Gov. Greg Gianforte has appointed Eric Strauss as director of the Montana Department of Corrections, with Strauss set to assume the role on Jan. 6. The appointment follows the announcement in October that current DOC Director Brian Gootkin was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as U.S. marshal for the District of Montana. Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen on filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging the ridesharing and delivery company engaged in unfair and deceptive practices related to its Uber One subscription service. The lawsuit was filed in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission, 22 states, and the District of Columbia. It raises concerns about Uber’s enrollment, billing Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 26-state coalition of attorneys general in requesting a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into two climate activist organizations with alleged ties to China, citing potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In a letter sent Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Read More…
Montana Highway Patrol troopers conducted a multi-day interdiction operation in St. Regis earlier this month aimed at combating criminal activity and removing illicit drugs from the community. The operation ran from Dec. 7 through Dec. 11 and involved MHP’s Criminal Interdiction Team (CIT) and Strategic Enforcement Traffic Team (SETT), working in partnership with the United Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte has appointed Eric Strauss as director of the Montana Department of Corrections, with Strauss set to assume the role on Jan. 6. The appointment follows the announcement in October that current DOC Director Brian Gootkin was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as U.S. marshal for the District of Montana. Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen on filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging the ridesharing and delivery company engaged in unfair and deceptive practices related to its Uber One subscription service. The lawsuit was filed in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission, 22 states, and the District of Columbia. It raises concerns about Uber’s enrollment, billing Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 26-state coalition of attorneys general in requesting a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into two climate activist organizations with alleged ties to China, citing potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In a letter sent Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Read More…
Montana Highway Patrol troopers conducted a multi-day interdiction operation in St. Regis earlier this month aimed at combating criminal activity and removing illicit drugs from the community. The operation ran from Dec. 7 through Dec. 11 and involved MHP’s Criminal Interdiction Team (CIT) and Strategic Enforcement Traffic Team (SETT), working in partnership with the United Read More…
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines on led a letter to major airline executives urging them to increase flight options from Montana to Nashville, Tennessee, ahead of the FCS National Championship Game. Daines was joined by Sen. Tim Sheehy and U.S. Reps. Ryan Zinke, R-MT-01, and Troy Downing, R-MT-02, in sending the letter to the CEOs of Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced that President Donald J. Trump has approved Montana’s request for a presidential emergency declaration to help the state respond to severe flooding in northwestern Montana. “Thanks to President Trump’s quick response, Montana is securing the additional resources our communities need to respond to this emergency,” Gianforte said in a statement. “While Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte on donated a quarter of his annual salary to the Mountain Shadow Association in Lodge Grass, marking the twelfth and final day of his fifth annual 12 Days of Giving campaign. The donation supports the nonprofit’s work strengthening families, restoring parent-child relationships, and advancing community-led healing and addiction recovery efforts in Lodge Read More…
Prosecutors in the Montana Attorney General’s Office filed official misconduct charges against state Sen. Jason Ellsworth, alleging he acted outside the scope of his lawful authority as a public servant and improperly handled a state contract. Prosecutors also asked the court to suspend Ellsworth from office pending final judgment. The charges stem from a Montana Read More…
A new research laboratory recently opened on the University of Montana campus to study the connection between hearing loss and brain function as people age. The Brain, Ear, and Aging Research (BEAR) Lab launched this fall in the basement of Curry Health Center, where the School of Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences is housed. Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen on Monday filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging the ridesharing and delivery company engaged in unfair and deceptive practices tied to its Uber One subscription service. The lawsuit, filed in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission, 22 states and the District of Columbia, raises concerns about Uber’s enrollment, billing and Read More…
Montana middle school students interested in advanced mathematics are invited to register for a free competition to be held in January at Montana State University. The American Mathematics Competition 8, or AMC 8, is a competitive exam hosted by the Science Math Resource Center in the MSU College of Education, Health and Human Development. The AMC 8 is Read More…
When James Straw graduated from high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and accomplished his lifelong goal to become a sniper. But Straw’s military career was sidelined after receiving a diagnosis for an autoimmune disease, setting him on a new path: Now he is the latest Marshall Scholar from the University of Read More…
U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy has nominated four Montana students for admission to United States Service Academies, recognizing their academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to public service. Sheehy said the nominations reflect both the students’ accomplishments and the importance of military service to the nation. “My wife and I met at the Naval Academy, and we Read More…
Though Gwendolyn Cooper knew she wanted a career in research when she set out to earn a Ph.D. at Montana State University, she worried that the process of acquiring a doctoral degree might force her to narrow her research focus. “I’ve had this problem my whole life of being interested in everything,” said Cooper, who Read More…
A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation has uncovered massive fraud and systemic weaknesses in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, including fake identities receiving subsidies, misuse of Social Security numbers, billions in unreconciled payments, and insurers collecting tax credits for deceased individuals. The report validates longstanding Republican concerns that the ACA subsidy system lacks Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte has issued an executive order declaring a flooding disaster in northwestern Montana as historic rainfall and snowmelt swell local rivers. “Continued rainfall across northwestern Montana has flooded some of our communities, including the town of Libby,” Gianforte said. “This order will ensure resources are deployed quickly and effectively to protect Montanans and Read More…
More than 32,000 Montana businesses will see a reduction in unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates in 2026, resulting in over $23 million in savings, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry announced. “By reforming our tax code and cutting back the thicket of red tape tying up job creators, we’re helping Montana businesses grow and Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced that six organizations will share more than $8 million in federal funding through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Housing Trust Fund (HTF), and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The grants support the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing while bolstering the state’s economy with good-paying jobs. Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) has announced his nomination of four Montana students seeking enrollment at the nation’s U.S. military academies. “As the son of a U.S. Marine, it is an honor and a privilege to nominate outstanding young Montanans to compete for an appointment to the United States service academies,” Daines said. “All of Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is warning residents about scammers operating fraudulent county jail websites that target families of inmates in an effort to steal personal and financial information. OCP has received reports of a fake website, musselshellcountyjail.org, which impersonates the official Musselshell County Detention Center. The site falsely offers Read More…
On the fifth day of his annual “12 Days of Giving” campaign, Governor Greg Gianforte spotlighted Underwater Soldiers, a Montana nonprofit that provides therapeutic scuba diving for veterans while helping clean the state’s waterways. “Montana veterans have given so much to protect our freedoms and serve our communities,” Gianforte said. “Underwater Soldiers gives veterans a Read More…
The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) unveiled a redesigned driver license and identification card today, featuring enhanced security elements aimed at reducing driver license fraud and identity theft. The new credentials, described as among the most secure in the nation, will begin issuance in December 2025. Current cards will remain valid until their expiration dates. Read More…
The FBI hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to officially open its 56th field office in Billings, Montana. The new FBI Billings Field Office will assume responsibility for all existing FBI resident agencies across the state and be led by Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Justin Gerken. SAC Gerken welcomed Governor Greg Gianforte, U.S. Attorney for Read More…
Montana State University junior Molly Coonfield, who is studying electrical engineering with a minor in mechatronics, recently received a $10,000 scholarship from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Power and Energy Society. The society provides up to 20 scholarships and real-world experiences annually to undergraduates who are interested in building a career in power Read More…
Montana attorney Katie Verderber has been selected to represent Team USA in Wheelchair Mixed Curling at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The announcement was made Monday, Nov. 24, by USA Curling, the national governing body for Olympic and Paralympic curling in the United States. Verderber will join teammates Matthew Thums of Read More…
Lana Batts likes to say if you got it, a truck brought it. As a former president of the Truckload Carriers Association and a senior vice president of government affairs with the American Trucking Association, Batts became a standout figure in the male-dominated transportation sector. She has been described as a trailblazer for women who Read More…
Sixty-four new officers who will serve in 41 agencies across Montana graduated Friday from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA), part of the Montana Department of Justice. The academy provides both basic and advanced training for state, county, city, and tribal law enforcement officers. Attorney General Austin Knudsen attended the ceremony to congratulate and address Read More…
The Montana Historical Society (MTHS) announced today that its $60 million fundraising campaign for the Montana Heritage Center has been successfully completed, thanks to a final $165,000 gift from the Oakland Family Foundation of Great Falls. The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open to the public on December 3 with free admission. After MTHS reported Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and First Lady Susan Gianforte are inviting Montanans to the 2025 State Capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Monday, December 1. “We’re excited to welcome Montanans back to the Capitol to kick off the Christmas season,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Susan and I hope families from across the state will join us, enjoy Read More…
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Eric Hastings, a Montana State University alumnus and founder of a national organization that serves traumatically injured servicemen and women, will receive an honorary doctorate degree from MSU during the university’s fall commencement ceremony on Friday, Dec. 12, at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Today, the Montana Board of Regents approved Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen honored two Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) troopers Thursday for exceptional acts of bravery and service. Trooper Jourdon Gulick received the MHP’s highest honor, the Award of Valor, for his courageous actions during a fiery vehicle rollover in 2024. Trooper Nick Wade earned the Attorney General’s Award of Commendation for going Read More…
During a strategic trade mission to Japan, Governor Greg Gianforte signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to explore potential investments in data center and energy infrastructure projects in Montana. “Montana offers affordable, reliable energy, a skilled workforce, and a welcoming environment for innovation,” Gov. Gianforte said. “This agreement with Mitsubishi Read More…
NorthWestern Energy customers will see lower utility bills and receive refunds with interest after the Montana Public Service Commission finalized a sweeping decision in the company’s 2024 electric and natural gas rate case, rejecting $43 million of the utility’s proposed costs while approving construction of a new Yellowstone County power plant. The decision caps a Read More…
The Montana Historical Society is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the second wave of its History and Civics Travel Grant program. Thanks to generous support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, the Society has already awarded funding to 46 schools across 23 Montana counties—from Eureka to Hardin—making hands-on history accessible Read More…
A University of Montana student and ROTC cadet, who is serving as UM’s student government president, recently was named a finalist for the oldest and most renowned scholarship in the world. Buddy Wilson, of Eden, North Carolina, a senior studying environmental science with minors in international development and climate change studies, is the seventh student Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined Emmy-winning TV host Mike Rowe, NeighborWorks Great Falls, and Wells Fargo this week to celebrate progress on the Great Falls High School House Program and announce a $200,000 investment from Wells Fargo to support the hands-on workforce development initiative. The governor visited the project site to receive updates from student builders Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte on Monday announced the 58 Montanans selected to receive the 2025 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, an annual honor recognizing veterans who have demonstrated exceptional service to both their country and their communities. “Our veterans answered the call to serve our nation and continue to answer the call to serve their communities,” Gov. Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has spearheaded a 22-state coalition supporting President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard units to Chicago in response to violent unrest and threats against federal law enforcement personnel. The multistate coalition filed an amicus brief Monday in Donald J. Trump, President of the United States v. State of Illinois Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is inviting public comment on the state’s 2022-2024 Draft Water Quality Integrated Report and a new pH Assessment Method for Streams and Rivers. In addition, DEQ has opened a call for data and surface water assessment requests for the next integrated report cycle, which will be submitted to Read More…
The Montana Historical Society’s Library and Archives has announced the return of its research fellowship programs in 2026, following a temporary pause during construction of the Montana Heritage Center. The fellowships will resume as the newly renovated Larry Len and LeAnne Peterson Library and Archives reopens to the public in spring 2026. Since 1983, the Read More…