amicus brief Wednesday in the case State of Oregon and the City of Portland Read More…
The Montana Department of Administration announced Wednesday that Brett Schandelson, Director of the Office of Public Defender (OPD), will step down from his position effective November 19, 2025. Schandelson, who has served the agency for nearly eight years, began his tenure as Development and Operations Bureau Chief before being appointed Director in 2022. During his Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and the Montana Chamber of Commerce will host the 2nd Annual Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit on Thursday, October 16, in Bozeman, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and energy experts to focus on the theme of unleashing American-made energy in Montana. “With rising demand on our energy grid, Montana must continue Read More…
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Kurt Alme to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, returning the Great Falls native to a post he previously held from 2017 to 2020. A seasoned prosecutor and respected public servant, Alme brings decades of experience in both state and federal law enforcement. His confirmation drew strong Read More…
Republicans in Congress have voted to overturn a Biden administration rule that blocked new federal coal leases in the Powder River Basin of eastern Montana, marking a significant shift in national energy policy and a victory for coal-producing states. The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to reverse Read More…
“Dependency on the federal government is nothing to celebrate, it can come at a deep cost to taxpayers and our state’s sovereignty.” I repeat often the mantra that there are no free lunches in government. At the end of the day, all government spending must eventually be paid for by the taxpayer in the form Read More…
The big banks are at it again. They enjoy tremendous market power over American consumers, and between government regulation and the shift to digital payments, it’s nearly impossible to function without a bank account. You can barely pay with cash for much of anything anymore. And checking accounts are notoriously sticky – anyone who has Read More…
As many small businesses struggle to find and retain qualified workers, several states across the country have implemented government-run systems to pay unemployment to individuals who voluntarily walk off the job to go on strike. Unemployment benefits for striking workers create an incentive for employees to abandon their responsibilities without negative consequences like termination or Read More…
Montana State University is a key player in launching a new AmeriCorps program designed to bolster the community health workforce in Montana. After nearly a year of planning, the Community Health Corps Montana program will kick off in January 2026. In its first year, the program will support 14 AmeriCorps service members paired with around Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined thousands of students and community members at Montana State University this week for a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event honoring the late Charlie Kirk, urging attendees to continue Kirk’s mission of faith, freedom, and love of country following his assassination last month. More than 2,800 MSU students and several hundred Montanans Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced that more than $1.8 million in grant funding has been awarded to six Montana communities to support critical public safety and infrastructure projects in coal-impacted areas. The funding comes from the Montana Coal Board, which assists local governments and schools in addressing the impacts of coal development and energy Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte is celebrating a major investment to expand the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, ensuring that Montana’s veterans and their families continue to have a lasting place of honor. “We have a solemn responsibility to honor and remember the veterans who have served our country and passed on,” Gov. Gianforte said. “With this Read More…
North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler was confirmed Friday by the U.S. Senate to serve as Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education, a top leadership role overseeing federal policy for the nation’s K-12 schools. “I am honored, humbled, and incredibly excited to have received this Read More…
(The Center Square) – Vice President JD Vance is calling for Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones to withdraw from Virginia’s Nov. 4 election after private text messages leaked in which Jones talked about shooting former House Speaker Todd Gilbert. The messages, first reported by National Review, include Jones writing in 2022 that Gilbert would Read More…
Before bear spray, encounters between people and bears often ended in bullets. That changed when graduate student Carrie Hunt developed the life-saving deterrent at the University of Montana in the 1980s. Over 40 years later, bear spray is one of the most important tools for human-wildlife coexistence. https://bigskyheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MVD-office15.mp4 Hunt grew up in Chile, where she Read More…
In a recent op-ed, Rep. John Fitzpatrick rushed to defend Montana’s broken judicial election system dismissing conservative reforms as “malignant” threats to independence. But let’s cut through the spin: this is just another establishment hack protecting the system that keeps power in the hands of partisan liberals. Ironically, these “malignant” threats were support by Fitzpatrick’s Read More…
(The Center Square) – Iowa’s largest school district is holding an emergency meeting Saturday night after its superintendent was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Des Moines agents. ICE arrested Des Moines Public School Superintendent Ian Andre Roberts on Friday. A citizen of Guyana, Roberts has a criminal record and has been living in the Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Energy will be returning to American taxpayers $13 billion in “unobligated wasteful spending” that was originally intended for former President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. In response, Larry Behrens from Power the Future told The Center Square that “by returning $13 billion, the Department of Energy under President Read More…
Two University of Montana accounting students recently won national scholarships geared toward outstanding graduates considering careers in auditing. Ella Pheifer and Brandi Ashford each earned a $15,000 scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. They were among a select group from across the country to receive this recognition for the 2025-26 academic year. Pheifer Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, joined by 15 other state attorneys general, announced Wednesday the launch of an investigation into major technology companies over what they allege are misleading claims about being powered entirely by renewable energy. In a letter sent to executives at Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon, Knudsen said the companies’ reliance on Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte on Monday welcomed a delegation from the Taiwan Flour Millers Association (TFMA) to Montana for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that strengthens the state’s long-standing trade relationship with Taiwan. “For over forty years, Montana and Taiwan have enjoyed a truly remarkable friendship and trade relationship, built on a shared Read More…
Senator Tim Sheehy (R–Mont.) visited Three Forks and Manhattan to host town halls and meet with local students to discuss leadership, service, and opportunities available through the United States Service Academies. Sheehy, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former Navy SEAL officer, told students that attending a service academy can open doors to Read More…
Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the Montana Auditor’s Office, also known as the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI), denied millions of dollars in proposed insurance rate increases, shielding tens of thousands of Montanans from higher premiums. During the 12-month period, the agency’s Insurance Rates Bureau reviewed and closed 3,551 insurance rate Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Energy will be returning to American taxpayers $13 billion in “unobligated wasteful spending” that was originally intended for former President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. In response, Larry Behrens from Power the Future told The Center Square that “by returning $13 billion, the Department of Energy under President Read More…
(The Center Square) – A watchdog group says the U.S. Department of Education ignored a federal court order on the Biden administration’s expansion of Title IX protections and is dragging its feet on a report about it. Empower Oversight said a whistleblower came forward showing the Department’s Office for Civil Rights continued to process complaints Read More…
This week in the stock market was marked by a tug-of-war between optimism about rate cuts and caution sparked by strong economic data and political risk. Major indexes briefly flirted with new highs, but volatility crept back in as investors weighed mixed signals. Rally Fueled by AI Pushes Markets to Records Early in the week, Read More…
Montana’s First Congressional District, giving residents in rural communities the opportunity to meet with staff for help on a range of federal matters. The mobile office hours are designed to assist constituents with issues involving federal agencies, grant applications, permitting, and other government services. Staff can also provide guidance on passports and visas, veterans’ affairs, Read More…
Less than a week after launching his Unleashing American-Made Energy Task Force, Governor Greg Gianforte announced the 20 members appointed to guide Montana’s energy future. “Montana’s future and the prosperity of our people require access to affordable and reliable energy,” Gianforte said. “Just as important, our nation’s security requires us to be not only energy Read More…
Montana State University and the Downtown Bozeman Association will host the university’s 2025 Homecoming pep rally Friday, Sept. 26. The event will kick off at 6 p.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Willson Avenue in downtown Bozeman. Head coach Brent Vigen and the 2025 football captains will help rally the crowd along with Read More…
Students at Morning Star School in Bozeman had an unusual start to their Friday morning: a visit from Governor Greg Gianforte and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. McMahon is traveling to all 50 states as part of her “Returning Education to the States” tour, an initiative aligned with President Donald Trump’s goal of shifting Read More…
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to continue its investigation into imports of unwrought palladium from Russia, ruling there is reasonable indication that the U.S. mining industry is being harmed by unfairly priced and subsidized Russian imports. The decision follows a letter last month from Montana’s congressional delegation urging the Trump administration to Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Wednesday that five people, including a former correctional officer and two current inmates, have been indicted for transporting contraband into the South Dakota State Penitentiary. “Transporting illegal items into the prison makes the facility less safe for staff and inmates,” Jackley said. “We will not tolerate such activity Read More…
Senator Steve Daines has introduced the Equal Campus Access Act of 2025, legislation aimed at ensuring public colleges and universities do not discriminate against religious student organizations. Daines said the measure is designed to safeguard religious liberty for students of faith, requiring schools that receive federal funding to treat religious groups the same as any Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 27-state coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down California’s ban on firearm magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The group of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in Virginia Duncan, et al. v. Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California, arguing that the Ninth Read More…
Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted Thursday in favor of a short-term measure to keep the federal government funded and avoid a shutdown, as Congress works to finalize annual spending bills. The measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), extends government funding through November 21, giving lawmakers roughly seven more weeks to complete the 12 Read More…
(The Center Square) – Texas led the U.S. in job growth over the year in August and broke employment records again last month, according to the latest employment data. Texas reported 14,347,700 total nonfarm jobs in August, adding 17,600 positions over the month and 195,600 jobs over the year. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate was Read More…
Across our region, policymakers have been taking action that significantly moves the economic needle: cutting waste and trimming red tape. It’s a key reason Idaho, Montana and Wyoming regularly show up among the least-regulated states in the country, and is a major draw to families, job creators and taxpayers alike. Washington has made some permitting Read More…
(The Center Square) – Virginia is the No. 1 state for teachers’ pay and public spending per student. At the same time, it’s No. 51 for students’ math scores, behind 49 states and Washington, D.C. More pay for teachers and more spending for schools don’t necessarily equal better performances by students, according to a Center Square Read More…