CHEYENNE, Wyo.—Gov. Mark Gordon has appointed Nancy Vehr as interim director of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality following the retirement of longtime director Todd Parfitt. Vehr, who has been serving as the department’s deputy director, took over the role effective Oct. 2. She previously led DEQ’s Air Quality Division for nearly a decade and Read More…
BOZEMAN—Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Chamber of Commerce will host the third annual Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit on Oct. 15 in Bozeman, with this year’s event focused on technology and innovation in Montana. The summit will bring together business leaders, policymakers and technology executives to discuss artificial intelligence, national security, precision agriculture, Read More…
WASHINGTON—The Justice Department said UCLA School of Law discriminated against white and Asian applicants in admissions for its 2023, 2024 and 2025 incoming classes, finding that the school continued to consider race after the Supreme Court restricted race-conscious college admissions. The department’s Civil Rights Division said its investigation found UCLA Law violated Title VI of Read More…
(The Center Square) – Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya are neck and neck in the most-recent polling of Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race. Flanagan, a Democrat, leads Tafoya 44.8% to 43.3%, according to the average of the four most-recent polls compiled by 270toWin. There is a wider gap in the Minnesota gubernatorial 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 Montana voters in November passed I-182, a citizen initiative that repealed the three-patient limit placed on medical marijuana Read More…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…
Jon Tester, Democratic U.S. Senator from Montana, rode to national elected office on a pledge to restrict lobbying, end campaign finance violations, and the like. Despite his promises to the contrary, Senator Tester is now in the midst of a scandal, involving allegations of campaign finance violations, illicit lobbying practices, and a firm of trial Read More…
The University of Montana School of Journalism will join other top-tier media schools in the launch of a new Google “News Lab University Network” in an effort to better train new and existing journalists in data, search and emerging technologies. The network is the latest effort by the School of Journalism to deploy technologies to Read More…
Great Falls – HD 19 Representative Randy Pinocci has filed a lawsuit against Advanced Litho Printing and the Montana Contractors’ Association alleging that his legislative voting record led to his firing in 2015. The conservative Republican filed his suit on November 14th in Missoula District Court. Pinocci worked for Advanced Litho from 1999 to 2015 Read More…
Washington – President-Elect Donald J. Trump has tapped pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Carson previously ran for the Republican presidential nomination before dropping out of the running and endorsing Trump’s presidential bid. Carson was an early favorite for Department of Health and Human Services with his Read More…
Helena – Montana commissioner of political practices dismissed a state ethics complaint against Governor Steve Bullock and Commerce Director Meg O’Leary on Monday with no investigation. The complaint was filed by state Representative Brad Tschida of Missoula. Commissioner Jonathan Motl, who was appointed by Governor Bullock, said that trips taken by Meg O’Leary to a Read More…
To be in business is noble and virtuous. To implement a plan for a good environment in Montana for business will cost Montana Chamber members a million dollars. Business people were called upon by Greg Gianforte to be proud of what they do in the private sector, and to do their part in planting “a Read More…
U.S. officials cancelled 15 oil and gas leases on Wednesday in an area bordering Glacier National Park that’s considered sacred to the Blackfoot tribes of the U.S. and Canada. The cancellation was aimed at preserving the Badger-Two Medicine area, a largely-undeveloped, 130,000-acre wilderness that is the site of the creation story for members of Montana’s Read More…
Frank Gazella Jr.—the founder of Creek to Peak Wear, a new Bozeman-based outdoor apparel brand—exudes an enthusiasm that is nothing short of infectious. A natural entrepreneur, Gazella’s passion and drive has served him, but is not self-serving. Rather, his energy is buoyed by a genuine desire to help other small startups make their vision a Read More…
When lawmakers, lobbyists and observers gather Jan. 11 in Cheyenne for the start of the 64th Legislature, they will notice even more Republicans and men in a state that already has among the fewest number of women and Democratic lawmakers in the nation. During Tuesday’s election, voters made choices throughout the state that ultimately resulted Read More…
Voter turnout last week reached a historic high in one Wyoming county – where 100 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the general election. “I think everyone was wanting to get out and vote and voice their opinion,” said Jane Carr, deputy county clerk in Johnson County, Wyo. “I just think it’s great.” Read More…
Wyoming U.S. Sen. John Barrasso has been re-elected to serve as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. The Republican says the committee plans to move quickly and to work closely with the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Barrasso says policy areas that will be high on the list for the new Congress include Read More…
xAd, the ad network that serves you ads in apps and mobile web pages based on your location, is today announcing another hefty round of funding, as well as its first acquisition in the world of consumer apps to grow its audience and dataset. The company has raised $42.5 million, and it’s buying WeatherBug, the popular weather Read More…
After taking the top spot at Disrupt San Francisco’s Startup Battlefield, Mobalytics has been hard at work preparing to roll out their analytics-driven competitive gaming coach to more and more of the nearly 20,000 users who have signed up for early access. In the six weeks since Disrupt SF, the company has been raising Read More…