All posts by Big Sky Headlines

ICE deportation threat could impact 150 UM students if school goes online-only

International students attending the University of Montana could be forced to leave the country this fall if the flagship institution is forced to revert to online only instruction due to COVID-19. The Trump administration this week said international students attending U.S schools who switch to online classes will be required to leave or risk violating Read More…

Senator Steve Daines meets with Billings health leaders after surge of COVID-19 cases in Yellowstone County

BILLINGS, Mont. – The number of active cases in Yellowstone County prompted Senator Steve Daines to host a virtual roundtable with county medical leaders. According to Mayor Bill Cole, Yellowstone County is the epicenter for coronavirus, with 16 out of the 45 new cases reported Sunday coming out of Yellowstone County. City health leaders met Read More…

BOR reverses course, will keep Canyon Ferry area campground names

The Bureau of Reclamation says after receiving public feedback it has decided not to change the names of Chinamen’s and Confederate campgrounds. A statement from Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director Brent Esplin said: “The Bureau of Reclamation will be retaining the historical names of Chinamen’s and Confederate campgrounds in the Canyon Ferry Recreation Area based Read More…

Several baseball players are opting out of the 2020 MLB Season, citing ‘personal health and safety’

(CNN)Several players have decided to opt out of the rescheduled Major League Baseball season due to health concerns amid coronavirus outbreak.   Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross will not be playing the 2020 season, the team confirmed on Monday. Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Mike Leake also has decided not to play this season, Read More…

TSA casts doubts on effectiveness of passenger temperature checks at airports

Checking temperatures at airports might not be the best way to weed out travelers with Covid-19, the head of the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday. TSA and other industry officials urged all travelers to wear masks throughout the airport and onboard, but the federal government hasn’t determined if it will perform temperature checks on passengers. “No Read More…

Greta Thunberg accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel of lining up to take a selfie with her just to ‘look good’

Greta Thunberg has accused world leaders of taking selfies with her just to “look good,” name-dropping German Chancellor Angela Merkel as one of them. The 17-year-old climate activist made the comments during a series about her campaigning for Swedish radio, an English text of which was made available for the BBC. Thunberg sailed across the Atlantic Read More…

MT’s 2020 gubernatorial race: Stark contrasts between Cooney, Gianforte

In Montana’s 2020 race for governor, voters won’t have much trouble finding stark contrasts, between Republican congressman and former businessman Greg Gianforte and Democratic Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney. Gianforte, 59, one of the wealthiest men in Montana, will pitch himself as the “business guy” who will scrutinize government and make it more business-friendly. “I’m running Read More…

Montana senators push for Benevento nomination

Doug Benevento’s nomination as EPA’s deputy administrator, imperiled by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s anger with the agency over ethanol standards, is receiving a quiet boost from Montana’s Senate delegation.   Both Republican Sen. Steve Daines and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester say they have lobbied their colleagues who sit on the Environment and Public Works Committee Read More…

Free Online Hunter/Bowhunter Education Classes In Montana

To protect public health and reduce overall spread of COVID-19, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has temporarily cancelled all in-person Hunter and Bowhunter Education classes. Please take advantage of the opportunities to get certified now. If you require Hunter Education, please take the free, online-only course using code MThnDbeHtbWkJf20 at hunter-ed.com/montana. You must be 12 years of Read More…

Daines asking postal service inspector general for ‘full investigation’ after Billings vet’s remains go missing

BILLINGS — U.S. Sen. Steve Daines of Montana is calling on the U.S. Postal Service to review and correct policy after a Billings veteran’s remains were lost in the mail. Daines recently sent a letter to the USPS inspector general asking for an in-depth investigation into the matter, which took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Billings Read More…

Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana law that severely restricted abortions

In a 5-4 decision announced Monday, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that severely restricted abortion in the state, marking a win for abortion rights advocates. Chief Justice John Roberts, a crucial conservative swing vote, sided with liberal Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, Sotomayor and Kagan in issuing the majority opinion. According to The Associated Press, Roberts Read More…

Sen. Daines visits local business to highlight federal relief

Several employees stood among wooden dressers, dining room tables, couches and chairs to greet Sen. Steve Daines as he visited the showroom for Black Timber Furniture in Four Corners on Friday morning. Black Timber Furniture received $65,000 from the federal paycheck protection program, a $349 billion initiative that provides loans to small businesses. The program was Read More…

Idaho Governor & Secretary of State say They’ll Appeal Reclaim Idaho Court Ruling

BOISE — Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney say they plan to appeal Tuesday’s U.S. District Court decision granting Reclaim Idaho’s request for a second chance to qualify its school-funding initiative for the November ballot, after the statewide stay-home order cut off signature gathering prior to the state’s deadline. “This decision is Read More…

Wyoming unemployment rate falls, now third lowest in country

Wyoming’s unemployment rate fell to 8.8% in May, as the state began to recover from the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The Equality State had the nation’s third lowest unemployment rate for the month, trailing only Nebraska and Utah, federal figures show. The national unemployment rate, meanwhile, stood at 13.3%. In April, Wyoming unemployment Read More…

Disputes emerge from North Dakota June election

Two legal challenges are brewing in the wake of North Dakota’s June election.   North Dakota’s Republican Party is researching a potential lawsuit against Democratic-NPL insurance commissioner nominee Travisia Martin, who the GOP claims doesn’t meet the five-year residency requirement to be a candidate. But it’s unclear when or if the party will sue.   Two unsuccessful Read More…

Wyoming GOP Convention Gets Conservative Superstar Charlie Kirk to Keynote

The Wyoming Republican Party is doing what most organizations can’t right now. Not only are they getting a high-profile figure to keynote their convention but that figure is actually appearing in-person. Well-known conservative activist Charlie Kirk is heading to Gillette for the Wyoming Republican Convention this weekend and for conservatives, there couldn’t be a better Read More…

Former market president for Rocky Mountain Bank accused of bank fraud, related crimes

BILLINGS- A former market president for Rocky Mountain Bank has admitted to fraud and money laundering crimes. A release from the Department of Justice says 46-year-old Stephen Phillip Casher was charged in a 14-count superseding indictment alleging bank fraud and related crimes. The prosecution presented evidence in court records at trial that Casher worked as Read More…

Brett Favre said Colin Kaepernick is a ‘hero’ and likened the former 49ers QB’s sacrifice to that of the late Pat Tillman

Colin Kaepernick has long been a divisive figure in the NFL and beyond. But according to one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the league, the former San Francisco 49ers QB is a “hero.” In an interview with TMZ Sports, Hall of Famer Brett Favre said he suspects Kaepernick’s “hero status will be Read More…