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…
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…
A recent federal jury ruling has shed light on the enduring consequences of asbestos exposure in the small town of Libby, Montana, as BNSF Railway has been found partially responsible for the deaths of two individuals who were exposed to asbestos decades ago. The jury’s decision, handed down after careful consideration, awarded $4 million each Read More…
BOZEMAN — Hamilton High School and Corvallis Middle School defended their state championships by claiming the team trophies in the annual Montana Science Olympiad state tournament held at Montana State University on Friday, April 19. Both schools will now move on to represent Montana at the National Science Olympiad tournament held at Michigan State University Read More…
The emergence of fentanyl as a deadly drug threat has placed Montana at the forefront of trafficking activities, driven by the staggering profit margins associated with this potent substance. With just a two-milligram dose capable of proving lethal, the economic allure for traffickers is immense. A kilogram of fentanyl, which can potentially result in the Read More…
HELENA – A Hill County man pleaded guilty Monday in Hill County District Court to one count of incest and one count of sexual abuse of children, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today. William Ramirez, 41, admitted to law enforcement in December 2021 that he was sending sexually explicit messages and photos of himself to Read More…
As the Glacier Range Riders gear up for their third season in the Pioneer Baseball League, they find themselves entangled in a trademark dispute with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The source of contention lies in the Range Riders’ arrowhead-shaped logo, featuring a “RR,” which bears resemblance to the National Park Service’s emblem, as Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that three Montana communities will share $100,000 in grant funding to regenerate Main Street businesses and downtowns. The funding is through Commerce’s Montana Main Street Program (MMS). “Montana’s Main Streets are at the heart of our state’s values, our neighborhoods and the economy. That’s why Read More…
BOZEMAN – The Air Force ROTC at Montana State University bestowed 20 awards upon selected cadets on April 17. The name of the award, the recipient(s), major, anticipated graduation date, and hometown follow: Dwight Smith Sword Award Cadet Dustin Edgerton, Computer Science, May 2024, Wasilla, Alaska. Cadet Dawson Grier, Business Finance, May 2025, Garden Grove, Read More…
Montana State University’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse will welcome classic rock hitmakers REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield in concert on Saturday, Oct. 26. Tickets start at $36.50 plus fees and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 26. Since forming in 1967, REO Speedwagon has released nine platinum albums, with hit songs including “Keep on Read More…
BOZEMAN — A 3-foot tall robot with blinking LED eyes delivered a shovel to Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte on Wednesday afternoon at the groundbreaking for Gianforte Hall at Montana State University, a new three-story building which will house computer science and related fields of study. The Gianforte Family Foundation donated $50 million to help fund Read More…
BOZEMAN – Over 100 law enforcement officials, criminal prosecutors, advocacy groups, public health officials, and private industry leaders joined Attorney General Austin Knudsen today in Bozeman to discuss efforts and effective strategies to combat human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in Montana. Today’s event was the fourth anti-human trafficking symposium Attorney General Knudsen has hosted Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced the following appointments: Board of Veterans’ Affairs Chauncey Parker, Box Elder: A veteran of the Montana Army National Guard and a Carroll College graduate, Parker serves as the Executive Director of the Great Plains Veterans Services Center and is the Post Commander for American Legion Post 67. His term will Read More…
MISSOULA – Between performing in front of crowds exceeding 26,000 and committing to a lengthy season that spans July through April, the University of Montana Dance Team knows how to face a challenge together. The team is about to take on a new and historic challenge: dancing on behalf of the University and the entire Read More…
MISSOULA – Haley Omeasoo was already studying forensic science at the University of Montana when she saw the poster that redefined her life. The 2017 poster announced that her former high school classmate, Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, had gone missing on the Blackfeet Reservation in northern Montana. Just 20 at the time, HeavyRunner has never been Read More…
HELENA –Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today the appointment of Kurt Sager as colonel, and head, of the Montana Highway Patrol. Prior to his appointment, Sager served as lieutenant colonel with 21 years of service to the agency and people of Montana. “Over the last two decades with the Patrol, Kurt has proven to be Read More…
BOZEMAN — Montana State University will break ground on a new building later this month that will house the Gianforte School of Computing and provide space for computing-related fields, including cybersecurity, film, photography and music technologies. The groundbreaking will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, adjacent to Norm Asbjornson Hall and Read More…
HELENA – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen today led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of states attempting to stop the Biden administration’s collusion with activists. Biden’s actions would leave the southern border wide open and communities across the country vulnerable to dangerous drugs and crime. The brief, Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Montana National Guard is deploying to Texas to help secure the southern border. Governor Greg Gianforte made the declaration on Tuesday, saying that President Joe Biden “has left our southern border completely exposed and overrun by drug cartels.” The governor went on to say that these cartels are also responsible for bringing deadly crime and Read More…
MISSOULA – The escalation of extreme wildfires globally has prompted a critical examination of wildfire management strategies. A new study from the University of Montana reveals how fire suppression ensures that wildfires will burn under extreme conditions at high severity, exacerbating the impacts of climate change and fuel accumulation. The study used computer simulations to Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte spoke to FFA members from across the state to help kick off the 94th Annual Montana FFA State Convention in Billings. “Serving as the cornerstone to rural communities, our farmers and ranchers produce the best products, and work hard to feed the world,” Gov. Gianforte said. “FFA is producing Read More…
HELENA – Sixty-one new officers who will serve in 36 agencies across the state graduated today from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) within the Montana Department of Justice. MLEA provides basic and advanced training for state, county, city, and tribal law enforcement officers throughout the state. Attorney General Austin Knudsen was in attendance to Read More…
BOZEMAN — Four undergraduate students from Montana State University have been awarded prestigious scholarships given by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The MSU recipients of the 2024 Goldwater Scholarships are Heath Caldwell, a junior from Clancy majoring in paleontology and organismal biology; Tyler Delridge, a junior from Missoula majoring in chemical Read More…
BOZEMAN — Nearly 900 middle and high school students from 80 teams across Montana will compete at the Montana Science Olympiad State Tournament, set for Friday, April 19, at Montana State University. The event features competitions in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines. Teams from Belgrade, Billings, Bozeman, Chinook, Choteau, Clancy, Conrad, Corvallis, Darby, Read More…
HAMILTON – Enrollment is again rising at Bitterroot College UM. Bitterroot College UM has 145 students enrolled this spring semester, which is 39% increase compared to last spring. For the past two years, the institution located in Hamilton has experienced steady student enrollment growth, and this trend continues into the current semester. “We are thrilled Read More…
BOZEMAN – Morgan Radtke thought she wanted to be a doctor who treated humans, but the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of spaces for clinical shadowing in hospitals, leading her instead to intern in a veterinary clinic. The experience changed her life, reorienting her career ambitions, and now Radtke is a first-year student in the Read More…
BOZEMAN — Registration is now open for Montana State University’s STEAM Day on Saturday, April 13. The daylong program offers girls in grades 6-8 creative, hands-on workshops to explore science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. MSU faculty and community members will teach workshops on topics such as astronomy, geology, robotics, health, engineering and microbiology. Read More…
A recent federal lawsuit challenges a Montana law aimed at promoting gender and racial diversity on state boards and commissions. The lawsuit, filed by the national organization Do No Harm, focuses on the Montana Board of Medical Examiners. This board oversees the licensing and regulation of healthcare professionals in the state. According to the complaint, Read More…
BOZEMAN — A chef with Montana State University’s Culinary Services Division will participate in a regional challenge on Monday that recognizes expertise and skill among collegiate dining professionals. The National Association of College and University Food Services’ Culinary Challenge will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. March 25 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center Read More…
MISSOULA – Neel Kashkari, the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, will visit the University of Montana on Monday, April 8, to conduct a public townhall meeting. Kashkari, one of the nation’s leading monetary policymakers, oversees all operations of the bank and leads numerous initiatives that aim to improve the economic Read More…
BOZEMAN – Dr. Bruce Beutler, winner of a 2011 Nobel Prize, highlighted the importance of curiosity and access to research opportunities as he visited Montana State University this week to give a public talk and meet with students and faculty. Beutler won the Nobel in the physiology or medicine category for his research on innate Read More…
Pyramid Mountain Lumber officials have announced their intention to sell the mill rather than resorting to an auction, although no concrete plans have been finalized apart from the impending closure. The company’s decision to shutter operations has sent shockwaves through the lumber industry, with many individuals and stakeholders deeply impacted by the news. Dick Rossignol, Read More…
BOZEMAN — Montana State University will recognize I-Ho Pomeroy, a restaurateur who served on the Bozeman City Commission for a decade and was known for her generous support for the people in her community, with a posthumous honorary doctorate in humane letters at spring commencement. Pomeroy passed away from cancer March 12, 2024, at her Read More…
(The Center Square) – The amount of fentanyl seized in Montana last year was over double the amount in 2022, according to Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office. In 2023, the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces seized a total of 398,552 dosage units of fentanyl, up from 188,823 dosage units compared in 2022 and Read More…
BOZEMAN — This semester, Montana State University’s Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship held its first career symposium, a casual event intended to help students become comfortable talking to potential employers and collaborators. About 300 students attended the event, which was held Feb. 12 in the Strand Union Building on the MSU campus. There, Read More…
HELENA – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today an over 20,000 percent increase in fentanyl seizures by anti-drug forces in Montana since 2019. Additionally, over twice as much fentanyl was seized in 2023 compared to 2022, shattering previous records. In 2023, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task forces seized a total of Read More…
BOZEMAN — A team of six Montana State University students from the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering drew recognition at a recent competition that pitted them against 1,400 other students from across the region. The undergraduate students, each majoring in construction engineering technology, were among 40 MSU students who competed in the Associated Schools of Read More…
BOZEMAN — Steven Swinford, a longtime faculty member and administrator at Montana State University, has been named the university’s new vice president for student success, MSU President Waded Cruzado announced today. Swinford, who has been serving as interim vice president for student success since July 2023, was selected for the role after a national search. Read More…
BOZEMAN – Registration is now open for the three-day 406 Grazing Academy, an annual workshop aimed at ranchers seeking to hone their grazing management skills and learn new strategies. This year’s event will be held June 11-13 in Miles City, and registration is open until April 26. Registration costs $200 per person and includes materials, Read More…
BOZEMAN — The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing at Montana State University has taken another step toward improving health care for state residents, particularly those living in rural, frontier or Native communities. The nursing college has been authorized by the national Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education to start a nurse-midwifery track in its Read More…
MISSOULA – Kyle Fickler grew up in Drummond, Montana. From a young age, he was always drawn toward motorsports and racing. He loved tinkering on cars and figuring out how to make them go faster and with more power. “My cousin took me to my first drag race in Spokane when I was around 14 Read More…
(The Center Square) – A Montana think tank and special interest groups have filed an amicus brief in the state supreme court case known as Held v. Montana. The coalition is asking the Montana Supreme Court to overrule a lower court’s decision that struck down recent changes to state environmental permitting laws and said 16 minors Read More…