In a 5–2 decision, the Montana Supreme Court has approved the ballot statement for Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132), paving the way for signature gathering to begin on a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine nonpartisan judicial elections. The ruling allows supporters to begin petition drives immediately, with the goal of putting the measure before voters Read More…
Any business idea usually starts with an elevator pitch – a concise proposal delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator. University of Montana students interested in entrepreneurship had the chance to perfect their elevator pitches during Griz Pitch, a competition that gave students 60 seconds to share their ideas in front of Read More…
The Montana Historical Society is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the second wave of its History and Civics Travel Grant program. Thanks to generous support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, the Society has already awarded funding to 46 schools across 23 Montana counties—from Eureka to Hardin—making hands-on history accessible Read More…
A University of Montana student and ROTC cadet, who is serving as UM’s student government president, recently was named a finalist for the oldest and most renowned scholarship in the world. Buddy Wilson, of Eden, North Carolina, a senior studying environmental science with minors in international development and climate change studies, is the seventh student Read More…
The big banks are at it again. They enjoy tremendous market power over American consumers, and between government regulation and the shift to digital payments, it’s nearly impossible to function without a bank account. You can barely pay with cash for much of anything anymore. And checking accounts are notoriously sticky – anyone who has Read More…
As many small businesses struggle to find and retain qualified workers, several states across the country have implemented government-run systems to pay unemployment to individuals who voluntarily walk off the job to go on strike. Unemployment benefits for striking workers create an incentive for employees to abandon their responsibilities without negative consequences like termination or Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined thousands of students and community members at Montana State University this week for a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event honoring the late Charlie Kirk, urging attendees to continue Kirk’s mission of faith, freedom, and love of country following his assassination last month. More than 2,800 MSU students and several hundred Montanans Read More…
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…
(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…
Before bear spray, encounters between people and bears often ended in bullets. That changed when graduate student Carrie Hunt developed the life-saving deterrent at the University of Montana in the 1980s. Over 40 years later, bear spray is one of the most important tools for human-wildlife coexistence. https://bigskyheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MVD-office15.mp4 Hunt grew up in Chile, where she Read More…
(The Center Square) – Iowa’s largest school district is holding an emergency meeting Saturday night after its superintendent was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Des Moines agents. ICE arrested Des Moines Public School Superintendent Ian Andre Roberts on Friday. A citizen of Guyana, Roberts has a criminal record and has been living in the Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Energy will be returning to American taxpayers $13 billion in “unobligated wasteful spending” that was originally intended for former President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. In response, Larry Behrens from Power the Future told The Center Square that “by returning $13 billion, the Department of Energy under President Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, joined by 15 other state attorneys general, announced Wednesday the launch of an investigation into major technology companies over what they allege are misleading claims about being powered entirely by renewable energy. In a letter sent to executives at Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon, Knudsen said the companies’ reliance on Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte on Monday welcomed a delegation from the Taiwan Flour Millers Association (TFMA) to Montana for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that strengthens the state’s long-standing trade relationship with Taiwan. “For over forty years, Montana and Taiwan have enjoyed a truly remarkable friendship and trade relationship, built on a shared Read More…
Senator Tim Sheehy (R–Mont.) visited Three Forks and Manhattan to host town halls and meet with local students to discuss leadership, service, and opportunities available through the United States Service Academies. Sheehy, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former Navy SEAL officer, told students that attending a service academy can open doors to Read More…
Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the Montana Auditor’s Office, also known as the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI), denied millions of dollars in proposed insurance rate increases, shielding tens of thousands of Montanans from higher premiums. During the 12-month period, the agency’s Insurance Rates Bureau reviewed and closed 3,551 insurance rate Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Energy will be returning to American taxpayers $13 billion in “unobligated wasteful spending” that was originally intended for former President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. In response, Larry Behrens from Power the Future told The Center Square that “by returning $13 billion, the Department of Energy under President Read More…
(The Center Square) – A watchdog group says the U.S. Department of Education ignored a federal court order on the Biden administration’s expansion of Title IX protections and is dragging its feet on a report about it. Empower Oversight said a whistleblower came forward showing the Department’s Office for Civil Rights continued to process complaints Read More…
This week in the stock market was marked by a tug-of-war between optimism about rate cuts and caution sparked by strong economic data and political risk. Major indexes briefly flirted with new highs, but volatility crept back in as investors weighed mixed signals. Rally Fueled by AI Pushes Markets to Records Early in the week, Read More…
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to continue its investigation into imports of unwrought palladium from Russia, ruling there is reasonable indication that the U.S. mining industry is being harmed by unfairly priced and subsidized Russian imports. The decision follows a letter last month from Montana’s congressional delegation urging the Trump administration to Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Wednesday that five people, including a former correctional officer and two current inmates, have been indicted for transporting contraband into the South Dakota State Penitentiary. “Transporting illegal items into the prison makes the facility less safe for staff and inmates,” Jackley said. “We will not tolerate such activity Read More…
Senator Steve Daines has introduced the Equal Campus Access Act of 2025, legislation aimed at ensuring public colleges and universities do not discriminate against religious student organizations. Daines said the measure is designed to safeguard religious liberty for students of faith, requiring schools that receive federal funding to treat religious groups the same as any Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 27-state coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down California’s ban on firearm magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The group of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in Virginia Duncan, et al. v. Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California, arguing that the Ninth Read More…
Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted Thursday in favor of a short-term measure to keep the federal government funded and avoid a shutdown, as Congress works to finalize annual spending bills. The measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), extends government funding through November 21, giving lawmakers roughly seven more weeks to complete the 12 Read More…
(The Center Square) – Texas led the U.S. in job growth over the year in August and broke employment records again last month, according to the latest employment data. Texas reported 14,347,700 total nonfarm jobs in August, adding 17,600 positions over the month and 195,600 jobs over the year. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate was Read More…
Across our region, policymakers have been taking action that significantly moves the economic needle: cutting waste and trimming red tape. It’s a key reason Idaho, Montana and Wyoming regularly show up among the least-regulated states in the country, and is a major draw to families, job creators and taxpayers alike. Washington has made some permitting Read More…
(The Center Square) – Virginia is the No. 1 state for teachers’ pay and public spending per student. At the same time, it’s No. 51 for students’ math scores, behind 49 states and Washington, D.C. More pay for teachers and more spending for schools don’t necessarily equal better performances by students, according to a Center Square Read More…
(The Center Square) – Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has no intention of complying with a U.S. Department of Justice request for information from the state’s voter registration list. On Sept. 8, the DOJ sent a letter to Hobbs requesting a copy of the state’s voter registration database within 14 days. The request included sensitive personal Read More…
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder joined U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Tuesday at Jackson Hole Classical Academy as part of the nationwide Returning Education to the States 50-State Tour. The initiative celebrates the shift of educational decision-making from the federal level back to individual states. “Wyoming students have consistently outperformed national learning Read More…
The Sioux Falls School District marked a major milestone on Tuesday, August 19, with the ribbon-cutting of its first-ever SmartLab at the newly built Marcella LeBeau Elementary School. The state-of-the-art STEM learning environment is designed to give students hands-on, project-based learning experiences that foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking while preparing them for future careers. Read More…
U.S. stocks surged this week, with all three major indexes closing at record highs after the Federal Reserve delivered its first interest rate cut of the year, fueling hopes that more easing is on the horizon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average pushed further into record territory, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also notched Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte recognized Sergeant Bob Longcake of Shelby with the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, honoring both his military service during the Vietnam War and his decades of dedication to veterans and his community. “Sergeant Longcake exemplifies the very best of Montana’s veterans,” Gianforte said. “From his courageous service in Vietnam to his tireless Read More…
The Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) welcomed 11 new troopers into its ranks Friday during the 82nd Advanced Academy graduation ceremony. The event included remarks from Attorney General Austin Knudsen and MHP Colonel Kurt Sager, followed by a formal swearing-in and badge-pinning ceremony. “I am proud to welcome 11 new troopers to the Montana Highway Patrol,” Read More…
As a project manager who specializes in campus recruiting for one of the world’s largest professional service firms, Reannon Crider insists on visiting her alma mater – the University of Montana. Crider grew up in Helena and graduated from UM in 2015 with a degree in management information systems, one of UM’s highest earning degrees, Read More…
President Trump’s tariffs and hardline trade negotiations are not just political theater; they are the backbone of a bold America First economic strategy. The results speak for themselves: stronger leverage abroad, revitalized U.S. industries, and greater economic security here at home. Critics may complain about short-term price fluctuations, but the numbers prove the policy is Read More…
Montana State Auditor James Brown has joined elected leaders and financial officers nationwide urging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate the delisting of Chinese companies that fail to meet U.S. anti-fraud and transparency standards. The move is aimed at protecting American investors and strengthening national security. “Montanans should not be forced to roll Read More…
The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Fire Ready Nation Act by unanimous consent, advancing legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s ability to prevent, forecast, and combat wildfires. The bill, introduced in January by Senator Tim Sheehy (R–Mont.) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D–Wash.), formally establishes the Fire Weather Services program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R–Mont.) emphasized the importance of expanding energy production in tribal communities during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing this week. Speaking with David Conrad, Acting Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, Daines highlighted the potential for tribal energy projects to strengthen sovereignty and fuel Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 27-state coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Washington state’s ban on firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The coalition filed an amicus brief Monday in Gator’s Custom Guns, Inc. v. State of Washington, arguing the law violates the Second Amendment. In May, the Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte this week signed an executive order creating a new Energy Task Force charged with developing strategies to expand affordable, reliable energy production in Montana. “With increasing demand on our energy grid, we must meet the challenge head-on to ensure affordable, reliable power for Montanans now and into the future,” Gianforte said. “After Read More…
U.S. Senator John Hoeven announced that U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy E. Meink will be a featured guest speaker at the 19th annual UAS Summit & Expo, scheduled for October 14–15 at the Alerus Center. The Summit, one of the nation’s premier gatherings for unmanned aircraft systems, draws government, military, and commercial Read More…
The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is now accepting applications for the Chrome for Kids Wish Fund, a grant program that supports nonprofits dedicated to granting wishes for chronically or seriously ill children. The Chrome for Kids Wish Fund was created by the Montana Legislature and is financed through voluntary $20 donations collected when residents Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen filed the opening brief in William Trevor Case v. State of Montana ahead of oral arguments at the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) scheduled for October 15. The Attorney General’s Office will defend a Montana Supreme Court ruling that law enforcement may enter a home without a search Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Tuesday that a former state Department of Health employee has been sentenced for falsifying her own medical marijuana card. Alexandra Feiner, 24, of Pierre, pleaded guilty to one felony count of offering a false or forged instrument for filing, registering, or recording. She was sentenced in Hughes County Read More…