(The Center Square) – Texas led the U.S. in job growth over the year in August and broke employment records again last month, according to the latest employment data. Texas reported 14,347,700 total nonfarm jobs in August, adding 17,600 positions over the month and 195,600 jobs over the year. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate was Read More…
Across our region, policymakers have been taking action that significantly moves the economic needle: cutting waste and trimming red tape. It’s a key reason Idaho, Montana and Wyoming regularly show up among the least-regulated states in the country, and is a major draw to families, job creators and taxpayers alike. Washington has made some permitting Read More…
(The Center Square) – Virginia is the No. 1 state for teachers’ pay and public spending per student. At the same time, it’s No. 51 for students’ math scores, behind 49 states and Washington, D.C. More pay for teachers and more spending for schools don’t necessarily equal better performances by students, according to a Center Square Read More…
(The Center Square) – Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has no intention of complying with a U.S. Department of Justice request for information from the state’s voter registration list. On Sept. 8, the DOJ sent a letter to Hobbs requesting a copy of the state’s voter registration database within 14 days. The request included sensitive personal Read More…
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder joined U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Tuesday at Jackson Hole Classical Academy as part of the nationwide Returning Education to the States 50-State Tour. The initiative celebrates the shift of educational decision-making from the federal level back to individual states. “Wyoming students have consistently outperformed national learning Read More…
The Sioux Falls School District marked a major milestone on Tuesday, August 19, with the ribbon-cutting of its first-ever SmartLab at the newly built Marcella LeBeau Elementary School. The state-of-the-art STEM learning environment is designed to give students hands-on, project-based learning experiences that foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking while preparing them for future careers. Read More…
U.S. stocks surged this week, with all three major indexes closing at record highs after the Federal Reserve delivered its first interest rate cut of the year, fueling hopes that more easing is on the horizon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average pushed further into record territory, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also notched Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte recognized Sergeant Bob Longcake of Shelby with the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, honoring both his military service during the Vietnam War and his decades of dedication to veterans and his community. “Sergeant Longcake exemplifies the very best of Montana’s veterans,” Gianforte said. “From his courageous service in Vietnam to his tireless Read More…
The Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) welcomed 11 new troopers into its ranks Friday during the 82nd Advanced Academy graduation ceremony. The event included remarks from Attorney General Austin Knudsen and MHP Colonel Kurt Sager, followed by a formal swearing-in and badge-pinning ceremony. “I am proud to welcome 11 new troopers to the Montana Highway Patrol,” Read More…
As a project manager who specializes in campus recruiting for one of the world’s largest professional service firms, Reannon Crider insists on visiting her alma mater – the University of Montana. Crider grew up in Helena and graduated from UM in 2015 with a degree in management information systems, one of UM’s highest earning degrees, Read More…
The Reimagining Rural program, an initiative of Montana State University Extension, will host the second annual Reimagining Rural Roadshow Oct. 1-2 in Glasgow. Designed as a one-stop connection point, the roadshow brings state and regional resource providers together with rural community leaders in a rural setting. Launched in 2019, Reimagining Rural is dedicated to providing Read More…
President Trump’s tariffs and hardline trade negotiations are not just political theater; they are the backbone of a bold America First economic strategy. The results speak for themselves: stronger leverage abroad, revitalized U.S. industries, and greater economic security here at home. Critics may complain about short-term price fluctuations, but the numbers prove the policy is Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced today the opening of the fourth annual Governor’s Youth Hunting Story Contest, inviting Montana youth and apprentice hunters ages 10 to 17 to share their hunting experiences. “For the past three years, young hunters across Montana have shared incredible stories that celebrate our hunting heritage and love of the outdoors,” Gov. Read More…
Montana State Auditor James Brown has joined elected leaders and financial officers nationwide urging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate the delisting of Chinese companies that fail to meet U.S. anti-fraud and transparency standards. The move is aimed at protecting American investors and strengthening national security. “Montanans should not be forced to roll Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has relaunched Innovate ND, a voucher-based reimbursement program providing up to $50,000 to help entrepreneurs validate business ideas and accelerate growth. The program is divided into two six-month phases, each offering up to $25,000 in reimbursements, which participants must complete within 12 months. “Innovate ND is more than funding Read More…
The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Fire Ready Nation Act by unanimous consent, advancing legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s ability to prevent, forecast, and combat wildfires. The bill, introduced in January by Senator Tim Sheehy (R–Mont.) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D–Wash.), formally establishes the Fire Weather Services program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R–Mont.) emphasized the importance of expanding energy production in tribal communities during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing this week. Speaking with David Conrad, Acting Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, Daines highlighted the potential for tribal energy projects to strengthen sovereignty and fuel Read More…
Registration opens in early October for middle and high school teams for the Montana Science Olympiad state tournament, which is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Montana State University. MSU’s Science Math Resource Center, which is part of the College of Education, Health and Human Development, runs the annual statewide competition and will host Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced the 2025 Autonomous Agriculture Grant Program, a competitive funding opportunity offering up to $7.5 million to support transformative projects that advance autonomous agriculture in the state. The program is designed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation agricultural technologies, infrastructure, and workforce solutions. Funding may be Read More…
Congressman Ryan Zinke (R–Mont.) this week welcomed Montana’s inaugural Honor Flight as 32 veterans from across the state traveled to the nation’s capital to visit the memorials and monuments dedicated to their service. Zinke met the group at the U.S. Navy Memorial, where he spoke with the veterans, answered questions, and reflected on the meaning Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 27-state coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Washington state’s ban on firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The coalition filed an amicus brief Monday in Gator’s Custom Guns, Inc. v. State of Washington, arguing the law violates the Second Amendment. In May, the Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte this week signed an executive order creating a new Energy Task Force charged with developing strategies to expand affordable, reliable energy production in Montana. “With increasing demand on our energy grid, we must meet the challenge head-on to ensure affordable, reliable power for Montanans now and into the future,” Gianforte said. “After Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines praised the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) recent proposals to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule and restore multiple-use land management, along with actions to increase timber sales in Montana. “President Trump and Secretary Burgum are bringing back commonsense land management policies that will benefit Montana Read More…
U.S. Senator John Hoeven announced that U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy E. Meink will be a featured guest speaker at the 19th annual UAS Summit & Expo, scheduled for October 14–15 at the Alerus Center. The Summit, one of the nation’s premier gatherings for unmanned aircraft systems, draws government, military, and commercial Read More…
Idaho Fish and Game officials have issued an update on the state’s fall Chinook salmon season, noting that lower-than-expected wild fish returns may prompt regulation changes later this month. Adult wild fall Chinook returns are measured by the number of fish passing over Lower Granite Dam. A sliding scale developed with NOAA Fisheries sets harvest Read More…
The Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) announced today that Montana has been selected to participate in the National Governors Association (NGA) Policy Academy on Youth Apprenticeship, a national initiative aimed at expanding high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for students and young adults. The program, supported by a $50,000 award, will allow Montana to work with Read More…
The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is now accepting applications for the Chrome for Kids Wish Fund, a grant program that supports nonprofits dedicated to granting wishes for chronically or seriously ill children. The Chrome for Kids Wish Fund was created by the Montana Legislature and is financed through voluntary $20 donations collected when residents Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen filed the opening brief in William Trevor Case v. State of Montana ahead of oral arguments at the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) scheduled for October 15. The Attorney General’s Office will defend a Montana Supreme Court ruling that law enforcement may enter a home without a search Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Tuesday that a former state Department of Health employee has been sentenced for falsifying her own medical marijuana card. Alexandra Feiner, 24, of Pierre, pleaded guilty to one felony count of offering a false or forged instrument for filing, registering, or recording. She was sentenced in Hughes County Read More…
Governor Brad Little announced Thursday the appointment of Amanda Ulrich as a District Judge in Idaho’s Seventh Judicial District. Ulrich, a trial attorney with more than 15 years of experience, is a partner at Casperson Ulrich Dustin, where she has practiced since 2018. Her work has focused primarily on civil litigation and employment law. She Read More…
The Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing will host Discovery Day 2025, the state’s largest science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) event, on September 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wyoming Air National Guard Base in Cheyenne. The event brings together local colleges, universities, trade career experts, and STEAM-focused organizations Read More…
Everyone over the age of 35 remembers exactly where they were on September 11, 2001. For the past quarter century, every September 11th, Americans pause for a moment and are brought together by our shared suffering and the shock and horror of seeing thousands of our countrymen killed in the blink of an eye. That Read More…
(The Center Square) – Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder and executive director and close ally of President Donald Trump, was assassinated Wednesday at a Utah Valley University event. A manhunt for the shooter is ongoing. During an American Comeback Tour, sponsored by the Turning Point USA chapter at Utah Valley, Kirk, 31, was seen Read More…
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…
As a growing number of schools across Montana ponder moving to a four-day school week, a researcher at Montana State University and her colleagues are examining the impacts of such a change on children. Among other topics, MSU’s Emily Tomayko and her collaborators have examined questions related to the impact of a four-day school Read More…
(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…
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…
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 Attorney General Austin Knudsen is warning Montanans about the dangers of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a powerful opioid derivative that is being sold over the counter in gas stations, vape shops, and convenience stores across the state. 7-OH is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant and has been linked to a growing number of deaths. Read More…
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…