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…
WASHINGTON — Kendra Espinoza sends her daughters to Stillwater Christian School, in Kalispell, Mont. The girls are thriving, but the tuition bills are steep. Ms. Espinoza, a single mother, has worked three jobs, raffled off quilts and held yard sales to help make the payments. She had also hoped to get some money from a Read More…
To celebrate his graduation, Nicholas Balcken will likely raise a glass — of Blackfoot River Brewing Company beer. On Friday, Balcken became the first participant in the Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program to receive a Professional Brewer Certificate. With this credential, the Blackfoot River Brewing Co. employee said, “I hope to be able to develop better beers and improve my Read More…
Using Berkeley Pit water to help power Los Angeles with renewable energy? A global leader in power systems is talking with state and local officials about doing just that. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power System America Inc. has met with Montana Resources, Atlantic Richfield, NorthWestern Energy and Butte-Silver Bow officials in recent months. Last week, the company Read More…
The Little Shell Tribe has been fighting for federal recognition for more than a century and as of Friday, their fight is over. On Friday, the National Defense Authorization act for 2020 was signed by the president, making the federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians officially become law. The bill was Read More…
The CEO of Wawa is apologizing after the convenience store chain became a center of a massive data breach. According to an open letter from Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens, the company discovered malware on Wawa’s payment processing servers between December 10 and 12 of 2019. Gheysens said in the letter that the same malware affected Read More…
Some students at a Missoula elementary school have received an early Christmas present. Lowell Elementary School Principal Barbara Frank recently received an anonymous donation of $5,300, made in honor of Eileen Lake, to pay off all outstanding cafeteria balances at the school. While the school district did shift away from the providing free breakfast and Read More…
MISSOULA — Head coach Bobby Hauck and the Montana football team signed 17 new Class of 2020 recruits to the team during Wednesday’s early signing period on National Signing Day. Seven of Montana’s newest signees hail from the Treasure State while three come from California, two from Oregon and Utah and one each from Idaho, Read More…
A former Helena elementary school teacher has been given a three-year deferred sentence for felony drug possession, stemming from an August traffic stop where authorities found cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine and psilocybin mushrooms in his vehicle. Eric Lehman, who is married to Democratic state superintendent of public instruction candidate Melissa Romano, pleaded guilty to the charge Read More…
HELENA — A third-generation rancher from Helena, Montana won the Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet back in November. The prize was a brand new Polaris Ranger and an all-expense paid trip to compete in the national competition in Austin, Texas coming up in January. Rocky Forseth says, “We can take a Read More…
STRONG (SUN JOURNAL) — A former Montana woman was arrested Saturday at a Strong residence in connection to the death of her 5-month-old daughter on Sept. 25 in Montana. She allegedly had methamphetamine in her system and was slumped over her child in a vehicle when police found her in Butte, Montana, according to a Read More…
BILLINGS — Seven Montana TV stations owned by Cowles Media, including KFBB in Great Falls, have been unable to produce normal newscasts since last Monday after a cyber-attack infected computer operating software. “Systems and software are integrated among all the TV stations. The attack to the vital software has caused delays in video feedback and Read More…
More than three years after California voters broadly legalized marijuana, a state panel is considering if its potent, high-inducing chemical—THC—should be declared a risk to pregnant women and require warnings. Studies have indicated that a rising number of mothers-to-be have turned to marijuana products for relief from morning sickness and headaches, though it’s effectiveness has Read More…
To celebrate a game-winning pass break-up against the Buffalo Bills last week, Marcus Peters jumped into the crowd of friendly fans in enemy territory and crushed a beer. [Watch live NFL games on the Yahoo Sports app, here’s how] The NFL decided it just couldn’t let that fun moment happen without a little discipline, and Bud Light Read More…
BISMARCK — Justice Jon Jensen will take over the top spot on the Supreme Court just a few years after being appointed by Gov. Doug Burgum. He handily defeated Justice Lisa Fair McEvers in a runoff election for the position at the state Capitol on Thursday, Dec. 12. Jensen will sign an oath of Read More…
LAS VEGAS — Montana, say hello to your two newest world champions. Helena steer wrestler Ty Erickson and Miles City tie-down roper Haven Meged claimed 2019 PRCA world titles Saturday during the final round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday. Meged’s race was as close as they come. Read More…
The plan would utilize hunters to remove the herd of about 20 sheep by offering more licenses and ewe tags that would require hunters to take female sheep in Unit B1 of the southern Badlands, said Jeb Williams, wildlife chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck. Details are a work in Read More…
RONAN – The first hemp-processing license in the State of Montana was issued to a Ronan business in November from the Montana Department of Agriculture. Green Ridge Biosolutions moved into a 15,000 square-foot building at 63298 U.S. Highway 93, located near the Ronan arch, in September. Sam Belanger, chief operations officer, said he looks forward Read More…
Billionaire wildcatter Harold Hamm is stepping down as chief executive officer of Continental Resources Inc. and will become executive chairman of the shale-oil producer he founded over five decades ago. Board member William Berry will take over as CEO at the start of next year, according to a statement released Wednesday. Jack Stark, currently president Read More…
Pernod Ricard, France’s largest spirits maker, is busy raiding America’s liquor cabinet. In 2019, the purveyor of Absolut vodka and Jameson Irish whiskey has bought Jefferson’s Bourbon, Firestone & Robertson Distilling, and a majority share of Rabbit Hole Distillery, all bets on America’s whiskey boom. This comes on top of recent new vodka distillery openings Read More…
In a festive opening to the sale of its best known company, Saudi political and economic elite were out on Wednesday to show their full support for the sale of their country’s crown jewel. Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil company had its first IPO on Wednesday and is now being heralded as the world’s most valuable company with Read More…
SALT LAKE CITY — The waste is piling up in landfills, from grocery stores and restaurants and stinky manure from hog and dairy farms. What to do with it? Dominion Energy has the answer through transforming some of that waste into renewable natural gas through a number of ways, including a $500 million corporate partnership Read More…
The Navy marked a first earlier this year when a woman completed Navy SEAL officer assessment and selection, Military.com has learned. At the quarterly meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services in December, a Navy official disclosed that the woman had reached the end of the physically and mentally demanding two-week SOAS process in September. Read More…
On the same day that President Donald J. Trump hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the White House, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, blocked an effort to fast-track a bill meant to punish Russia or other foreign countries for meddling in U.S. elections, as Russia did in 2016. On the U.S. Senate floor on Read More…
PINEDALE, Wyo. — A Sublette County Sheriff’s deputy was driving through Pinedale on his way to training when he saw an unusual call to action. A deer had become stuck in a pond that was partially iced over. Deputy Justin Hays radioed to dispatch and was soon joined by Deputy Peterson, who activated his body Read More…
The U.S. House passed the National Defense Authorization Act today. That means the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Montana is halfway to federal recognition. But will the tribe’s land base include Hill 57? Montana Republican Greg Gianforte voted yea on the defense bill, passing a version of Little Shell recognition bill he’s introduced in the Read More…
It may seem that no matter where you go in the U.S. you see chain stores — those ubiquitous big box stores with Starbucks (SBUX) – Get Report inside of them. But fear not: Small business in America is not dead. In fact, it’s the majority of the country’s business, according to the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. Read More…
Arthur Blank has a new ranch. The Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses announced Wednesday it has closed on the purchase of Paradise Valley Ranch, a 9,300-acre property between the city of Livingston and an entrance to Yellowstone Park. Paradise valley is near Mountain Sky Guest Ranch and West Creek Ranch, two interdependent properties belonging Read More…
HELENA – Employees of the Montana Democratic Party said Wednesday they have chosen to be represented by a union. The employees made the announcement in a news release along with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 206. James Holbrook, IBEW 206 business manager, said more professional employees are joining the IBEW because they can Read More…
The race to represent California’s 36th District in the U.S. House of Representatives just became much less confusing: Republican challenger Raul Ruiz announced Wednesday he was dropping his challenge against Raul Ruiz, the incumbent Democratic congressman with the same name. “It is with sincere heartfelt sentiment that I announce my inability to continue moving forward in Read More…
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes would manage the National Bison Range in exchange for concessions on water rights, according to draft legislation Montana Sen. Steve Daines is expected to introduce in Congress. Both Daines and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes announced last week that they had come to an agreement to settle thousands Read More…
MISSOULA — A University of Montana partnership with the state has proved doubly lucrative, supporting Montana families’ health needs while garnering nearly $16 million in grants to fund health-related programs. The state-UM partnership has received 12 competitive federal grants that help small rural hospitals, mental health therapists, doctors and clinics – and even public schools Read More…
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KOLO) – The U.S. Senate has confirmed Lawrence VanDyke to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The final vote was 51 to 44 in favor of confirmation. VanDyke previously served as Solicitor General of Nevada and Montana. Nevada’s two Senators, Jackie Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, both Democrats, opposed VanDyke’s nomination. Sen. Cortez Masto Read More…
On Dec. 10, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) argued against confirming Lawrence VanDyke to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Doing so, he said, would depart from “bedrock principles that once guided the exercise of the Senate’s constitutional duty to advise and consent” on the president’s nominations. Blumenthal neglected to mention some important information that puts Read More…
The Montana National Guard and the Prickly Pear Land Trust (PPLT) were recognized in Washington D.C. with the Army Community Partnership Award for their work in creating the Ten Mile Creek Community Park. Major General Matthew Quinn, Adjutant General for Montana, and Mary Hollow, Executive Director for PPLT received the award at the Pentagon on Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Senator Steve Daines announced he reached a new agreement to settle water disputes with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) that “protect the water rights for all Montanans.” Senator Jon Tester said he is pleased with the bipartisan support for the introduction of the CSKT Water Compact. Daines will introduce the “Montana Read More…
Washington Democrats are no longer pining for Beto O’Rourke. They’re far more infatuated with another ousted presidential candidate: Steve Bullock. O’Rourke has just three days before the Texas filing deadline to decide whether he wants to run against incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn. Yet many Senate Democrats aren’t sure O’Rourke would even be the strongest Read More…
The grandson of the late President George H.W. Bush, nonprofit executive Pierce Bush, announced Monday morning that he is running for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District. Bush enters a crowded GOP primary to replace U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, whose seat was a national Democratic target even before Olson announced his retirement earlier this year. Bush made Read More…
The Supreme Court on Monday left in place a Kentucky law requiring abortion providers to perform an ultrasound and show and describe it to the patient, regardless of the patient’s wishes. The justices did not offer an explanation for their decision to refuse to hear a challenge to a lower court ruling that upheld the Read More…
SAN FRANCISCO — Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the Stanford graduate students who founded Google over two decades ago, are stepping down from executive roles at Google’s parent company, Alphabet, they announced on Tuesday. Sundar Pichai, Google’s chief executive, will become the chief of both Google and Alphabet. The move is an end of an Read More…
SAN ANTONIO (CBSDFW.COM) – Country music legend Willie Nelson says he’s stopped smoking pot — 65 years after he rolled his first joint. “I don’t smoke anymore. I take better care of myself today than I did then,” he said. The 86-year-old Texan says, due to ongoing health and breathing issues, he no longer smokes marijuana. Read More…