June 21st marked a crucial deadline for advocates aiming to place ballot measures before Montana voters this year. It was the final day to submit tens of thousands of petition signatures to county election offices across the state. Now, county officials must review the signatures and confirm their validity. To get initiatives on the ballot, Read More…
Two recent court rulings will temporarily prevent the Biden administration from implementing further parts of the president’s student loan repayment plan, which has already lowered or eliminated monthly payments for millions of federal student loan borrowers. These decisions put the SAVE Plan, introduced by President Joe Biden, into uncertainty, causing borrowers to once again face Read More…
(The Center Square) – Illegal border crossings at the northern border continue to break records, according to the latest data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A record-breaking 18,644, were apprehended illegally entering the U.S. at the northern border in May, the highest total for the month of May in recorded history. The northern Read More…
(The Center Square) – In March 2021, the Los Angeles Times published a story with a headline that asked, “What constitutes a border crisis?” The story quoted then House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy as saying, “There is no other way to claim it than a Biden border crisis.” Then the LA Times asked, “But is Read More…
(The Center Square) – Gov. Mark Gordon is hosting a Town Hall to address what he calls “a barrage of proposed rules” for energy industries and public lands. The Town Hall is scheduled from 1 pm to 4 pm on Tuesday, June 25th at Gillette College’s Technical Education Center. State agency leaders will be on hand, along with Read More…
(The Center Square) – Fentanyl has been a problem in Montana for years, and 2024 appears to be no different. Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) task forces seized 163,184 dosage units of fentanyl in Montana during the first quarter of this year. That is compared to 65,142 during the same period last year, an Read More…
BOZEMAN – Science teacher Doree Thilmony jumped at the chance when she learned last fall that Montana State University could help her put on a summer camp to teach geospatial skills in her rural community. “I teach drones, so I know they are used a lot for mapping,” said Thilmony, the science teacher at Thompson Read More…
(The Center Square) – Wyoming transportation officials believe a temporary detour can be built around where Highway 22 in Teton Pass collapsed once the area is secured, the Department of Transportation said on Monday. The pass, which connects Jackson, Wyoming to Victor, Idaho, was closed Thursday following a landslide that caused cracking in the road. Read More…
Montana’s Senator Steve Daines joined a group of Republican senators in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers after individuals with suspected ties to ISIS were apprehended at the southern border, underwent vetting and were then released into the United States. “We write to express our grave concerns regarding reports Read More…
The Biden Administration has announced the launch of the Columbia River Task Force by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), aimed at implementing President Biden’s longstanding plan to remove dams on the Snake River system. These dams currently supply western Montana with affordable and reliable electricity, constituting between 60-70% of the power in the Pacific Read More…
Jenifer Powell has been named the 2024 Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year. Powell, who teaches seventh-grade social studies at Corvallis Middle School, was recognized for her exceptional dedication and passion for educating students about Montana’s history. “Jenifer excels at creating an engaging learning environment that promotes critical thinking, curiosity, and a deep Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte underscored Montana’s thriving economy and recent initiatives to enhance the state’s business environment during his address at the Big Sky, Bright Futures Economic Summit in Bozeman, where he joined the Montana Chamber of Commerce. “With record business creation and a historically high employment rate, Montana’s economy is moving forward,” Governor Gianforte emphasized. Read More…
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry has announced the winners of the 2024 Montana State Employers Council Employers of Choice Award. This annual accolade celebrates employers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to attracting and retaining employees, thereby nurturing a vibrant workplace culture. “Montana’s small businesses are integral to our economy and our way of life. Read More…
The Department of Administration (DOA) announced its intention to award the contract for the state’s health plan’s medical Third-Party Administrator (TPA) to BlueCross BlueShield of Montana (BCBSMT), the incumbent provider. In March 2024, the DOA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit competitive bids for TPA services for the state’s medical plan serving employees Read More…
Zachary Eugene Norman, 26, of Three Forks, received a 110-year prison sentence in Gallatin County District Court on Monday for the murder of Chase Estabrook in January 2022, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced. Norman was convicted in May of deliberate homicide with a weapons enhancement for fatally shooting Chase Estabrook outside a Three Forks residence. Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today the appointments to the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force. The task force aims to overcome jurisdictional obstacles and identify underlying causes contributing to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous persons. During the 2023 legislative session, Attorney General Knudsen supported House Bill sponsored by Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, Read More…
The Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) at the Montana Department of Justice has received reports of fraudulent activities where scammers impersonate law enforcement officers. These scammers contact unsuspecting Montanans, claiming there is an arrest warrant due to missed jury duty, and then coerce victims into transferring thousands of dollars. The scammers instruct individuals to visit Read More…
A truck driver who collided with an SUV carrying a Wyoming family on Interstate 25 was sentenced on Friday to serve 11 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by a mandatory three-year parole period. Jesus Puebla, 27, had been found guilty by a jury in March on five counts of vehicular homicide, as well Read More…
Antonio Conigliaro, an 86-year-old former captain of the Genovese crime family known as “Tony Cakes” and “Tony the Dessert Man,” tragically lost his life last week in Brooklyn. He was fatally struck by a New York City Department of Transportation truck while crossing a street on June 12. Authorities reported that Antonio Conigliaro, 86, was Read More…
After concluding a guided food-tour in Mexico with her friends, Gretchen Stelter settled into her business class window seat on an American Airlines flight, intending to focus on editing a book manuscript for her new job. Despite hoping her open laptop and AirPods would dissuade conversation, she engaged in small talk with her seatmate after Read More…
Everyone ponders the same question, whether a billionaire or someone living paycheck to paycheck: How much should I keep in my checking account? For billionaires, deciding on a checking account balance is more of an academic exercise than a necessity. Conversely, for those constantly grappling with cash flow issues, it’s a crucial and serious matter. Read More…
Billings City and Billings Logan International Airport have jointly announced the commencement of seasonal air service to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, facilitated by Sun Country Airlines. The service is set to commence this Wednesday, June 19, and will operate through late August. The inaugural flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul is scheduled to arrive just after 12 Read More…
Glendive Police Chief Jeremy Lee Swisher is facing potential felony charges following allegations of hunting violations on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and tampering with witnesses, according to court documents filed last Thursday. The filings detail accusations that Swisher possessed three mule deer buck racks harvested illegally on the reservation. An investigation conducted by Montana Read More…
The Milk River Project announced on Monday a “catastrophic failure” of the St. Mary siphon located on the St. Mary Canal, north of Babb. According to reports, the incident occurred while personnel from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation were monitoring a crack in the structure. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the damage is described Read More…
The economy is set to be a pivotal issue in the 2024 presidential election, highlighting the stark differences between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Consider the American economy as a bag filled with a variety of policies and economic indicators, with inflation being a prominent one. Although inflation has retreated from its Read More…
BOZEMAN – The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that in 2023, nearly 5.3 million acres of wheat, 1.2 million acres of barley and more than 1 million acres of pulse crops were planted in Montana. At Montana State University’s Central Agricultural Research Center, scientists are aiming to maximize the yield and profit that come from Read More…
(The Center Square) – Vermont is the first state to enact a law requiring the fossil fuel industry to pay for “climate change cost recovery.” The bill became law without Republican Gov. Philip Scott signing it. In a May 30 letter to the Vermont General Assembly, he explained why. “Vermont – one of the least Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines Joined a group of his Republican colleagues in a commitment to block President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats’ agenda that is threatening the Montana way of life. “Enough is enough. Joe Biden and his Democrat allies weaponized our judicial system and undermined the American people’s trust in our government. I will Read More…
One of the jurors who participated in Hunter Biden’s federal gun charges trial told news outlets that the defendant’s familial ties to the president had no bearing on their decision-making process. The anonymous juror, a Delaware resident, deemed the prosecution of Hunter Biden as “a waste of taxpayers’ dollars.” Despite this sentiment, the juror and Read More…
An Oregon man, Michael Meyden, admitted to spiking the smoothies of three of his daughter’s friends with sedatives during a sleepover last year and pleaded guilty to multiple felonies. Meyden, 57, of Lake Oswego, confessed to three counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance in Clackamas County Circuit Court. District Attorney John Read More…
Thousands of Chicago police officers received an unexpected letter from their pension fund, delivering unwelcome news: due to a payroll error linked to the officers’ latest contract, approximately 3,000 individuals are now required to reimburse their pension fund, along with accrued interest. The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 7, representing the majority of rank-and-file officers, Read More…
A federal judge, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle, delivered a significant ruling declaring a Florida law targeting gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and certain adults as unconstitutional. Judge Robert Hinkle,was appointed to the bench by President Bill Clinton in 1996. Hinke took Senior status in 2016. The law, enthusiastically supported by Republican state Read More…
During a Juneteenth celebration at the White House on Monday, President Biden, aged 81, appeared momentarily frozen in place. Video footage captured Biden standing motionless while those around him, including Vice President Kamala Harris, engaged in applause and danced to the music. For approximately 30 seconds, Biden remained seemingly unaffected, his gaze fixed and unyielding. Read More…
Bill Gates, along with his energy company, TerraPower, has initiated construction at their Wyoming location for a cutting-edge nuclear power plant, which he believes will fundamentally transform the way power is produced. Breaking ground in the small community of Kemmerer, TerraPower submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission seeking approval for the construction of Read More…
(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, introduced a bipartisan bill this week in hopes of supporting ranchers who graze their livestock on federal lands. Wyden filed the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act with U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming. “After embracing the Bureau of Land Management pilot program, ranchers in eastern Oregon worked closely Read More…
CONRAD, Mont. – Continuing his 56 County Tour in Pondera County, Governor Greg Gianforte last week visited Frontline Ag Solutions in Conrad and heard from farmers in the area. “I was glad to get an update from our producers in Montana’s Golden Triangle, home of the production of our world-class grains,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Agriculture Read More…
Hunter Biden received guilty verdicts on all three felony charges tied to his 2018 gun purchase. Prosecutors asserted that the president’s son falsely claimed on a mandatory gun-purchase form that he wasn’t illegally using or addicted to drugs. During the three-hour deliberation over two days, Hunter Biden maintained a stoic demeanor. Upon hearing the verdict, Read More…
On Sunday morning, Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester and his Republican challenger Tim Sheehy squared off in their first general election debate, set to be one of the most closely monitored races this year. The hour-long debate, hosted by the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation, took place at Fairmont Hot Springs in Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined his Republican colleagues in calling out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee corruption and sending a letter to the VA demanding the department repay nearly $11 million in unjustified bonuses that were distributed to senior executives within the VA and calling for the immediate dismissal of the responsible officials. “The egregious mishandling Read More…
HELENA – The Supreme Court ruled in favor today of the National Rifle Association (NRA), in its case against a New York state official who trampled on the organization’s First Amendment right to free speech. In response to the NRA v. Vullo ruling, Attorney General Austin Knudsen released the following statement: “The Supreme Court made Read More…