Governor recognized two veterans with Montana’s top commendation and addressed the state VFW’s annual convention Gov. Greg Gianforte recently continued his 56 County Tour and honored veterans in Yellowstone and Custer counties as part of his annual effort to visit every county in Montana. “As I travel the state for my 56 County Tour, I Read More…
Attorney general says MVD will waive renewal and replacement fees in July for Montanans adding the state’s new eagle-in-flight citizenship marker Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced that the state’s Motor Vehicle Division will waive certain driver license and identification card fees throughout July for residents who add the state’s new citizenship marker to their Read More…
Abutting the first-floor hallway of Montana State University’s Romney Hall, the Travis W. Atkins Veteran Support Center resembles a typical campus study space. But through the center doors is much more. Equipped with rows of tables, printers and grab-and-go snacks, the center dedicated to supporting MSU’s military population provides a comfortable place for veterans and their family members to study, relax and find community. Started in 2011, the Veteran Support Center has consistently invested in the Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has approved an Exploration License Amendment for Sentinel Metals and issued a final Environmental Assessment for the Columbia Gold Project, located near Lincoln in Lewis and Clark County. DEQ accepted public comment on the draft EA from March 20 through April 13, 2026, drawing significant public interest. The agency Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour today with a stop in Chouteau County, where he held a ceremonial bill signing for legislation aimed at strengthening Montana’s water rights system and improving water administration across the state. Standing along the banks of the Missouri River, the governor was joined by Department of Natural Resources Read More…
The Helena Area Chamber of Commerce and Helena Public Schools district will be discussing bonds over a cold one at various establishments throughout the Queen City ahead of a September vote. Brothers Tapworks, Ten Mile Creek Brewery and Speakeasy 41 will be host venues for Bonds and Brews for discussions about proposed bond issues that Read More…
Hunting regulation season setting scoping meetings are underway around the state this month with more meetings remaining over the next few weeks. These meetings and your input are critical for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff as we work to develop regulation proposals for the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider this fall. If Read More…
Hoot-owl restrictions take effect July 2 at 2 p.m. on the lower Madison River from the Warm Springs BLM day-use area downstream to the Jefferson River, and on the Sun River from the mouth of Muddy Creek to the Highway 287 Bridge. Hoot-owl restrictions remain in place on the upper Madison above Hebgen Lake. Hoot-owl Read More…
Milford Wearley, a retired agriculture education teacher and long-time resident of Choteau, was honored with the 2025 Montana Range Days Hall of Fame Award during banquet festivities at Montana Range Days in Miles City on June 24. Montana Range Days (MRD) is a rangeland educational event for young children through adult age individuals that inspires Read More…
The Get Your Kicks at 6 free summer concert series will kick off on July 10 with a performance by Scratchin’ Gravel at the Choteau City Park Band Shell. Each week, a different musical artist will perform in the series every Thursday until Aug. 14 and the concerts will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will host an open house later this month to update the public on a multi-year study of water quality in the middle segment of the Gallatin River, stretching from Yellowstone National Park to Spanish Creek. The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 29, from 5 p.m. Read More…
Travelers heading to Montana this summer may face sticker shock at the rental car counter. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) has been named the most expensive airport in the country for car rentals, according to a new survey from travel website Cheapcarrental.com. The survey, which analyzed rental rates across 100 U.S. airports for the peak Read More…
Marley Miller came to the University of Montana as a pre-med student, but quickly discovered a different path through the College of Business to pursue his passion for music and entertainment. Miller switched his major to business management and marketing and joined the UM Entertainment Management certificate program, which offered him real-world experience connecting with Read More…
Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that the Montana Department of Labor and Industry has been awarded $4 million in federal funding to expand apprenticeship programs across the state. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Labor’s State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Round 3 (SAFE3) grant program. The grant will be used to grow Registered Apprenticeship Programs Read More…
Attorney General Austin Knudsen today announced the appointment of Billings attorney Emily Jones to the Montana Judicial Standards Commission, a key body responsible for upholding the integrity and ethical standards of the state’s judiciary. With more than 15 years in private practice, Jones brings extensive legal experience to the commission, which investigates allegations of judicial Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz has signed a historic Shared Stewardship Agreement between the State of Montana and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, launching an ambitious new partnership to accelerate forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction across the state. The agreement establishes a long-term framework to dramatically increase Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Friday that his office has opened an investigation into Lee Enterprises following a February cyberattack that compromised the personal information of nearly 40,000 employees and subscribers, including an undisclosed number of Montanans. Lee Enterprises, based in Davenport, Iowa, owns several major newspapers in Montana, including the Helena Independent Record, Read More…
Montana State University’s most prestigious scholarship has been awarded to 20 high school graduates from across the nation and world, including 15 students from Montana. The MSU Presidential Scholarship is awarded based on scholastic achievement, demonstrated leadership and exemplary public service. Students receive an annual stipend plus a tuition waiver. The scholarship is renewable for Read More…
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown praised the Montana Board of Land Commissioners this week after approving an estimated $1.7 million in revenue to support the state’s public schools. The decision, made during the Land Board’s May meeting, reflects the board’s continued efforts to responsibly manage Montana’s trust lands in Read More…
In a major legislative milestone for freshman U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), President Donald J. Trump on Friday signed into law the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, Sheehy’s bipartisan bill to expand and modernize the federal government’s aerial wildfire suppression capabilities. The signing ceremony took place in the Oval Office, where President Trump also issued a Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced today the 2025 recipients of its Opportunities in Rural Economies (ORE) planning grants, awarding nearly $500,000 in funding to support projects that aim to strengthen local economies across rural Montana. “The ORE Program plays a vital role in creating good-paying jobs, stimulating economic growth, helping businesses grow, and building Read More…
Society tends to protect the identity of cadavers, so not much is known about No. 817. We know the 72-year-old woman was from Montana and that her final cause of death was cancer. One can infer she was a giving person, as she and her caregivers elected to donate her earthly remains to the education Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte this week recognized four distinguished Montana veterans with the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation during ceremonies held in Ravalli, Flathead, and Missoula counties. The award honors veterans who not only served with distinction in uniform but who also continue to make a lasting impact in their communities. “Montana’s veterans lead by example. Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced the appointment of State Representative Marta Bertoglio as the new Director of the Montana Department of Commerce, signaling a continued focus on economic growth and job creation in the state. “Marta has been a strong partner in the Legislature and is a driven leader, dedicated to making Montana the best place Read More…
Most student projects made in Gallatin College Montana State University’s carpentry program are eventually disassembled, rebuilt into something new and then taken down again. And again. And again. However, a special few each year stand the test of time. This year, those projects are providing winter shelter for calves at Rocky Boy’s Nation near Havre Read More…
Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced Tuesday a series of national settlements with five major broker-dealer firms over allegations they charged excessive commissions on small retail equity transactions, in violation of state securities laws. The firms—Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones), LPL Financial LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Stifel, Nicolaus Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is alerting Montanans to a wave of fraudulent text messages impersonating the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) in an attempt to steal personal information and money. Scammers are sending urgent text messages that falsely claim recipients owe fines or traffic tickets and must pay immediately 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…
Montana State University has ranked among some of the top schools in the Center for World University Rankings for 2025, based on factors including education, employability, faculty and research. MSU ranked in the top 3.7% of the 21,462 universities reviewed worldwide for the rankings, which were published on June 2. While some university rankings rely Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced Thursday that 39 cities, towns, counties, and water and sewer districts across the state will share more than $23.7 million in grant funding through the Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP), supporting critical infrastructure improvements ranging from water and wastewater system upgrades to bridge replacements. “MCEP project grant funding is Read More…
Flathead Lake will not reach full pool this summer, marking the third consecutive year of below-normal water levels. Projections indicate the lake will peak at 2,892.3 feet on June 19, 2025, then gradually decline. Full pool is 2,893 feet. The shortfall is due to reduced snowpack and insufficient spring runoff, combined with demands for hydropower Read More…
Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and Montana State Auditor James Brown announced new additions to the agency’s executive leadership team this week, naming three seasoned professionals to top roles. The appointments reflect Commissioner Brown’s continued emphasis on building an experienced, consumer-focused, and forward-thinking leadership structure. Erin Snyder Appointed Deputy Insurance Commissioner Effective June 2, Erin Read More…
Congressman Ryan Zinke today announced a slate of 15 infrastructure, law enforcement, and rural development projects across Western Montana, requesting federal funding totaling $64,619,833. The funding requests, submitted to the House Appropriations Committee on which Zinke serves, target community improvements spanning 13 counties, including Beaverhead, Flathead, Gallatin, Granite, Lake, Lincoln, Missoula, Mineral, Powell, Ravalli, and Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen celebrated a major legal victory for American gun manufacturers and Second Amendment advocates on Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Mexican government against several U.S. firearms companies. The case, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., et al. v. Mexico, centered on Mexico’s attempt to Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is spearheading a 28-state coalition backing a legal challenge to Maine’s newly enacted 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases, calling the law an unconstitutional infringement on Second Amendment rights. In an amicus brief filed in Beckwith v. Frey, the coalition urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte on Thursday praised the Trump Administration’s approval of a crucial mining permit for the Signal Peak Energy coal mine, calling the move a major victory for Montana coal miners and a lifeline for American energy independence. The U.S. Department of the Interior, under Secretary Doug Burgum, authorized Signal Peak to move forward Read More…
Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) has followed through on a key campaign promise by placing up to $50 million of his Bridger Aerospace stock into two blind trusts — a move that sets a high standard for transparency and ethical responsibility. The blind trusts, which were filed with the U.S. Senate Financial Disclosures Office recently, mark Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte continued his fifth annual 56 County Tour this week, meeting with Montanans in Golden Valley, Wheatland, and Fergus counties to celebrate legislative wins and highlight rural resilience. During stops across central Montana, the governor met with lawmakers, small business owners, and community leaders, emphasizing the importance of local leadership and education. “The Read More…
BOZEMAN – Two years ago, a research team led by Montana State University assistant professor Martin Mosquera discovered that photons – the smallest possible units of light – can be controlled with color superposition to interact with and reveal specific information about molecules. For that discovery and its significance, as well as his work Read More…
The Max S. Baucus Institute has announced its Baucus Leader Class of 2025. The more than 40 University of Montana students selected represent Ambassador Baucus’ commitment to create outstanding service opportunities at home and abroad for undergraduate and graduate students from across Montana. Inspired by Baucus’ belief that “there is no higher calling than public Read More…
Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BAER, BAERW), one of the nation’s leading aerial firefighting companies, announced today it has secured two unprecedented 120-day task orders from the U.S. Forest Service for its fleet of CL-415EAF “Super Scooper” aircraft. The contracts, each covering two aircraft, mark the longest task orders ever awarded to Bridger for Read More…
With Memorial Day weekend kicking off the unofficial start of summer, Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) are urging Montanans to drive safely as the state enters the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities historically spike. To prevent tragedies, MHP Read More…
As part of his ongoing 56 County Tour, Governor Greg Gianforte made stops in eastern Montana this week to recognize two veterans with the 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, honoring their military service and continued contributions to their communities. On Thursday in Glendive, Gov. Gianforte presented the award to U.S. Army veteran Rick Berg during Read More…