The Wyoming Transportation Commission has awarded a $16.43 million emergency contract to address critical repairs in the westbound Green River Tunnel on Interstate 80, following damage to the tunnel’s lining and lighting systems. The contract was approved during the Commission’s regular business meeting on July 17, held virtually via Zoom. Casper Electric Inc., a Wyoming-based Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte has urged Congress to support two joint resolutions aimed at overturning a Biden administration policy that threatens Montana’s coal industry and could cost the state’s public schools over $4 billion in future revenue. In a letter to lawmakers, Gianforte expressed strong backing for Senate Joint Resolution 61 (S.J.Res.61) and House Joint Resolution Read More…
Governor Kelly Armstrong has appointed Andrew Eyre, an experienced prosecutor with over a decade of service in the Grand Forks County State’s Attorney’s Office, to the bench of the Northeast Central Judicial District. The appointment becomes effective August 29. Eyre, who has served as Assistant State’s Attorney for Grand Forks County since 2013, currently leads Read More…
Governor Brad Little has appointed Regina McCrea, a seasoned civil litigator with more than two decades of legal experience, to serve as a district judge in Idaho’s First Judicial District, filling a newly created position chambered in Kootenai County. McCrea, the owner and principal attorney of McCrea Law, has practiced law in North Idaho since Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) has introduced bipartisan legislation to end wage discrimination against workers with disabilities and support their transition into competitive, integrated employment. The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act seeks to phase out the use of subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities—still legal under federal law—and invest in programs that promote inclusive Read More…
Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT), former Secretary of the Interior, and Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) today unveiled new legislation aimed at shoring up funding for America’s national parks by charging most foreign tourists a dedicated entry fee. Joined by Representative Riley Moore (R-WV) and Senator Jim Banks (R-IN), the group introduced the Protecting America’s Treasures by Read More…
Western Montana Congressman and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced a series of major victories for Montana in the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The legislation, which passed out of full committee markup this week, includes several of Zinke’s top priorities—ranging from rural water infrastructure funding to Read More…
U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) today introduced the Stop Anarchists from Endangering (SAFE) Cities Act, a bill aimed at cutting off federal taxpayer dollars to cities that, in Sheehy’s view, “weaken their police departments, ignore civil unrest, and allow violent criminals to have free rein.” The legislation would require the U.S. Attorney General to identify Read More…
Small business owners across the nation are showing renewed confidence in the economy, according to CNBC’s latest Small Business Survey, coinciding with the implementation of President Donald J. Trump’s landmark One Big Beautiful Bill and his broader pro-growth policies. The survey reveals a significant upswing in optimism: Nearly half of small business owners now rate Read More…
Montanans have a long and proud tradition of insisting that judges serve the law—not political parties, special interests, or ideological causes. But if we want that system to actually mean something, we need more than rules on paper. We need judicial candidates who are honest with voters—especially about their own political histories. Judge Amy Eddy, Read More…
President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill is a tremendous win for Montana. It will spur economic growth, strengthen border security as well as expand Montana’s energy sector and provide much-needed funding for our military. And thanks to the diligent work of the entire Montana congressional delegation, we defeated attempts to sell our public lands. Nearly every Read More…
(The Center Square) – Illegal border crossings dropped to their lowest level in recorded U.S. history in June. Nationwide, 25,228 illegal border crossers were apprehended, the lowest monthly total in history, according to newly published U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. The greatest number apprehended were nationwide at land, sea and air ports of entry Read More…
BOZEMAN — Two graduate students at Montana State University recently gave presentations at an international conference on a unique carbon fiber composite that could one day reduce manufacturing and operational costs of airplanes, helicopters and other flying forms of transportation by making them significantly lighter without compromising their strength. Montana State University masters student Cooper Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Small Business Administration has established a Center for Faith as well as eliminated the Biden regulation that banned faith organizations from receiving disaster relief. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a cabinet-level federal agency intended to provide “counseling, capital, and contracting expertise” for small businesses, according to its website. The Read More…
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, calling on lawmakers to maintain strong federal funding for transportation infrastructure, provide greater flexibility to states, and enact permitting reforms to accelerate project delivery and reduce costs. Speaking on behalf of the National Governors Association during a hearing titled Read More…
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong joined former President Donald Trump at the White House today for the official signing of the HALT Fentanyl Act, landmark legislation aimed at cracking down on the trafficking of deadly fentanyl analogues. Armstrong, who co-sponsored an earlier version of the bill during his tenure in Congress, praised the measure for Read More…
The State of Idaho wrapped up its fiscal year on June 30 with a balanced budget and an impressive $345 million surplus, according to updated revenue figures released today by the Division of Financial Management. The report confirms the state’s continued streak of strong fiscal health, powered by conservative budgeting, steady economic expansion, and record Read More…
The J.R. Simplot Company and Clarebout Potatoes announced this week Simplot’s intention to acquire the operating business of Clarebout, in a move that unites two family-owned leaders in the frozen potato industry. The transaction, expected to close in 2025 pending regulatory approvals, will significantly expand Simplot’s footprint in Europe and enhance its global processing and Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte this week honored four Montana veterans with the Governor’s Veteran Commendation, recognizing their exemplary military service and continued dedication to their communities. Ceremonies were held in Chouteau, Hill, and Valley counties as part of the governor’s ongoing commitment to celebrating Montana’s veterans. “Montana veterans don’t just serve in uniform, they serve for Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce has officially reopened the Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund (WP RLF) to new applicants, unveiling a series of major updates aimed at increasing access to capital and strengthening the state’s wood products industry. The relaunch comes with revised program guidelines, adopted earlier this month, that streamline the application process, expand Read More…
KRAMBU, Inc., a sustainable high-performance computing infrastructure company, announced this week the development of a next-generation AI data center campus in Montana—what the company is calling the world’s most sustainable “AI Factory.” The project is designed to redefine the future of artificial intelligence infrastructure by integrating direct liquid cooling (DLC) technology, renewable energy sources, and Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson announced a $4 million federal grant to establish Montana’s first registered teacher apprenticeship program, a major step toward strengthening the state’s education workforce and addressing critical teacher shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas. “Preparing the next generation of Montana’s workforce and Read More…
Most people would agree that television commercials are an irritant at worst and beverage break at best. For University of Montana marketing researcher Jesse King, commercials – namely pharmaceutical advertisements – are intensely interesting and a focal point of his studies for the past several years. Specifically, King studies how images used in those ads Read More…
(The Center Square) – Across the country, federal agents are arresting members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) U.S.-Salvadoran transnational gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing transnational gangs and cartels to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. In February, eight were Read More…
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) passed by Congress and signed by President Trump is a game changer that will benefit middle-income, working-class Montanans. Yet Montana Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers (Montana’s top Democrat) said “I just think it is a betrayal of working Montanans and Americans,” mirroring national Democrats’ political talking points. One must Read More…
Montana State University is a key player in a major, multi-year grant that has helped train more than 450 nurses across six western states. The Montana Office for Rural Health and Area Health Education Center (MORH/AHEC), which is housed in the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing at MSU, received the grant in 2021. Read More…
(The Center Square) – Sunday marks the first anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. Despite the life-altering milestone, the president appears to be keeping it quiet. After touring the devastation in Texas on Friday along with First Lady Melania Trump, the first couple is scheduled Read More…
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder today announced the appointment and reappointment of three distinguished individuals to the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board: Steve Lupien, Jill Bramlet, and Joe Feiler. “Steve, Jill, and Joe are all independently qualified charter school advocates,” Superintendent Degenfelder said. “Each brings unique and exceptional expertise to the board through Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that the state will receive $2.5 million as part of a nationwide $720 million settlement with eight pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic. The funds, which will be used for opioid abatement efforts across Montana, stem from a multistate agreement resolving claims that the companies played Read More…
State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Friday announced the four outstanding educators selected as finalists for North Dakota’s 2026 Teacher of the Year award, praising their dedication and commitment to shaping the future of the state’s students. The finalists are: Julie Dawes, Grand Forks County Jared Sagvold, Ransom County Kelsey Tunseth, Traill County Holly Wheeling, Burleigh Read More…
Texas State Senator Angela Paxton filed for divorce Thursday from her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton, ending nearly four decades of marriage between two prominent Republican political figures. The filing, made in Collin County, cites adultery and irreconcilable differences as grounds for the split. Angela Paxton publicly confirmed the divorce on the social media platform Read More…
For Elizabeth Arnold, mathematics has always been a family affair. While growing up, she spent lots of time solving problems and mathematical puzzles with her father, a now-retired community college professor of mathematics. She remembers going with him to campus as a fourth grader on “Take Your Child to Work Day,” attending his lectures and Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 23-state coalition in a federal court case defending parental rights after a Delaware father alleged that school officials violated his constitutional rights by concealing his child’s gender identity decisions from him. The coalition filed an amicus brief Monday in Heaps v. Delaware Valley Regional High School Board Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that three communities in coal-impacted areas will receive more than $240,000 in grant funding to support critical public safety upgrades and community development initiatives. The funding, distributed through the Montana Coal Board, will aid local governments and school districts in enhancing infrastructure, improving emergency services, and investing in Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour today with a stop in Chouteau County, where he held a ceremonial bill signing for legislation aimed at strengthening Montana’s water rights system and improving water administration across the state. Standing along the banks of the Missouri River, the governor was joined by Department of Natural Resources Read More…
(The Center Square) – Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown proposed several measures on Monday to “jumpstart” the city’s affordable housing supply with hopes of building more than 22,000 units by 2046. The proposals build on Brown’s H.O.M.E. Starts Here initiative, which the Spokane City Council passed last month as part of her overhaul of the local homelessness Read More…
(The Center Square) – As lawmakers begin crafting the 12 annual appropriations bills to fund the federal government in fiscal year 2026, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has implied that his party will refuse to cooperate in the process if Republicans revoke billions in funding from previous years. The Senate is set to vote Read More…
The national conversation around cannabis has shifted dramatically in the last few years. What was once a fringe issue is now a mainstream discussion, with a broad consensus emerging across the political spectrum: it’s time for federal cannabis policy to catch up with the reality on the ground in America. The proposed rescheduling of cannabis Read More…
Amberly Guerrero, a senior at Montana State University who is pursuing a dual degree in chemical and biological engineering, earned a prestigious award from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation this spring. Guerrero was one of 74 undergraduate students from 51 institutions across the country to receive the award. The scholarship is offered to college juniors and Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will host an open house later this month to update the public on a multi-year study of water quality in the middle segment of the Gallatin River, stretching from Yellowstone National Park to Spanish Creek. The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 29, from 5 p.m. Read More…