Secretary of War Pete Hegseth today announced the War Department would sever its academic ties with Harvard University, because attendance at the school no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services. “For too long, this department has sent our best and brightest officers to Harvard, hoping the university Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced the membership of the Licensing Reform Task Force, fulfilling his commitment to streamline state government and make it easier for Montanans to enter the workforce. Established by executive order in January, the task force is charged with identifying and recommending the elimination of unnecessary or redundant professional and occupational licensing requirements, Read More…
Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that President Trump has signed the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriation Bill into law, providing more than $27 million in funding for bridges, roads, and water infrastructure projects across six Western Montana counties. As a member of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Subcommittee, Zinke Read More…
Corey Mock, Chief Information Officer for the State of North Dakota, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). Mock will serve as an Executive Committee Director, completing the unexpired term of Laura Clark, former CIO for the State of Michigan. The term runs through 2026, Read More…
The Department of War (DoW) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) today announced the launch of LYNX, a new digital platform designed to help businesses enter, navigate, and compete more effectively in defense markets by improving supplier readiness and visibility across the defense industrial base. Registration for the platform is now open at https://www.lynxconnect.io. Businesses Read More…
The War Department announced today that 25 vendors have been selected to compete in Phase I of the Drone Dominance Program (DDP), a sweeping acquisition reform initiative aimed at rapidly fielding low-cost, unmanned one-way attack drones at scale to strengthen America’s Arsenal of Freedom. The program reflects one of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s core Read More…
A class-action lawsuit filed by two Montana property owners alleges the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) used illegal appraisal methods that artificially inflated property valuations statewide, forcing many taxpayers to pay more in property taxes than required by law. Attorneys from Silverman Law Office and Edwards & Culver filed the lawsuit Feb. 2 in Madison Read More…
Governor Larry Rhoden has signed six bills into law, advancing legislation that addresses ballot transparency, administrative rulemaking, education policy, and state regulatory updates. The bills signed include: SB 5, which requires disclosure of whether a ballot question was proposed through a citizen initiative or by the Legislature; SB 56, which requires state agencies promulgating permanent Read More…
The South Dakota State Senate has confirmed Governor Larry Rhoden’s appointment of Dean Kirkeby to the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks (GFP) Commission. “South Dakota is the most beautiful state, and protecting our great outdoors is a responsibility we don’t take lightly — we owe it to our kids and our grandkids,” Governor Rhoden Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury this week convened a public meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) focused on implementation and outreach for Trump Accounts, a new initiative aimed at expanding financial literacy and long-term wealth building for American children. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent chaired the meeting and delivered Read More…
President Donald J. Trump officially launched TrumpRx.gov, a new federal platform designed to provide Americans with direct access to dramatically lower prices on dozens of high-cost, brand-name prescription drugs. The platform is built on landmark Most-Favored-Nation pricing agreements negotiated with leading pharmaceutical manufacturers, aligning U.S. drug prices with the lowest paid in other developed nations. Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined a 22-state coalition urging the U.S. House Judiciary Committee to broaden its ongoing investigation into improper influence on federal proceedings to include the Federal Judicial Center (FJC), which recently published a climate change manual for judges that the coalition says is biased. In a letter sent Tuesday to House Read More…
he Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced Friday, Feb. 6, that it has signed an administrative consent order with Montana Resources (MR) to resolve a water backflow incident that occurred in Butte last summer. The agreement concludes DEQ’s enforcement investigation into the event. The consent order details actions Montana Resources has taken since the Read More…
Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Wyo.) announced that Montana will receive $32 million in the latest federal funding package, signed into law by President Trump. The funds are earmarked for critical infrastructure projects, health care initiatives, and community development across the state. “I’m proud to deliver on these commonsense investments to upgrade critical infrastructure, increase access to Read More…
Senator Sheehy (R-MT) joined Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in introducing the Carbon Resource Innovation Act, a bipartisan bill designed to expand the 45Q carbon capture tax credit to include innovative technologies that capture carbon in solid or liquid forms. Supporters say the legislation will incentivize responsible forest management, reduce wildfire risk, and create economic opportunities Read More…
The Wyoming Army National Guard graduated Soldiers from the Field Artillery Weapons Locating Radar 13R Advanced Leader Course during a ceremony Jan. 30, 2026, at the 213th Regional Training Institute. Conducted Jan. 6–30, the course prepared noncommissioned officers to serve as weapons locating radar section chiefs, combining advanced technical training with leadership development focused on Read More…
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced that preliminary federal data indicates a slight decline in enrollment in Montana’s Health Insurance Marketplace for the 2026 coverage year. According to the early figures released by federal officials, overall Marketplace participation dipped modestly compared to the prior enrollment period. Brown emphasized that Read More…
Gov. Kelly Armstrong has rolled out a new statewide effort aimed at improving soil health and expanding wildlife habitat across North Dakota’s rural landscape, announcing the Governor’s Legacy Soil Health and Habitat Program at a Capitol press conference. The voluntary, working-lands program is designed to help farmers strengthen cropland productivity and resilience by establishing perennial Read More…
From Vietnamese pho to Greek halloumi flatbread to French crepes, there will be something for everyone at Montana State University’s annual International Food Bazaar on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The event will be held in MSU’s Miller Dining Commons and Rendezvous Dining Pavilion from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. It is open to the public and requires paid Read More…
The Space Force and U.S. Southern Command officially marked the activation of U.S. Space Forces Southern during a ceremony yesterday at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, formalizing the command’s role in integrating space capabilities across the Western Hemisphere. Although the command became operationally effective Dec. 1, 2025, the ceremony formally recognized the activation with the Read More…
The American Bar Association can’t escape a lawsuit accusing the group, tasked with setting national ethical and professional standards for lawyers and judges, of discriminating against white law school students in doling out certain scholarships. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Joan B. Gotschall said the lawsuit could continue because the plaintiffs had done enough Read More…
A massive oil painting on canvas memorializing Benedict Arnold’s heroism during the 1777 Battle of Saratoga was unrolled for the first time since 2013 at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, New York, Jan. 16. The 25-foot-long by 7-foot-high painting, “Benedict Arnold, Triumphant at Saratoga,” was opened across eight tables so that Read More…
White House Border Czar Tom Homan held a press conference in Minneapolis to update the public on ongoing immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, emphasizing the removal of dangerous criminal aliens and reaffirming the Trump administration’s commitment to public safety. “These targeted operations continue to remove the worst of the worst illegal alien killers, rapists, gang Read More…
Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that President Trump has signed H.R. 6938, the 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, which includes more than $8 million in federal funding for critical water infrastructure and law enforcement projects across Western Montana. “These projects come directly from county commissioners Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines called for increased public safety resources for Montana tribes and commended tribal efforts to protect youth and families during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing featuring Harlem Councilwoman Joan Johnson. Daines emphasized the Trump administration’s support for Indian Country, including enhanced law enforcement presence and the opening of a new FBI Read More…
leven Montana communities will share $600,000 in grant funding through the Montana Main Street (MMS) Program to support revitalization projects aimed at strengthening downtowns and local businesses. “The MMS Program focuses on empowering communities to reinvigorate downtowns through locally led planning and implementation projects,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “Competitive grant funding and additional resources Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras presented Norma Smith with the Spirit of Montana Award in a ceremony at the Great Falls Rescue Mission, recognizing her decades-long contributions to Montana’s communities and her trailblazing career in broadcast journalism. “Service, resilience, and community are at the heart of who we are as Montanans,” Governor Read More…
Montana’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.4 percent in December, extending the state’s streak of over four consecutive years with unemployment at or below that level, according to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. The state’s jobless rate remains well below the national average of 4.4 percent, keeping Montana among the top ten states Read More…
A Livingston man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 murder of a man, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Monday. Skyler Griebel, 33, was convicted in October 2025 of deliberate homicide following a nine-day trial. The case stemmed from a February 2022 incident in which Griebel threatened his girlfriend with a gun. Read More…
Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that Tracy Hofius, 49, was sentenced on January 21, 2026, for Public Assistance Provider Fraud stemming from her time as Executive Director of the North Star Child Development Center, a non-profit serving Idaho Medicaid participants with developmental disabilities. Public Assistance Provider Fraud is a felony that carries a potential sentence Read More…
Governor Mark Gordon will kick off a statewide tour, The Essential Budget: Protecting and Powering Wyoming’s Future, to outline the priorities and key decisions of the upcoming legislative budget session. The series will highlight issues including protecting core industries, supporting economic and business growth, the importance of state savings, property tax reform, and other topics Read More…
North Dakota will participate in a new federal program offering tax credits for donations to organizations that provide K-12 education scholarships, Governor Kelly Armstrong announced Wednesday. The program allows taxpayers to claim federal tax credits for cash contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), nonprofit groups that award scholarships to help students pay for elementary and Read More…
Governor Brad Little and U.S. Senator Jim Risch welcomed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to Boise, spotlighting Idaho’s strengthened partnership with the federal government in serving the state’s veterans. “Idaho is honored to host Secretary Collins and celebrate our support for Idaho veterans,” Governor Little said. “Unlike the previous administration, we Read More…
Four South Dakota education professionals were recognized in 2025 for achieving National Board Certification, one of the most prestigious credentials in the teaching and school counseling professions. The South Dakota Department of Education announced that three teachers and one school counselor demonstrated advanced knowledge, skills, and professional excellence through the rigorous national certification process. National Read More…
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed House Bill 1044 into law, appropriating funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program — marking the first piece of legislation he has approved during the current legislative session. State officials described the move as a historic investment in rural healthcare, aimed at strengthening medical services across South Dakota’s Read More…
As the 2026 tax filing season begins, millions of Americans are seeing larger refunds, increased take-home pay, and new opportunities to build long-term financial security under the Working Families Tax Cuts, a sweeping tax law passed by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans. Administration officials say the legislation is delivering immediate relief for parents while Read More…
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the department has canceled all existing contracts with consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, citing concerns over wasteful spending and failures to protect sensitive taxpayer information. According to the Treasury Department, the agency currently held 31 separate contracts with Booz Allen Hamilton totaling approximately $4.8 million in annual spending Read More…
A new federal investment initiative dubbed “Trump Accounts” was unveiled this week as a signature economic policy aimed at expanding private ownership and long-term wealth building for American families, with supporters calling it a transformative step toward a nationwide “shareholder society.” In a wide-ranging speech, administration officials and allies framed the program as one of Read More…
One month after historic wind and flooding events battered communities across Northwest Montana, state insurance officials returned to the region this week to hear directly from residents and provide guidance on recovery and future preparedness. Insurance Commissioner James Brown and staff from the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) held a community forum and Read More…
Thirteen farmers from Kansas and Colorado, along with Weskan Grain and Colorado Pacific Railroad (CXR), filed an antitrust lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas alleging that Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (K&O) and Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) conspired to block competition and inflate grain transportation costs across the region. Read More…