(The Center Square) – With the ongoing partial government shutdown now the second-longest in American history, irritated Republicans are berating Senate Democrats, who for the fifth time Friday blocked the advance of the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. The failed vote highlighted how firmly Democrats are entrenched in their opposition to any fiscal year Read More…
The high-stakes partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI is showing fresh signs of strain after reports that Microsoft is weighing legal action over a massive cloud agreement between OpenAI and Amazon. According to a report cited this week, Microsoft is considering whether a reported $50 billion deal involving Amazon Web Services and OpenAI could violate its Read More…
U.S. stocks fell again this week, extending Wall Street’s losing streak to four straight weeks as rising oil prices, stubborn inflation concerns and fading hopes for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts pushed investors into a more defensive posture. By Friday’s close, the S&P 500 had fallen 1.9% for the week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is accusing Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen of trying to mislead voters with a new ad in the increasingly heated Republican primary for Montana’s 1st Congressional District, as the fight over President Donald Trump’s backing becomes a central issue in the race. Jacobsen’s latest ad has drawn criticism from Flint Read More…
(The Center Square) – With the ongoing partial government shutdown now the second-longest in American history, irritated Republicans are berating Senate Democrats, who for the fifth time Friday blocked the advance of the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. The failed vote highlighted how firmly Democrats are entrenched in their opposition to any fiscal year Read More…
The high-stakes partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI is showing fresh signs of strain after reports that Microsoft is weighing legal action over a massive cloud agreement between OpenAI and Amazon. According to a report cited this week, Microsoft is considering whether a reported $50 billion deal involving Amazon Web Services and OpenAI could violate its Read More…
U.S. stocks fell again this week, extending Wall Street’s losing streak to four straight weeks as rising oil prices, stubborn inflation concerns and fading hopes for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts pushed investors into a more defensive posture. By Friday’s close, the S&P 500 had fallen 1.9% for the week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is accusing Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen of trying to mislead voters with a new ad in the increasingly heated Republican primary for Montana’s 1st Congressional District, as the fight over President Donald Trump’s backing becomes a central issue in the race. Jacobsen’s latest ad has drawn criticism from Flint Read More…
The Trump administration on Friday rolled out a sweeping national legislative framework for artificial intelligence, outlining a broad federal agenda aimed at boosting U.S. competitiveness, protecting free speech, supporting families and securing American leadership in the global AI race. The White House said the framework is designed to give Congress a roadmap for tackling the Read More…
The U.S. Senate has passed Sen. Tim Sheehy’s bipartisan VA Home Loan Awareness Act as part of the broader 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, marking an early legislative win for the freshman Montana senator. The bill, which Sheehy introduced as his first piece of legislation in the Senate, is aimed at helping more veterans Read More…
Congressman Ryan Zinke traveled to Bozeman and Seeley Lake to mark the delivery of more than $11.1 million in federal funding for water infrastructure and law enforcement projects in Gallatin, Beaverhead and Missoula counties. The funding is part of more than $35 million Zinke secured for Montana in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process. The Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 24-state coalition urging the Trump administration to investigate the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Science Foundation, and to cut off federal grant funding tied to a climate science chapter used in a judicial reference manual. In a letter sent this month to Read More…
First Interstate and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines are providing $700,000 in combined support to 34 nonprofit organizations across South Dakota, expanding funding for groups working on some of the state’s most pressing community needs. The total includes a $200,000 contribution from First Interstate, matched up to three times through FHLB Des Read More…
Montana’s Land Board approved a series of revenue-generating actions at its March meeting expected to produce more than $1.63 million for the state’s trust beneficiaries, including support for public education. The actions approved by the board included an estimated $1,093,308 from timber sales and $532,944 from an oil and gas lease sale. Combined, the measures Read More…
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality has released its 2025 State of the Environment Report, highlighting the agency’s work over the past year in air monitoring, water management, land reclamation and regulatory compliance. According to the agency, the report focuses on DEQ’s core responsibilities across air, land, waste and water, while also pointing to ongoing Read More…
New rules governing North Dakota’s public charter schools will take effect April 1, opening the door for supporters to begin advancing proposals for the state’s first charter schools. State School Superintendent Levi Bachmeier announced the regulations after a rulemaking process that followed the Legislature’s 2025 approval of public, tax-supported charter schools under Senate Bill 2241. Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has launched a new grant program aimed at helping communities recruit out-of-state workers by bringing prospective job seekers to see career opportunities and quality of life in the state firsthand. The new Talent Pipeline Fly-In Grant Program will support up to 10 communities as they host fly-in events for Read More…
A coalition of Montana business organizations is asking the Montana Supreme Court to block a proposed ballot initiative that would restrict corporations and other entities from spending money in state elections. The lawsuit challenges Initiative 194, a measure backed by the Transparent Election Initiative as part of its broader “Montana Plan.” Supporters say the proposal Read More…
The Trump administration has announced a major restructuring of the federal student loan system, transferring management of defaulted student loans from the U.S. Department of Education to the Treasury Department in what supporters describe as a long-overdue effort to improve accountability, strengthen collections and reduce bureaucratic inefficiency. Under the new agreement unveiled Thursday, the Treasury Read More…
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore Voice of America after the government-funded broadcaster was largely shut down over the past year, setting up a fresh legal clash over the future of one of the nation’s best-known international media outlets. The administration filed notice Thursday that it will appeal the ruling. U.S. Read More…
A federal jury in San Francisco found Elon Musk liable for misleading Twitter investors during his 2022 bid to buy the company, concluding that some of his public statements improperly affected the stock price while the $44 billion takeover was still in dispute. Jurors, however, rejected broader allegations that Musk carried out a larger scheme Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte visited Dahlman Farms during Montana Agriculture Week to highlight the importance of international trade to the state’s farmers and ranchers and to underscore the role export markets play in supporting Montana’s top industry. The visit put a spotlight on the Dahlman family’s long history in Montana agriculture and on the broader significance Read More…
A sharp jump in oil prices emerged as one of the biggest business stories of the week, rattling financial markets and renewing fears that higher energy costs could fuel inflation, squeeze consumers and slow economic growth. The surge was driven by escalating disruption across the Middle East tied to the war involving Iran. Concerns over Read More…
Montana deserves a federal judge who not only understands the law, but understands Montana. President Trump’s nomination of Katie Lane to serve a s the Treasure State’s next federal judge achieves both of these goals. Katie built her career on a sincere commitment to an original interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and individual liberty. I Read More…
The Center Square) – Federal agents continue to arrest Guatemalans involved in human smuggling and trafficking operations, including of children, who are also involved in violating federal labor laws. The latest arrest was of Guatemalan national Brayan Adiel Gramajo Reyes, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello, Idaho, on multiple smuggling and labor Read More…
(The Center Square) – The American Legislative Exchange Council called on state legislatures to embrace limited tax regulation and greater investment in artificial intelligence to facilitate effective government processes. The council released its AI policy toolkit calling for a “light-touch” policy approach to AI. “U.S. regulators risk jeopardizing A.I.’s massive potential and benefits to consumers Read More…
(The Center Square) – Veterans die by suicide at roughly twice the civilian rate, despite the Department of Veterans Affairs spending more than $500 million a year to address the problem. In 2023, the rate of suicide for veterans was 35.2 per 100,000, up from 34.7 per 100,000 in 2022, according to the most recent Read More…
(The Center Square) – Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson may be satisfied with the House of Representatives’ latest version of an income tax bill – so much so that he said he will sign it if it passes the Legislature – but plenty of others remain skeptical. In the wee hours of Friday morning, majority party Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Mirabelli v. Olson deciding against California’s law that allowed for gender transitions of school children without parental knowledge has met with commendation from advocacy groups and law firms, with a legal counsel calling the decision one of the “biggest parental rights wins” in a generation. Chief Read More…
U.S. stocks closed lower this week as investors grappled with renewed uncertainty around interest rates, economic growth, and upcoming corporate earnings. The broad market benchmark, the S&P 500, posted a weekly decline, with selling pressure building in the latter part of the week. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which tracks the index, ended near Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz announced two priority forest landscapes in Montana that will serve as the first major project areas under the state’s new Shared Stewardship Agreement, a long-term partnership aimed at reducing wildfire risk, improving forest health, and supporting Montana’s timber industry. The announcement came during a press Read More…
A Big Horn County woman has received a 10-year deferred imposition of sentence and was ordered to pay more than $101,000 in restitution after being convicted of financially exploiting her elderly mother and stepfather, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced. The case marks the first conviction investigated and prosecuted by the Montana Department of Justice’s Read More…
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown is marking National Consumer Protection Week by highlighting major enforcement actions that protected Montana families over the past year while warning residents about the growing sophistication of financial scams. Brown said protecting consumers from fraud and abuse remains the top priority for his office, Read More…
The White House has unveiled “President Trump’s Cyber Strategy for America,” a new framework outlining the administration’s approach to maintaining U.S. dominance in cyberspace and strengthening the nation’s defenses against growing digital threats. Administration officials say the strategy is designed to ensure that the United States remains unrivaled in cyber capabilities, while improving coordination between Read More…
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth convened defense and security leaders from 17 countries across the Western Hemisphere this week for the Americas Counter-Cartel Conference, a regional gathering focused on strengthening cooperation against transnational criminal organizations. The conference brought together defense ministers, senior government officials, and security leaders from across the Americas to discuss coordinated strategies Read More…
Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is entering the race for the U.S. Senate seat in Montana, setting up what could become one of the state’s most closely watched political contests. Bodnar, a former Army officer and business leader, is launching his campaign with the support of prominent Democratic figures including former Montana Sen. Read More…
Applications are open for Montana State University’s $100,000 Venture Competition, which is hosted annually by the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the MSU Launchpad. The competition provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to present their business ventures, receive feedback and compete for startup funding. Those interested in competing must submit an online application by Sunday, March 29. The competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, Read More…
In a surprise move that stunned Montana’s political circles, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines withdrew from the 2026 Senate race just minutes before the state’s candidate filing deadline, abruptly ending his reelection bid and reshaping the field for one of the state’s most powerful offices. Daines, a Republican who has represented Montana in the U.S. Senate Read More…
Conservative commentator and radio host Aaron Flint has announced he will run for Congress in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, seeking the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke. Flint, best known as the host of the statewide radio program Montana Talks, said he is entering the race to bring what he describes as a Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte joined the Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC) last week to outline his tax cut priorities ahead of the 2027 legislative session, emphasizing a renewed push to move Montana to a flat income tax. Speaking at an event in Helena alongside MSPC Founder and President Chris Cargill, the governor highlighted what he described Read More…
A liberal majority of the Montana Supreme Court has cleared the way for a sweeping ballot initiative backed by a coalition of liberal advocacy organizations, reversing Attorney General Austin Knudsen and allowing the measure to move forward. In a sharply divided ruling issued Thursday, the Court held that proposed Ballot Issue 8 (BI-8) qualifies as Read More…
The Center Square) – Nearly a year after a nine-person jury found Greenpeace liable for $667 million in damages in a case related to the Dakota Access Pipeline, a North Dakota judge has said the environmental organization will soon be ordered to make good on the damages. In court papers filed Tuesday, Judge James Gion Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced a landmark settlement agreement with The Vanguard Group, Inc. this week, resolving allegations that the asset manager conspired to artificially constrict the coal market through anticompetitive trade practices. The settlement stems from a 2024 lawsuit filed by Knudsen against Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation. The suit alleged the firms Read More…
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines visited the Sibanye-Stillwater Columbus metallurgical complex last week, meeting with miners and touring operations as he praised recent federal trade action aimed at protecting Montana’s palladium industry. Daines credited Donald Trump for imposing a preliminary 132% tariff on Russian palladium imports, describing the move as a critical step toward leveling the Read More…