All posts by Big Sky Headlines

Congressional watchdog again unable to determine if U.S. financial statements are reliable

(The Center Square) – A Congressional watchdog said Friday that it was again unable to determine if the federal government’s consolidated financial statements were reliable. The U.S. Government Accountability Office, which is Congress’s research arm, said it was hampered by “serious financial management problems at the Department of Defense,” problems in accounting for transactions between Read More…

Immigration system isn’t broken, just ignored, former immigration judge says

(The Center Square) – The U.S. immigration system isn’t broken, laws established by Congress are being ignored, a former immigration judge told members of Congress. “Despite consistent claims to the contrary, America’s immigration system is not broken. Far from it, in fact,” Matthew O’Brien said at a hearing held by the U.S. Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on National Read More…

MVD: new license process can be done in under 10 minutes

The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) has been diligently working to enhance the driver’s license renewal and change process for residents. Laurie Bakri, the MVD Administrator, expressed her satisfaction with the progress, stating, “Best DMV experience I’ve ever experienced. I was in and out in five minutes. Quick, easy, people are so friendly.” Bakri highlighted Read More…

Pioneering the Future: Cryptocurrency Payments Redefining Everyday Transactions

Revolutionizing Finance: The Rise of Cryptocurrency Payments – Explore the transformative impact of cryptocurrency payments in the modern financial landscape. This article delves into how digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, powered by blockchain technology, are redefining transactional processes. Cryptocurrency payments have emerged as a disruptive force reshaping the financial landscape. These digital assets, Read More…

Crafting a Comprehensive Investment Strategy: A Guide to Building Your Financial Future

Investing is a critical component of securing a comfortable future, but it can be a daunting task without the right knowledge and strategy. A well-rounded investment plan is not just about growing wealth; it’s about making informed decisions that align with your financial goals and risk tolerance. This guide delves into the essentials of investing, Read More…

The Power of Vector Graphics in Modern Design

In the contemporary world of digital art and design, vector graphics stand as a pivotal element, reshaping our approach to visual creativity. Unlike traditional bitmap graphics, which are composed of pixels and often struggle with scalability issues, vector graphics are defined by mathematical equations, allowing them to be scaled indefinitely without any loss of quality. Read More…

UND hosts military-focused UAS conference

UND hosted an event just a few blocks from the Pentagon — a conference at which government officials, industry representatives and academics gathered to discuss the role of unmanned aerial vehicles in national security and defense. The third annual UAV Technology USA Conference – organized by the London-based SAE Media Group — has been hosted Read More…

Biden faces fallout, calls for 25th amendment after messy press conference

(The Center Square) – President Joe Biden is facing the fallout of a last-minute, messy press conference late Thursday where he attempted to defend his mental fitness but appeared to only amplify concerns. Biden called the press conference after the Special Counsel tasked with looking into his handling of classified documents announced Biden had committed Read More…

Poll shows 7 states oppose electric vehicle mandates

(The Center Square) – Polling from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, the leading trade association of fuel, shows seven states oppose gas car bans. Polling from the presidential and senate battleground states of Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, shows most registered and likely general election voters oppose government efforts to ban new Read More…

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…

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…