(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Defense’s annual audit once again resulted in a disclaimer. That means the federal government’s largest agency – with a budget of more than $840 billion – can’t fully explain its spending. The disclaimer this year was expected. And it’s expected again next year. The Pentagon previously said Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced today that Dustin Temple, director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), will retire at the end of the year after a distinguished 20-year career with the agency. “I am grateful to Dustin for his service to FWP for two decades and for the outstanding progress he has made at one Read More…
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Monday that Israel’s airstrike on Iran last month targeted a specific element of Tehran’s nuclear program, while also damaging its defense and missile production capabilities. In a speech to the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu stated, “It’s not a secret. There is a specific component in their nuclear program that was Read More…
Montana State University announced today that William Thomas, a seasoned administrator and faculty member from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been selected as the new dean of the MSU College of Letters and Science. Thomas will officially assume his role on January 13, 2025. “William Thomas brings a wealth of experience as a scholar, educator, Read More…
Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: GBCI) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share during a meeting held on September 24, 2024. This latest declaration marks the company’s 158th consecutive quarterly dividend, reflecting a strong commitment to its shareholders over the years. The dividend will be payable on Read More…
n response to escalating wildfire risks, Governor Doug Burgum has signed an executive order declaring a statewide fire emergency. This action activates the State Emergency Operations Plan to strategically position resources for a swift response to wildfires throughout North Dakota. The state has already seen significant fire activity, with nearly 3,500 acres burned in the Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte visited the HER Campaign last week to showcase the organization’s vital work supporting survivors of human trafficking through their residential programs. “Human trafficking is a despicable, heartbreaking crime, but thanks to dedicated Montanans like Sammy and organizations like the HER Campaign, survivors are offered resources and hope,” Gianforte stated. He emphasized the Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced Thursday that it will make tele-emergency care available nationwide to improve fast access to virtual emergency care for those enrolled in VA health care. The expansion of care, which was tested in recent months, has shown promise for veterans, helping more than 61,182 callers with a Read More…
The brave Americans who registered voters in the Jim Crow South during the Civil Rights Era endured violence, in some cases even death. Since then, maximizing voter participation has been widely considered a public good worthy of charity status. But the IRS has clear rules prohibiting charities that register voters from favoring political parties or Read More…
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is facing backlash after stating that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has exhausted its funds for disaster relief, while billions have reportedly been spent on housing and supporting migrants across the country. As Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc on the South and East, many are expressing frustration over FEMA’s perceived Read More…
When debating legislation, legislators are always looking for unintended consequences. If you are pro-life or pro-choice, CI 128 must be a major concern. Hidden in the text of the initiative is language that gives blanket immunity to abortion providers for malpractice, incompetence or outright criminal behavior. In the complete text of CI 128 it says, Read More…
(The Center Square) – UNC Mobile One Card, a digital photo identification on the Chapel Hill campus of the University of North Carolina, will not be valid in North Carolina’s elections. A temporary injunction was granted Friday afternoon by the North Carolina Court of Appeals, scoring a victory for Republicans at the state and national Read More…
Republican candidate Tim Sheehy emerged victorious in a heated U.S. Senate debate against incumbent Democrat Jon Tester, according to Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt. Following the debate, Kaltschmidt issued a statement underscoring Sheehy’s performance and criticizing Tester’s record. “Tim Sheehy’s second debate victory over career politician Jon Tester showed exactly why Montanans will Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte unveiled an investment of up to $2.5 million aimed at assisting rural counties and tribal communities in Montana to develop and implement tailored solutions for their behavioral health needs. This initiative is part of a broader $300 million funding allocation secured by the governor last year to reform and enhance the state’s Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is awarding Montana $2.7 million to enhance the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Fort Harrison. “This funding allows us to honor the sacrifices of those who have served our nation,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Each grave is a testament to courage and commitment, and Read More…
Boeing announced Monday that it had made a “best and final offer” to its striking machinists, including bigger pay raises and larger bonuses. However, the workers’ union quickly rejected the proposal, stating it wasn’t sufficient, and no ratification vote would occur before Boeing’s deadline at the end of the week. The union criticized Boeing for Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Montana’s unemployment rate increased by 0.1% to 3.2% in August, still holding steady below the national average of 4.2%, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Montana’s unemployment rate has now been at or below 3.4% Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte cut the ribbon on the new headquarters and production facility for Ultimate Defense Technologies in Billings, a weapons safety manufacturer expected to create nearly 90 jobs for Montanans. “Thanks to our pro-business policies and strong Second Amendment heritage, businesses like Ultimate Defense Technologies are choosing to relocate to Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. Read More…
(The Center Square) – Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are virtually tied in Nevada, according to a new poll. According to the American Greatness/TIPP poll of 736 likely Nevada voters conducted from Sept. 23-25 in conjunction with TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics, Harris holds a slim 49.2% to 47.9% advantage over Read More…
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump ramped up his personal attacks on Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent, during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. Trump repeated his claim that Harris is “mentally impaired,” going as far as to suggest she should be “impeached and prosecuted.” These remarks followed a rally from the day before, which Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte recently emphasized a report from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, which identifies Montana as one of the least regulated states in the country. The report ranks Montana fourth, following North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho, citing the state’s efforts to reduce regulatory burdens. Governor Gianforte stated that cutting red tape Read More…
(The Center Square) – A coalition of small businesses are calling on Congress to make the 20% small business tax deduction permanent. Small business leaders visited Washington, D.C. this week to call on lawmakers to pass the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, a bill that would prevent the expiration of a small business tax credit Read More…
Montana PBS will host a live debate featuring U.S. Senate candidates Jon Tester and Tim Sheehy at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 30. The one-hour event will take place in a Montana PBS studio located on the University of Montana campus in Missoula. Incumbent Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat, will face Republican challenger Tim Sheehy Read More…
In July, GTUIT was awarded two significant patents that enhance its gas processing capabilities. The first patent, 12,025,373, titled “System and Method for Treating Associated Gas,” is central to GTUIT’s innovative technology. It features a liquid chiller designed to maintain a stable thermal reservoir, allowing for consistent treatment of associated gas, even amid rapid fluctuations Read More…
(The Center Square) – Lawfully issued congressional subpoenas are not subject to interference from the White House or its appointed leaders of departments, North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx said Friday. The Republican bidding for an 11th term in the Beltway chastised Education Secretary Miguel Cardona for “repeatedly” trying to interfere with the work of the Read More…
From the time he was a child, Paul E. Funk II knew he wanted to serve in the U.S. military. He watched his father, also named Paul, fly a Cobra helicopter in 1968, sparking some of his earliest fascination with the armed forces. An avid athlete, Funk had always felt the deep importance of being Read More…
Michael Partnow, a seasoned veteran of the financial services industry, has partnered with Digital Wealth News (DWN) to announce the inaugural Big Sky | AI Roundtable, taking place on October 23-24 at the historic Baxter Hotel in Bozeman, Montana. This invitation-only event aims to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and the financial services sector. Read More…
(The Center Square) – Three Mile Island came out of retirement on Friday, exactly five years after mounting economic pressure and shifting energy demand forced the infamous Pennsylvania nuclear generation plant to shut down. Constellation Energy announced that Microsoft will buy 835 megawatts of energy from the facility to power the company’s data centers spread Read More…
As the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump remain in a stalemate, according to recent polls. New data released on Thursday indicates a particularly close race in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania. A national poll conducted by The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Read More…
(The Center Square) – As Americans struggle with high inflationary costs, paying record high grocery costs and energy bills, Congress continues to allocate billions of dollars of taxpayer money to fund services for illegal border crossers living in U.S. cities. Prior to the last budget funding showdown in March, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said Read More…
(The Center Square) – A top Democratic donation processor, Act Blue, is facing an investigation over concerns that the donation processing service is being used to circumvent campaign finance laws. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee launched the investigation, citing “reports of potentially fraudulent and illicit financial activity” in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Read More…
Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester is positioning the protection of abortion as a cornerstone of his campaign to maintain his seat, the last Democratic hold in statewide office in Montana. His efforts include campaigning alongside Planned Parenthood officials, launching advertisements advocating for abortion rights, and endorsing a proposed state constitutional amendment to secure abortion access. Read More…
This week marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. Hostilities intensified following two days of deadly attacks attributed to Israel, which caused casualties among civilians in Lebanon. For nearly a year, the two sides have exchanged fire along the Lebanese-Israeli border, often stepping back from the Read More…
Five Montanans Honored with Governor’s Arts Awards HELENA, Mont. (September 20, 2024) – Five distinguished Montana artists have been recognized with the state’s highest honor for those whose careers exemplify the visual, performing, literary, and traditional arts. The 2024 Governor’s Arts Award recipients are: Jackie Larson Bread of Great Falls Jim Dolan of Belgrade Read More…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested an “unlawfully present” Salvadoran national charged with 11 counts of sex crimes against a child in Nantucket. Elmer Sola, 49, was taken into custody on September 10 in Nantucket. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Sola was indicted by a Read More…
(The Center Square) – The federal government borrowed $1.9 trillion in the first eleven months of fiscal year 2024, including $380 billion in August, a startling amount as federal watchdogs sound the alarm on spending. Those borrowing figures come from the the latest Monthly Treasury Statement from the Treasury Department. Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee Read More…
(The Center Square) – A Texas congresswoman is under fire after saying Angel moms who testified about how their children were brutally murdered by criminal illegal border crossers released into the U.S. were “being exploited for political purposes.” U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso, Texas, made the remarks at a U.S. House Read More…
In a recent development, Raph Graybill, running mate of gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse, has admitted to violating campaign finance regulations. The Montana GOP has lodged a formal complaint with the Commissioner of Political Practices after an audio recording surfaced of Graybill acknowledging that he received confidential polling data that he was not authorized to access. Read More…
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has postponed the implementation of a controversial rule that would have drastically cut reimbursement rates for air and ground ambulance services for veterans. The delay comes after sustained oversight and demands from Congressman Ryan Zinke, who has been a vocal critic of the proposed changes. The rule, originally set Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen unveiled a new initiative today aimed at addressing the state’s growing fentanyl crisis. The program will provide life-saving naloxone kits to middle and high schools across Montana, equipping schools with essential tools to handle opioid overdoses. The naloxone kits, which include the overdose-reversal medication naloxone, a CPR respirator mask, a Read More…
(The Center Square) – More than 138,000 North Dakotans applied for the new primary residence credit, and 134,893 applications were approved, Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus told a legislative committee on Wednesday. Approved North Dakotans received $500 toward their property tax for their primary residence, which could include houses, condominiums and mobile homes. Taxpayers could only claim Read More…
(The Center Square) – Concerns over free speech on college campuses have intensified since the war in Gaza began last October, according to a new report. The study shows a growing decline in students’ trust in their institutions’ commitment to protect First Amendment rights, with low-performing schools failing to provide clear policies on free expression. Read More…
As the 2024 election cycle progresses, Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) has emerged as the top recipient of lobbyist campaign donations. Tester’s campaign has received $489,440 from lobbyists, contributing to a total of $502,591 in contributions. This places him at the forefront of Senate candidates benefiting from lobbyist support, surpassing other notable figures such as Sen. Read More…
BOZEMAN – Over 30 years at Montana State University, Darrin Boss has worn many hats, most frequently a cowboy hat. Since finishing his master’s degree in beef cattle nutrition in 1994 and his doctorate in plant science focusing on forages in 2007 – both at MSU – he has served as a research associate, assistant Read More…