All posts by Big Sky Headlines

Montana Historic Preservation Review Board to Meet in Big Timber

Montana’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the State Historic Preservation Review Board will hold their tri-annual public meeting on September 18 at the Big Timber Carnegie Library. During the meeting, the board will review and forward nominations for six historic properties across Montana to the Keeper of the National Register at the U.S. Department Read More…

Secret Service spent $11 million on Hunter Biden travel detail

(The Center Square) – The Biden administration spent more than $10 million over three years on a security detail and related expenses for former First Son Hunter Biden after denying similar protections to other high-profile political figures, documents obtained by the Center to Advance Security in America and shared exclusively with The Center Square show. The Read More…

Daines Leads Bipartisan Push for Greater Transparency in CDFI Fund

U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is leading a bipartisan effort to increase transparency and accountability in the federal Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, introducing the CDFI Fund Transparency Act alongside Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). The legislation would require the Secretary of the Treasury to testify annually before Read More…

Gianforte Honors Veterans in Southwest Montana

overnor Greg Gianforte this week recognized Montana veterans for their service to the nation and their lasting contributions to their communities, presenting the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation during ceremonies in Beaverhead and Silver Bow counties. “Montana is stronger because of the selflessness and leadership of our veterans,” Gianforte said. “These men and women answered Read More…

Montana Highway Patrol Command Staff Completes Annual District Tour

The Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) command staff has wrapped up its annual district tour, a statewide effort to connect directly with troopers, captains, sergeants, and professional staff across MHP’s seven districts. The yearly tour provides an opportunity to strengthen internal bonds, set future goals, and celebrate accomplishments. This year, Colonel Kurt Sager and MHP leadership Read More…

Governor Gianforte Welcomes Rivian as First Electric Vehicle Manufacturer in Montana

Governor Greg Gianforte joined Rivian officials and community leaders in Belgrade this week to celebrate the opening of the company’s new 20,000-square-foot service and demo center, marking Rivian as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in Montana. “It’s great to welcome Rivian to Montana as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in our Read More…

Spokane eyes $1.5M in reserves amid uptick in lawsuits, unemployment claims

(The Center Square) – Facing multiple lawsuits, workers’ compensation, and unemployment claims, the Spokane City Council is considering pulling $1.55 million from its reserves to settle before it’s too late. Chief Financial Officer Matt Boston told the council on Monday that the risk management, workers’ and unemployment compensation funds are all experiencing higher activity than anticipated. Read More…

Which state was ranked the most economically free?

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) recently released its 2025 Freedom Index Rankings for states. SEL is a global leader in power system protection, automation and control solutions. The SEL report ranks the most economically and politically free states in the nation. It utilizes data from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the Cato Institute, and various government agencies to Read More…

Trump HHS tells states to remove gender ideology from sex ed or lose PREP funding

(The Center Square) – The Trump administration directed 46 states and territories to remove gender ideology from their sex ed materials or else face possible termination of federal Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) funding, with a family advocate praising the move. Policy director for family advocacy group American Principles Project Paul Dupont told The Center Read More…

Proposed Revisions to North Dakota District Court Local Rules Open for Public Comment

he Local Rules Subcommittee of the Federal Practice Committee for the District of North Dakota has released proposed revisions to the District’s Local Rules, now available for public review and comment. The subcommittee, chaired by Magistrate Judge Alice R. Senechal, carefully reviewed all existing rules to improve clarity and consistency. Committee members included attorneys Chris Read More…

Montana State Auditor Warns of Rising Cryptocurrency ATM Scams

Montana residents are losing millions to cryptocurrency scams, including a growing number involving Bitcoin ATMs, state officials warn. Montana State Auditor James Brown, who also serves as commissioner of securities and insurance, said his office has documented $600,000 in crypto ATM-related fraud since 2023. Brown emphasized that funds sent through these machines often go overseas, Read More…

Knudsen Leads 23-State Coalition Urging EPA to Stop Funding Climate Advocacy Group

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is spearheading a 23-state coalition of attorneys general urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to halt grants to the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), a group that has been providing climate-focused trainings for judges nationwide. In a letter sent Tuesday to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Knudsen raised concerns that taxpayer Read More…

Warren Buffett Marks 95th Birthday With Reflection on Legacy, Berkshire’s Future

Warren Buffett, the legendary investor known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” celebrated his 95th birthday Tuesday in typically understated fashion, surrounded by close family and friends in his hometown. Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, has long avoided lavish celebrations. Instead, those close to him said the billionaire spent the day with a Read More…

Gianforte Approves $308 Million in Broadband Grants

Gov. Greg Gianforte has approved $308 million in broadband deployment grants aimed at closing Montana’s digital divide, backing 32 projects that will extend high-speed internet to nearly 72,000 unserved and underserved locations across the state. The funding recommendations were presented Tuesday by the state’s Communications Advisory Commission (CAC), which voted unanimously to advance the projects Read More…

New Report: Griz Athletics Economic Output Nears $100 Million Annually

Montana Grizzly Athletics produces much more than championships and scholar student-athletes. Griz Athletics contributes more than $94 million in total spending for Missoula-area businesses annually according to a new report published by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research. A day after again announcing record-setting football season ticket sales, the report notes the increased demand Read More…

New business-focused hospitality degree to help Montana tourism industry

Starting this fall, Montana State University students will see increased career opportunities due to a revamp of the hospitality degree program. Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management will now have two paths to choose from: a business-specific concentration from MSU’s Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship or a sustainable food systems-focused concentration Read More…

Montana AG Leads 22-State Coalition Asking Supreme Court to Hear Parental Rights Case

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with 21 other state attorneys general, has filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case challenging a Massachusetts school district’s policy on student “social transitioning” without parental consent. The case, Foote v. Ludlow School Committee, involves Ludlow Public Schools and parents Stephen Foote and Marissa Read More…

Gianforte Welcomes Semiconductor Firm to Montana

Gov. Greg Gianforte on Monday marked the opening of Eshylon Scientific’s new facility in Bozeman, cutting the ribbon on the semiconductor manufacturing solutions company’s relocation from California to Montana. The governor toured the site and highlighted the investment as part of Montana’s growing technology and semiconductor industry. “Montana is becoming a hub for entrepreneurship and Read More…

Montana Delegation Urges President Trump to Impose Tariffs on Russian Palladium

U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy led a letter from Montana’s congressional delegation urging President Donald Trump to take immediate action against Russia’s palladium exports, calling for a 50 percent tariff on unwrought palladium imports from Russia to protect American jobs and domestic mineral production. The letter, also signed by Senator Steve Daines, Rep. Troy Downing, and Read More…

Daines Urges Swift Implementation of Executive Order Expanding 401(k) Investment

U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging the U.S. Department of Labor to quickly implement President Trump’s recent Executive Order expanding access to alternative investments for Americans with 401(k) and other defined-contribution retirement plans. The letter, sent to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, was also signed by Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Read More…

UM Kicks Off Fall Semester With New Colleges, New Deans

In an effort to deliberately focus its academic strengths, the University of Montana is launching fall semester with two new colleges led by two new interim deans. The largest collection of academic units at UM – the venerable College of Humanities and Sciences – has been divided into two new units: the College of Science Read More…

Wyoming Transportation Commission Awards $22.7 Million in Construction Contracts

The Wyoming Transportation Commission has awarded $22.7 million in contracts for seven construction projects across the state, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) announced following the commission’s August meeting. The largest contract, valued at $8.29 million, went to Idaho-based H-K Contractors, Inc., for asphalt paving, fencing, grading, traffic control, and chip seal work on about Read More…