For most of the past 15 years, the hardest question surrounding Tim Cook was whether he could follow Steve Jobs. He answered it by building a different kind of Apple. Cook didn’t replicate Jobs’s theatrical product instincts or preside over another invention quite as culturally disruptive as the Macintosh, iPod or iPhone. Instead, the industrial Read More…
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Prosecutors in Cascade County are investigating potential signature-gathering fraud by at least one firm that worked for the independent campaigns of U.S. Senate candidate Seth Bodnar and U.S. House candidate Michael Eisenhauer, according to the Cascade County Attorney’s Office. The Cascade County Attorney’s Office and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office are Read More…
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Federal Reserve’s chairman used his first appearance at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole symposium to lay out a leaner approach to communicating future policy moves, while cautioning that inflation remains too high despite a resilient economy. Marking his 100th day in the role, the chairman told an audience of Read More…
Ruling cites inadequate water-supply analysis, as delay costs state more than $8,000 a day A Yellowstone County district judge has halted all construction, groundbreaking and permitting on Montana’s proposed forensic mental health facility in Laurel, a ruling that is now costing state taxpayers more than $8,000 a day as the project sits idle. The state Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte, joined by Americans for Prosperity (AFP), rallied at the Montana State Capitol Friday to push for historic tax cuts aimed at providing significant relief to Montanans. The governor emphasized that his proposal offers the most conservative approach to tax reform, focusing on empowering individuals and families to keep more of their hard-earned Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, is fighting back against a recommendation from the Montana Supreme Court’s Commission on Practice to suspend him from practicing law for 90 days, following his controversial actions in a separation of powers dispute with the state’s judicial branch. At the center of the dispute is Knudsen’s public criticism Read More…
In a groundbreaking move that fuses artificial intelligence with social media, Elon Musk’s xAI has acquired X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in an all-stock deal valued at $33 billion. Announced by Musk on X late Friday, the acquisition raises xAI’s valuation to an impressive $80 billion, creating a combined entity that aims to Read More…
The Wyoming Transportation Commission allocated $21.49 million in contracts for eight highway construction projects across the state during its regular business meeting on March 20, 2025. The awards, granted to various contractors, will fund improvements ranging from concrete slab replacements to bridge rehabilitation and road resurfacing, with completion dates spanning from June to November 2025. Read More…
(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump is endorsing conservative Judge Brad Schimel in his race against liberal Judge Susan Crawford for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Calling Crawford a “radical left liberal,” Trump wrote on Truth Social she “has repeatedly given child molesters, rapists, women beaters and domestic abusers ‘light’ sentences. “She is the handpicked Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general in supporting President Donald J. Trump’s push to deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), a group recently designated as a foreign terrorist organization. In an amicus brief filed Tuesday, the attorneys general urged the U.S. Court of Appeals Read More…
As National Agriculture Week comes to a close, Governor Greg Gianforte is ramping up efforts to reform Montana’s business equipment tax, emphasizing its financial strain on small businesses, farms, and ranches. Speaking at a press conference, the governor reiterated his proposal to raise the tax exemption from $1 million to $3 million, a move aimed Read More…
Montana State University (MSU) has announced two finalists for its next president, inviting students, faculty, staff, and the public to participate in upcoming campus visits and forums. The MSU Presidential Search Advisory Committee identified Dr. Kurt Schnier and Dr. Brock Tessman as the two finalists, each set to visit campus next week. Their visits will Read More…
Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate led by legendary investor Warren Buffett, is gearing up for its annual shareholder meeting scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska. Known as the “Woodstock for Capitalists,” this event draws tens of thousands of investors from around the globe to hear directly from Buffett and his team, while also Read More…
Last summer, when Montana State University graduate student Connor Green was spending time with family, he didn’t expect his grandfather to receive a phone call he’d still think about five months later. The call happened to be from Connor himself. Or rather, a scammer using AI to sound exactly like Green’s voice, telling his grandpa Read More…
Montana taxpayers preparing their 2024 tax returns will notice the impact of Senate Bill 399, which was passed by the 2021 Legislature. The bill simplifies the state’s tax system by aligning it more closely with the federal system, meaning Montana taxable income now begins with federal taxable income. As part of the changes, certain deductions Read More…
(The Center Square) – Tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees may lose union privileges after the Department of Homeland Security announced Friday it is ending a collective bargaining agreement with the TSA. The decision strips collective bargaining power from unionized Transportation Security Officers (TSO) in particular, who are responsible for screening passengers, Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley recognized 45 new law enforcement officers graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program in Pierre on Friday, March 7. “This is an important day for the recruits, their families, and their departments,” said Attorney General Jackley. “South Dakota just became even safer today with our newest officers.” The Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,” which would ban the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese-based artificial intelligence platform, on all government devices. In a letter sent to congressional leadership on Thursday, Attorney General Knudsen emphasized Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Trump administration announced Friday that $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University would be revoked because of the university’ alleged ongoing tolerance of anti-semitic protests on campus. Columbia University and a few other schools became the center of controversy after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks on Israel Read More…
The Senate Ethics Committee convened its first witness testimonies on Friday as part of its investigation into Sen. Jason Ellsworth’s alleged conflict of interest. The inquiry centers on a six-figure state-funded contract Ellsworth arranged without disclosing his long-standing personal relationship with the vendor. A legislative audit in February found that he had structured the contract Read More…
A new survey reveals that while the vast majority of Americans claim they’ve never cheated on their taxes, a significant portion of the population still worries about the possibility of an audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to a recent Rasmussen Reports national survey, 33% of American adults express concern that the IRS Read More…
Border Patrol agents in Texas, working in coordination with sheriff’s deputies from two counties, have seized more than half a million dollars in cash linked to alleged criminal activities. The occupants of the vehicles involved now face state charges related to cash smuggling. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks reported the significant bust on Friday, Read More…
Montana state Senator Ellie Boldman, a Democrat from Missoula, pleaded guilty Monday morning to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence after being found asleep in her running vehicle in downtown Helena early Sunday. Boldman, who had attended the Montana Democratic Party’s annual Mansfield Metcalf fundraising dinner earlier that evening, admitted in Helena Municipal Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced today the appointment of John A. Mercer to the Twentieth Judicial District Court, which covers Lake and Sanders Counties. “John served the people of the Twentieth Judicial District well when I appointed him to serve his community last year, and I’m glad he was willing to do so once again,” said Read More…
Newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel begins his tenure with a 47% favorability rating, according to a recent national survey from Rasmussen Reports. The poll, conducted via telephone and online, reveals that 47% of likely U.S. voters hold a favorable view of Patel, with 29% expressing a very favorable opinion. In contrast, 36% of voters Read More…
The Montana Senate has passed Senate Bill 42, a bill that would require judicial candidates at all levels – from Supreme Court justices to municipal judges – to declare a political party affiliation when running for office. Sponsored by Sen. Daniel Emrich, R-Great Falls, SB 42 passed the Senate by a 28-22 vote on Thursday, Read More…
A recent national poll reveals that 60% of voters support the idea of requiring paper ballots in U.S. elections, a measure that has gained significant attention following advocacy by former President Donald Trump. The proposal, which aims to strengthen election integrity, has sparked widespread discussion on both sides of the political spectrum. The survey, conducted Read More…
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, a new Cygnal poll reveals shifting political dynamics that could reshape the electoral landscape. Former President Donald Trump’s approval rating has climbed to 50%, with particularly notable gains among historically Democratic-leaning voter groups. Among Black men, 42% now approve of Trump’s performance, highlighting a growing realignment as the Republican Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Education under the Trump administration says that race-based decisions in education – including race-based hiring, admissions, and scholarships – are unlawful, and any institution that does not comply with the department’s antidiscrimination requirements will face loss of federal funding. “The Department of Education will no longer allow Read More…
In a controversial decision that flies in the face of biological science, a Montana District Court judge ruled that Senate Bill 458— which legally defined sex as strictly male or female— is unconstitutional. The ruling, handed down by Judge Leslie Halligan, claims the law violates the Montana Constitution’s guarantees of privacy and equal protection. However, Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has signed an immigration enforcement agreement with the Trump Administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allowing state law enforcement to take a more active role in deportation efforts. Under the agreement, Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) troopers and Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agents will have the authority to arrest illegal Read More…
The Trump administration is standing firm against The Associated Press’ lawsuit over restricted press access, asserting the president’s authority to shape media participation in White House events. The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court, challenges the administration’s decision to block AP journalists from key presidential activities, but the White House argues that access to Read More…
lliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has filed a lawsuit against Sage Publishing after the academic publisher retracted three studies on the risks of abortion drugs, following a complaint about the authors’ pro-life views. The studies, authored by a team of professional researchers between 2019 and 2022, were peer-reviewed and published in Health Services Research and Managerial Read More…
(The Center Square) – Legislation has been introduced in Congress to repeal the District of Columbia’s Home Rule Act. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. have introduced the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident Act, or BOWSER Act, named after the district’s Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser. The lawmakers Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) has introduced two key pieces of legislation aimed at promoting American energy independence, strengthening the nation’s energy sector, and supporting rural communities. The “Supporting Made in America Energy Act” seeks to bolster oil and gas development by requiring annual onshore lease sales in top oil-producing states, as well as offshore Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen testified today before the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning, advocating for funding to construct an indoor firing range at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) in Helena. The project, if approved by the Montana Legislature, would address longstanding training challenges faced by law enforcement cadets. Currently, MLEA rents space at Read More…
Accounting students from Montana State University’s Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship are offering free help preparing tax returns for MSU students and individuals who made less than $60,000 last year. The 2025 help sessions will be held on the MSU campus in Jabs Hall, Room 215, from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. on the Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that the state is set to receive $16.57 million from a $7.4 billion national settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue, over their role in fueling the opioid crisis. The settlement resolves allegations that Purdue aggressively marketed opioid products for decades, contributing to Read More…
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced today that the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) has joined a multi-state task force and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a $106 million settlement with Vanguard Marketing Corporation (VMC) and The Vanguard Group, Inc. The settlement stems from Read More…
Glacier Bancorp Inc. (NYSE: GBCI) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Bank of Idaho Holding Co. (OTCQX: BOID) in a $245.4 million all-stock transaction, further expanding its presence in Idaho and Eastern Washington. The deal, Glacier’s 26th acquisition since 2000, will see Bank of Idaho’s $1.3 billion in assets, $1.0 billion in loans, and Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) has introduced the “Unborn Child Support Act”, a bill aimed at recognizing the humanity of unborn children and allowing expectant mothers to receive child support payments during pregnancy. “Caring for a child starts long before birth, and Montana moms need access to critical child support while they’re pregnant,” Daines said. Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen is reminding Montanans to stay vigilant and on the lookout for bad actors trying take advantage of them as the Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) fielded 900 scam complaints, over 1,000 complaints about businesses, and saved Montanans from losing over $1 million in 2024. In 2024, OCP prevented Read More…
The University of Montana received a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to support a new Democracy Studies Program. Led by history professors Claire Arcenas, Kyle Volk, and Jeff Wiltse, the grant seeks to foster democratic values and revitalize the humanities while also supporting faculty research over the next three years. UM is one of Read More…
Amid ongoing discussions about the future of President Trump’s tax cuts, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), alongside Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and 33 other Republican senators, introduced the “Main Street Tax Certainty Act,” a bill aimed at making the 20 percent pass-through business tax deduction permanent. Without congressional action, the deduction is set Read More…