(The Center Square) – Republican U.S. senators, led by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, have introduced the ICE Protection Act to increase penalties for those who assault and injure U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The bill was filed as an unprecedented amount of assaults continue against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as they perform Read More…
A ballot initiative designed to keep corporations from spending on elections in Montana is a little too ambitious, the state Supreme Court has found. The new proposals included in Ballot Issue 4 violate the rules for wording such initiatives, the court ruled. State Attorney General Austin Knudsen made that argument to the justices over a Read More…
(The Center Square) – The second largest natural gas producer in northwest Louisiana and east Texas has sold its assets to Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi. Aethon, a Dallas-based company that operates in the prolific Haynesville shale formation, agreed to a deal worth approximately $7.5 billion, according to an announcement on Friday. Mitsubishi agreed to pay $5.2 Read More…
Food is an essential part of everyday life, and that is no different for warfighters. Fueling soldiers to fight and win our nation’s wars is a top priority, and the Army has several initiatives underway to ensure consistent access to healthy, affordable food. “The Army is focused on creating a positive seismic shift in food Read More…
(The Center Square) – U.S. House Republicans launched an investigation Wednesday into how scientists at the Food and Drug Administration who disagreed with COVID-19 guidance were treated. Federal watchdogs have recently released information showing that details around how experts in the Biden administration who disagree with things like COVID guidance are treated, and how their Read More…
(The Center Square) – Former President Bill Clinton is among several high-profile names identified in nearly 1,000 pages of unsealed court documents stemming from a defamation lawsuit related to Jeffrey Epstein. The documents released out of the Southern District Court of New York Wednesday evening, were filed by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s Read More…
The competition for control of the U.S. Senate in 2024 is already underway, with Republicans strategizing to flip the chamber. In the upcoming election cycle, a total of 34 Senate seats are at stake. Democrats face the challenge of defending 23 seats, while Republicans have to protect only 11. The majority of competitive seats currently Read More…
As Human Trafficking Awareness Month begins, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen urges Montanans to familiarize themselves with the indicators of human trafficking and report any instances they observe to aid the state in combating this reprehensible crime. In a stern message, he warns human traffickers and their accomplices against conducting business in Montana, emphasizing that Read More…
The implementation of a Montana state law scheduled to ban the TikTok app on January 1 has been temporarily halted by a federal judge pending the outcome of a lawsuit challenging the law. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed notice of an appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, contesting the preliminary Read More…
(The Center Square) – Starting Monday, electronic cigarette products will be banned inside public places in Illinois. Kristina Hamilton of the American Lung Association said the association has been leading the charge to encourage states to expand their smoking bans to include e-cigarettes. A coalition of partners across Illinois have been working with the association Read More…
(The Center Square) – Americans pay hundreds of dollars per year in taxes on their wireless “family plan” for their cell phones. The Tax Foundation research shows the average American household with four phones would pay about $300 per year in taxes on a family plan costing $100 per month. “Since 2012, the average charge Read More…
The Montana Grizzlies’ thrilling run to the FCS national title game in Frisco, Texas, has not only captivated fans but also garnered heartfelt praise from former teammates who intimately understand the team’s relentless dedication. These ex-Griz players, having shared the day-to-day grind with the current roster, are expressing their immense pride and joy for the Read More…
A beer company that calls itself “anti-woke” and gained popularity in response to Bud Light’s promotion of transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney has announced that its recent campaign successfully raised thousands of dollars for the Riley Gaines Center, dedicated to safeguarding women’s sports. Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right Beer collaborated with Riley Gaines, a women’s sports activist, Read More…
Electric Vehicles are “piling up on dealer lots” as consumers continue buying traditional cars at faster rates, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Wall Street Journal reports that, contrary to expectations from both the administration and the automotive industry, President Joe Biden’s green energy agenda has not gained widespread acceptance among Americans, despite substantial investments Read More…
The IRS recently announced the waiver of approximately $1 billion in common penalties for taxpayers who faced delays in paying their taxes during the pandemic. This decision aims to bring relief to nearly five million taxpayers who may have been unaware of accumulating balances from tax years 2020 and 2021. The IRS had temporarily suspended Read More…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Grand Canyon University (GCU), marking the second federal agency under the Biden administration to take legal action against the largest Christian school in the nation within the past few months. The university asserts that this is part of a coordinated attack by Read More…
(The Center Square) – Four high school female track athletes in Connecticut have stood against the influx of transgender athletes seeking to compete against girls in school sports, likely setting up a defining legal battle of 2024. The U.S. Court of Appeals rescued the legal challenge, Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools, in December after Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Colorado Republican Party is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case where the state Supreme Court ruled to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot. The appeal automatically places the former president on the March 5, 2024, primary ballot when certification takes place on Jan. Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice says it will sue Texas over a new law that makes illegal entry into Texas from a foreign country between ports of entry a state crime. Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 4 into law on Dec. 18, saying its goal is to “stop the tidal wave Read More…
Efforts to convene a special session of the Montana Legislature aimed at addressing tax-related concerns have fallen short. On Friday evening, the Montana Secretary of State’s Office disclosed the outcomes of a legislative poll. Of the total votes cast, 55 were in favor of scheduling a special session on January 15, falling short of the Read More…
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted morning traffic on Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport—two of the busiest airports in the nation—during coast-to-coast protests that concluded with numerous arrests. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that 36 individuals were apprehended at LAX, where the protesters became unruly. According to the Read More…
For those who have ever envisioned owning their own ranch, particularly a piece of historically rich land, a cool $67 million can transform that dream into reality. Situated in the Greybull River valley in Northwestern Wyoming, this expansive property spans 96,000 acres, offering natural grass, freshwater, and natural shelter for livestock. The current listing marks Read More…
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Thursday that Mexican and U.S. officials have agreed to keep border crossings open. This decision follows a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, focusing on securing Mexico’s cooperation to address the record-high migration levels. Earlier this month, the United States temporarily closed several crossings, including Read More…
As the 2024 election cycle gains momentum, all eyes are on the Montana Senate race, which is anticipated to be a focal point next year. The state hosts one of three Democratic-held U.S. Senate seats up for grabs in states won by Donald Trump in the previous election, the others being Ohio and West Virginia. Read More…
A 58-year-old Billings woman, Mary Ann Whitecrane, who was previously charged with attempted murder for shooting a police officer during a standoff earlier this year, has entered a guilty plea. Whitecrane appeared in Yellowstone County District Court on Friday, having reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. As per the agreement, Whitecrane pleaded guilty to the Read More…
For over a decade, the Flathead County Detention Center has consistently operated at or beyond its intended capacity, as highlighted in a recent jail needs assessment. Numerous discussions among commissioners have taken place, and during a recent work session, all three commissioners unanimously affirmed the necessity of a new facility, expressing a preference for it Read More…
The migrant border mess is benefiting progressive states like New York, California and Illinois in one respect: It’s offsetting some of their population loss from droves of taxpayers fleeing to lower-cost and low-tax states. That’s one lesson from new Census Bureau state population data released this week. The U.S. population increased by 1.6 million between Read More…
General Motors (GM) has acquired approximately half of its Buick dealerships across the United States as a result of their reluctance to promote electric vehicles (EVs) during GM’s transition to an electric future. Roughly 1,000 of GM’s 2,000 Buick dealerships opted for the voluntary buyout, which remains open for additional dealers to choose instead of Read More…
This fall, the University of Wyoming’s Science Initiative Roadshow reached 4,209 K-12 students in six counties through 14 individual events — the program’s largest one-semester reach since it began in 2017. Events included four STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Days that included participation from the UW Wyrkshop Mobile Makerspace; the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Read More…
Efforts by UND researchers to transform the state into a hub to produce rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals (CMs) continue to move forward, and the pilot production facility, located off Mill Road in Grand Forks, has begun to produce concentrated mixtures of the compounds. This most recent development comes on the heels of Read More…
Livingston is experiencing a resurgence in employment opportunities following Sun Mountain Lumber’s recent acquisition of R-Y Timber. The wood manufacturer, based in Deer Lodge, successfully finalized the purchase in early November and has been diligently working to reopen the plant. On December 4, the plant achieved a significant milestone by restarting the sawmill equipment, signaling Read More…
According to filings with the state of Michigan, General Motors (GM) is set to initiate layoffs affecting just over 1,300 workers across two Michigan plants early next year. The larger layoff, involving 945 employees at GM’s Orion Assembly plant responsible for producing Chevrolet Bolts, is scheduled to commence on January 1. However, the company has Read More…
Costco, the retail giant, disclosed that it achieved sales exceeding $100 million in gold bars during the first fiscal quarter of 2024, as reported by CNBC. This announcement took place within the company’s earnings call, where it revealed a 6.1% surge in sales compared to the first quarter of 2023 and declared a special dividend Read More…
Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) recently appointed Don Sterhan, President and Chief Executive Officer of CR Builders, LLC, to its Affordable Housing Advisory Council (Advisory Council) representing Montana. Sterhan begins his three-year term on January 1, 2024. The role of the Advisory Council is to advise the FHLB Des Moines Read More…
In a press release, the MCV Action fund, an independent Political Action Committee aligned with the liberal environmental activist group Montana Conservation Voters, proclaimed its formal endorsement of Democrat Ryan Busse in his gubernatorial bid for Montana. Democrat political staffer Jill Lombardi, the chair of the MCV PAC board, praised Busse, saying, “Ryan Busse has Read More…
The mayor of Joliet, Dakota Zachariah Mitchem, who also holds the position of the town’s Postmaster, is facing a felony assault charge. The charge was filed in Carbon County District Court on Monday. According to court records, the charge is related to an incident that occurred on Sunday at a residence on Second Street in Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte has announced a strategic investment of up to $17.5 million to enhance access to community-based behavioral health and developmental disabilities care for Montanans. This marks the initial allocation of the $300 million funding commitment made by the governor this spring to overhaul and enhance Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities services systems. Read More…
On Friday, a legal challenge was initiated by James Goetz, a longtime trial lawyer from Bozeman and a prominent Democratic Party contributor. The lawsuit questions the constitutionality of four bipartisan laws recently enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature in Montana. These laws were designed to address the state’s housing shortage by promoting proactive land use planning Read More…
Patricia Real Bird, a teacher and coach for the girls’ basketball team in the Lodge Grass school district, was apprehended on Wednesday following accusations of consuming alcohol during work hours, as reported by school authorities. There is a possibility that Real Bird may be charged with child endangerment. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is Read More…
United Airlines has expanded its flight offerings from Billings to Denver, introducing two additional daily flights and bringing the total to five. The announcement was made collaboratively by the city of Billings, Visit Billings, the Billings Chamber of Commerce, and Big Sky Economic Development in a news release. READ THE FULL STORY: https://montananewsroom.com/united-airlines-adds-more-flights-from-billings-to-denver/
This week, a dozen teenage girls filed into the Code Girls United classroom – a space they’ve spent many evenings in as a team over the past three months. Normally, the girls would open their laptops, hunker down, and delve into their coding work. However, this particular evening, the class had a different agenda. READ Read More…
Hunter Biden faces a heightened legal scrutiny with an indictment on nine tax charges as part of a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of President Joe Biden’s son, unfolding against the backdrop of the 2024 election. Filed on Thursday, these new charges—comprising three felonies and six misdemeanors—are in addition to federal firearms charges Read More…
District Judge Dan Wilson handed down a combined 170-year sentence to the perpetrator of the fatal 2021 Fuel Fitness shooting in Kalispell on Thursday. In Flathead County District Court on Nov. 30, a jury declared Jonathan Douglas Shaw, 37, guilty of felony deliberate homicide and attempted deliberate homicide with weapons enhancements, following a four-day trial in Read More…
Thanks to a new $5 million donation, Montana PBS has reached a fundraising milestone that will see a major expansion of the station located at Montana State University, as well as increased investments in news and public affairs programming to reach across the state. The recent gift from donors Patt and Terry Payne of Missoula pushed Montana Read More…