Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed two amicus briefs leading coalitions of state attorneys general in defense of American firearms manufacturers facing lawsuits in New York that seek to hold the companies liable for gun crimes committed in the state. Knudsen argues both cases circumvent federal protections established under the Protection of Lawful Commerce Read More…
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signed a memorandum directing military installation commanders to permit service members to carry privately owned firearms while off duty on Department of War property within the United States, marking a significant shift in how the Pentagon approaches personal firearms on military bases. Hegseth announced the policy change in a social Read More…
(The Center Square) – A student at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego was suspended after posting a pro-Immigration and Customs Enforcement flyer reading, “We [heart] ICE – Real Americans,” following an anti-ICE walkout on campus, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Student-led anti-ICE walkouts have continued to rise nationwide. In Read More…
Hi-Country Snack Foods, a nearly 50-year-old Montana jerky maker and one of the largest employers in the small mountain community of Lincoln, has paused production — a development that raises new concerns about the company’s future and the economic health of the town it has long anchored. The production halt comes less than a year Read More…
MINOT, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators voted Wednesday to reject a permit for a proposed wind farm in Ward and McLean Counties. The Public Service Commission denied the permit for Southern Power’s Ruso Wind project by a 2-1 vote. But the commission left open the possibility of reconsidering the project down the road. The project Read More…
Edward Seidel, who touted economic development and the university’s role in enhancing the state’s economic well-being, has been unanimously selected to be the 28th president of the University of Wyoming. Currently the vice president for economic development and innovation for the University of Illinois System, Seidel was one of three finalists for the position. The Read More…
BUTTE – NorthWestern Energy’s Montana customers are reporting a scam demanding money for a meter change. The criminals leave a phone message saying the customers’ meter will be changed shortly with instructions to call a phone number. When the customer calls the number, they are told there is a fee and service will be disconnected Read More…
KALISPELL — Officials in Washington State reported Monday that four more people have died from the coronavirus bringing the state’s death toll to six and as the cases continue to add up, Flathead County officials are taking pre-preemptive measures to help contain a potential outbreak. Kalispell Regional Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Doug Nelson says Read More…
HELENA — U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is asking the federal government to delay enforcing Real ID requirements in Montana, as state authorities continue to issue compliant identification. Daines’ office announced Monday that the senator had sent a letter to President Donald Trump, asking for a one-year extension of the Oct. 1 enforcement deadline. In the Read More…
BUFFALO — Johnson County is cowboy country – the land of the Virginian, Butch Cassidy and Sheriff Walt Longmire. But soon those Western heroes will have company. A new congregation of cowboys and cowgirls will descend on the county soon, courtesy of the Buffalo High School English department’s annual January Jubilee program. The jubilee, which Read More…
Wyoming isn’t typically known for being on the cutting edge of technology, but when it comes to 3D printing, research about and usage of the slowly maturing technology has already found a home. For instance, ceramic-printing research at the University of Wyoming could someday allow people to fly farther for cheaper. In Jackson, inexpensive prototyping Read More…
Ten entrepreneurs from southeast Wyoming have had their respective lives changed over the past six months. It’s been a hectic, frantic, chaotic and incredible time, one where all 10 men and women, ranging from a college student to a husband-and-wife team, have been working to change the world. Or at least Wyoming to start out. Read More…
Tony Romo and CBS finalized a 10-year contract extension last Friday that will net Romo more than he made in his entire NFL career. Before CBS agreed to make Romo the highest-paid sports broadcaster ever, the network made a phone call to one of his quarterbacking contemporaries. Via Andrew Marchand, the New York Post’s media reporter, CBS called Read More…
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar ended her Democratic presidential campaign on Monday and endorse rival Joe Biden in an effort to unify moderate voters behind the former vice president’s White House bid. She is flying to Dallas and plans to join Biden at his rally Monday night. Klobuchar outlasted several better-known and better-funded Democrats, thanks to Read More…
The first person to test positive for coronavirus in New York City arrived there following a visit to Iran last week, the New York Post reported on Monday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the patient is a 39-year-old healthcare worker who attempted to avoid contaminating others by acting in a “textbook way.” The woman was aware that Read More…
Montana schools are now mandated to test drinking water for lead, following state rule changes related to school health. Schools are required to test all fixtures that may “reasonably provide water for human consumption or for food preparation,” such as drinking fountains, water bottle refill stations and sinks. Schools may begin testing as early as Read More…
What about the inflatable Raptor? Erica Schnee, principal of Bozeman’s new Gallatin High School, laughed when she raised the topic to the guy in charge of school buildings, Todd Swinehart, as they huddled in Bozeman High’s Berg Library. They meet weekly to go over hundreds of details and decisions that go into building Read More…
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Elizabeth Warren can win debates, but not states: There’s a chance she will walk away from Super Tuesday having not carried any of the first 18 contests, including her home state of Massachusetts. Yet she, her campaign and their close allies say she’s in the race all the way to the convention, despite her Read More…
HELENA – Businesswoman Whitney Williams announced Buzz Mattelin as her Lieutenant Governor candidate. Buzz is a farmer and President of the National Barley Growers Association. He is from Culbertson. Williams is the last to announce her running mate. On Friday, Democrat Mike Cooney announced Casey Schreiner as his running mate. Schreiner is a former school Read More…
Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT) announced his much-anticipated running mate in the race for Montana governor and lieutenant governor on Sunday night in Billings. Gianforte selected Great Falls lawyer and former Montana Supreme Court candidate Kristen Juras to serve as his running mate. Juras told the crowd that she is excited to be Gianforte’s running mate, Read More…
A bill to prevent transgender people from changing their sex on their birth certificates is advancing in the Idaho State Legislature, flouncing a federal court order implemented two years ago that prevents such restrictions. H.B.509 argues that maintaining birth records with the sex a child was assigned at birth will provide more accurate documentation and maintain statistics that can Read More…
MANDAN, ND – Sgt. Wade Kadrmas with the North Dakota Highway Patrol says a tooper pulled over Kirsten Baesler on I-94 after observing erratic driving around 9: 45 p.m. Wednesday night. The trooper smelled alcohol and observed behavior consistent with alcohol consumption while talking to Baesler during the stop. Baesler was arrested for driving under the Read More…
CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) Dan White, the last University of Wyoming finalist, started his forum showing some photos of his outdoor travels to a group that came to listen. “We are winter people,” White said. He said he never goes into a conversation without being willing to change his mind. “If you go into a Read More…
President Donald Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale briefed Republican senators on Wednesday about the campaign’s effort to expand the electoral map and assure Trump’s path to reelection. “They are more than ready for 2020,” said Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), a close Trump ally. “They’re going to be expanding the map.” “They’ve been working hard, whereas Read More…
As NorthWestern Energy seeks to acquire more power for its Montana customers, it’s already charging some of the highest electric rates in the region, among major utilities, an MTN News analysis shows. As of next week, NorthWestern’s residential customers in Montana will be paying 11.6 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for their power – the Read More…
WinCo and the owners of the proposed grocery store location paid union members $15,000 to settle a lawsuit against the city of Bozeman, according to court documents. While the lawsuit was between the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 4 and the city of Bozeman, the city did not pay any money in the Read More…
The latest crop of local candidates filing for political office has set up a Democratic primary battle in one district and guaranteed a general-election contest in two other districts. Garrett Henson of Columbia Falls filed to run in House District 3 against fellow Democrat Debo Powers. Powers was appointed to represent the district – which Read More…
A second Republican has filed to run for the state House seat that covers south Bozeman, including Montana State University. Jason Zeng, a Ph.D. student at MSU in chemical engineering, will face Bryan Haysom in the primary June 2. Zeng, 28, has also worked as a research assistant at MSU and a potato inspector in Read More…
A Montana State University police officer has been suspended after an investigation found that she violated the department’s code of conduct and safety policies during a January traffic stop. MSU released a report Thursday outlining what happened when Officer Angela Roundtree got involved in a Jan. 8 traffic stop and had a verbal altercation with Read More…
A Flathead County District Judge on Thursday denied Michael Goguen’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit by Whitefish’s police chief, whose December 2019 complaint accuses the wealthy philanthropist of interfering with a criminal investigation and trying to get the city’s top law enforcement officer fired. Goguen denies the allegations set forth in the lawsuit by Whitefish Read More…
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Monday unveiled a $640 billion housing plan that includes tax credits for first-time homebuyers and low-income renters, as well as more federal assistance for the country’s poorest renters. The former vice president’s team sees his proposals as especially important in aiding African Americans and Latinos, two advisers said on the condition Read More…
MOSCOW — Bus drivers in Moscow kept their WhatsApp group chat buzzing with questions this week about what to do if they spotted passengers who might be from China riding with them in the Russian capital. “Some Asian-looking (people) have just got on. Probably Chinese. Should I call (the police)?” one driver messaged his peers. “How do Read More…
More than 500 social-media campaigners in California are being offered $2,500 a month to spread Mike Bloomberg’s message as “deputy field operatives.” However, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the small slice of the candidate’s vast personal fortune has not ensured the operatives’ dedication or loyalty. The newly formed social-media army has been Read More…
Two Republican newcomers are competing with a top member of North Dakota’s Legislature for their district party’s endorsements for two House seats. Rep. Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood, told the Tribune on Wednesday that he plans to run for another term. Rep. Vernon Laning, R-Bismarck, said he’s not seeking a third term and plans to enjoy retirement, Read More…
WING — After 10 years in education, Wing Public School District Superintendent David Goetz began to notice a trend. Students and teachers would begin the school year in August feeling refreshed and motivated to learn. But by the end of the school year, everyone felt burned out, and it was a slog to get through Read More…
CASPER, Wyo. — A Tyler, Texas resident is reportedly deceased, after leaping from a moving vehicle, while leading Highway Patrol troopers on a pursuit. According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, on Friday, February 21st, 2020 Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a suspected drunk driver in the area of Sheridan, Wyoming. Troopers report that Read More…
Bozeman’s crime rate is the lowest in Montana when compared to other cities similar in size. Bozeman Police Chief Steve Crawford rapped his knuckles on his wooden desk several times when talking about the city’s low crime rate. “I knock on wood and don’t want to jinx it, right?” Crawford said. READ FULL Read More…
GREAT FALLS — Two military veterans were honored on Friday in separate ceremonies – one in Great Falls and the other in Conrad. This is all part of the Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation, recognizing outstanding Montana veterans who have honorably served both country and community. At the VFW Post 1087 in Great Falls, U.S. Representative Read More…
The two Democratic candidates for governor highlighted their differences and declared themselves the candidate who can beat U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte — the presumed frontrunner in the Republican gubernatorial race. In their second debate, businesswoman Whitney Williams said she has the new ideas necessary to keep the governor’s office in Democratic hands, while Lt. Read More…
Former state Rep. Kathleen Williams, D-Bozeman, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, was in Havre Thursday for a meet and greet event and spoke about her campaign. The seat is held by U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., who announced last year he would not be running for re-election in the House but will be Read More…
The city of Whitefish has been approved for three State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans worth a combined $20.1 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment technology and meet more stringent standards for treating ammonia and other nutrients. The city’s wastewater collection and treatment system has over 58 miles of sewer main and 16 lift stations, portions Read More…
CHULA VISTA — A pregnant Guatemalan woman, arrested on suspicion of crossing the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization on Sunday, gave birth about a half-hour later in a Border Patrol station in Chula Vista, authorities said. The 27-year-old woman was spotted walking with a man and two children about a mile east of the Otay Mesa Port of Read More…
Bethenny Frankel is returning to her reality TV roots with a competition series at HBO Max. The Skinnygirl founder and former Real Housewives of New York City star will front an eight-episode series called The Big Shot With Bethenny, in which aspiring business moguls compete for a job on Frankel’s executive team. The Apprentice-like show hails from MGM TV, Read More…
South Dakota lawmakers rejected a bill on Wednesday that would have removed a common reason used by married couples seeking divorces, which would have made it more difficult to divorce. Rep. Tony Randolph, R-Rapid City, introduced legislation to remove “irreconcilable differences” as a legal reason for couples to get divorced. Irreconcilable differences is one of Read More…