North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler’s nomination to serve as the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education has advanced to the full United States Senate. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) approved Baesler’s nomination Friday in a party-line vote of 12-11, as part of an en Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the promotion of two veteran law enforcement officers to newly created leadership positions within the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Supervisory Special Agents Mike Hockett and Dane Rasmussen have been named Special Agents in Charge (SAC) for the Eastern and Western regions of the state, respectively. “Special Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is calling on the Gallatin County Commission to reject legal guidance from the Democrat county attorney and partner with the Trump Administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds. In a letter sent Wednesday, Knudsen criticized a recent legal opinion from Democrat Gallatin County Attorney Read More…
The Wyoming Public Safety Communications Commission (PSCC) will convene in Casper next week for a two-day session focused on strategic planning and key updates to the state’s emergency communications infrastructure. The meetings will take place May 28–29 at the Thyra Thomson State Office Building, located at 444 W. Collins Dr., and will include both an Read More…
Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate helmed by legendary investor Warren Buffett, has become the largest private holder of short-term U.S. government debt — and now holds more Treasury bills than even the U.S. Federal Reserve. In its latest earnings report released Saturday, Berkshire revealed it now holds $314.1 billion in short-term Treasuries as of March 31, Read More…
Microsoft the technology titan that reshaped personal computing, celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 4, 2025, reflecting on a storied legacy while charting an ambitious path forward in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the company has evolved from a scrappy software startup to a $3 trillion Read More…
Elizabeth Shanahan, a professor of political science at Montana State University, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Australia, where she will investigate Australian public responses and policy development related to the prevention of emerging infectious disease. Shanahan will collaborate with a researcher in the University of Wollongong’s School of Health and Society Read More…
(The Center Square) – Leaders in both political parties are showing former President Joe Biden their support after Biden announced he is dealing with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Biden’s personal office released a statement Sundaysaying he had prostate cancer “characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the Read More…
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, through his hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, has made a significant move by investing $900 million in Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HHH), increasing his stake to 46.9% and positioning the real estate developer as a platform for a diversified holding company modeled after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. The announcement, Read More…
The Center Square) – The Washington State Department of Ecology is proposing updates to regulations that reduce pollution from new semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles sold in the state. Ecology contends the updates will increase flexibility and help the industry transition to zero-emission trucks. DOE is offering over $130 million in taxpayer funding to buy clean trucks and build charging infrastructure Read More…
(The Center Square) – A recent Trump administration order that seeks to boost critical mineral production could be a boon for Colorado, Arizona and Wyoming, which are home to key critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies, a new report claims. President Donald Trump in March signed Executive Order 14241, citing the economic and national security Read More…
(The Center Square) – As China continues to expand its military presence worldwide, a bipartisan group of senators is introducing legislation to counter potential risks. Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Chris Coons, D-Del., and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., introduced the Combating PRC (People’s Republic of China) Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience Act. The senators Read More…
(The Center Square) – U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan addressed a group of Republican lawyers at a national policy conference Friday about the status of President Donald Trump’s three primary goals on illegal immigration. The president gave Homan three main objectives as the administration’s border czar: To secure the border, to spearhead “the biggest deportation Read More…
“Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.” – Buddha (560-483 B.C.) World War II changed the world forever. In 1945, the scars of the war were as fresh as many combat wounds. People feared another war and the United Nations was founded to prevent disputes. It included 57 nations that Read More…
Montana State University’s Office of Research Development has received national recognition for its innovative efforts to strengthen research collaboration across universities in the western U.S. At the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) annual conference held April 28–May 1, MSU’s research development team was presented with the prestigious Innovation Award. The award honors individuals Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced a major expansion in financing options for businesses and nonprofits today, following the enactment of Senate Bill 104, which significantly broadens the reach of the Montana Facility Finance Authority (MFFA). Signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte on April 16, 2025, the legislation allows the MFFA to issue conduit Read More…
Kicking off his fifth annual 56 County Tour, Governor Greg Gianforte hit the road this week, visiting Montanans in Sheridan, Daniels, Roosevelt, McCone, and Richland counties, spotlighting legislative wins, economic development, and investments in education. “Over the course of the next few months, we’ll hit the road visiting each of Montana’s 56 counties to celebrate Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen has announced Jordyn Muggli, a fifth-grade student at Lincoln Grade School in Miles City, as the winner of the 2025 Law Enforcement Appreciation Poster Contest, held annually during National Police Week. Jordyn’s artwork was selected from more than 175 entries submitted by students across 35 classrooms throughout Montana. In her artist Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines is calling on the U.S. Department of the Treasury to reverse a Biden-era Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiative that he and several Republican colleagues argue unfairly targets Main Street businesses. In a letter co-signed by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.), Daines criticized the creation of Read More…
The University of Montana and Blackfoot Communications have joined forces to launch a critical new initiative aimed at bolstering cybersecurity defense in Montana’s rural communities. Announced this week, the partnership marks the first corporate collaboration for the Public Infrastructure Security Cyber Education System (PISCES) in the state. The program will provide cyber threat monitoring and Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice (MTDOJ) and Billings Police Department (BPD) are alerting the public to a significant and alarming increase in the presence of the deadly synthetic opioid carfentanil in the Billings area. The warning follows a major drug seizure by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force, which uncovered Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte has signed House Bill 401 into law, banning the manufacture, sale, and distribution of lab-grown meat in Montana. The legislation, aimed at safeguarding the state’s ranching industry, takes effect October 1, 2025, and positions Montana as a staunch defender of traditional agriculture. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Braxton Mitchell (R-Columbia Falls), prohibits Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 26-state coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Hawaii law that imposes broad restrictions on where law-abiding citizens can carry firearms. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the case Wolford v. Lopez, arguing that Hawaii’s so-called “sensitive places” firearm restrictions violate the Second Amendment. Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) has introduced new legislation aimed at protecting Montana’s trucking and agriculture industries from what he calls a “dangerous and unnecessary” federal mandate. The bill, titled the Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-Wheelers (DRIVE) Act, seeks to prevent the Biden administration from enforcing a rule that would require commercial trucks Read More…
The Wyoming Air National Guard has been selected to receive the C-130J Super Hercules, a modern upgrade to replace its aging fleet of C-130H aircraft. This announcement marks a significant milestone for the 153rd Airlift Wing and recognizes the exemplary performance of Wyoming’s Airmen in supporting critical missions both domestically and globally. A total of Read More…
Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced a significant settlement with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group, Inc., resolving an investigation into unexpected capital gains tax distributions from Vanguard’s Target Retirement Funds in 2021. The settlement addresses concerns that affected Montana investors and others nationwide. The investigation, conducted alongside the U.S. Securities Read More…
President Donald Trump has nominated Kurt Alme to serve as the U.S. Attorney for Montana, a move that has garnered strong support from Montana’s U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy. Alme, who previously held the position during Trump’s first administration, brings extensive experience and a proven track record to the role. Senator Steve Daines Read More…
(The Center Square) – Las Vegas casinos are betting on tighter budgets for their operations as a post-pandemic boom slows and morphs into a trickle of layoffs. Even as the country gambles at historic levels, casino employees are at risk of losing their jobs. “This seems to be part of a long-term trend to try to Read More…
Community leaders, local businesses, and young athletes gathered this week to break ground on the highly anticipated Signal Peak Energy Ice Arena, a new multi-sport facility set to transform youth athletics and recreational opportunities in Billings. The arena, which will be built at Amend Park, will feature two full-sized ice sheets, indoor sports courts, outdoor Read More…
In a rare display of cross-party collaboration, U.S. Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) have announced the formation of the Public Lands Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers dedicated to conserving America’s public lands and expanding access for all Americans. The new caucus aims to champion practical, consensus-driven policies that support land conservation, Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and several Republican colleagues in introducing legislation that would allow the death penalty for illegal immigrants convicted of murdering American citizens. The proposed legislation, titled the Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act, aims to codify a previous executive order issued under President Donald Read More…
Governor Brad Little announced today the appointment of Megan Marshall as the new District Judge for the Second Judicial District and Annette Valenzuela Tipton as the new Executive Director of the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs (ICHA). Megan Marshall, who has served as a magistrate judge in Latah County since 2018, will fill the vacant Read More…
In recognition of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen reaffirmed his office’s commitment to addressing the disproportionate impact of violence on tribal communities across the state. “I have had a front row seat to the devastation inflicted on Montana’s tribal communities by the missing and murdered Indigenous persons Read More…
More than 400 cases of metal and wood letters line the shelves of Montana State University’s letterpress studio. The pieces of type, made from carving letters into wood blocks or by casting metal molds, range in size from the length of a pinky finger to 8-inch wooden letterforms. They are inked and pressed onto sheets of Read More…
Growing up on a ranch in Twin Bridges, Carl Shaw never thought about going to college. Nobody in his family had gone to college, but when Shaw was in high school his parents encouraged him to go. He researched his options and was impressed with the high job placement rate at the University of Montana’s Read More…
Governor Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin today to discuss critical issues affecting the state’s energy and agriculture sectors. The meeting focused on collaborating with the federal government and industry partners to protect North Dakota’s natural resources while fostering responsible energy development and economic growth. Armstrong Read More…
Over 230 attendees, including leaders from Idaho cities and counties, state and federal agencies, business owners, and community organizations, convened for the fourth annual Idaho Rural Success Summit held in Worley, Idaho, on April 30 and May 1, 2025. The two-day event served as a platform for discussion and collaboration on key issues impacting rural Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it would hold interest rates unchanged as it warned about the potential for higher unemployment and higher inflation as a result of President Donald Trump’s trade plans. “If the large increases in tariffs that have been announced are sustained, they’re likely to generate a rise in Read More…
(The Center Square) – As congressional Democrats push back against second-term Republican President Donald Trump’s policies, from border security and his mass deportation efforts to tariffs and energy policies, nearly 3 in 4 Democratic voters say their elected representatives in Congress aren’t doing enough. Only Democrats were asked: “Should Democrats in Congress fight Trump more Read More…
(The Center Square) – Resentencing hearings for murderers Erik and Lyle Menendez have been set for Tuesday and Wednesday despite objections from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. During a hearing Friday in a Van Nuys courtroom, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic set the hearing dates, which will also be in Van Read More…