The Montana Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) held a public administrative hearing on January 22, 2026, to examine a cybersecurity breach involving Health Care Service Corporation, a mutual legal reserve company doing business as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT). The hearing moved forward after the Lewis and Clark County Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) prevented Montanans from losing an estimated $1.67 million to scams and fraudulent business practices in 2025, according to figures released by Attorney General Austin Knudsen. Knudsen said the numbers underscore the growing sophistication of scammers and the importance of public awareness as technology continues to Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a major action against a Costa Rica-based cocaine trafficking and money laundering network, designating five Costa Rican nationals and five entities for their role in transporting, storing, and distributing multi-ton shipments of cocaine to the United States and Europe. Luis Manuel Picado Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a sweeping action against Hamas-linked organizations and individuals operating covertly through charitable and nonprofit entities. The effort aims to disrupt funding channels used by Hamas to support its military operations while protecting legitimate humanitarian aid to Palestinians. “Hamas continues to show a Read More…
Alaska Army National Guardsmen assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command medically evacuated an individual Jan. 21 from Southwest Alaska. In response to a request for assistance from medical staff at Kanakanak Hospital, Dillingham, Alaska, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center opened a medevac mission for an individual experiencing a medical emergency. Daylight restrictions prevented local Read More…
First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, marking a high-profile moment following what the White House describes as an active first year of leadership during President Donald Trump’s second term. According to the administration, the honor recognizes Mrs. Trump’s work Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte presented the Spirit of Montana Award to Superior resident Dawn Bauer in recognition of her longstanding commitment to Superior Elementary School and her selfless service to the community during a recent severe windstorm that left much of the area without power. The award was presented during a ceremony at Superior Schools attended Read More…
The Montana Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) held a public administrative hearing on January 22, 2026, to examine a cybersecurity breach involving Health Care Service Corporation, a mutual legal reserve company doing business as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT). The hearing moved forward after the Lewis and Clark County Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) prevented Montanans from losing an estimated $1.67 million to scams and fraudulent business practices in 2025, according to figures released by Attorney General Austin Knudsen. Knudsen said the numbers underscore the growing sophistication of scammers and the importance of public awareness as technology continues to Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a major action against a Costa Rica-based cocaine trafficking and money laundering network, designating five Costa Rican nationals and five entities for their role in transporting, storing, and distributing multi-ton shipments of cocaine to the United States and Europe. Luis Manuel Picado Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a sweeping action against Hamas-linked organizations and individuals operating covertly through charitable and nonprofit entities. The effort aims to disrupt funding channels used by Hamas to support its military operations while protecting legitimate humanitarian aid to Palestinians. “Hamas continues to show a Read More…
A Montana jury has found the state’s child protection agency negligent for failing to promptly notify police after learning that a 12-year-old girl had been raped and became pregnant. The jury awarded $5.5 million in compensatory damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, and pain and suffering. The girl, now 23, was raped by her mother’s Read More…
Montana has formally opted in to a new Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program, opening the door for taxpayers to receive a federal tax credit when they donate to nonprofit organizations that provide K–12 scholarships. State officials say the move will expand education options for families and build on Montana’s existing school choice initiatives. The program Read More…
(The Center Square) – Many businesses across Minnesota closed today as part of an ‘economic blackout’ to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This comes in response to calls from community leaders, activists, and union leaders for the event, which has been dubbed “ICE Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth and Freedom.” “The ICE surge that Read More…
In October 2025, the 319th Reconnaissance Wing assigned to Grand Forks Air Force Base was selected to lead the Point Defense Battle Lab, supported by the 184th Wing, Kansas Air National Guard. The Total Force team at the battle lab supports Air Combat Command’s Point Defense Task Force, a larger Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Read More…
Many of the thousands of people gathered on Main Street in downtown Bozeman Saturday morning came wearing blue and gold. There were adults and kids, college students and grandparents, babies and toddlers. They shook pom-poms and waved giant foam hands. They threw footballs and clanged cow bells. And they cheered and waved and took selfies and videos as a parade rolled east on Main Street – Read More…
For decades, the Navy SEALs have been among the most recognized names of the U.S. military’s elite warfighters. This month marks 64 years since the establishment of this storied force, which traces its roots back to the amphibious scouts, raiders and demolition units of World War II. The SEALs — an acronym for sea, air Read More…
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth welcomed Shinjirō Koizumi, Japan’s defense minister, to Washington today for a bilateral engagement at the Pentagon. At the meeting’s outset, both leaders spoke highly of the strong alliance shared between their respective countries. Hegseth told Koizumi the U.S.-Japan alliance is remarkable, as are America’s relationships throughout the world, adding, “Our Read More…
(The Center Square) – Gov. Greg Abbott has directed state agencies to investigate potential Medicaid fraud In Texas. Abbott on Friday directed the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General and Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to investigate potential Medicaid fraud to safeguard taxpayer money, maintain access for eligible Texans, Read More…
Army Air Corps Brig. Gen. Kenneth Newton Walker participated in dangerous bombing missions alongside his air crews during World War II because he wanted to understand how to beat the enemy. Walker never came home from his last mission. He received a posthumous Medal of Honor and is credited with helping to create the blueprint Read More…
Food is an essential part of everyday life, and that is no different for warfighters. Fueling soldiers to fight and win our nation’s wars is a top priority, and the Army has several initiatives underway to ensure consistent access to healthy, affordable food. “The Army is focused on creating a positive seismic shift in food Read More…
A new three-year, $475,000 grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation will expand the University of Montana School of Journalism’s Youth Voices project, bolstering its capacity to teach young people journalism skills that enable career success. The award will increase the number of Youth Voices program partners, provide new professional credentials and improve opportunities Read More…
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Army Lt. Gen. Thomas M. Carden to serve as the 12th vice chief of the National Guard Bureau. With this confirmation, Carden, a Georgia Army National Guard officer, will also receive a fourth star, marking the first time the National Guard has had two four-star generals and making him the Read More…
The Rural Health Transformation Program, funded through the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts Act, is set to deliver the largest-ever federal investment in rural healthcare, providing $50 billion over five years to strengthen access, modernize facilities, and support the rural health workforce. The program, administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), allocated Read More…
President Donald J. Trump announced key appointments to implement Phase Two of his Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, marking a major step toward stabilization, reconstruction, and long-term governance in the region. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will be led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, a technocratic leader with extensive experience Read More…
The Montana Highway Patrol announced that troopers will begin accepting Montana Mobile IDs, as well as other states’ mobile driver licenses, during routine traffic stops, offering motorists a secure, convenient alternative to traditional physical IDs. The announcement follows last year’s launch of Montana Mobile IDs by the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). The digital IDs Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced the launch of a new online mural project showcasing exterior murals located in communities participating in the Montana Main Street Program. The new webpage features an inventory of murals from Montana Main Street Program communities and is designed to promote visitation while highlighting local culture, history, and artistic expression. Read More…
Montana’s State Historic Preservation Office and State Historic Preservation Review Board will hold their first meeting of 2026 on Jan. 23, with members set to review historic site nominations from across the state. During the virtual meeting, the board will consider and vote on five nominations, including one multiple property document, for potential listing in Read More…
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines of Montana is calling on President Donald Trump to prioritize improved market access for Montana pulse crop producers in any future trade agreements with India, citing recent tariffs that have placed U.S. farmers at a competitive disadvantage. Daines, joined by Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, sent a letter to the Read More…
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled this week that Anaconda police officers did not violate the Fourth Amendment when they entered a man’s home without a warrant during a suspected mental health emergency, delivering a major legal victory aligned with arguments advanced by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and sharply rejecting a dissent by Montana Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte recognized ten Montana youth during a ceremony at the State Capitol, celebrating the winners of his fourth annual Youth Hunting Story Contest and highlighting the state’s long-standing hunting traditions. The contest, created by Gianforte in 2022, is open to Montana resident youth and apprentice hunters between the ages of 10 and 17. Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced that the Colstrip Hospital District has been awarded $120,000 in grant funding to support the implementation of an electronic records management migration aimed at improving health care coordination and patient services. The funding was allocated through the Montana Coal Board, which provides impact grants to support communities affected by Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has announced a new low-interest loan program aimed at reducing energy costs and improving efficiency in existing multifamily affordable housing across the state. The Multifamily Energy Retrofit Loan program, known as MERL, will provide financing to owners of multifamily housing facilities seeking to make energy efficiency upgrades. The program Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice is seeking applications to fill a vacancy on the Tow Truck Complaint Resolution Committee, representing the Montana Highway Patrol. The committee reviews and resolves complaints related to tow truck operations across the state. Members serve a three-year term. The six-member committee includes: Two representatives from the tow truck industry One Read More…
Montana’s unemployment rate increased to 3.3 percent in November, continuing a streak of more than four consecutive years with unemployment at or below 3.4 percent, state officials announced. The state’s jobless rate remained well below the national unemployment rate of 4.6 percent for November, leaving Montana about 1.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. average. Read More…
Montana State University alumna Alicia Crane won a 2025 National Area Health Education Center Organization Alumni/Advocate of the Year Award this winter to honor her efforts supporting rural health care in the Treasure State. The annual award recognizes individuals who demonstrate sustained, exceptional service in support of the AHEC mission. AHEC is an organization that receives funding from the U.S. Read More…
MoFi, a nonprofit community development financial institution serving Western states, has received an $85 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. The award comes as part of a record $10 billion allocation round that included 142 organizations nationwide. The New Markets Tax Read More…
Montana Supreme Court Justice Laurie McKinnon is facing a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment of emergency personnel stemming from a November traffic stop in Broadwater County, a case that has drawn added scrutiny because of her public comments and separate, pending ethics complaints. McKinnon, 66, was cited after a Broadwater County sheriff’s deputy alleged she Read More…
An angler ice fishing for trout on Island Park Reservoir on January 3, 2026, unexpectedly caught a 5-inch Yellow Perch, a species that does not belong in the reservoir. The angler reported the catch immediately to the Citizens Against Poaching hotline. Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officers met the angler on the ice and confirmed Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is inviting public input on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed North Plains Connector Project. The comment period is open now through February 23, 2026. The Draft EIS evaluates potential environmental impacts associated with the North Plains Connector, a proposed 525-kilovolt (kV) high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) Read More…
President Donald Trump on Friday announced a proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, starting January 20. Trump did not provide details on how the policy would be implemented or how credit card companies would be required to comply with the cap. The announcement echoes a promise Trump made during Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday recognized Human Trafficking Prevention Month by encouraging Montanans to learn the warning signs of human trafficking and report suspicious activity to help stop the crime. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers—often part of organized criminal enterprises—exploit adults or children for Read More…
The White House announced Friday that the United States will begin withdrawing from a broad range of international organizations, conventions, and treaties deemed “contrary to the interests of the United States,” according to a presidential memorandum. The memorandum, issued to the heads of executive departments and agencies, follows Executive Order 14199, which directed a comprehensive Read More…
The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation is launching a new monthly webinar series aimed at expanding understanding of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) and supporting workforce development across the state. The Apprenticeship Knowledge Series will cover a range of apprenticeship-related topics, offering education for employers, education partners, community stakeholders, and current apprenticeship sponsors. The Read More…