Governor Greg Gianforte today honored the winners of his third annual Youth Hunting Story Contest in a ceremony at the State Capitol. The contest, designed to celebrate Montana’s rich hunting heritage, attracted nearly 200 entries this year. “We started the Youth Hunting Story Contest to celebrate Montana’s proud hunting heritage, and the contest continues to 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…
Governor Greg Gianforte today honored the winners of his third annual Youth Hunting Story Contest in a ceremony at the State Capitol. The contest, designed to celebrate Montana’s rich hunting heritage, attracted nearly 200 entries this year. “We started the Youth Hunting Story Contest to celebrate Montana’s proud hunting heritage, and the contest continues to 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…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that more than $3.2 million in federal funding has been allocated to develop and preserve affordable housing in four Montana communities. The funds, distributed through the department’s Housing Trust Fund (HTF) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program, will support projects in Billings, Bozeman, Dillon, and Laurel, helping to provide Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is now accepting applications for $1 million in grant funding to support projects aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution in the state’s lakes and streams. The deadline for eligible applicants to submit draft applications is March 7, 2025. The grants are available to nonprofit organizations and government entities Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the appointment of four individuals to the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education and the Board of Public Education. The appointees bring extensive experience in education and leadership to their respective roles. Board of Regents of Higher Education Appointments: Raina Mortenson, Malta – A current student at the University Read More…
The United States Supreme Court today upheld a federal law banning TikTok nationwide unless its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, divests its stake in the app by Sunday. In response to the ruling, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen praised the court’s decision, emphasizing the national security risks posed by the popular social media platform. “I’m glad Read More…
The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) announced today that Waded Cruzado, president of Montana State University (MSU), will become the association’s next president, effective July 1. Cruzado, a passionate advocate for public and land-grant universities, is set to lead the organization after over a decade of transformative leadership at MSU. Cruzado has served Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte on Monday is scheduled to deliver his third State of the State address to a joint session of the Montana Legislature and directly to the people of Montana. “I invite Montanans from across the state to tune in on Monday evening as we highlight our priorities to create greater opportunity for all Read More…
On the steps of the Montana State Capitol, Governor Greg Gianforte was officially sworn in Monday for his second term as the 25th Governor of Montana. Accompanied by his wife, First Lady Susan Gianforte, the ceremony marked a historic milestone, as Gianforte became the first Republican governor to secure a second term since 1996. Chief Read More…
(The Center Square) − Pornhub will soon be inaccessible in 13 states after lawmakers passed a slurry of restrictions for social media and other internet sites. The bills require certain age verification measures for websites hosting adult content. A total of 16 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Read More…
Wyoming families will soon have greater access to educational choices as the first phase of the Wyoming Education Savings Account (ESA) application process goes live on January 1, 2025. The ESA program, established under the Wyoming Education Savings Account Act signed into law in March 2024, aims to empower families by providing financial support for Read More…
In a historic milestone, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has announced the investment of more than $92 million in public schools, marking a record-breaking revenue contribution from the state’s trust lands. “Thanks to DNRC’s responsible management of state trust lands, this historic $92 million investment will provide our students with the Read More…
Montana Housing Market Faces “Frozen” Conditions Amid Affordability Crisis Montana’s housing market is experiencing what experts describe as a deep freeze, and a single statistic highlights why: roughly 80% of mortgage holders in the state have interest rates 2% to 3% lower than current market rates. For most homeowners, selling their property and buying another Read More…
BOZEMAN – As Montana State University’s College of Agriculture develops new programming to continue training the agricultural scientists and producers of the future, a new endowed chair will oversee research and teaching focused on incorporating novel technologies into farming and ranching practices. Paul Nugent was named the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Endowed Chair in Precision Read More…
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen continued her efforts to safeguard Montana’s natural resources and public access while generating significant revenue for the state’s schools during the December meeting of the Montana Land Board. Secretary Jacobsen’s votes during the meeting are expected to yield more than $7 million in revenue, with nearly $6 million directed to Read More…
Kenneth Britton “Britt” Cotter, 48, who was recently elected District Court Judge for Lake and Sanders counties, has been charged with one count of solicitation to commit criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and two counts of attempted criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The Montana Attorney General’s Office announced the charges following a months-long investigation led Read More…
The Wyoming Transportation Commission approved nearly $65.7 million in contracts for seven Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) construction projects during its December 19 business meeting. The projects span several counties and address vital infrastructure needs, including bridge rehabilitation, paving, reconstruction, and chip sealing. Largest Contract Awarded for I-80 Bridge Rehabilitation A $30.12 million contract, the Read More…
NorthWestern Energy has announced agreements to supply significant amounts of electricity to two proposed data centers in Montana, with combined power demands set to exceed the capacity of the state’s newest gas-fired power plant. The development raises questions about Montana’s energy infrastructure and its ability to meet growing demand while maintaining reliable service. The larger Read More…
Montana’s unemployment rate remained at 3.2% in November, continuing an unprecedented stretch of low unemployment that has persisted for 41 consecutive months, with rates at or below 3.4%. The state’s historic run surpasses the previous record set in 2006-2007 when unemployment rates stayed at or below 3.4% for 15 months. In November alone, Montana added Read More…
Frontier Asset Management, an independent asset management firm, has officially launched its suite of actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). These ETFs are designed to enhance Frontier’s multi-asset Active ETF Strategies, with the goal of providing attractive risk-adjusted returns for investors. The Frontier ETF suite consists of six actively Read More…
South Central Judicial District Presiding Judge Bruce Romanick has announced he will retire on December 31, 2024, after serving 24 years on the bench. First elected as a District Court Judge in 2000, Judge Romanick held the SCJD Judgeship #3 seat for four consecutive terms, overseeing numerous cases and making a lasting impact on the Read More…
Middle school students across Montana will test their advanced math skills in the American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8), hosted by the Science Math Resource Center at Montana State University’s College of Education, Health, and Human Development. The AMC 8, part of the prestigious American Mathematics Competition series developed by the Mathematical Association of America, Read More…
Montana Highway Patrol troopers conducted a drug interdiction operation in Superior from December 2 to 6, targeting illicit drugs, firearms tied to trafficking, and fugitives. The operation is part of an ongoing statewide effort to combat the rising tide of drugs and crime in Montana, including a worsening fentanyl crisis that is devastating communities. During Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that Renee Strong, 55, of Springfield, has been indicted on 26 forgery-related charges stemming from alleged crimes committed while she was an employee of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety and performing contract work for the Department of Health. “Crimes of this nature violate the public’s trust Read More…
In a move aimed at improving services for veterans, the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is now accepting additional documentation for veterans to obtain a veteran designation on their state-issued driver licenses. Veterans can now use a current Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or American Legion membership card, in good standing, to receive the designation. Read More…
Montana State University announced this week that Craig Ogilvie, dean of the Graduate School and associate vice president of research, will step down from his administrative role at the end of December. Ogilvie, who has led the Graduate School since 2019, will remain at MSU as a faculty member in the Department of Physics within Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke, and the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) announced that Montana has secured a $3.5 million federal grant to assist workers recently laid off from the Sibanye-Stillwater Mine in the state’s largest recent mining workforce reduction. “This grant is a vital step in Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its plan to halt federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, a region responsible for 85% of coal production on federal lands. Knudsen argues the decision will devastate Montana’s coal industry and harm the state’s economy. The lawsuit, filed in Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has announced the appointment of Lee Johnson as the new administrator for the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Johnson, a veteran with over three decades of experience at DCI, previously served as the bureau chief of the division’s Investigations Bureau. “I’m confident Lee has the knowledge and experience required to Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced today the allocation of more than $37 million in federal housing tax credits to support the construction of new affordable housing in five Montana communities. The funding will help address the growing need for affordable housing in the state, with 136 new homes planned in Billings, Bozeman, Dillon, Missoula, Read More…
(The Center Square) – According to a federal survey of school leaders, 40% of students in the nation’s public schools were behind grade level in one or more subjects at the beginning of the school year. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) announced its findings this week that the percentage of students school leaders Read More…
Montana State University students showcased their entrepreneurial spirit at the annual Big Idea Challenge on Nov. 7, earning $10,000 in prize money for innovative projects ranging from sustainable food products to medical equipment. The competition, hosted by the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship and MSU’s Blackstone LaunchPad, featured 12 finalist teams selected from Read More…
The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) has announced an exciting update to its team, with the addition of a new member and a role transition. These changes reflect the organization’s ongoing dedication to fostering opportunities for Wyoming’s businesses and communities. Cortney Sutcliffe Joins WBC as Administrative Solutions Coordinator Cheyenne native Cortney Sutcliffe has joined the WBC Read More…
Idaho Governor Brad Little announced today a significant reduction in the state’s unemployment insurance tax rate for 2025, marking a 20% decrease from the previous year. The move is expected to save Idaho employers approximately $22 million. The base unemployment insurance tax rate will drop to 0.788%, the second-lowest rate recorded since 1980. This reduction Read More…
(The Center Square) – Millions of residents in blue states have migrated to red states within the past 30 years, according to federal data. A policy group that analyzed the data says it’s a clear sign that many Americans find Democratic policies unlivable. From 1990 to 2021, a total of 13 million people left California, New Read More…
BOZEMAN – In 2006, Patrik Callis predicted in an interview that his retirement from Montana State University would unfold somewhat gradually. He began the process two years later, but didn’t complete it until this fall, 56 years after joining the faculty of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and surpassing the record as the longest-tenured Read More…
The Montana Department of Revenue has issued a reminder to business owners with equipment reporting requirements to submit their reports for Tax Year 2025. Businesses and individuals owning business equipment with a total market value exceeding $1 million statewide as of January 1, 2025, must file their reports by March 1, 2025, to avoid a Read More…
Montana State University Extension is now accepting applications from rural communities across Montana to participate in Reimagining Rural, a three-part series designed to empower small towns to build stronger partnerships, access resources, and pursue bold community development initiatives. The program is scheduled for Feb. 4, 11, and 18, 2024. Reimagining Rural encourages local volunteers and Read More…