The vast majority of Republicans indicated they had moved on from the bitter GOP primary and now support Paxton. Talarico had commanding leads among independents and moderates. Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are neck and neck in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a new poll released Tuesday by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas Read More…
The U.S. Supreme Court threw out a federal appeals court ruling in an immigration case Tuesday and returned the case to the court for an alternative ruling. In a 6-3 decision along partisan lines, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that immigration officers have broad authority to decide if restrictions should be placed on a returning Read More…
(The Center Square) – Betting on a football score isn’t gambling. At least not according to the federal Commodities Futures Trading Commission. The commission recently proposed rule changes to strengthen its governance over prediction markets and sports betting. The changes involve how the panel defines “gaming” and “gambling.” The proposal defines limitations for the CFTC’s Read More…
The Center Square) – Minnesota’s special districts reported $5.4 billion in outstanding long-term debt in 2023, while increasingly relying on state funding as pandemic-era federal aid declined. This is according to a new report from the Minnesota Office of the State Auditor. The 91-page report examined 572 special districts that submitted financial data to the auditor’s Read More…
(The Center Square) – Idaho Gov. Brad Little issued an executive order Wednesday meant to protect Idaho’s water resources from federal intervention. The order comes after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an agreement between water users in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado over the Rio Grande Compact, asserting federal control in water disputes. That decision Read More…
Renowned pollster Nate Silver, founder of ABC’s FiveThirtyEight, has joined a chorus of voices urging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following what he termed “incoherent comments” made during Biden’s first post-debate interview on Friday. Silver, known for his data-driven analyses, expressed his concerns publicly on social media platform X after Read More…
In a bid to steady his reelection campaign following a widely criticized debate performance against former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden addressed concerns and reaffirmed his commitment to staying in the race in an interview with ABC News aired on Friday. During the interview with George Stephanopoulos, taped earlier in the day, Biden attributed Read More…
Montana’s latest legislative effort to enhance government transparency went into effect on July 1 with the implementation of House Bill 890, aimed at providing the public with clearer insights into local government proceedings. Sponsored by Rep. Brad Barker, R-Luther, HB 890 mandates that many local government boards across the state record their meetings and publish Read More…
Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen headlined the Montana Chamber of Commerce’s “Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit,” where she engaged in a fireside chat with Chamber CEO Todd O’Hair on topics of work culture and leadership. “I take great pride in the daily efforts of the Secretary of State’s Office. Our team is dedicated Read More…
The National Education Association Staff Organization, the union representing NEA employees, set up picket lines around the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia on Friday and had planned a three-day strike during the event. President Joe Biden canceled his scheduled address at the National Education Association’s annual conference in Philadelphia after union staff initiated a Read More…
Democratic Senator Jon Tester, currently in his bid for a fourth term in predominantly Republican Montana, faces a pivotal race in 2024. His reelection is crucial for Democrats, who are defending three Senate seats in states won by Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections—Ohio and West Virginia being the others. Tester is Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte celebrated Montana’s recent ranking as the third most patriotic state in the nation ahead of Independence Day. “God bless America, and Montana,” Gov. Gianforte exclaimed. “This study confirms what I’ve long known: Montana is home to some of the most freedom-loving and patriotic individuals in our country. From our unwavering support for Read More…
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan strongly criticized her conservative colleagues on Friday for overturning the Chevron deference, a major decision that shifts power from federal agencies to the courts. In her dissent, Kagan condemned the majority’s action, stating that it effectively transforms the Court into the nation’s administrative czar. Alongside liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Read More…
The Montana VA announced the appointment of Duane Gill as the new director for the Montana VA Health Care System. Effective June 30, Gill will officially take on the role of director, transitioning from his previous position as interim director, as stated in a news release. Expressing his commitment, Gill remarked, “I am honored to Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte continued his fourth annual 56 County Tour as governor, meeting with Montanans in Gallatin and Park counties. “Montana is home to a diverse range of industries, from pioneering research to small businesses that bolster tourism and the arts,” Gov. Gianforte emphasized. “Investing in our state laboratories and tourism sector is pivotal for Read More…
Attorney General Knudsen spearheaded a coalition of 24 states urging the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court’s decision in March. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling by a lower court that prevented states and local governments from enforcing laws aimed at preventing public spaces from turning into homeless encampments. Following Read More…
Jon Tester, the Democratic Senator from Montana, is striving to retain his seat in a state that strongly supported Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Despite Montana’s conservative leaning, Tester has managed to secure victories in several tough elections over the past decade, maintaining his popularity with the state’s right-leaning voters. This November, Tester Read More…
June 21st marked a crucial deadline for advocates aiming to place ballot measures before Montana voters this year. It was the final day to submit tens of thousands of petition signatures to county election offices across the state. Now, county officials must review the signatures and confirm their validity. To get initiatives on the ballot, Read More…
Two recent court rulings will temporarily prevent the Biden administration from implementing further parts of the president’s student loan repayment plan, which has already lowered or eliminated monthly payments for millions of federal student loan borrowers. These decisions put the SAVE Plan, introduced by President Joe Biden, into uncertainty, causing borrowers to once again face Read More…
(The Center Square) – Gov. Mark Gordon is hosting a Town Hall to address what he calls “a barrage of proposed rules” for energy industries and public lands. The Town Hall is scheduled from 1 pm to 4 pm on Tuesday, June 25th at Gillette College’s Technical Education Center. State agency leaders will be on hand, along with Read More…
(The Center Square) – Fentanyl has been a problem in Montana for years, and 2024 appears to be no different. Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) task forces seized 163,184 dosage units of fentanyl in Montana during the first quarter of this year. That is compared to 65,142 during the same period last year, an Read More…
BOZEMAN – Science teacher Doree Thilmony jumped at the chance when she learned last fall that Montana State University could help her put on a summer camp to teach geospatial skills in her rural community. “I teach drones, so I know they are used a lot for mapping,” said Thilmony, the science teacher at Thompson Read More…
(The Center Square) – Wyoming transportation officials believe a temporary detour can be built around where Highway 22 in Teton Pass collapsed once the area is secured, the Department of Transportation said on Monday. The pass, which connects Jackson, Wyoming to Victor, Idaho, was closed Thursday following a landslide that caused cracking in the road. Read More…
Montana’s Senator Steve Daines joined a group of Republican senators in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers after individuals with suspected ties to ISIS were apprehended at the southern border, underwent vetting and were then released into the United States. “We write to express our grave concerns regarding reports Read More…
The Biden Administration has announced the launch of the Columbia River Task Force by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), aimed at implementing President Biden’s longstanding plan to remove dams on the Snake River system. These dams currently supply western Montana with affordable and reliable electricity, constituting between 60-70% of the power in the Pacific Read More…
Jenifer Powell has been named the 2024 Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year. Powell, who teaches seventh-grade social studies at Corvallis Middle School, was recognized for her exceptional dedication and passion for educating students about Montana’s history. “Jenifer excels at creating an engaging learning environment that promotes critical thinking, curiosity, and a deep Read More…
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry has announced the winners of the 2024 Montana State Employers Council Employers of Choice Award. This annual accolade celebrates employers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to attracting and retaining employees, thereby nurturing a vibrant workplace culture. “Montana’s small businesses are integral to our economy and our way of life. Read More…
The Department of Administration (DOA) announced its intention to award the contract for the state’s health plan’s medical Third-Party Administrator (TPA) to BlueCross BlueShield of Montana (BCBSMT), the incumbent provider. In March 2024, the DOA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit competitive bids for TPA services for the state’s medical plan serving employees Read More…
The Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) at the Montana Department of Justice has received reports of fraudulent activities where scammers impersonate law enforcement officers. These scammers contact unsuspecting Montanans, claiming there is an arrest warrant due to missed jury duty, and then coerce victims into transferring thousands of dollars. The scammers instruct individuals to visit Read More…
A truck driver who collided with an SUV carrying a Wyoming family on Interstate 25 was sentenced on Friday to serve 11 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by a mandatory three-year parole period. Jesus Puebla, 27, had been found guilty by a jury in March on five counts of vehicular homicide, as well Read More…
Glendive Police Chief Jeremy Lee Swisher is facing potential felony charges following allegations of hunting violations on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and tampering with witnesses, according to court documents filed last Thursday. The filings detail accusations that Swisher possessed three mule deer buck racks harvested illegally on the reservation. An investigation conducted by Montana Read More…
The Milk River Project announced on Monday a “catastrophic failure” of the St. Mary siphon located on the St. Mary Canal, north of Babb. According to reports, the incident occurred while personnel from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation were monitoring a crack in the structure. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the damage is described Read More…
The economy is set to be a pivotal issue in the 2024 presidential election, highlighting the stark differences between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Consider the American economy as a bag filled with a variety of policies and economic indicators, with inflation being a prominent one. Although inflation has retreated from its Read More…
(The Center Square) – Vermont is the first state to enact a law requiring the fossil fuel industry to pay for “climate change cost recovery.” The bill became law without Republican Gov. Philip Scott signing it. In a May 30 letter to the Vermont General Assembly, he explained why. “Vermont – one of the least Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines Joined a group of his Republican colleagues in a commitment to block President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats’ agenda that is threatening the Montana way of life. “Enough is enough. Joe Biden and his Democrat allies weaponized our judicial system and undermined the American people’s trust in our government. I will Read More…
One of the jurors who participated in Hunter Biden’s federal gun charges trial told news outlets that the defendant’s familial ties to the president had no bearing on their decision-making process. The anonymous juror, a Delaware resident, deemed the prosecution of Hunter Biden as “a waste of taxpayers’ dollars.” Despite this sentiment, the juror and Read More…
(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, introduced a bipartisan bill this week in hopes of supporting ranchers who graze their livestock on federal lands. Wyden filed the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act with U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming. “After embracing the Bureau of Land Management pilot program, ranchers in eastern Oregon worked closely Read More…
CONRAD, Mont. – Continuing his 56 County Tour in Pondera County, Governor Greg Gianforte last week visited Frontline Ag Solutions in Conrad and heard from farmers in the area. “I was glad to get an update from our producers in Montana’s Golden Triangle, home of the production of our world-class grains,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Agriculture Read More…
Hunter Biden received guilty verdicts on all three felony charges tied to his 2018 gun purchase. Prosecutors asserted that the president’s son falsely claimed on a mandatory gun-purchase form that he wasn’t illegally using or addicted to drugs. During the three-hour deliberation over two days, Hunter Biden maintained a stoic demeanor. Upon hearing the verdict, Read More…
On Sunday morning, Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester and his Republican challenger Tim Sheehy squared off in their first general election debate, set to be one of the most closely monitored races this year. The hour-long debate, hosted by the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation, took place at Fairmont Hot Springs in Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined his Republican colleagues in calling out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee corruption and sending a letter to the VA demanding the department repay nearly $11 million in unjustified bonuses that were distributed to senior executives within the VA and calling for the immediate dismissal of the responsible officials. “The egregious mishandling Read More…
HELENA – The Supreme Court ruled in favor today of the National Rifle Association (NRA), in its case against a New York state official who trampled on the organization’s First Amendment right to free speech. In response to the NRA v. Vullo ruling, Attorney General Austin Knudsen released the following statement: “The Supreme Court made Read More…
SHELBY, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday continued his fourth annual 56 county tour as governor in Toole County, visiting Adent Mills at the Port of Northern Montana in Shelby to celebrate increasing trade opportunities for Montana producers. “One of our greatest sources of pride in Montana is our world-class products that we grow here Read More…
HELENA– Jason Allen Miller was sentenced to life without parole for running over and seriously injuring Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Lewis Johnson in February 2023. In April, Miller was found guilty on all counts including attempted deliberate homicide, criminal endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal possession of dangerous drugs, aggravated kidnapping, and a sentencing enhancement for the Read More…