A Billings woman is facing felony charges after allegedly embezzling more than $100,000 from a local nonprofit trade organization. Valary Nichole Obert, 35, has been charged with felony embezzlement exceeding $10,000 in Yellowstone County District Court. According to investigators, Obert is accused of stealing approximately $124,200 from the Billings Home Builders Association (BHBA) by falsifying Read More…
DHL Express, the international shipping division of Germany’s Deutsche Post, will suspend global business-to-consumer shipments valued over $800 to individuals in the United States starting April 21. The move comes in response to recent changes in U.S. customs regulations that have increased processing times for high-value shipments. The announcement was posted on the company’s website, Read More…
Gov. Mark Gordon is piling up the frequent flier miles, traveling around the world on behalf of the state. The cross-continental trip is based around promoting Wyoming, visiting with the state’s members of the military stationed overseas and building international trade alliances. After visiting the Middle East, Gordon will continue on to East Asia where he’ll visit Read More…
In celebration of Purple Up Day for Military Kids, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder joined students, families, and community leaders at Freedom Elementary on Friday to recognize the important role military children and their families play in supporting the nation’s security. Purple Up Day, observed in April during the Month of the Military Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is joining forces with a bipartisan coalition of 51 Attorneys General to issue a warning to nine major voice service providers, alerting them that they may be violating both state and federal laws by continuing to route allegedly unlawful robocalls through their networks. “These companies are allowing harmful scams Read More…
Shaina Eagleson, a science teacher at West Fargo’s Sheyenne High School, has been named a state finalist for the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), North Dakota’s Department of Public Instruction announced Thursday. The award, considered the highest national recognition for K-12 STEM educators, honors outstanding teaching in science, technology, Read More…
The U.S. Interior Department announced Friday that it is opening the public comment process for a new five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program, potentially paving the way for expanded drilling in the Arctic and other previously restricted areas. The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to boost domestic energy production. The Read More…
Jared Landin’s first few axe throws were far from bullseyes. Last fall, Landin spent weeks practicing axe throwing, often landing hits everywhere except the target. Over time his persistence paid off, earning him the chance to represent the University of Montana’s Woodsman Team at timber sports competitions around the country. On Friday and Saturday, April Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen led a coalition of 21 states in filing an amicus brief supporting President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the workforce at the Department of Education, a move aimed at returning more educational authority to state governments. The brief was filed on Monday in the case State of New York v. Read More…
The Wyoming Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday regarding the classification of abortion as healthcare, a case that could significantly impact the future of abortion access in the state. The state is challenging a Teton County judge’s ruling that abortion is a form of healthcare, arguing that laws passed in 2023, which could impose a near-total Read More…
Governor Kelly Armstrong signed Senate Bill 2214 into law today, officially approving the merger of the North Dakota Securities Department into the North Dakota Insurance Department. The consolidation aims to streamline regulatory oversight of the state’s financial services industry. Under the new law, regulatory authority will be unified under the elected insurance commissioner. The merger Read More…
The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) is excited to announce the addition of three new team members who bring a shared passion for Wyoming’s communities, businesses, and future growth. These individuals are eager to help foster innovation and support local enterprises as the state continues to prosper. Emma Gregg – Accounting Solutions Coordinator Emma Gregg joins Read More…
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) announced it will release its first-quarter 2025 financial results after market close on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The company will host a live conference call and webcast the following day, Thursday, May 8, at 11 a.m. EDT to discuss its earnings and operational highlights. Investors and analysts who wish to Read More…
Alpha Omega Disaster Restoration, a leading provider of damage restoration services in Billings, Montana, has launched a new website designed to improve user experience and deliver more comprehensive information to residential and commercial customers. The updated site is now integrated within the main platform of Alpha Omega’s parent company, FLEET Response—a national network of local Read More…
U.S. banking regulators on Friday approved Capital One’s $35.3 billion acquisition of Discover Financial Services, clearing the way for the creation of the nation’s eighth-largest bank by assets insured by the federal government. The merger, one of the largest in the financial sector in recent years, has drawn sharp criticism from consumer advocates and lawmakers Read More…
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, known for his outsized bets and outspoken commentary, has been a lightning rod in 2025, navigating a turbulent market landscape while wielding influence in both finance and politics. His Pershing Square Capital Management’s portfolio is down nearly 14% year-to-date, a rare stumble for the activist investor, yet his high-profile Read More…
Hank’s Reno Junction Travel Plaza sits at the busy intersection of Wyoming Highways 387 and 59, making it a strategic stop for travelers, truckers and coal miners working at the nearby North Antelope Rochelle Mine. When Peabody Energy announced Tuesday it planned to ramp up production at the mine, Hank Pridgeon — the namesake of Read More…
Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center is home to semi-arid scrubland, prairie grass, and conifer cover, all of which can be primed for fire during hot, dry conditions, especially when troops shoot round after round of heavy artillery at the camp’s vast impact area. Due to this heightened risk, the firefighters in the camp’s Army National Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) Colonel Kurt Sager visited the MHP Communications Center today to recognize the vital work of dispatchers in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed from April 13 to 19. The dispatchers at the MHP Communications Center are trained in emergency medical dispatch and work around Read More…
NorthWestern Energy has reached key settlement agreements with several major stakeholders in its ongoing regulatory rate review for electric and natural gas services in Montana. The agreements, if approved by the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC), would result in modest increases in residential utility bills, helping to fund continued investment in safe and reliable energy Read More…
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., announced plans to appeal part of a recent U.S. federal court ruling in the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against the tech giant. The move follows a decision on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who found that Google had willfully acquired and maintained monopoly power in the Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy to officially cut the ribbon on Amazon’s new 50,000-square-foot delivery station in Belgrade. The state-of-the-art facility is part of Amazon’s continued expansion in Montana, representing a $27 million investment and creating dozens of jobs in Gallatin County. “Montana is open for business, and Amazon’s Read More…
Two bills aimed at laying the groundwork for a nuclear energy industry in Montana have passed the state legislature and are awaiting the governor’s signature. House Bill 623 would permit the establishment of nuclear waste storage facilities in the state. This measure aligns with national Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements, which mandate that nuclear power plants Read More…
While nine law firms have made deals to avoid President Donald Trump’s orders targeting them, the one that works for Wyoming’s largest federally recognized Indian tribe is continuing to fight the federal government in court. As of Tuesday, nine firms had settled with Trump and agreed to perform, collectively, nearly $1 billion worth of free work in causes Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Montana’s unemployment rate has remained at a low 2.7% for the month of March, marking the sixth consecutive month the state has kept its unemployment rate below 3%. This continues a streak of 45 months with Montana’s unemployment rate at or below 3.4%. “For six months, Montana’s unemployment rate has Read More…
The U.S. stock market endured another turbulent week, with major indexes grappling with persistent volatility driven by ongoing trade policy uncertainties, particularly surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all posted losses, reflecting investor concerns over the economic fallout from escalating global trade tensions. The week Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s petition to the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) for a review of a Montana Supreme Court decision concerning parental rights in abortion cases has gained significant support. Five amicus briefs were filed urging SCOTUS to reverse a decision that, according to Knudsen, puts the health and safety of children at risk Read More…
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that more than $400,000 in grant funding has been awarded to three communities in coal-impacted areas to support essential public safety and development initiatives. The grants, allocated by the Montana Coal Board, will aid in infrastructure improvements, public safety enhancements, and community development in regions Read More…
University of Montana students interested in entrepreneurship and starting their own businesses have a space to gather and work together on their new ventures. Each Tuesday afternoon this spring semester students meet in UM’s Startup Studio, a room on the third floor of the University Center where students of all majors explore their business ideas Read More…
In a significant move aimed at preserving the integrity of local elections, the Montana Senate advanced House Bill 413 on Thursday, tightening voter residency requirements to ensure that only long-term residents influence county decisions. The measure, strongly supported by conservative lawmakers, seeks to maintain community values by guaranteeing that voters have a real, sustained stake Read More…
Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BAER) announced Friday it has been awarded an exclusive-use contract by the State of Montana to provide wildfire detection and mapping services using a specially modified Daher Kodiak 100 aircraft. The contract follows a competitive bidding process and marks a major milestone in Bridger’s expansion of its aerial firefighting Read More…
SITKA Gear, a leader in high-performance hunting and outdoor apparel, announced a series of strategic changes to its sales team aimed at aligning talent with the company’s evolving business priorities. The adjustments include the addition of three new sales representatives and a significant territory expansion for a veteran team member, all designed to strengthen retail Read More…
Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: GBCI) announced Friday that it has received all necessary regulatory approvals for its planned acquisition of Bank of Idaho Holding Co. (OTCQX: BOID), clearing a major hurdle in the completion of the deal. The acquisition, which includes Bank of Idaho and its subsidiaries, is now scheduled to close on April 30, Read More…
A U.S. immigration judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration can move forward with its deportation case against Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and prominent pro-Palestinian activist who was arrested in New York City last month. Judge Jamee Comans of the LaSalle Immigration Court in Louisiana stated she did not have the authority Read More…
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has taken a preliminary step toward potentially reversing boardroom restrictions imposed on Chevron and Exxon Mobil as part of their recent major acquisitions, signaling a shift from policies enacted under the Biden administration. The restrictions, which were key conditions for approving the oil giants’ multi-billion-dollar mergers, barred specific executives from Read More…
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday the termination of $5.1 billion worth of Pentagon IT and consulting contracts, targeting major firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton. The move, he said, is aimed at eliminating “wasteful spending” and redirecting funds toward core defense priorities. In a Department of Defense memo, Hegseth ordered the Read More…
The U.S. Senate confirmed retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a 60-25 vote on Friday, officially filling the nation’s top military post nearly two months after President Donald Trump ousted the previous chairman. The confirmation vote came just before lawmakers departed Washington Read More…
Scholars from across the U.S. recently joined Montana State University faculty, students, staff and members of the public for a two-day symposium focusing on “The Future of Research in the Age of AI.” The event held March 27-28 was one of three major symposia in 2025 sponsored by the American Historical Association on topics pertaining Read More…
In a dramatic move to get ahead of looming U.S. tariffs, Apple has airlifted approximately 600 tons of iPhones—equivalent to around 1.5 million devices—from India to the United States, according to a report by Reuters. The unprecedented shipment is part of the tech giant’s effort to stabilize supply and avoid potential price hikes that could Read More…
A national organization recently named the University of Montana the No. 1 “Military Friendly” college in the United States. The ranking is for top “tier-1 research institutions.” The Military Friendly Schools list is compiled each year from data collected from 8,800 schools nationwide. Input is provided by student veterans and a Military Friendly survey by Read More…