(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump Friday morning thanked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit for its ruling that keeps the California National Guard, for now, under his control. The 9th Circuit ruled Thursday night to put a temporary stay on an earlier U.S. District Court for Northern California ruling transferring the National Read More…
In the wake of Israel’s latest strikes on Iranian military targets, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a forceful statement supporting Israel’s actions and condemning Iran’s role in regional and global instability. “Israel’s attacks against Iran are so far successful and more than justified, and the United Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte honored seven distinguished Montana veterans this week with the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, recognizing their military service and continued contributions to their communities. The ceremonies took place across Garfield, Musselshell, Fergus, and Meagher counties, with a special tribute to a 104-year-old World War II veteran. “As Americans, we have a duty Read More…
Montana State University Athletic Director Leon Costello has been named a 2023–24 FCS Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), recognizing his transformational leadership and the unprecedented success of Bobcat Athletics. Costello, who has led MSU’s athletics department since 2016, was honored this week during NACDA’s annual Read More…
BUTTE, Mont. — A Montana mine company has laid off dozens of workers, but could hire again as it aims to prevent acid rock drainage. The Montana Standard reported that Golden Sunlight laid off 28 out of its 49 remaining workers Monday following a 2015 layoff after stopping open pit mining. Company officials say Toronto, Canada-based Read More…
Reminder: Montana has one year left before REAL ID requirements go into effect, and travelers without REAL ID won’t be able to board commercial flights. Montana, Washington and Idaho are among states where the REAL ID extension will expire in October 2020. READ FULL STORY
BILLINGS, Mont. — Beartooth Pass has closed in Wyoming for the winter season but remains open on the Montana side of the border. The Billings Gazette reports the Montana side of U.S. Highway 212 is expected to close sometime over the Columbus Day week, but bad weather could bring that about sooner. The National Park Service Read More…
GREAT FALLS — The annual Montana Association of Counties conference in Great Falls this week is connecting county commissioners from across the Treasure State. “It travels around, so to speak, in each of our major towns: Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, Billings, Kalispell,” said Jim Hart, MACo president and Madison County Commissioner. The 110th annual event Read More…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans remain largely mistrustful of the mass media as 41% currently have “a great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, television and radio to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly.” This latest reading represents a four-percentage-point dip since last year and marks the end of improvements in back-to-back years after hitting an Read More…
Depriving a transgender inmate with severe gender dysphoria of sex reassignment surgery is a form of “cruel and unusual punishment,” a federal appeals court ruled Friday, affirming a lower court ruling. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state of Idaho to provide the surgery for trans inmate Adree Edmo. The ruling is Read More…
CODY, Wyo. — Thousands turned out to the Powwow Garden at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyo. Saturday to see Kanye West perform a free Sunday Service. The free service is a different kind of cultural event then the town of Cody is used to. “It was really cool for them Read More…
A Billings teacher accused of sexual assault allegedly exchanged “inappropriate” text messages with two female students, ages 11 and 12, and touched them under their underwear in class, according to charging documents released Friday. Brent Skelton, who resigned from his job teaching fifth grade at Orchard Elementary School, faces between four years and life in Read More…
On the same day and in the same area, three hunters in Montana were injured in two separate grizzly bear attacks, state wildlife officials said. Officials have not determined if the same animal was involved in both attacks this week in the Gravelly Mountains, which are southwest of Bozeman. The three hunters suffered injuries described Read More…
An internet safety report published by safewise shows that Montana has a lot of work to do to make the online experience safer for children. Montana earned a D when it comes to current measures in place to protect kids online. That’s the lowest grade awarded by the safety and security brand. The cowboy state Read More…
Jeff Bridges is urging people to donate to his “good buddy,” Steve Bullock, so the Montana governor can make it onto the next Democratic presidential debate stage. “I don’t care if you vote for somebody else,” the “Big Lebowski” actor said in a video posted on Twitter on Monday. “But it’s so important to have Steve Bullock’s Read More…
DETROIT — The music and chants from outside a General Motors assembly plant at midnight Monday could be heard from several blocks away as United Auto Workers members picketed the plant. “No contract, no cars!” chanted dozens of workers outside GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, on the outskirts of the city. Others yelled, “No more tiers,” in reference to Read More…
Legislative leadership voted Thursday to create a special committee of lawmakers to try and stem losses from future coal company bankruptcies for both miners and the state. Priorities for the new committee include securing taxes owed to Wyoming counties, getting the Wyoming attorney general’s office to assist county officials in bankruptcy court and trying to Read More…
UPDATED- U.S Senator Steve Daines meet with Montana AARP members today in Bozeman about a new bill he is helping to put forth regarding the reduction of prescription drug pricing The average senior takes four prescription drugs and the average medicare user makes $26,000 a year. The price of prescription drugs went up 8% in Read More…
The United States Air Force announced Monday it will be conducting military exercises in parts of the Powder River Training Complex this week. The training complex is a massive airspace that stretches over southeast Montana, northeast Wyoming, southwest North Dakota, and northwest South Dakota. The exercise, called “Combat Raider,” is set to begin Tuesday and Read More…
Whitefish City Manager Adam Hammatt tendered his resignation Sept. 6, stepping down as the city’s top administrative officer after less than three years on the job. Mayor John Muhlfeld announced Hammatt’s resignation in a press release but provided no additional details behind the decision. “Mayor Muhlfeld, Whitefish City Council and city staff wish Mr. Hammatt Read More…
Looming among our neighbors to the north is an invasive species Montana experts say would cause extensive environmental degradation to the Big Sky state, should they ever successfully saunter across the border. And they’re edging closer every year. Large populations of feral hogs throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta have been slowly encroaching on the Montana-Canada border, Read More…
BIGFORK — During the summer of 2017, the Sprague Fire in Glacier National Park destroyed the historic Sperry Chalet. Now, a Montana distillery is giving thousands of dollars to help with rebuilding the iconic structure. Gabe Spencer with Whistling Andy Distillery said, “What better way for us to raise money is through something that we Read More…
GREAT FALLS — The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) made an appearance over the skies of Montana on Saturday night and into Sunday morning. A moderate geomagnetic storm over the weekend produced the aurora. Some people headed out of town to escape the city lights in order to maximize their chances of seeing – including Brennen Read More…
A new presidential poll conducted by Mammouth University shows Gov. Steve Bullock is still at less than 1% with Democratic voters — far behind Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders who are all in a virtual tie at the top of the poll. Bullock recently took part in a CNN Town Hall , again portraying himself as Read More…
A former law clerk in Lewistown who settled a 2011 lawsuit against a state district judge sued the governor and attorney general Friday, saying an agreement not to reveal details of the initial case should be voided as unconstitutional. Britt Long, who lives now in New Jersey, settled a lawsuit with the state in 2013. Read More…
MISSOULA – A man arrested in Bozeman for sympathizing with terrorist groups is scheduled to change his plea this week. Court documents say Fabjan Alameti is set for an Aug. 28 hearing to change his plea in federal court. A plea agreement says Alameti will plead guilty to two counts of making a false statement Read More…
Thomas Penley, an incoming senior at Helena’s Capital High School, says when he took part in the Montana American Legion Boys State program in June, he hoped he might be selected to represent the state at Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. “I really wanted to do it, I was hoping and just really worked hard Read More…
HELENA – There are two new AmeriCorps billboards around the Treasure State. Their goal is to increase awareness of their programs and the opportunities for Montanan’s to serve right here in our fine state. There are eight programs for people to get involved in, which are all starting back up again in September. AmeriCorps offers Read More…
GREAT FALLS — Glacier National Park has temporarily closed access to the Granite Park area due to unusual grizzly bear activity, according to press release from park officials. The Highline, Loop, and Swiftcurrent Trail (from Swiftcurrent Pass to Granite Park Chalet) are all closed as of Sunday evening, meaning that access to the Granite Park Read More…
Workers for the general contractor toil eight days straight, in 10-hour shifts, before hiking the 6-plus miles out for six days off. They’re replaced during that time by another crew from Dick Anderson Construction of Great Falls. That rotation means the ongoing work in Glacier National Park to rebuild the historic Sperry Chalet dormitory, perched Read More…
Nearly 30 people from 20 countries raised their right hand on Thursday and swore allegiance to the United States before waving the Stars and Stripes to celebrate their achievement as the nation’s newest citizens. In a ceremony that marked many firsts, and with a diverse crowd looking on, the 28 new Americans took their “obligation Read More…
Police in Wyoming are recommending sex abuse charges against two unnamed Catholic leaders in the state, a move that comes roughly a year after police reopened a case involving accusations of sex abuse by a local bishop who is now retired. “An investigation into sex abuse taking place in Cheyenne by members of the Catholic Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana is ranked the fourth most dangerous state for kids online. The reason, according to a Century Link study, is because of “one law simply defining what bullying is, nothing else.” The study adds there is a “relatively low” victim rate of 8.21 per 100,000 residents. Century Link says more than one out of every Read More…
HELENA — Helena non-profit Executives and Directors met Monday afternoon at the Power Block building with Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte. The roundtable meeting was held with intent to discuss concerns by each non-profit from Helena Food Share to Habitat for Humanity. Congressman Gianforte listened intently as they went around the table highlight this year’s achievements Read More…
GREAT FALLS — Second Lieutenant Jenna Schaack recently graduated from the United States Armor School in Fort Benning, Georgia, and is now the first female Armor Officer in the history of the Montana Army National Guard. After graduating in June, Schaack was assigned as a Platoon Leader with C Company, 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion in Read More…
DEER LODGE – An official U.S. senate hearing on Montana’s national parks was held Thursday in a barn. Senator Steve Daines, who chairs the Senate’s subcommittee on national parks, held the hearing at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge to get feedback from those in the state’s tourism industry. The hearing focused on bringing more Read More…
Flathead High School Principal Michele Paine was surveying an assortment of old, at times decrepit, tables and shelves destined to be tossed or recycled last week as she prepared for the start of the school year. With the school gearing up to unveil its multi-million-dollar remodel later this month, Paine had decisions to make. “Education Read More…
Nearly half the bid and rental receipts from lease sales go to the states to directly support public education, infrastructure improvements and other state-determined priorities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana/Dakotas raised $1.6 Million in its quarterly oil and gas lease sale held online July 30. Nearly 50 percent of the revenue from Read More…
A wolf trapper certification class scheduled for Billings aims to educate those willing to learn, how to properly trap and conserve in the state of Montana. The class will be a comprehensive education session taught by FWP staff and experienced wolf trappers. The trapping portion of each course will be taught by trappers who have Read More…
Gloria Schmidt visits Pacific Steel and Recycling in Kalispell every couple of weeks to drop off her recyclables. On Monday morning she deposited a few boxes and newspapers into the appropriate bins, just like usual. Although it’s not a lot, it’s important to her to do what she can to help the environment. But a Read More…
BELGRADE – A bull that legend says no cowboy could ride now has a permanent tribute in downtown Belgrade. In the 1890s, a bull named Corbett rose to fame with a reputation for being gentle in the pasture and a wild bucker outside of it. Cowboys came from hundreds of miles away to hop on Read More…
HELL CREEK FORMATION, N.D. (WTHR) — A University of California Merced student had the experience of a lifetime finding a 65-million-year-old fossil. Harrison Duran is studying biology at the California school. As a longtime fan of dinosaurs, he decided to take a course on the history of dinosaurs his freshman year. He furthered his interest outside the Read More…
Democratic presidential candidate and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has publicly supported a national minimum wage of $15 an hour, but his official office was advertising full-time internships earlier this summer that only paid his interns $9 an hour. Bullock took to Twitter last week to call for the minimum wage to be raised by quoting Read More…
Many of us have tried our luck with a lotto ticket, but it’s safe to say, the grand majority of us don’t win. But did you know the money from the Montana Lottery plays a big role in our local economics across the state? The Montana State Lottery money is disbursed in two different ways. Read More…