All posts by Big Sky Headlines

O’Leary: Tariff Chaos Makes This ‘Never Been a Better Time’ to Invest in Canada

When two of the world’s biggest trading partners start throwing around 50% tariffs, most investors see trouble. “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary sees a sale. The Canadian businessman said the escalating U.S.-Canada trade fight could be creating an unusually attractive entry point for investors willing to look past the political noise. Speaking on Fox Business Read More…

New Rule Would End Tax Breaks for Private Schools That Discriminate

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have issued proposed regulations that would end federal tax-exempt status for private schools that engage in racial discrimination, an action officials said delivers on President Trump’s executive orders aimed at ending discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity. “Under President Trump, this Administration is standing up for Read More…

UND welcomes new faculty cohort

Last week, UND welcomed its latest cohort of new faculty members to campus for an event designed to familiarize them with the University and the wider Grand Forks community. On August 21, 42 scholars gathered at the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration for the University’ annual new faculty orientation. Vice Provost for Faculty Read More…

Bozeman-Based Snowflake Delivers One of Its Strongest Quarters

Snowflake, the cloud-data company based in Bozeman, delivered one of its strongest quarters in recent years, sending shares sharply higher as investors responded to accelerating growth and stronger demand for its artificial-intelligence products. Shares of Snowflake jumped about 17% after the company reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $1.55 billion, up 35% from a year earlier. Read More…

Op-Ed: Washington’s $40 trillion bar tab comes due

I have spent over a decade testifying in federal and state courts about what a fiduciary owes the people who trust him with their money. If a money manager ran a client’s account the way Washington runs the country’s finances, he would lose his license, lose his shirt in litigation, and probably get a vacation Read More…

Schiess Takes Over as Space Force’s Top Uniformed Leader

Gen. Douglas A. Schiess was formally installed Sept. 3 as chief of space operations, becoming the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the U.S. Space Force and the third person to hold the post since the service was created. Schiess succeeded Gen. Chance Saltzman during a change-of-responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., following his Senate confirmation Read More…

Knudsen to Speak at RNC Midterm Convention

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Committee’s 2026 Midterm Convention in Dallas, joining a national lineup of Republican officials and candidates as the party turns its attention toward the November elections. Knudsen, who also serves as chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association, is scheduled to address the Read More…

Mount Sinai to End Pediatric Gender Transitions Under DOJ Deal

The Justice Department announced an agreement with Mount Sinai Health System that resolves an investigation into potential violations of federal law arising from the provider’s administration of gender-affirming care to minors. Under the agreement, Mount Sinai, one of the largest health care providers in New York state, will cease providing such interventions to minors, including Read More…

$5 Million NSF Grant to Support UM STEM Students

The University of Montana and its partners have received nearly $5 million from the National Science Foundation to expand scholarship and mentoring support for low-income students pursuing graduate degrees in engineering and natural-resource fields. The award comes as Montana employers face growing demand for workers with science, technology, engineering and mathematics backgrounds. University officials say Read More…

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette Leaves Longtime Home

The Billings Gazette is preparing to leave its longtime downtown headquarters and move several blocks away to Granite Tower, the latest real-estate move by parent company Lee Enterprises as the newspaper chain continues to reshape its business amid years of financial pressure. The Gazette said its staff will work remotely before moving into the new Read More…

South Dakota Senate Showdown

South Dakota’s U.S. Senate race has effectively become a two-person contest between Republican Sen. Mike Rounds and independent Brian Bengs after Democrat Julian Beaudion withdrew from the race in August. Beaudion, who had been the Democratic nominee, formally withdrew Aug. 4. The South Dakota Secretary of State now lists Rounds and Bengs as the active Read More…

U.S. Economy Adds 162,000 Jobs in August, Beating Expectations

The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, a stronger-than-expected showing that offered fresh evidence of resilience in the labor market as manufacturing and construction hiring picked up. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%. August payroll growth was well above the average monthly gain over the previous year. The White House pointed to the Read More…

Idaho Honors Nine First Responders With Medal of Honor

Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Attorney General Raúl Labrador have awarded the Idaho Medal of Honor to nine first responders for acts of courage that went beyond the ordinary demands of their jobs. The recipients include five law-enforcement officers and four firefighters whose actions ranged from entering burning buildings and fast-moving water to confronting an Read More…

Attorney General Austin Knudsen

Knudsen Launches Investigation Into OpenAI

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and 15 other state attorneys general have opened an investigation into OpenAI over potential violations of consumer-protection and data-privacy laws following a security incident involving one of the company’s experimental artificial-intelligence models. The investigation centers on an incident this summer in which an OpenAI model allegedly accessed outside computer networks Read More…

Leadership program for first-year business students at Montana State sees continued success

The day before fall semester classes began, a group of incoming Montana State University business students hiked the iconic “M” trail and continued forming connections with their peers. The college “M” on the Bridger Mountains pictured from Bozeman. MSU photo by Marcus “Doc” Cravens Step-by-step up the dirt trail, climbing over rocky slabs and through green forest, staff from the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship watched the new students get to know each other. Read More…

Alme Favored in Montana Senate Race

Republican Kurt Alme holds a commanding lead in Montana’s U.S. Senate race, according to a new analysis from Decision Desk HQ, as neither Democrat Alani Bankhead nor independent Seth Bodnar has been willing to step aside for the other, leaving the state with a fractured opposition against the GOP front-runner. In 2026, prominent independent candidates Read More…

Montana Supreme Court Upholds Attempted-Homicide Conviction in Trooper Johnson Case

The Montana Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of Jason Allen Miller for the attempted homicide of Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Lewis Johnson, rejecting a series of challenges to his 2025 trial. Miller was convicted in June 2025 after prosecutors said he ran over Johnson in February 2023, seriously injuring the trooper. Read More…

Gianforte Hall Grand Opening Set at MSU

Montana State University will hold a grand opening ceremony for Gianforte Hall, a new building housing computing-related fields including cybersecurity, film, photography and music technologies, at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. The outdoor event is free and open to the public. Scheduled speakers include Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, MSU President Brock Tessman, College of Arts Read More…

Gianforte Joins Tribal Leaders to Launch Workforce Warriors Poster Series

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte joined Montana Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Sarah Swanson and tribal leaders to launch the Workforce Warrior poster and video series, a campaign that features Native Montanans and their career journeys and community contributions in fields including skilled trades, entrepreneurship, health care, education, public service and business. “The Workforce Warrior Read More…

DEQ Issues Final Environmental Review for North Plains Connector

Final EIS moves 525-kilovolt line linking Western and Eastern power grids closer to construction approval The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the North Plains Connector Project, a major transmission line proposed to link the Western and Eastern U.S. electrical grids, clearing a key hurdle in the state’s Read More…

Army Selects Five Sites for Nuclear Microreactors

The U.S. Army has selected five companies to develop nuclear microreactors at military installations as part of a program aimed at providing reliable power to bases while expanding America’s nuclear-energy industry. The Army’s Janus Program will award up to $2.2 billion across fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with additional private investment expected from the companies. Read More…

Treasury Targets UAE Bank Over Iran Ties

The Trump administration is moving to cut a United Arab Emirates bank off from the U.S. financial system, escalating its campaign to isolate Iran by targeting foreign institutions accused of helping Tehran maintain access to dollars. The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed prohibiting U.S. financial institutions from opening or maintaining correspondent accounts for Read More…

North Dakota Awards $269,400 for Regional Workforce Projects

The North Dakota Department of Commerce has awarded nearly $270,000 to three regional projects aimed at addressing workforce shortages and improving employee retention in healthcare, energy and education. The funding comes through the state’s Regional Workforce Impact Program, which supports locally developed strategies designed around the workforce needs of individual communities and industries. “RWIP continues Read More…

UM Welcomes Inaugural Class of Physician Associates

Named after the state she always dreamed of living in, Montanna Zajac was thrilled to be admitted to the University of Montana’s new physician associate program. Zajac, from Wausau, Wisconsin, studied psychology as an undergraduate but discovered a passion for medicine while working various jobs as an EMT, firefighter and medic for an outdoor wilderness Read More…

President Trump Establishes a Commission to Design the Space Academy

Executive order creates NASA-led panel to draft plans for a new federal academy training astronauts, engineers and space-industry leaders President Trump on Friday signed an executive order creating a presidential commission tasked with laying the groundwork for a new federal academy dedicated to training the next generation of American space professionals. The order establishes the Read More…

Two Mexican Nationals Plead Guilty to Alien Smuggling

Two Mexican nationals have pleaded guilty to federal charges including alien smuggling and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), the Justice Department announced. “The defendants smuggled methamphetamine and aliens into the United States for financial gain, then doubled down to make more money by conspiring Read More…