The final decision reverses a Biden-era authorization that allowed non-production bison to graze on more than 63,000 acres of federal land, ending a four-year legal and political fight by Montana’s governor, attorney general, and congressional delegation. The Bureau of Land Management issued a final decision canceling the American Prairie Reserve’s bison grazing permits on more Read More…
The governor held a town hall in Sidney and visited a string of small businesses and nonprofits across five counties, using the tour to tout property and income tax reforms ahead of the next legislative session. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte brought his 56 County Tour to the state’s southeast corner this week, holding a town Read More…
Montana has topped the nation in year-over-year increases in single-family home permits, according to a new report from the National Association of Home Builders. The Washington, D.C.-based trade association, which represents over 140,000 members in the residential construction industry, reported that seven states recorded year-over-year increases in single-family permits in January. Gains ranged from 25.5 Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced that the Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program (MRAP), administered by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), reported record participation in 2025, reinforcing its role as a key driver of workforce development in the 406 JOBS initiative. “The Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program is opening doors for hardworking Montanans to earn while Read More…
In a powerful show of support for American energy, Governor Greg Gianforte joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House on Thursday to celebrate the signing of executive orders aimed at revitalizing the U.S. coal industry and unleashing American-made energy. The orders, which directly counter the energy policies of the Biden administration, are designed Read More…
Montana has officially been named the best state in the nation for launching a new business, according to a new report highlighted by Governor Greg Gianforte on Friday. Topping the list compiled by Entrepreneur Media and Booking.com for Business, Montana scored highest among all 50 states in key metrics including the number of startups, startup Read More…
A 20-year-old Kalispell man has been sentenced to 50 years at the Montana State Prison, with 10 years suspended, for the brutal killing of a homeless man in 2023, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Friday. Kaleb Elijah Fleck pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of deliberate homicide in the death of Scott Read More…
A Missoula judge appointed by former Democratic Governor Steve Bullock has temporarily blocked a newly enacted law that protects women’s bathrooms and locker rooms from being accessed by biological males. District Court Judge Shane Vannatta, who openly identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community, issued a ruling Wednesday putting the law on hold just Read More…
nna Erickson, a junior from Dalton, Minnesota, majoring in psychology and cell biology and neuroscience, and Derek Jollie, a junior from Butte majoring in mathematical sciences and physics, are Montana State University’s two newest winners of the scholarship given by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The foundation announced Friday that 441 students Read More…
In a strong stand for parental rights and the rule of law, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the justices to overturn a controversial ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that struck down a common-sense law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s decision to get an abortion. Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined a coalition of 25 state attorneys general in calling on the Trump Administration to take action against a little-known import program that they say is being exploited by drug traffickers and foreign adversaries to smuggle deadly fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States. In a letter sent Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined law enforcement leaders in Billings to emphasize the importance of major new investments in Montana’s public safety infrastructure, including a proposed $150 million in one-time funding to expand the capacity of the Montana State Prison. Standing alongside local officials at a press conference, Gianforte stressed the urgency of addressing rising crime Read More…
Belgrade High School was victorious in the Montana ProStart Invitational held March 20 at Montana State University, securing the school’s spot in the national competition in May. ProStart, a two-year culinary and business management program, prepares thousands of high school students nationwide for industry work through catering events, field trips and an annual competition. Gallatin Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Montana’s unemployment rate remained at 2.8% in February, marking the 44th consecutive month of unemployment at or below 3.4%—a historic low. The strong labor market continues to be a key indicator of Montana’s resilient economy. “Montana’s economy is strong, adding 3,000 new jobs and reaching a record-high labor force of Read More…
For the second year in a row, Bozeman, home to Montana State University, has been ranked the No. 1 college town in America by RentCafe.com, reaffirming its reputation as one of the best places in the country for students to live, learn, and launch their careers. Bozeman topped the rankings based on several factors, including Read More…
Ventenata, cheatgrass and spotted knapweed are all considered invasive species in Montana because of their tendency to muscle native grasses and other plants out of their habitats. While completely eradicating invasive plants is virtually impossible, Montana State University plant ecologist Lisa Rew has dedicated her decades-long career to understanding the ecology of invasive species and Read More…
Wells Fargo has officially abandoned its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, prompting Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen to close his investigation into the bank’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies. The move follows a broader controversy over whether financial institutions should consider climate-related targets in their lending practices. The investigation, launched in October Read More…
For the fifth consecutive year, Montana State University’s efforts to support student veterans have been recognized with a designation as a top-10 military-friendly school in a nationwide survey through the website Militaryfriendly.com. MSU ranked third in military-friendly schools in the survey’s Tier 2 research institution category. The university has consistently placed top 10 in the Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding the privacy, safety, and fairness of Montana women and girls by signing two key pieces of legislation aimed at protecting women’s spaces and ensuring fairness in women’s sports. “Standing alongside our partners in Montana and across the country, I am proud to safeguard privacy and security for Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, is fighting back against a recommendation from the Montana Supreme Court’s Commission on Practice to suspend him from practicing law for 90 days, following his controversial actions in a separation of powers dispute with the state’s judicial branch. At the center of the dispute is Knudsen’s public criticism Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general in supporting President Donald J. Trump’s push to deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), a group recently designated as a foreign terrorist organization. In an amicus brief filed Tuesday, the attorneys general urged the U.S. Court of Appeals Read More…
Montana State University (MSU) has announced two finalists for its next president, inviting students, faculty, staff, and the public to participate in upcoming campus visits and forums. The MSU Presidential Search Advisory Committee identified Dr. Kurt Schnier and Dr. Brock Tessman as the two finalists, each set to visit campus next week. Their visits will Read More…
When the U.S. military deploys tactical vehicles to hot and humid climates, microbes can grow on surfaces inside and out, potentially compromising the performance of specialized paints and other protective coatings. These microbes can clump together to form communities called biofilms, and combatting them requires understanding what specific microbes comprise them, according to a research Read More…
Last summer, when Montana State University graduate student Connor Green was spending time with family, he didn’t expect his grandfather to receive a phone call he’d still think about five months later. The call happened to be from Connor himself. Or rather, a scammer using AI to sound exactly like Green’s voice, telling his grandpa Read More…
Montana taxpayers preparing their 2024 tax returns will notice the impact of Senate Bill 399, which was passed by the 2021 Legislature. The bill simplifies the state’s tax system by aligning it more closely with the federal system, meaning Montana taxable income now begins with federal taxable income. As part of the changes, certain deductions Read More…
Applications are open for Montana State University’s $100,000 Venture Competition, which is hosted annually by the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the MSU Blackstone LaunchPad. Semifinalists will be notified April 4 and will deliver virtual presentations to the judges the week of April 14. The selected finalists will then compete on April Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, in partnership with the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) and Stockman Bank, has announced the opening of submissions for the 2025 Law Enforcement Appreciation Poster Contest. The contest invites elementary school students across Montana to create artwork that expresses their appreciation for law enforcement officers. Now in its fourth year, the Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,” which would ban the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese-based artificial intelligence platform, on all government devices. In a letter sent to congressional leadership on Thursday, Attorney General Knudsen emphasized Read More…
Corvallis Middle School and Hamilton High School are heading to the national Science Olympiad competition after claiming victory at Montana’s state tournament on Tuesday, March 4, at Montana State University. The national event will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on May 23-24, where students will have the chance to win awards and cash Read More…
The Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) is calling for public comments on the regulation of digital assets, including cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, blockchain tokens, and other related financial instruments. With the rise of digital assets, the Commissioner is seeking input to help develop industry standards aimed at protecting investors from fraud and abuse while encouraging Read More…
Snow crunched underfoot as Mark Hebblewhite scanned the ridgelines of Canada’s Banff National Park. It was 1995, and the young biologist, fresh out of undergrad, was trailing one of the park’s most elusive wildlife species – the gray wolf. Though rare to see, the wolves of Banff had radio collars that allowed biologists like Hebblewhite Read More…
For the fourth consecutive year, the Montana State University men’s hockey club will play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division 2 national tournament. The team will travel to St. Louis, where the tournament will be held March 14-18 at the Centene Community Ice Center. All games will be streamed live on FloHockey at flohockey.tv, Read More…
Montana state Senator Ellie Boldman, a Democrat from Missoula, pleaded guilty Monday morning to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence after being found asleep in her running vehicle in downtown Helena early Sunday. Boldman, who had attended the Montana Democratic Party’s annual Mansfield Metcalf fundraising dinner earlier that evening, admitted in Helena Municipal Read More…
The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) and County Treasurer’s offices are preparing for the launch of a new vehicle titling and registration system on March 17, 2025. The new system aims to improve customer service and efficiency across the state, but in preparation for the transition, all MVD exam stations and County Treasurer offices will Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced today the appointment of John A. Mercer to the Twentieth Judicial District Court, which covers Lake and Sanders Counties. “John served the people of the Twentieth Judicial District well when I appointed him to serve his community last year, and I’m glad he was willing to do so once again,” said Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today visited Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) to spotlight innovative programs that prepare students for success in the workforce. “Career and Technical Education plays an important role in preparing the next generation of Montana’s workforce,” Gov. Gianforte said. “By equipping students with hands-on skills and real-world experience, CTE and Read More…
Barrett Hospital & HealthCare in Dillon, Montana, is proud to announce its recognition as one of the 2025 Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. This prestigious honor, awarded annually, highlights outstanding performance among rural hospitals across the country based on the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®. “The Top 100 Read More…
Funding from the National Institutes of Health will allow a Montana State University research team to deepen explorations into a disease that is posing an increasing threat in the U.S. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, and nearly 90,000 cases in the U.S. were reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Read More…
Montana State University has once again been recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education and the American Council on Education as one of the most productive research institutions in the United States. MSU received R1 designation, which denotes very high research output and doctoral education – making it one of 187 institutions Read More…
Montana State University’s leading wool and sheep expert was featured recently in Time magazine, highlighting ongoing work to explore novel uses for wool. Brent Roeder, MSU Extension sheep specialist and a faculty member in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Animal and Range Sciences, appeared in the article, “Farmers are Using Wool to Save Water Read More…
In a controversial decision that flies in the face of biological science, a Montana District Court judge ruled that Senate Bill 458— which legally defined sex as strictly male or female— is unconstitutional. The ruling, handed down by Judge Leslie Halligan, claims the law violates the Montana Constitution’s guarantees of privacy and equal protection. However, Read More…
For the third consecutive year, UM has been named the top university in the nation for community and national service, an honor that highlights institutions excelling in student and alumni contributions to public service. “This ranking confirms what we know to be true: UM students and alumni continuously outperform their peers in the fields of Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has signed an immigration enforcement agreement with the Trump Administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allowing state law enforcement to take a more active role in deportation efforts. Under the agreement, Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) troopers and Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agents will have the authority to arrest illegal Read More…
The University of Montana (UM) is continuing its upward enrollment trend, reporting a 4.3% increase in student numbers for the spring 2025 semester compared to the previous year. “The trend is clear—more students are choosing the University of Montana than at any point in the past decade,” said UM President Seth Bodnar. “With student enrollment, Read More…