NorthWestern Energy Group (NASDAQ: NWE) is moving forward with plans to merge with Black Hills Corp., a deal that could reshape the regional utility landscape, while Wall Street analysts weigh in on the stock. JP Morgan analyst Aidan Kelly maintained a Neutral rating on NorthWestern Energy but raised the price target from $60 to $61, Read More…
OpenAI and SoftBank Group Corp. are jointly investing $1 billion in SB Energy, the infrastructure company helping build out the United States’ next generation of artificial intelligence data centers. Under the agreement, OpenAI and SoftBank will each contribute $500 million to support SB Energy’s growth as a data center developer and operator, the companies announced Read More…
Berkshire Hathaway announced Friday that it has completed its $9.7 billion acquisition of OxyChem from Occidental Petroleum (OXY). OxyChem, a leading chemical manufacturer, will continue to be led by Wade Alleman, OxyChem’s president and chief executive officer, according to Berkshire Hathaway. https://bigskyheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MVD-office15.mp4 The acquisition expands Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio in the industrial and chemical sectors and Read More…
The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) has confirmed that an animal from a Gallatin County livestock herd within Montana’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) tested positive for brucellosis, marking the second detection of the disease in Montana livestock in 2025. State officials said the affected herd has been placed under quarantine and an epidemiological investigation is Read More…
Target CEO Brian Cornell still thinks the U.S. consumer is strong and spending, despite fears that some shoppers may be pulling back with the threat of another economic recession looming. He told members of the media Wednesday morning after reporting quarterly earnings that blew past estimates: Target CFO “Cathy [Smith] and I —we meet with our banking partners, Read More…
Under the Big Sky, the Emmy Award-Winning storytelling series from the Montana Television Network, has received a $40,000 grant from the Greater Montana Foundation to continue to bring stories about life in Montana to audiences. The series premiered in February 2017 and recently finished production on its seventh episode. The quarterly program combines cinematic visuals Read More…
(Missoula, Mont.)—Moore Information Group, formerly Moore Information, has not only launched a new name and logo, but a new web presence as well. The national public opinion research and strategic analysis firm — with offices in Portland, OR, Missoula, MT, Denver CO and Washington, DC — is known for its strong track record of accurate Read More…
J.C. Penney Co. Inc. stock plummeted 12.1% in Friday trading after the department store retailer announced that it received a letter from the New York Stock Exchange on August 6 alerting it that it is no longer in compliance with listing criteria. The criteria requires listed companies to maintain an average closing share price of Read More…
As the worldwide grounding of the Boeing 737 Max enters its sixth month, airlines are turning to older jets to help meet growing demand, prompting a surge in rental rates. “Used 800s are like a gold dust at the moment,” said Phil Seymour, CEO of London-based aerospace consulting firm IBA, referring to Boeing 737-800s, an older model Read More…
A sizable group of community banks are in various stages of consolidation, highlighting how the industry-wide merger and acquisition (M&A) trend is extending down market, as community and regional banks pursue greater scale and cost efficiencies. M&A fever has already gripped the nation’s super-regionals and top banks. BB&T announced in February that it was acquiring SunTrust for Read More…
The Montana Renewable Energy Association hosted the 9th Annual Montana Clean Energy Fair at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds on Saturday. The event brought hundreds from around the region to participate in workshops and demonstrations on topics including renewable energy policy, solar electricity and solar heating, batteries and energy storage, and more. “This is our big Read More…
HELENA — Montana State Fund presented the Montana Building Industry Association (MBIA) with a $539,902 check Thursday morning for their efforts to improve workplace safety. MBIA instituted a Group Retention Insurance Program, or GRIP, which help foster safe workplaces for construction sites. “Montana State Fund applauds the efforts and determination of the Montana Building Industry Read More…
The country’s two largest newspaper chains agreed to combine their businesses in a roughly $1.4 billion deal, further consolidating an industry reeling from strong economic headwinds. New Media Investment Group Inc., the parent of GateHouse Media, is buying Gannett Co. in a cash-and-stock transaction, the companies said Monday. New Media will pay $6.25 in cash Read More…
As many Montanans know, cowboy boots can tell a unique story about your life, your family and where you come from. One Treasure State woman has created a successful business giving old boots new lives. Nikki Edmundson lives in Harrison, (approximately) pop.165, with her husband, a rancher, and four kids. “You’ll miss us if you’re Read More…
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The owner of a surface coal mine in Montana is seeking to set aside a federal decision regarding a mining plan modification. Western Energy Co. filed a complaint on July 17 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and U.S. Office of Surface Mining Read More…
Wednesday wasn’t a good day for Melissa Peterson-Worden. Like nearly 600 of her Blackjewel LLC coworkers locked out of the Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte mines in Campbell County since July 1, she’s spent the last three weeks hoping she’ll be called back to work while applying for new jobs. Down to the last $432 Read More…
Sidney Health Center announced the recruit of James Hickey, D.O. Dr. Hickey joins the medical staff as a family medicine physician. Hickey provides a wide range of primary care services to people of all ages. His scope of practice includes diagnosing and treating illnesses, managing chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. — An organization that advocates for the interests of cable operators at the Montana Capitol is disbanding. The Billings Gazette reported Wednesday that the Montana Cable Telecommunications Association has announced it will cease operations after 60 years of representing the industry. READ FULL STORY
Often lauded as one of the state’s major business success stories, owners of a prominent Montana farm have sold their land. Wheat Montana, based in Three Forks, sold its mills and bakeries to a private equity firm in 2015 and sold its farm to a new family in January 2019, co-owner Dean Folkvord said. Though Read More…
Though the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale officially opened to the public on Friday, July 19, the bargain hunting had already been well underway for an exclusive group of people — Nordstrom card holders. For several years, the department store has granted its most loyal shoppers special access to the annual sale, an effort to generate buzz and clout Read More…
New York State has awarded two offshore wind contracts with a combined capacity of almost 1,700 megawatts (MW) in waters off Long Island. The contracts were awarded to Norwegian firm Equinor and a joint venture between Danish company Orsted and U.S. business Eversource. The Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind developments were announced as the winners of New York’s Read More…
Alec Manfre co-founded the tech start-up Bractlet as a student in Atlanta where he went to college, then ran it from an incubator in Santiago, Chile. But it was Texas where he and his two co-founders ultimately put down roots. They got hooked on doing business in the state after moving the start-up to Houston Read More…
Walmart is making further organizational changes as it continues to integrate its store and digital operations and leadership, according to a memo obtained by CNBC that was sent by CEO Doug McMillon to the retailer’s employees. “Our customers want one, seamless Walmart experience,” McMillon wrote to employees. “Earning more of our customers’ business in food and Read More…
BOZEMAN – Twenty current and emerging leaders from Montana’s natural resource industries have been selected to take part in Class IV of REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership). Class IV will begin their leadership journey on September 12, 2019 at their first seminar in Bozeman. “REAL Montana continues to strengthen its mission of building Read More…
HARLOWTON, Mont. — Bridger Brewing, Montana Space Grant Consortium at Montana State University and Bozeman-based Crooked Yard Hops have partnered on a project that sent beer ingredients into space. The retrieved ingredients were then used to brew a commemorative beer celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. While other breweries are Read More…
WASHINGTON— Amazon.com Inc. AMZN +1.38% Chief Executive Jeff Bezos tries never to schedule a meeting before 10 a.m. “I go to bed early, I get up early, I like to putter in the morning” reading the newspaper, drinking a cup of coffee and eating breakfast with his children, he said. Mr. Bezos schedules “high IQ” meetings before lunch, and tries Read More…
Montana judge James A. Manley had previously ruled that the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) had violated the rights of developer MTSUN by cutting both the rates paid for electricity and contract lengths under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), for the express purpose of undercutting the viability of solar power. This was in Read More…
GTUIT, LLC, Billings, MT was awarded the EcoStar Pollution Prevention Award for 2019. The award was presented at a reception hosted by Governor Bullock at the State Capitol Rotunda in Helena. The award recognizes GTUIT for taking environmentally responsible steps to reduce air emissions in oil producing regions, maximize upstream oil and gas operation efficiencies, conserve Read More…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR)- April’s oil production numbers are in, and they remained almost flat from March. Natural gas production reached an all time high with 2.8 billion cubic feet produced per day. 81% was captured statewide,which is below the goal of 88%. Mineral and Gas Division director Lynn Helms gave examples of how some companies are Read More…
Forty-four Montanans Complete Premier Leadership Development Program, 19 Complete new Masters Class BOZEMAN – Leadership Montana announced the graduation of 44 community, business, education, healthcare, nonprofit and government leaders from across the state for the Class of 2019 of its flagship leadership program. Leadership Montana presents an annual seven session program of leadership development, education about Read More…
James Stack’s career as a financial advisor is testament to the fact that you can understand the movements of the stock market while working 2,200 miles away from it. A native of western Montana, Stack made a decision to forgo life in a financial center for the pleasures of working in Whitefish, in the middle Read More…
Now that the trade war between the US and China is on, observers on both sides are wondering what more China will do to retaliate against the US. One measure China could take that keeps popping up in conversation is that the country could start dumping its massive hoard of $1.1 trillion worth of US Read More…
Apple stock plunged nearly 6% Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Apple customers can sue the company over prices on its App Store. The 5-to-4 ruling lets consumers move forward with a long-running lawsuit that claims Apple (ticker: AAPL) is using its market dominance to inflate prices via a 30% commission at its Read More…
Dive Brief: OSHA has cited a Montana highway contractor for 26 serious and two other violations and proposed fines totaling $225,425 in connection with an accident during which three employees sustained burns and one worker fell. The agency’s initial press release in April reported 23 serious violations and fines of $261,418. The agency said three Read More…
MISSOULA – Move over, White Claw. This month, Big Sky Brewery unveiled its own brand of spiked seltzers, featuring flavors familiar to the Treasure State. Though the Big Sky Spiked Seltzer is a far different beverage than longtime flagship beers such as Moose Drool and Summer Honey, the company says Spiked Seltzer still follows the Read More…
Everything goes through a lifecycle, and operating systems are no different. They start out as new and fresh and full of possibilities and go through an explosive phase of stratospheric growth. This is the exciting period. But going along with that growth are the inevitable teething troubles or bugs and problems and sleepless nights. And Read More…
Intello, the New York City-based Saas management platform, announced a $2.5 million extended seed round today, along with some product enhancements. The round was led by Resolute Ventures . Harrison Metal and Magnetico Ventures also participated along with various individual angel investors including Zane Lackey from Signal Sciences, Chris Smoak from Atrium and Zach Sherman Read More…
BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Nelcon Inc. – a highway contractor based in Kalispell, Montana – for exposing workers to burns and falls at a mobile asphalt-mixing plant in Laurel, Montana. The company faces $261,418 in penalties for 23 serious violations. Three workers suffered burns Read More…
A longtime veteran of Bozeman’s tech world, Susan Carstensen, said the business climate for women in Montana doesn’t look like it did when she first started. “The difference between 1995 and today, I think, is pretty dramatic,” she said. Carstensen worked for RightNow Technologies, now Oracle, as a chief operating officer, chief financial officer and Read More…
MISSOULA – Montana’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 3.7% for the month of March. Total employment estimates indicate a gain of 326 jobs, while payroll employment posted no change over the month, suggesting that tight labor markets are constraining job growth, according to figures from the Department of Labor & Industry. Montana’s labor force Read More…
Though not generating the fanfare that its new ConceptD computers have, Acer also introduced a pair of new Chromebooks at its press event this week. Unlike its numerous education models, however, these new laptops are designed to appeal to enterprises that want to add Chromebooks to their mobile fleet. The Chromebook 714 and 715 may Read More…
Dive Brief: A Montana district court judge last week issued an order in favor of solar developers, ruling that the state’s Public Service Commission intentionally disadvantaged small solar projects in violation of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). The ruling comes after a June 2017 audio recording captured Commissioner Bob Lake acknowledging that cuts Read More…
One clothing company in Butte is taking apparel design a mile high and a mile deep. Underground Clothing Co. opened December 2017, and co-founder Shelby Carver says it’s a brand that draws on Montana’s sense of hometown pride. Carver and her husband Robert operate the company from a small retail space at 1120 E. Front Read More…
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office dispatched officers to the Montana Athletic Club in Bigfork on Thursday to ensure the business’ compliance with a 30-day suspension of its alcohol license. A Helena judge has prohibited the sale of all alcoholic beverages on the club’s premises for 30 days and imposed a $1,000 fine following the club’s Read More…