Featured Articles in Featured

From Maine to Texas, federal agents continue to arrest MS-13 gang members

(The Center Square) – Across the country, federal agents are arresting members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) U.S.-Salvadoran transnational gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing transnational gangs and cartels to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. In February, eight were Read More…

One Big Beautiful Bill will benefit working Montanans

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) passed by Congress and signed by President Trump is a game changer that will benefit middle-income, working-class Montanans. Yet Montana Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers (Montana’s top Democrat) said “I just think it is a betrayal of working Montanans and Americans,” mirroring national Democrats’ political talking points. One must Read More…

Superintendent Degenfelder Appoints Members to Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder today announced the appointment and reappointment of three distinguished individuals to the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board: Steve Lupien, Jill Bramlet, and Joe Feiler. “Steve, Jill, and Joe are all independently qualified charter school advocates,” Superintendent Degenfelder said. “Each brings unique and exceptional expertise to the board through Read More…

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From Maine to Texas, federal agents continue to arrest MS-13 gang members

(The Center Square) – Across the country, federal agents are arresting members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) U.S.-Salvadoran transnational gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing transnational gangs and cartels to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. In February, eight were Read More…

One Big Beautiful Bill will benefit working Montanans

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) passed by Congress and signed by President Trump is a game changer that will benefit middle-income, working-class Montanans. Yet Montana Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers (Montana’s top Democrat) said “I just think it is a betrayal of working Montanans and Americans,” mirroring national Democrats’ political talking points. One must Read More…

Superintendent Degenfelder Appoints Members to Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder today announced the appointment and reappointment of three distinguished individuals to the Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board: Steve Lupien, Jill Bramlet, and Joe Feiler. “Steve, Jill, and Joe are all independently qualified charter school advocates,” Superintendent Degenfelder said. “Each brings unique and exceptional expertise to the board through Read More…

Angela Paxton Files for Divorce from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Texas State Senator Angela Paxton filed for divorce Thursday from her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton, ending nearly four decades of marriage between two prominent Republican political figures. The filing, made in Collin County, cites adultery and irreconcilable differences as grounds for the split. Angela Paxton publicly confirmed the divorce on the social media platform Read More…

Knudsen Leads 23-State Coalition Defending Parental Rights in Gender Identity Case

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 23-state coalition in a federal court case defending parental rights after a Delaware father alleged that school officials violated his constitutional rights by concealing his child’s gender identity decisions from him. The coalition filed an amicus brief Monday in Heaps v. Delaware Valley Regional High School Board Read More…

Governor Gianforte Signs Bill to Protect Water Users

Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour today with a stop in Chouteau County, where he held a ceremonial bill signing for legislation aimed at strengthening Montana’s water rights system and improving water administration across the state. Standing along the banks of the Missouri River, the governor was joined by Department of Natural Resources Read More…

Spokane mayor proposes cutting red tape, fees for affordable housing developers

(The Center Square) – Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown proposed several measures on Monday to “jumpstart” the city’s affordable housing supply with hopes of building more than 22,000 units by 2046. The proposals build on Brown’s H.O.M.E. Starts Here initiative, which the Spokane City Council passed last month as part of her overhaul of the local homelessness Read More…

Democrats threaten government shutdown if GOP passes $9.4 billion rescissions bill

(The Center Square) – As lawmakers begin crafting the 12 annual appropriations bills to fund the federal government in fiscal year 2026, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has implied that his party will refuse to cooperate in the process if Republicans revoke billions in funding from previous years. The Senate is set to vote Read More…

Bozeman Tops List as Most Expensive U.S. Airport for Summer Car Rentals, Survey Finds

Travelers heading to Montana this summer may face sticker shock at the rental car counter. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) has been named the most expensive airport in the country for car rentals, according to a new survey from travel website Cheapcarrental.com. The survey, which analyzed rental rates across 100 U.S. airports for the peak Read More…

Gov. Little Hosts Trump Administration Officials

Governor Brad Little and Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke welcomed top officials from the Trump administration to Idaho this week for a wildfire preparedness roundtable and the Governor’s annual trail ride, bringing together state, federal, and local leaders to coordinate efforts ahead of the 2025 wildfire season. The visit included senior leaders from the U.S. Department Read More…

Senators Sheehy, Daines Applaud Senate Passage of “One, Big, Beautiful Bill”

Montana’s U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines praised the Senate’s passage of a sweeping legislative package dubbed the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” calling it a major victory for working families and a key step in advancing the America First agenda. The comprehensive reconciliation bill, backed by President Donald Trump and Republican leadership, includes provisions Read More…

Knudsen Appoints Billings Attorney Emily Jones to Montana Judicial Standards Commission

Attorney General Austin Knudsen today announced the appointment of Billings attorney Emily Jones to the Montana Judicial Standards Commission, a key body responsible for upholding the integrity and ethical standards of the state’s judiciary. With more than 15 years in private practice, Jones brings extensive legal experience to the commission, which investigates allegations of judicial Read More…

Gianforte, U.S. Forest Service Formalize Landmark Shared Stewardship Agreement for Montana’s Forests

Governor Greg Gianforte and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz has signed a historic Shared Stewardship Agreement between the State of Montana and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, launching an ambitious new partnership to accelerate forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction across the state. The agreement establishes a long-term framework to dramatically increase Read More…

Montana Attorney General Launches Investigation into Lee Enterprises Following Cyberattack

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Friday that his office has opened an investigation into Lee Enterprises following a February cyberattack that compromised the personal information of nearly 40,000 employees and subscribers, including an undisclosed number of Montanans. Lee Enterprises, based in Davenport, Iowa, owns several major newspapers in Montana, including the Helena Independent Record, Read More…

Bridger Aerospace Welcomes Executive Order to Reshape Wildland Firefighting

Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BAER), one of the nation’s leading aerial firefighting companies, today praised the recent Executive Order aimed at restructuring the U.S. wildland firefighting system and emphasized the impact of a significant increase in the Department of the Interior’s fiscal 2026 budget request. Sam Davis, CEO of Bridger Aerospace, said, “Bridger Read More…

President Trump Signs Senator Sheehy’s Aerial Firefighting Bill Into Law,

In a major legislative milestone for freshman U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), President Donald J. Trump on Friday signed into law the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, Sheehy’s bipartisan bill to expand and modernize the federal government’s aerial wildfire suppression capabilities. The signing ceremony took place in the Oval Office, where President Trump also issued a Read More…

Sheehy Introduces Legislation to Compensate Service Members Discharged Over COVID Vaccine Mandate

U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy introduced the COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025 on Friday, aiming to provide backpay and compensation to thousands of service members who were discharged from the military due to non-compliance with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The legislation seeks to restore benefits, pay, and retirement accruals to the roughly 100,000 Read More…

Governor’s Emergency Funds Approved to Aid ICE in Transporting Dangerous Illegal Aliens

Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Board of Examiners approved a request Tuesday to allocate up to $300,000 from the Governor’s emergency fund to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in transporting hundreds of dangerous illegal alien criminals from Idaho jails. This move follows the recent announcement that the Idaho State Police (ISP) entered Read More…

Senator Daines Leads Bipartisan Push to Celebrate “Great Outdoors Month”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is once again championing Montana’s outdoor heritage on the national stage, as the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution he co-led to designate June as “Great Outdoors Month.” Joined by Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and a coalition of colleagues from across the country, Daines highlighted the importance of outdoor Read More…

Gianforte Praises Supreme Court Ruling

Governor Greg Gianforte applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti, upholding Tennessee’s Youth Protection Act and reinforcing the right of states to restrict certain medical and surgical treatments for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. The ruling comes as Montana’s own Youth Health Protection Act faces legal challenges in state courts. “Today, the Read More…

Gianforte Honors Four Montana Veterans with 2024 Governor’s Veteran Commendation

Governor Greg Gianforte this week recognized four distinguished Montana veterans with the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation during ceremonies held in Ravalli, Flathead, and Missoula counties. The award honors veterans who not only served with distinction in uniform but who also continue to make a lasting impact in their communities. “Montana’s veterans lead by example. Read More…

Gianforte Appoints Marta Bertoglio as Department of Commerce Director

Governor Greg Gianforte announced the appointment of State Representative Marta Bertoglio as the new Director of the Montana Department of Commerce, signaling a continued focus on economic growth and job creation in the state. “Marta has been a strong partner in the Legislature and is a driven leader, dedicated to making Montana the best place Read More…

Trump’s Job Approval Hits 53%

A Rasmussen poll conducted June 8-12, 2025, found that 53% of voters approve of former President Donald Trump’s job performance, reflecting robust support across racial groups. Notably, 54% of Black voters, 53% of Hispanic voters, and 53% of White voters expressed approval, a rare instance where a Republican president’s support among Black voters slightly exceeds Read More…

A Tax Cut or a Tax Shift?

Lately, you may have come across articles from some members of the Legislature promoting the new property tax bills (now laws) that were passed this year. It appears they have been on a publicity tour highlighting the benefits of these new laws while criticizing those who opposed them. There were legislators, including myself, who opposed Read More…

Armstrong Applauds EPA Proposal to Repeal Biden-Era Power Plant Rules

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong praised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday for proposing the repeal of two major Biden-era regulations affecting power plants, calling the move a win for common-sense energy policy and national security. The regulations targeted for repeal—known as the “Clean Power Plan 2.0” and updated Mercury and Air Toxics Read More…

Trump’s Border Triumph

In a political landscape often mired in hyperbole, President Donald J. Trump’s decisive actions to secure the southern border stand out as a rare and resounding success. Since taking office, Trump has delivered on his campaign promise to restore order and protect American sovereignty, transforming a chaotic border situation into one of unprecedented control. The Read More…

Performance Engineering Earns National Honors

Performance Engineering continues to gain national attention for combining rapid growth with a people-first workplace culture, earning two prestigious 2025 awards from the Zweig Group: Best Firms to Work For and Hot Firm. The Montana-based civil engineering firm was recognized as one of the 100 fastest-growing Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms in the U.S. Read More…

Daines Backs Israel Following Strikes on Iran

In the wake of Israel’s latest strikes on Iranian military targets, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a forceful statement supporting Israel’s actions and condemning Iran’s role in regional and global instability. “Israel’s attacks against Iran are so far successful and more than justified, and the United Read More…

Gianforte Honors Seven Central Montana Veterans

Governor Greg Gianforte honored seven distinguished Montana veterans this week with the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, recognizing their military service and continued contributions to their communities. The ceremonies took place across Garfield, Musselshell, Fergus, and Meagher counties, with a special tribute to a 104-year-old World War II veteran. “As Americans, we have a duty Read More…

Montana State’s Leon Costello Named FCS Athletic Director of the Year

Montana State University Athletic Director Leon Costello has been named a 2023–24 FCS Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), recognizing his transformational leadership and the unprecedented success of Bobcat Athletics. Costello, who has led MSU’s athletics department since 2016, was honored this week during NACDA’s annual Read More…

Commerce Awards $23.7 Million in Coal Endowment Grants to 39 Communities

The Montana Department of Commerce announced Thursday that 39 cities, towns, counties, and water and sewer districts across the state will share more than $23.7 million in grant funding through the Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP), supporting critical infrastructure improvements ranging from water and wastewater system upgrades to bridge replacements. “MCEP project grant funding is Read More…

Lots of Victories Amid Chaotic Legislative Session

The 2025 Montana legislative session got off to a rocky start on day one in the Senate when a group of nine Republicans defected to collude with Democrats in a surprise maneuver to change the Senate’s rules and committee assignments giving themselves and Democrats more power. For the entire legislative session, the 9 censured Republicans joined with all Read More…

Wyoming DEQ Releases 2024 State of the Environment Report

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released its 2024 State of the Environment Report, outlining key accomplishments across the department’s four core focus areas: air, land, waste, and water. The annual report underscores Wyoming’s ongoing commitment to environmental protection while supporting the state’s economic vitality. “This report underscores the Wyoming DEQ’s leadership and Read More…