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North Dakota Schools Chief Kirsten Baesler Confirmed as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education

North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler was confirmed Friday by the U.S. Senate to serve as Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education, a top leadership role overseeing federal policy for the nation’s K-12 schools. “I am honored, humbled, and incredibly excited to have received this Read More…

Vance calls for Jay Jones to withdraw from race after leaked texts

(The Center Square) – Vice President JD Vance is calling for Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones to withdraw from Virginia’s Nov. 4 election after private text messages leaked in which Jones talked about shooting former House Speaker Todd Gilbert. The messages, first reported by National Review, include Jones writing in 2022 that Gilbert would Read More…

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear the first oral arguments of its new term on Monday, with several high-profile cases already on the docket. The high court announced it will hear arguments on such consequential cases as the president’s power to fire individuals on federal boards, the president’s authority to impose Read More…

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Secret Service spent $11 million on Hunter Biden travel detail

(The Center Square) – The Biden administration spent more than $10 million over three years on a security detail and related expenses for former First Son Hunter Biden after denying similar protections to other high-profile political figures, documents obtained by the Center to Advance Security in America and shared exclusively with The Center Square show. The Read More…

Daines Leads Bipartisan Push for Greater Transparency in CDFI Fund

U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is leading a bipartisan effort to increase transparency and accountability in the federal Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, introducing the CDFI Fund Transparency Act alongside Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). The legislation would require the Secretary of the Treasury to testify annually before Read More…

Gianforte Honors Veterans in Southwest Montana

overnor Greg Gianforte this week recognized Montana veterans for their service to the nation and their lasting contributions to their communities, presenting the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation during ceremonies in Beaverhead and Silver Bow counties. “Montana is stronger because of the selflessness and leadership of our veterans,” Gianforte said. “These men and women answered Read More…

Montana Highway Patrol Command Staff Completes Annual District Tour

The Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) command staff has wrapped up its annual district tour, a statewide effort to connect directly with troopers, captains, sergeants, and professional staff across MHP’s seven districts. The yearly tour provides an opportunity to strengthen internal bonds, set future goals, and celebrate accomplishments. This year, Colonel Kurt Sager and MHP leadership Read More…

Governor Gianforte Welcomes Rivian as First Electric Vehicle Manufacturer in Montana

Governor Greg Gianforte joined Rivian officials and community leaders in Belgrade this week to celebrate the opening of the company’s new 20,000-square-foot service and demo center, marking Rivian as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in Montana. “It’s great to welcome Rivian to Montana as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in our Read More…

Which state was ranked the most economically free?

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) recently released its 2025 Freedom Index Rankings for states. SEL is a global leader in power system protection, automation and control solutions. The SEL report ranks the most economically and politically free states in the nation. It utilizes data from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the Cato Institute, and various government agencies to Read More…

Trump HHS tells states to remove gender ideology from sex ed or lose PREP funding

(The Center Square) – The Trump administration directed 46 states and territories to remove gender ideology from their sex ed materials or else face possible termination of federal Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) funding, with a family advocate praising the move. Policy director for family advocacy group American Principles Project Paul Dupont told The Center Read More…

Proposed Revisions to North Dakota District Court Local Rules Open for Public Comment

he Local Rules Subcommittee of the Federal Practice Committee for the District of North Dakota has released proposed revisions to the District’s Local Rules, now available for public review and comment. The subcommittee, chaired by Magistrate Judge Alice R. Senechal, carefully reviewed all existing rules to improve clarity and consistency. Committee members included attorneys Chris Read More…

Knudsen Leads 23-State Coalition Urging EPA to Stop Funding Climate Advocacy Group

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is spearheading a 23-state coalition of attorneys general urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to halt grants to the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), a group that has been providing climate-focused trainings for judges nationwide. In a letter sent Tuesday to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Knudsen raised concerns that taxpayer Read More…

Warren Buffett Marks 95th Birthday With Reflection on Legacy, Berkshire’s Future

Warren Buffett, the legendary investor known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” celebrated his 95th birthday Tuesday in typically understated fashion, surrounded by close family and friends in his hometown. Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, has long avoided lavish celebrations. Instead, those close to him said the billionaire spent the day with a Read More…

Gianforte Approves $308 Million in Broadband Grants

Gov. Greg Gianforte has approved $308 million in broadband deployment grants aimed at closing Montana’s digital divide, backing 32 projects that will extend high-speed internet to nearly 72,000 unserved and underserved locations across the state. The funding recommendations were presented Tuesday by the state’s Communications Advisory Commission (CAC), which voted unanimously to advance the projects Read More…

New Report: Griz Athletics Economic Output Nears $100 Million Annually

Montana Grizzly Athletics produces much more than championships and scholar student-athletes. Griz Athletics contributes more than $94 million in total spending for Missoula-area businesses annually according to a new report published by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research. A day after again announcing record-setting football season ticket sales, the report notes the increased demand Read More…

Montana AG Leads 22-State Coalition Asking Supreme Court to Hear Parental Rights Case

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with 21 other state attorneys general, has filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case challenging a Massachusetts school district’s policy on student “social transitioning” without parental consent. The case, Foote v. Ludlow School Committee, involves Ludlow Public Schools and parents Stephen Foote and Marissa Read More…

Gianforte Welcomes Semiconductor Firm to Montana

Gov. Greg Gianforte on Monday marked the opening of Eshylon Scientific’s new facility in Bozeman, cutting the ribbon on the semiconductor manufacturing solutions company’s relocation from California to Montana. The governor toured the site and highlighted the investment as part of Montana’s growing technology and semiconductor industry. “Montana is becoming a hub for entrepreneurship and Read More…

Montana Delegation Urges President Trump to Impose Tariffs on Russian Palladium

U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy led a letter from Montana’s congressional delegation urging President Donald Trump to take immediate action against Russia’s palladium exports, calling for a 50 percent tariff on unwrought palladium imports from Russia to protect American jobs and domestic mineral production. The letter, also signed by Senator Steve Daines, Rep. Troy Downing, and Read More…

Daines Urges Swift Implementation of Executive Order Expanding 401(k) Investment

U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging the U.S. Department of Labor to quickly implement President Trump’s recent Executive Order expanding access to alternative investments for Americans with 401(k) and other defined-contribution retirement plans. The letter, sent to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, was also signed by Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Read More…

Wyoming Transportation Commission Awards $22.7 Million in Construction Contracts

The Wyoming Transportation Commission has awarded $22.7 million in contracts for seven construction projects across the state, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) announced following the commission’s August meeting. The largest contract, valued at $8.29 million, went to Idaho-based H-K Contractors, Inc., for asphalt paving, fencing, grading, traffic control, and chip seal work on about Read More…

Montana Commerce Department Launches New Loan Program for Rural Businesses

The Montana Department of Commerce announced Monday that a new loan participation program aimed at expanding access to capital for rural businesses will open for applications on Oct. 1, 2025. The Opportunities in Rural Economies (ORE) Loan Participation Program will partner with local lenders to provide low-interest loans for projects that support job creation, strengthen Read More…

Montana State opens quantum computing facility

BOZEMAN — Montana State University officially opened its interdisciplinary research facility dedicated to the study of quantum computing Aug. 20. Called QCORE, or Quantum Collaborative Research and Education, the high-tech facility is housed in MSU’s College of Letters and Science and positions the university to identify and address grand challenges in quantum systems. Quantum computing is Read More…

CNBC Ranks North Dakota Most Business-Friendly State for Fourth Straight Year

or the fourth year in a row, North Dakota has been named the nation’s most business-friendly state, according to CNBC’s annual “Top States for Business” rankings. The network evaluates all 50 states on 135 metrics across 10 categories, including economy, workforce, infrastructure, cost of doing business, technology, quality of life, and business friendliness. The business Read More…

Black Hills Corp. and NorthWestern Energy Announce All-Stock Merger

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NWE) said  their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock, tax-free merger. The deal will create a regulated electric and natural gas utility company with an estimated market capitalization of $7.8 billion and an enterprise value of Read More…

After completing innovation and management graduate program, Montana State alumnus launches food-focused startup

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees now under his belt, Montana State University alumnus Quinn Holland’s advice to current students is still what drives him every day. “Relentlessly chase what excites you in life. If there is something that you are curious about, chase it until the end of the earth and until you’re satisfied with Read More…

Americans in All 50 States to Receive Tax Cut Under Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Analysis Finds

A new analysis from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation projects that every state in the nation will see average tax reductions under President Donald J. Trump’s signature tax legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which the White House says is the most significant middle-class tax cut in U.S. history. According to the report, the law will Read More…

Trump Administration Sees Trillions in New U.S. Manufacturing Investments

Since President Donald J. Trump took office, U.S. manufacturing, production, and innovation have seen a surge in domestic investment, with corporations and foreign entities pledging trillions of dollars to expand operations on American soil. Major technology, automotive, pharmaceutical, and industrial companies have announced multi-billion-dollar investments in the United States during President Trump’s second term. Highlights Read More…

Federal Judge Blocks Use of Washington Medicaid Data for Immigration Enforcement

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using Medicaid data obtained from Washington and 19 other states for immigration enforcement purposes. The order also bars the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from sharing such data with DHS. The injunction comes after Washington and Read More…

Gianforte’s 56 County Tour Highlights Rural Investments, Jobs, and Public Safety

Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour this week, visiting communities across eastern Montana to spotlight infrastructure upgrades, workforce initiatives, public safety investments, and new business openings. “It’s great to hit the road to see firsthand how communities are thriving across eastern Montana,” Gianforte said. “Thanks to our pro-family, pro-jobs agenda, we’re connecting Montanans Read More…

New Orleans mayor indicted in corruption scheme

(The Center Square) − A federal grand jury has returned a 45-page indictment charging Mayor LaToya Cantrell and New Orleans Police Department officer Jeffrey Vappie with conspiring to defraud the city by conducting a secret personal relationship while Vappie was on duty, falsifying records, and obstructing investigations. The indictment, unsealed Friday in the U.S. District Read More…