GREENOUGH — On Monday, November 27, 2023, Governor Greg Gianforte journeyed from Helena to Greenough to partake in the felling of the 2023 State Capitol Christmas tree. The governor ventured into the woods, reaching the designated site within the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) trust lands, where the ideal tree was selected Read More…
HELENA — Montana legislators are poised to make a pivotal decision regarding the convening of a special session early next year to address tax-related matters, notably the resolution of a property tax dispute by the state Supreme Court. The Montana Freedom Caucus, comprising fervently conservative Republican lawmakers, formally requested a special session on January 15, Read More…
In a report released last week, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) confirmed that Montana’s outdoor recreation industry continues to play a significant role in the state’s economy. According to the 2022 report detailing the industry’s economic impact, outdoor recreation contributed to 4.3% of Montana’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year. While this represents Read More…
WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden extended an offer on Tuesday to testify publicly before Congress in response to a subpoena from Republicans delving into various aspects of his business dealings amid their pursuit of an impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden. Characterizing the investigation as a “fishing expedition,” the son of the Democratic president Read More…
GREENOUGH — On Monday, November 27, 2023, Governor Greg Gianforte journeyed from Helena to Greenough to partake in the felling of the 2023 State Capitol Christmas tree. The governor ventured into the woods, reaching the designated site within the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) trust lands, where the ideal tree was selected Read More…
HELENA — Montana legislators are poised to make a pivotal decision regarding the convening of a special session early next year to address tax-related matters, notably the resolution of a property tax dispute by the state Supreme Court. The Montana Freedom Caucus, comprising fervently conservative Republican lawmakers, formally requested a special session on January 15, Read More…
In a report released last week, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) confirmed that Montana’s outdoor recreation industry continues to play a significant role in the state’s economy. According to the 2022 report detailing the industry’s economic impact, outdoor recreation contributed to 4.3% of Montana’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year. While this represents Read More…
WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden extended an offer on Tuesday to testify publicly before Congress in response to a subpoena from Republicans delving into various aspects of his business dealings amid their pursuit of an impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden. Characterizing the investigation as a “fishing expedition,” the son of the Democratic president Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte visited Billings to engage with veterans, business owners, legislators, and advocates in a discussion centered around the benefits of Senate Bill 104. The bill, set to take effect on January 1, will allow veterans to exempt up to 50 percent of their military retirement pay from state income tax. The governor emphasized Read More…
A new report from CNN has found that Senator Jon Tester failed to follow through on the ethics pledge he made the center of his 2006 campaign against incumbent Conrad Burns. From the CNN report: “I’ll end secret meetings with lobbyists. At the end of every business day, I will post a list of every Read More…
Atlantic Richfield Company and ARCO Environmental Remediation (collectively known as Atlantic Richfield) have agreed to the cleanup of community soils – including both residential and non-residential yards and soil affected by the refinery’s operations – at the ACM Smelter and Refinery Superfund Site in Black Eagle, Montana. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in Read More…
Starting Tuesday, Montana homeowners can apply to get back up to $675 on their property taxes. The Montana Department of Revenue will open claims Aug. 15 for the property tax rebate approved by the state Legislature and signed off on by Gov. Greg Gianforte earlier this year. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1. “Property Read More…
Many Crow tribal members have been caught up in Arizona’s sober-living home scam, but when they return back to Montana, many often need treatment and recovery. The problem has caught the attention of Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, who recently reached out to Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs for assistance. “This situation is very troubling because these crooks Read More…
The rejection of the plan to send water from the Hungry Horse Reservoir to raise Flathead Lake in northwest Montana has sparked frustration among elected officials and local communities heavily reliant on the lake for their economy and livelihoods. The lake’s water levels have reached a record low for this time of year, dropping nearly Read More…
MontPIRG, a liberal nonprofit organization is facing a significant financial setback. According to a report from the Daily Montanan, the organization is expected to lose approximately $50,000 in student fees in the coming year. MontPIRG has a long-standing presence on state college campuses in Montana, operating for nearly four decades. While University of Montana students Read More…
Helena – Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced his participation, along with 17 other state attorneys general, in a lawsuit against the Biden administration. The lawsuit challenges the administration’s efforts to redefine certain illegal border crossings as “lawful pathways” into the country. Attorney General Knudsen believes that this proposed border policy will worsen the ongoing crises Read More…
Helena, MT – Susan Gianforte, in collaboration with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, has unveiled the Imagination Library of Montana, an initiative that will be implemented across the entire state. This non-profit endeavor aims to enhance early childhood literacy by offering complimentary, top-notch books tailored to the age of Montana’s children. “Literacy is critical for our Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 20 states against Mexico’s lawsuit against the American firearms industry. In an amicus brief filed Thursday, the 20 attorneys general seek to shield the law-abiding firearms manufacturers within their borders. The Mexican government is pursuing a $10 billion claim against multiple prominent U.S. firearms manufacturers, Read More…
The expiration of Title 42, a COVID-era policy used to expel migrants, on Thursday has sparked concerns about the growing wave of migrants at the southern border. U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Steve Daines (R-MT) have both addressed the situation and raised alarms regarding the security at the border. The issue has drawn national Read More…
The recent revelations that Montana Senator Jon Tester has allowed industry lobbyists to craft legislation that benefits them contradict his campaign promise not to depend on lobbyists to make decisions. Emails obtained by Politico show that hemp industry lobbyists proposed and created a bill introduced by Tester in March to change regulations that benefit industrial Read More…
Wyoming is home to a wealth of mining and coal-fired power generation infrastructure that will eventually be decommissioned, razed and shipped away, even as the state courts dozens of new manufacturing and other industrial projects. But a new report finds opportunity in repurposing such facilities — which include railspurs and industrial-scale connections to the power Read More…
A Helena District Court Judge has rejected an attempt by Rep. Zooey Zephyr to be allowed to return to the House floor. The ruling by Judge Mike Menahan came in repose to a motion from lawyers for the state of Montana that asked the judge to reject Zephyr’s request to return. Menahn said he didn’t Read More…
In his initial bid for Senate, Jon Tester, denounced legislators who hire lobbyists, vowing to end the “revolving door.” However, as he seeks reelection to his fourth term, Tester’s campaign is being managed by a former lobbyist. On April 4, Tester expressed his utmost satisfaction in hiring Shelbi Dantic, a former lobbyist, as his campaign Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte received praise from industry leaders, business owners, and business advocates for his advocacy of a tax relief package, signed into law on March 13. Fulfilling his campaign promise to address the priorities of Montanans by offering them the largest tax cut in the state’s history, which includes both immediate tax rebates and Read More…
Montana senator Jon Tester bills himself as “a tireless defender of rural America” who prefers a home-cooked meal to dining out in Washington, D.C.’s vibrant restaurant scene. But the Democrat’s campaign receipts tell a different story: Tester has spent more than a million dollars at swanky restaurants, including one Beltway haunt that touts its appeal Read More…
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development in Montana and Wheatland Memorial Healthcare are pleased to announce that the USDA will invest more than $19 million to build a new health care facility in Harlowton. “Everyone deserves quality, accessible health care, no matter where they live, which is why it is critical that we invest in Read More…
The Montana Highway Patrol trooper who was run over by a suspect’s vehicle following a pursuit near Eureka is headed out of state to continue his recovery. Trooper Lewis Johnson was seriously injured on Feb. 16 and was flown by ALERT helicopter to Kalispell’s Logan Health to receive life-saving care. He suffered multiple critical injuries, Read More…
A bill that would outright ban TikTok in Montana cleared its first significant hurdle. Senate Bill 419, sponsored by State Sen. Shelley Vance (R-Belgrade), cleared the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee on a 7-3 vote on Monday morning following its initial hearing. The legislation, which will now head to the Senate floor, would prohibit internet service Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is concerned shipping companies FedEx and UPS are tracking gun purchases made by Americans, and that those companies are possibly sharing that information with federal authorities. In a press release on Tuesday, Knudsen called upon the shipping companies to “clarify” their new policies, which allow them to track sales of firearms “with Read More…
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office has identified a human skull found 18 years ago south of Red Lodge as a Wisconsin man, and detectives have opened up a case to find his killer. Rogers “Roger” Lee Ellis left his home in Wisconsin in 1976 after he was facing legal problems related to an arrest for Read More…
LAUREL – It was an opportunity to try something wild and crazy. That’s what a Laurel blacksmith said about the History Channel show, “Forged In Fire: Gladiators of the Forge.” John Lockie’s passion and knowledge of blacksmith skills transferred over well to showing his talents in the timed competition. “It’s a hobby run amok,” said Read More…
Preliminary reports from the Montana Secretary of State’s office show voters won’t see any citizen-sponsored initiatives on the ballot this November. All four qualified measures failed to garner the signatures needed to make an appearance. The failed measure that received the most signatures would have capped property tax hikes at 2%, while another sought to Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte today announced that Montana exceeded his goal for adding good-paying jobs to the economy in 2021, which he set at the beginning of last year. Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) data show the state added just under 13,000 jobs paying over $50,000 in 2021, easily surpassing the governor’s goal of Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen and 16 other state attorneys general joined a lawsuit today against the Biden administration’s rules that threaten the long-held American tradition of private firearms assembly and put the livelihood of thousands of Americans at risk. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rulemaking would regulate unfinished, non-functional firearm parts Read More…
The Missoula Human Trafficking Task Force filled in cracks of the sidewalk down the Hip Strip on April 8 in partnership with other local organizations. It is part of The Red Sand Project, a way to bring awareness to sexual violence. READ THE FULL STORY
Many in Billings are mourning the loss of Parker Hopkins, a local photographer who was the victim of a fatal accident Tuesday morning on Billings West End. Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder says his office got a call around 8:20 a.m. Tuesday to an area on the 1600 block of South 32nd Street West. Linder Read More…
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Montana Department of Justice is hosting training in Helena for forensic interviews in child abuse cases. “Working with child victims of crime and abuse is very different from working with an adult victim, and it requires specialized training because children do not think as adults do. We Read More…
It’s been over 10 years since a staff Sergeant Travis Atkins died at the age of 31 in combat. In May 2019, he was honored at the White House with the Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump for his sacrifice. His son accepted the award on his behalf. Atkins gave his life protecting his Read More…
The Denver Broncos announced on Friday that they agreed to terms with former Montana State linebacker Alex Singleton on a one-year deal. Singleton, who played for the Bobcats from 2011-2014, last played for the Philadelphia Eagles and led the team in total tackles the last two seasons, a span in which he started 19 games. Read More…
Before more than 100 individuals were told to move out of their rooms at the FairBridge Inn and Suites in February, displacing many of them and drawing outcry from the community, Cassidy Kipp of Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana (CAPNM) had already been receiving stacks of applications from people in desperate need of housing. Read More…
Eighth-grader Ellette Whitcomb from Sussex School in Missoula will be heading to National Harbor, Maryland for the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Fifty-seven students from across the state gathered at Montana State University to compete in the 57th Annual Treasure State Spelling Bee. Some traveled a few minutes, others traveled hundreds of miles. READ THE Read More…
The Gianforte Family Foundation will donate $50 million to Montana State University for construction of a building dedicated to its computing school, the university announced Friday. The building will be home to MSU’s Gianforte School of Computing — named for a previous contribution from the Gianforte Family Foundation — and other classes including cybersecurity and Read More…
The Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs has been placed on “Immediate Jeopardy” status by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS sent a letter to the Montana State Hospital saying the hospital violated patient rights and infection prevention control. CMS determined that the violations are so serious that it’s an immediate and Read More…
A new court filing last Friday sparked fresh accusations and debate surrounding the Trump-Russia probe. Former President Donald Trump says it proves his 2016 presidential campaign was spied on by Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Defense lawyers are saying it’s just an attempt to politicize the case and drum up negative press. It’s either what some Read More…