Rail transportation is the backbone of the American economy, and a proposed $85 billion merger threatens to concentrate market power in an already highly consolidated industry in the hands of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. The consequences will ripple across the economy, raising transportation costs, weakening service, and squeezing industries that depend on rail, from Read More…
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation is inviting employers, educators and workforce partners to a free virtual session next week aimed at promoting registered apprenticeship programs as a tool for addressing persistent talent pipeline challenges. The online event, part of a broader Apprenticeship Knowledge Series timed to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, is Read More…
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy recognized personnel assigned to National Guard counterdrug programs for their support to 10 award-winning law enforcement investigations during a ceremony in Washington, April 2. The investigations were part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, a White House-led effort that brings together federal, state, local Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has launched a consumer protection investigation into Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis N.V., alleging that both automakers have been collecting and selling drivers’ personal data to third-party companies — including insurance data brokers — without vehicle owners’ knowledge or consent. Mr. Knudsen issued Civil Investigative Demands to both companies, giving Read More…
More nonviolent felons who have completed their entire sentence – including probation and parole – would have their voting rights automatically restored under a bill introduced in the Wyoming Legislature. Under the current system, nonviolent felons who completed their sentence before Jan. 1, 2016, were convicted under federal law or who were sentenced out of Read More…
The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday reviewed a spending plan for the House, Senate and Legislative Services Division then adjourned to discuss it another day after being told cuts may need to be made. Committee chairwoman Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton, told members House Bill 1, also known as “the feed bill,” was 16 percent more Read More…
After consolidating power in Washington, D.C., and state capitals under President-elect Donald Trump, Republicans are moving to prevent large cities dominated by Democrats from enacting sweeping liberal agendas. Republican state legislatures are planning so-called preemption laws, which prevent cities and counties from passing new measures governing everything from taxes to environmental regulations and social Read More…
Cut Bank musician Rob Quist said Wednesday he will seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for the anticipated special election to replace U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke. Zinke is expected to join the Trump administration as the next Secretary of the Interior this spring, triggering a special election to fill Montana’s lone U.S. House seat. From Read More…
At least four Democrats and six Republicans are hoping to replace Montana’s Rep. Ryan Zinke when he leaves Congress to join the Trump administration. But so far, only Mark Wicks of Inverness is seeking the Libertarian Party’s nomination. Wicks, 46, was educated in aviation mechanics in Bozeman, but instead of fixing airplanes he became the Read More…
A Bozeman environmental group is challenging the state’s regulation of pollution from storm water runoff because, they say, the state’s standards don’t adequately protect streams from urban runoff. Upper Missouri Waterkeeper filed a lawsuit in Gallatin County District Court in late December contending that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality erred in how it Read More…
Oil climbed to an 18-month high in New York as output cuts by Kuwait and Oman signaled OPEC and its partners are delivering on their agreement to stabilize the market. Futures rose as much as 2.8 percent after adding 45 percent last year, the biggest annual gain since 2009. Officials from Oman and Kuwait told Read More…
Just before the Montana Legislature gaveled in its 2017 session Monday, Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock looked to ease the tension building over a looming budget battle by calling on the two parties to work together for the state’s best interests. Bullock used his second inaugural address in the packed state Capitol’s rotunda to appeal Read More…
The Montana Legislature officially started its 65th session Monday, and the state’s next group of elected officials started their terms. Temperatures hovered near zero in Helena during the morning, forcing inauguration festivities to move indoors, to the State Capitol rotunda. From KXLH
State lawmakers filled the halls of Montana’s Capitol Monday for the first day of the 2017 legislative session. As they entered the legislative chambers for the first time, party leaders promised civil, bi-partisan work, despite upcoming fights over the direction of the state budget and policy. Republican leadership, which holds a majority in both the Read More…
President-elect Donald Trump tweeted Monday evening that North Korea won’t reach the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon that will be able to hit the United States. “North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It won’t happen!” the Read More…
Welcome to a new year and a new legislative session. With our eyes toward Montana’s future, we are hopeful that the next 90 days will bring badly needed changes. We must put our state back on a path toward economic stability that creates greater opportunities for all Montanans. This November, the people of Montana sent Read More…
“America is a nation of laws, not of men and women.” These words, spoken countless times throughout our nation’s history, should always be a guiding principle for policymakers in America. As citizens of this great nation, we must ask those who lead our country to respect the supremacy of law, as it’s only then Read More…
The upcoming Montana Legislature is likely to address many questions about medical marijuana, from taxes on its sale to cannabis storefronts, all while waiting to see what the Trump administration will do at the federal level. Montana voters in November passed I-182, a citizen initiative that repealed the three-patient limit placed on medical marijuana Read More…
Cattle prices have risen slightly since the beef market bottomed out in mid-October, but they’re expected to plateau for the rest of the marketing season. North Dakota State University livestock economist Tim Petry tells The Bismarck Tribune (http://bit.ly/2hEJzX5 ) that there’s been “a good spark,” but the rally isn’t likely to continue. From News Center Read More…
North Dakota’s largest power plant is making operational changes to remain competitive in a changing market. The Coal Creek Station will be able to ramp its electrical output up and down more quickly depending on whether the wind is blowing and more renewable energy is available, The Bismarck Tribune (http://bit.ly/2i4qZLx ) reported. Most of Read More…
A recent report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) highlights the critical role that high-tech innovation plays in Wyoming’s economy. ITIF, the leading U.S. think tank for science and technology policy, examined 20 indicators of the innovation-driven high-tech economy—both traditional economic data such as technology exports and newer metrics such as broadband Read More…
Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray says there are seven principles to follow when it comes to improving the state’s economy. Speaking to residents during Wednesday’s Green River Lunch and Learn, he said they will lead to economic development and diversification. From Wyoming Business Report
A Montana company has been granted a license to build a $1 billion, 400-megawatt power storage project in the central part of the state that would supplement electricity from wind turbines and other sources, according to documents released Thursday by federal regulators. The 50-year license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission allows Absaroka Energy, Read More…
Great Falls state representative Casey Schreiner Monday announced his intent to seek the Democratic party’s nomination for Montana’s at-large Congressional seat. Schreiner wants to replace Republican U.S. Congressman Ryan Zinke, who’s been nominated to become President-elect Donald Trump’s Interior Secretary. Schreiner is 34-years-old and heads the Montana State Workforce Innovation Board. The husband and father Read More…
With two of Montana’s biggest coal-fired power plants slated for closure, the future of Colstrip and energy policy will be another dominant issue at the 2017 Legislature, which opens next week. Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle and Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock say they hope to take steps to assist coal-plant workers whose Read More…
While a tight state budget overshadows almost everything at the 2017 Montana Legislature, there’s one area where lawmakers want to spend more money: Infrastructure. The debate, however, will be over what combination of infrastructure projects can gain the needed support to pass a multimillion-dollar bill. From KTVH
With estimated shortfalls in the state highway fund, the Montana Contractors Association and other special interest groups are pushing for a 38 percent increase in the gas tax. Recently MTN reported that Governor Steve Bullock’s administration has spent $75 Million more than the fund has brought in since fiscal 2012. And now the balance has Read More…
This past year was a rough one for the coal industry. In 2016 we saw President Barack Obama’s final push to kill coal before the end of his term. The result was a significant drop in production due to closure of power plants the state had supplied, the loss of hundreds of Montana coal jobs, Read More…
Helena – A group of Democrats has filed a lawsuit in a last minute attempt to keep controversial Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl in office for two more years. Former Democrat State Senator Christine Kaufman; outgoing Democrat Secretary of State Linda McCulloch; A trial lawyer political action committee headed by Motl’s lawyer John Heenan Read More…
A pair of New York City law firms have launched an investigation in to proposed acquisition of Montana based Stillwater Mining by Sibanye Gold Limited, a South African company. Harwood Feffer LLP and Levi & Korsinsky LLP both of New York City have announced that they are investigating shareholder concerns that the Stillwater Board of Read More…
Multiple political sources in Montana have confirmed that Zeno Baucus, son of former Montana Senator Max Baucus may be seeking the Democrat nomination for Montana’s lone Congressional seat. The seat will be vacant if current Congressman Ryan Zinke (R) is confirmed as Secretary of the Interior in the Trump Administration early next year. Zeno Baucus Read More…
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to “save” America’s coal country and put long-suffering miners back to work. From KTVQ
Apple will launch a legal challenge this week to a record $14 billion EU tax demand, arguing that EU regulators ignored tax experts and corporate law and deliberately picked a method to maximize the penalty, senior executives said. From CNBC
Republican Rep. Mick Mulvaney, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice as his budget director, is a fierce deficit hawk with a record of pushing deep spending cuts across the federal government to balance the budget. From CNBC
While many of Hillary Clinton’s top advisers have focused their post-presidential election fury on blaming alleged Russian interference and FBI Director James Comey for Clinton’s loss, some in the so-called “Hillaryland” orbit are looking inward, including pointing fingers at Clinton’s most trusted aide: Huma Abedin. From New York Post
The Dakota Access Pipeline, an oil pipeline which starts in North Dakota and will route to Illinois, has been marred by a steady stream of misinformation and rumor. As governor of North Dakota, I feel it is important to share the facts of how the route was permitted through our state, as well as our Read More…
Billings based First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. has acquired Cascade Bancorp, parent company of Bank of Cascades. The transaction involved stock and cash of approximately $589 million. Cascade is a community bank based in Bend, Oregon with total assets of $3.2 billion, deposits of $2.7 billion, loans of $2.1 billion and 50 banking offices across Oregon, Read More…
President-Elect Donald Trump has offered the Interior secretary job to Montana’s lone Congressman Ryan Zinke, according to Washington D.C. news outlet Politico. Politico sources said Zinke has yet to accept the position and as not indicated which way he is leaning. Mr. Zinke met with Trump in New York City earlier this week. He was Read More…
As Democratic senators weigh when to fight and when to compromise with Donald Trump, Republicans on the other side of the Capitol are watching — with 2018 in mind. From Politico
When it comes to Donald Trump and James Mattis, Montana Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke is looking forward to the future. “I’m actually excited about the next 100 days,” he said. “This election was deep in its change.” “I’m an optimist, we’ll figure it out,” From Roll Call
Once Donald Trump secured the Presidency, Montana Senator Steve Daines began compiling a ‘wish-list’ of issues he wants the new President to tackle once he settles in to the Oval Office. From KGVO
The nation’s biggest business lobbying organization is “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects of the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress, though the next president himself will be “the wild card,” according to an official with the organization. From Flathead Beacon
The Gianforte Family Foundation once again has shown its dedication to supporting education and job creation in Montana, pledging $290,000 to the University of Montana’s Department of Computer Science. The two-year gift will help the department grow its enrollment capacity, ultimately graduating more computer science majors and minors for careers in Montana’s growing technology sector. Read More…
So here it is, a month after Greg Gianforte lost his election bid for governor, and Evan Barrett is still denigrating him (Dec. 7 opinion). Maybe we should call him Evan “kick-them-while-they’re down” Barrett. This time Evan is alarmed about Greg using his own money to fund some of his campaign. I would think Evan Read More…