A coalition of Montana business organizations is asking the Montana Supreme Court to block a proposed ballot initiative that would restrict corporations and other entities from spending money in state elections. The lawsuit challenges Initiative 194, a measure backed by the Transparent Election Initiative as part of its broader “Montana Plan.” Supporters say the proposal Read More…
The Trump administration has announced a major restructuring of the federal student loan system, transferring management of defaulted student loans from the U.S. Department of Education to the Treasury Department in what supporters describe as a long-overdue effort to improve accountability, strengthen collections and reduce bureaucratic inefficiency. Under the new agreement unveiled Thursday, the Treasury Read More…
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore Voice of America after the government-funded broadcaster was largely shut down over the past year, setting up a fresh legal clash over the future of one of the nation’s best-known international media outlets. The administration filed notice Thursday that it will appeal the ruling. U.S. Read More…
Super Micro Computer shares plunged 33% Friday after federal prosecutors charged company co-founder Wally Liaw and two others in a scheme to illegally divert advanced Nvidia-powered servers to China, intensifying new scrutiny on the server maker’s compliance controls and corporate governance. The sharp selloff marked one of the steepest single-day drops in the company’s history Read More…
A federal jury in San Francisco found Elon Musk liable for misleading Twitter investors during his 2022 bid to buy the company, concluding that some of his public statements improperly affected the stock price while the $44 billion takeover was still in dispute. Jurors, however, rejected broader allegations that Musk carried out a larger scheme Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte visited Dahlman Farms during Montana Agriculture Week to highlight the importance of international trade to the state’s farmers and ranchers and to underscore the role export markets play in supporting Montana’s top industry. The visit put a spotlight on the Dahlman family’s long history in Montana agriculture and on the broader significance Read More…
A sharp jump in oil prices emerged as one of the biggest business stories of the week, rattling financial markets and renewing fears that higher energy costs could fuel inflation, squeeze consumers and slow economic growth. The surge was driven by escalating disruption across the Middle East tied to the war involving Iran. Concerns over Read More…
Montana deserves a federal judge who not only understands the law, but understands Montana. President Trump’s nomination of Katie Lane to serve a s the Treasure State’s next federal judge achieves both of these goals. Katie built her career on a sincere commitment to an original interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and individual liberty. I Read More…
The Center Square) – Federal agents continue to arrest Guatemalans involved in human smuggling and trafficking operations, including of children, who are also involved in violating federal labor laws. The latest arrest was of Guatemalan national Brayan Adiel Gramajo Reyes, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello, Idaho, on multiple smuggling and labor Read More…
(The Center Square) – The American Legislative Exchange Council called on state legislatures to embrace limited tax regulation and greater investment in artificial intelligence to facilitate effective government processes. The council released its AI policy toolkit calling for a “light-touch” policy approach to AI. “U.S. regulators risk jeopardizing A.I.’s massive potential and benefits to consumers Read More…
(The Center Square) – Veterans die by suicide at roughly twice the civilian rate, despite the Department of Veterans Affairs spending more than $500 million a year to address the problem. In 2023, the rate of suicide for veterans was 35.2 per 100,000, up from 34.7 per 100,000 in 2022, according to the most recent Read More…
(The Center Square) – Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson may be satisfied with the House of Representatives’ latest version of an income tax bill – so much so that he said he will sign it if it passes the Legislature – but plenty of others remain skeptical. In the wee hours of Friday morning, majority party Read More…
FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska — Across the freezing subarctic region, Green Berets immersed themselves in some of the most physically and mentally taxing cold weather training for the Joint Pacific Multinational Training Center 26-02 rotation across multiple training areas in central and southern Alaska. Green Berets and enablers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Mirabelli v. Olson deciding against California’s law that allowed for gender transitions of school children without parental knowledge has met with commendation from advocacy groups and law firms, with a legal counsel calling the decision one of the “biggest parental rights wins” in a generation. Chief Read More…
U.S. stocks closed lower this week as investors grappled with renewed uncertainty around interest rates, economic growth, and upcoming corporate earnings. The broad market benchmark, the S&P 500, posted a weekly decline, with selling pressure building in the latter part of the week. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which tracks the index, ended near Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz announced two priority forest landscapes in Montana that will serve as the first major project areas under the state’s new Shared Stewardship Agreement, a long-term partnership aimed at reducing wildfire risk, improving forest health, and supporting Montana’s timber industry. The announcement came during a press Read More…
A Big Horn County woman has received a 10-year deferred imposition of sentence and was ordered to pay more than $101,000 in restitution after being convicted of financially exploiting her elderly mother and stepfather, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced. The case marks the first conviction investigated and prosecuted by the Montana Department of Justice’s Read More…
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown is marking National Consumer Protection Week by highlighting major enforcement actions that protected Montana families over the past year while warning residents about the growing sophistication of financial scams. Brown said protecting consumers from fraud and abuse remains the top priority for his office, Read More…
The White House has unveiled “President Trump’s Cyber Strategy for America,” a new framework outlining the administration’s approach to maintaining U.S. dominance in cyberspace and strengthening the nation’s defenses against growing digital threats. Administration officials say the strategy is designed to ensure that the United States remains unrivaled in cyber capabilities, while improving coordination between Read More…
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth convened defense and security leaders from 17 countries across the Western Hemisphere this week for the Americas Counter-Cartel Conference, a regional gathering focused on strengthening cooperation against transnational criminal organizations. The conference brought together defense ministers, senior government officials, and security leaders from across the Americas to discuss coordinated strategies Read More…
Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is entering the race for the U.S. Senate seat in Montana, setting up what could become one of the state’s most closely watched political contests. Bodnar, a former Army officer and business leader, is launching his campaign with the support of prominent Democratic figures including former Montana Sen. Read More…
Applications are open for Montana State University’s $100,000 Venture Competition, which is hosted annually by the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the MSU Launchpad. The competition provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to present their business ventures, receive feedback and compete for startup funding. Those interested in competing must submit an online application by Sunday, March 29. The competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, Read More…
In a surprise move that stunned Montana’s political circles, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines withdrew from the 2026 Senate race just minutes before the state’s candidate filing deadline, abruptly ending his reelection bid and reshaping the field for one of the state’s most powerful offices. Daines, a Republican who has represented Montana in the U.S. Senate Read More…
Conservative commentator and radio host Aaron Flint has announced he will run for Congress in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, seeking the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke. Flint, best known as the host of the statewide radio program Montana Talks, said he is entering the race to bring what he describes as a Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte joined the Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC) last week to outline his tax cut priorities ahead of the 2027 legislative session, emphasizing a renewed push to move Montana to a flat income tax. Speaking at an event in Helena alongside MSPC Founder and President Chris Cargill, the governor highlighted what he described Read More…
A liberal majority of the Montana Supreme Court has cleared the way for a sweeping ballot initiative backed by a coalition of liberal advocacy organizations, reversing Attorney General Austin Knudsen and allowing the measure to move forward. In a sharply divided ruling issued Thursday, the Court held that proposed Ballot Issue 8 (BI-8) qualifies as Read More…
The Center Square) – Nearly a year after a nine-person jury found Greenpeace liable for $667 million in damages in a case related to the Dakota Access Pipeline, a North Dakota judge has said the environmental organization will soon be ordered to make good on the damages. In court papers filed Tuesday, Judge James Gion Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced a landmark settlement agreement with The Vanguard Group, Inc. this week, resolving allegations that the asset manager conspired to artificially constrict the coal market through anticompetitive trade practices. The settlement stems from a 2024 lawsuit filed by Knudsen against Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation. The suit alleged the firms Read More…
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines visited the Sibanye-Stillwater Columbus metallurgical complex last week, meeting with miners and touring operations as he praised recent federal trade action aimed at protecting Montana’s palladium industry. Daines credited Donald Trump for imposing a preliminary 132% tariff on Russian palladium imports, describing the move as a critical step toward leveling the Read More…
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on Thursday signed an executive order barring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from operating on city-owned property and directing local police to protect peaceful protesters during federal immigration enforcement actions. The order prohibits ICE agents from staging or conducting operations in city buildings, parks, shelters, parking facilities, libraries, and other municipal Read More…
Former President Bill Clinton told lawmakers Friday that he “saw nothing that gave me pause” during the time he spent with Jeffrey Epstein, offering closed-door testimony to congressional investigators examining his relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender. Clinton appeared before members of the House Oversight Committee as part of an ongoing inquiry Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Gang of Eight was briefed ahead of the U.S.-Israeli joint strikes against Iran, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson. In a social media post Saturday morning, the Louisiana Republican said the eight members of Congress were briefed in detail earlier in the week by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Department of Revenue announced an extension for property owners applying for the Homestead and Long-Term Rental Reduced Property Tax Rates, moving the deadline to March 20, 2026. The extension comes in response to intermittent technical issues with the department’s online application portal, which officials said were caused by a Read More…
Paramount Skydance has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a blockbuster $110 billion deal, bringing an end to a high-profile bidding war after Netflix withdrew from negotiations with the HBO Max parent company. The transaction carries an equity value of approximately $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, Read More…
(The Center Square) – U.S. Central Command has confirmed that despite missile and drone attacks on bases in the Middle East, there are no reports of casualties or “combat-related injuries,” and damage to American installations has been “minimal.” CENTCOM added that damage done to U.S. military installations “has not impacted operations.” Multiple videos have circulated Read More…
The process of writing Army doctrine, traditionally measured in years, is getting a 21st-century upgrade. Thanks to digital tools, some enabled by artificial intelligence, authors at the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate are examining processes and gaining efficiencies without sacrificing their high standards for quality and precision. “We have had people ask us about using AI Read More…
Spring 2026 enrollment numbers are in, and for the fifth consecutive year, the University of Montana reported more students than the previous year. “The consecutive years of growth at UM are a testament to the aggressive steps we have taken to ensure our campus experience is robust and vibrant,” said Leslie Webb, UM vice Read More…
(The Center Square) – Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio on Thursday backed a bipartisan proposal to cap annual deficits at 3% of gross domestic product, a resolution that would allow Congress to continue to spend more taxpayer money than it collects for years to come. House Resolution 981 would limit yearly deficits to 3% of GDP Read More…
The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday afternoon signed legislation that involves a $590 million loan for Bay Area public transportation. Speaking before reporters in San Mateo County, Newsom said the loan will be paid back in 12 years. The first two years will be interest-free. “This is not just about transportation. Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed a bill prohibiting city employees and departments from sharing nonpublic personal information with federal immigration authorities for civil enforcement purposes without a warrant. Council Bill 121158 is meant to protect immigrant communities, align city policy with the state’s Keep Washington Working Act, and remove Read More…