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…
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released its 2024 State of the Environment Report, outlining key accomplishments across the department’s four core focus areas: air, land, waste, and water. The annual report underscores Wyoming’s ongoing commitment to environmental protection while supporting the state’s economic vitality. “This report underscores the Wyoming DEQ’s leadership and 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…
A year after being named the top principal in Montana, Jeff Uhren is leaving Billings Senior High for a new career, which means big changes are coming to the school. There’s a reason why Uhren was named Montana Principal of the Year in 2022. “He is super, super passionate about what he does, and he Read More…
Thousands of dollars will soon make its way into the greater Helena area to help support children aged zero to five. “…the research shows that children who are supported early on do better, out, do better later on in life. They have better outcomes in so many different areas of their life,” says Zero to Read More…
In his initial bid for Senate, Jon Tester, denounced legislators who hire lobbyists, vowing to end the “revolving door.” However, as he seeks reelection to his fourth term, Tester’s campaign is being managed by a former lobbyist. On April 4, Tester expressed his utmost satisfaction in hiring Shelbi Dantic, a former lobbyist, as his campaign Read More…
Jaron Fry is one of Wyoming Department of Transportation’s snow plow drivers, but he used to be a truck driver in a former life. As he was working 12-hour shifts to plow roads in the Evanston area, his eye wandered often to all of the stranded truck drivers. He knew exactly how they were feeling. Truck Read More…
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development in Montana and Wheatland Memorial Healthcare are pleased to announce that the USDA will invest more than $19 million to build a new health care facility in Harlowton. “Everyone deserves quality, accessible health care, no matter where they live, which is why it is critical that we invest in Read More…
The Montana Highway Patrol trooper who was run over by a suspect’s vehicle following a pursuit near Eureka is headed out of state to continue his recovery. Trooper Lewis Johnson was seriously injured on Feb. 16 and was flown by ALERT helicopter to Kalispell’s Logan Health to receive life-saving care. He suffered multiple critical injuries, Read More…
It’s good to have peace of mind knowing that where you live is a safe environment for you, your family, friends, and neighbors. Living in the Peace Garden State should offer some reassurance, so let’s take a look at the ten cities that are considered the safest in North Dakota thanks to some research done Read More…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced Jackie Byam as the Wyoming State Conservationist. She will begin serving in this position on Feb. 26. Byam follows Astrid Martinez, who served as Wyoming State Conservationist for 10 years. Martinez accepted a new position within NRCS on July 18, 2022. READ THE FULL Read More…
The United States Geological Survey is reporting that two 3.5 magnitude earthquakes or greater have occurred in Wyoming since Saturday. One occurred in the Jackson area and the other around Ten Sleep. A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was recorded at 6:22 p.m. on Saturday about 19 miles east-northeast of Jackson and 3.5 miles from Kelly. So Read More…
North Dakota will get a share in a settlement with Google over its location tracking practices. Forty states will split more than $390 million, and North Dakota’s share will be $4.1 million. Attorney General Drew Wrigley says it’s the largest multistate attorney general privacy settlement in U.S. history. The settlement requires Google to be more Read More…
Titus Swen, the University of Wyoming’s starting running back, has been dismissed from the team for what the university says are “violations of team rules.” The junior from Fort Worth, Texas, had been a workhorse for the Cowboys’ offense, rushing for 1,039 yards through 12 games this season, helping UW to a 7-5 record. His Read More…
A California man admitted to trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement officials found roughly a pound of methamphetamine in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Livingston. Michael Romie Cervantes, 48, of Fresno, California, was sentenced to six years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. According to court documents, a Montana Highway Patrol Read More…
When tragedy strikes and a Native American is murdered or disappears on one of the 324 federally recognized reservations across the country, the majority of these cases are within federal jurisdiction, requiring federal law enforcement to investigate. And statistics show these communities see a disproportionate amount of violence and missing persons cases. More than 82% of American Read More…
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office has identified a human skull found 18 years ago south of Red Lodge as a Wisconsin man, and detectives have opened up a case to find his killer. Rogers “Roger” Lee Ellis left his home in Wisconsin in 1976 after he was facing legal problems related to an arrest for Read More…
LAUREL – It was an opportunity to try something wild and crazy. That’s what a Laurel blacksmith said about the History Channel show, “Forged In Fire: Gladiators of the Forge.” John Lockie’s passion and knowledge of blacksmith skills transferred over well to showing his talents in the timed competition. “It’s a hobby run amok,” said Read More…
The Missoula Human Trafficking Task Force filled in cracks of the sidewalk down the Hip Strip on April 8 in partnership with other local organizations. It is part of The Red Sand Project, a way to bring awareness to sexual violence. READ THE FULL STORY
With starting running back Isaiah Ifanse out for the spring as he recovers from offseason surgery, it has opened the door for other running backs to step up and take more reps in Montana State’s practices. Head coach Brent Vigen has emphasized the importance of building depth at all positions, especially after last season when Read More…
Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2022, select roads in Yellowstone National Park will open to the public for the season, weather permitting. On Saturday, April 16, entrance fees will be waived in celebration of National Park Week. READ THE FULL STORY
Many in Billings are mourning the loss of Parker Hopkins, a local photographer who was the victim of a fatal accident Tuesday morning on Billings West End. Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder says his office got a call around 8:20 a.m. Tuesday to an area on the 1600 block of South 32nd Street West. Linder Read More…
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Montana Department of Justice is hosting training in Helena for forensic interviews in child abuse cases. “Working with child victims of crime and abuse is very different from working with an adult victim, and it requires specialized training because children do not think as adults do. We Read More…
A Montana judge says, after more than 25 years on a federal appeals court, he’s ready for his successor to be chosen. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced Tuesday that Judge Sidney Thomas, of Billings, has announced plans to assume senior status, effective when his replacement takes office. According to a statement from the court, Read More…
Republican state attorneys general are sounding alarms about money management and left-wing bias at the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). The flagship organization for top state legal officers controls tens of millions of dollars in settlement funds, which it disperses to support consumer protection training and enforcement. Some Republican attorneys general fear those accounts Read More…
Two Native American tribes are suing North Dakota over newly drawn political boundaries they argue illegally dilute votes from indigenous communities. North Dakota’s Turtle Mountain and Spirit Lake tribes filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court last month. It alleges that the map does not comply with section two of the Voting Rights Act. READ Read More…
Grand Teton National Park hosted 3,885,230 recreation visits in 2021, the highest number of recreation visits for one year in the park’s history. Previously, 2018 had the record for the most recreation visits in a year with 3,491,151. Recreation visits in 2021 exceed the 2018 record by 11% and surpassed the 2018 record in September Read More…
Missoula County and the Poverello Center will hold a virtual public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Monday on developing single unit housing for 20 homeless veterans. The Poverello Center bought the Clark Fork Inn on West Broadway, for $1.5 million. The total price is $3.6 million. Organizers are applying for a $600,000 community development block grant. Read More…
It’s been over 10 years since a staff Sergeant Travis Atkins died at the age of 31 in combat. In May 2019, he was honored at the White House with the Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump for his sacrifice. His son accepted the award on his behalf. Atkins gave his life protecting his Read More…
The Denver Broncos announced on Friday that they agreed to terms with former Montana State linebacker Alex Singleton on a one-year deal. Singleton, who played for the Bobcats from 2011-2014, last played for the Philadelphia Eagles and led the team in total tackles the last two seasons, a span in which he started 19 games. Read More…
Most people will need to get a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to be protected from the virus, the head of Pfizer said on Sunday. “It is necessary for most” people, CEO Albert Bourla said during an interview on CBS’s “Face The Nation” when asked if Americans can expect to get annual COVID booster shots every fall. The Read More…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the U.S. Congress Wednesday morning. In a letter to lawmakers, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer invited members of both the House of Representatives and Senate to attend the virtual event at 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. READ THE FULL STORY
Before more than 100 individuals were told to move out of their rooms at the FairBridge Inn and Suites in February, displacing many of them and drawing outcry from the community, Cassidy Kipp of Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana (CAPNM) had already been receiving stacks of applications from people in desperate need of housing. Read More…
Eighth-grader Ellette Whitcomb from Sussex School in Missoula will be heading to National Harbor, Maryland for the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Fifty-seven students from across the state gathered at Montana State University to compete in the 57th Annual Treasure State Spelling Bee. Some traveled a few minutes, others traveled hundreds of miles. READ THE Read More…
In a new twist to a lengthy battle by a preservation group to save a BNSF Railway bridge over the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D. — which has thwarted railroad efforts to build a new structure — the Friends of the Rail Bridge is claiming the bridge in question actually belongs to the Read More…
Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana is looking to partner with a local landowner or donor for a housing project. The nonprofit is seeking one acre of land or more to place three modular units that will hold a total of 17 rental units. Community Action is open to purchasing, leasing or receiving the land Read More…
The Flathead Warming Center has been awarded a $30,000 emergency grant from the Whitefish Community Foundation to replace its roof after it began failing last month, according to a Whitefish Community Foundation press release. The leaking roof was deemed irreparable in February and its estimated cost is $42,000 to replace. The grant allowed crews to Read More…
After eight years with MetraPark, Ray Massie is resigning from his position as director of marketing, and he is saying the community is being misled regarding discussions about private management of the facility. “It is not going to save you money, as a taxpayer, you are not going to save any more money if the Read More…
People in Montana always love a hometown hero to root for on network competition reality shows, and they’ll soon find one in Stephen Yellowtail of Wyola, who will compete in the third season of the INSP network’s reality competition program, “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown.” “One day after one of the episodes, they asked, ‘Do you think Read More…
Russian troops slaughtered a Ukrainian policeman’s family, including his newborn baby and 6-year-old daughter — all while his brother heard it in a phone call, according to reports. Policeman Oleg Fedko, 30, was working in the Kherson region when his parents and partner picked up his kids to keep them safe last Thursday, the day Read More…
Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Troy Downing approved over $340,000 in restitution payments to victims of Metals.com. The victims, ranging in age from 60 to 77, received payments of $14,676 to $50,000. “Victims of securities fraud are often left emotionally and financially devastated. Thanks to the Securities Restitution Fund ─ promoted by this agency ─ and Read More…
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) have launched a new app that allows Montanans to access their hunting and fishing licenses with their phone. The goal is to help reduce the need to secure and carry around paperwork while people fish and hunt. MyFWP will store and display licenses, permits, and digital carcass tags, known as E-Tags, Read More…
The Gianforte Family Foundation will donate $50 million to Montana State University for construction of a building dedicated to its computing school, the university announced Friday. The building will be home to MSU’s Gianforte School of Computing — named for a previous contribution from the Gianforte Family Foundation — and other classes including cybersecurity and Read More…