North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has appointed Lt. Daniel Haugen to serve as interim superintendent of the North Dakota Highway Patrol, effective December 1. The appointment follows the retirement of Col. Brandon Solberg, who is stepping down on November 30 after nearly 6½ years as superintendent. Haugen brings 24 years of experience with the Highway Read More…
(The Center Square) – The city of Milwaukee is offering a $10,000 sign-on bonus for working police officers who transfer to the Milwaukee Police Department. The initiative, announced by Mayor Cavalier Johnson at a recent press conference, is part of the city’s effort to meet its 1725 officer staffing goal imposed by Act 12. “I’ll Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday afternoon visited the new Helena Food Share facility to support the organizations’ food drive ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. “We have so much to be grateful for as Montanans,” Gov. Gianforte said. “This Thanksgiving week, I encourage Montanans to give what they can, including the gift of their Read More…
(The Center Square) – The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents has recommended a number of new and revised policies for its institutions, such as a commitment to institutional neutrality, the prohibiting of DEI tactics, and a mandatory education in America’s founding documents. The University System of Georgia (USG) is made up of Georgia’s Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is inviting the public to submit creative name ideas for its annual Name-A-Plow Contest. Past winning entries have included clever names like Buzz Iceclear, Alice Scooper, Darth Blader, and CtrlSaltDelete. Submissions can be made through the NDDOT website at www.dot.nd.gov/name-a-plow until November 15. Now in its fourth year, Read More…
The Harlem Globetrotters will bring their signature blend of athleticism and comedy to Montana State University’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 7, as part of their 2025 world tour. Tickets for this exciting exhibition are set to go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 28. Fans can purchase tickets Read More…
The Unbreakables Foundation, co-founded by Montana native and entrepreneur Dr. Braxton Norwood, has announced the launch of its inaugural scholarship program aimed at high school students across Montana. The Unbreakables Scholarship is designed to support and uplift graduating seniors, providing financial assistance to selected members of the Class of 2025 as they pursue higher education Read More…
The University of Montana has been awarded a grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) to lead a coalition of five western states in enhancing cybersecurity education for students and teachers. Through the GenCyber program, the nearly $600,000 grant will enable UM to collaborate with other colleges to develop a regional initiative aimed at strengthening Read More…
On October 23, 2024, the Wyoming Veterans Commission announced the appointment of a new commissioner and the re-appointment of several dedicated members committed to advocating for veterans throughout the state. Bobby Werner from Basin, Wyoming, has been appointed as the new commissioner for Judicial District 5. The commission also re-appointed the following individuals: – Rosemarie Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte presented the Spirit of Montana award to Grayson Williams and Chancy Segeberg in Columbus, recognizing their heroic actions that saved a friend’s life after a serious car accident. “As Montanans, we’re defined by our resilience, sense of community, and our willingness to help one another in times of need,” Gov. Gianforte stated Read More…
BOZEMAN – While it’s known for its museums in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Institution also comprises dozens of research and education bodies around the world. And through a unique collaboration with one of those teams, faculty and students at Montana State University are amplifying ecological research in the northern Great Plains. The Smithsonian’s Great Plains Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte visited the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) in Billings on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to staff for their work in supporting youth facing mental health challenges. “From pandemic-related isolation to the pressures of social media, young people across the state and country are facing a mental health crisis,” Gov. Gianforte stated. “It Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today the launch of an investigation involving a coalition of 12 state attorneys general into the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The inquiry centers on allegations that the AAP has disseminated misleading and deceptive information regarding the use of puberty blockers to treat children with gender dysphoria, potentially violating Read More…
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $6.4 million grant to the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) at Montana State University to support workforce development in the railway sector throughout Montana. Announced on October 29, the grant is part of a larger infrastructure initiative funded by the DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration. This initiative is made Read More…
BOZEMAN — Jim Weatherly, whose career includes leading an influential Montana-based engineering firm for nearly 30 years, will be inducted into the Montana Professional Engineers Hall of Fame on Nov. 6. Montana State University’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering houses the hall of fame, which was founded in 2002 to recognize engineers who have made Read More…
(The Center Square) – Noncitizens, including those in the country illegally, are committing crimes, and they’re being charged, imprisoned and convicted for them in Texas. A new report by the Texas Department of Public Safety highlights the extent of criminal charges, it says, not “to allege that foreign nationals in the country illegally commit more Read More…
A human trafficking operation conducted this week by the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), along with the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and the Missoula Police Department, resulted in the arrest of eight individuals, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today. All individuals were arrested on pending charges of patronizing a prostitute, with Read More…
Montana State University (MSU) Extension is set to launch the first Cattle Academy, a biennial regional conference for beef cattle producers, on November 19-20 at the Custer County Event Center, located at 72 Garryowen Road. The Cattle Academy aims to equip beef cattle producers with valuable insights on contemporary topics, current research, and innovative technologies Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines today condemned new guidance issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit (45X), labeling it a “cynical and desperate attempt to get votes before the election.” Daines’ remarks came after the Treasury made minor adjustments to its draft guidance, which he had previously criticized for Read More…
(The Center Square) – Following Florida, Texas sued the Biden-Harris administration Tuesday after requesting citizenship status information about registered voters in Texas, and not receiving it from federal agencies as required by law. Last week, a coalition of attorneys general, including from Florida and Texas, called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined community leaders today to announce a $700 million investment aimed at enhancing affordable and reliable energy in Montana through the North Plains Connector Interregional Innovation project. This initiative will establish the first high-voltage transmission line connecting Montana’s eastern and western power grids. “Access to affordable and reliable energy is a top Read More…
Next month Tryg Koch, a familiar face to many in Montana’s agricultural community, will be recognized by the Montana State University College of Agriculture during the annual Celebrate Ag event. Koch is the 2024 recipient of the college’s Outstanding Agricultural Leader award. Each year ahead of Celebrate Ag, members of the agricultural community across the Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Republican-led House Energy and Commerce Committee released a report Wednesday saying that the Biden-Harris Administration spent nearly a billion dollars promoting COVID-era messaging, much of which turned out to be untrue or misleading. The Congressional report examines the $900 million spent by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, along with several Republican colleagues, has formally challenged new guidance from the Biden administration that they claim undermines religious protections and poses risks to women’s safety in the workplace. In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, the senators Read More…
(The Center Square) – More than 525,000 illegal border crossers were reported in California in fiscal 2024, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. This excludes those who illegally entered and evaded capture, known as gotaways. CBP doesn’t publicly report gotaway data. The Center Square first reported gotaway data in 2021 after obtaining it Read More…
In mid-September, Montana State University (MSU) welcomed 23 educators from 20 different countries as part of the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (FTEA) program. This six-week initiative aims to share effective teaching methods and practices with international teachers. MSU is one of only five U.S. universities hosting FTEA participants this fall, a program sponsored by Read More…
Montana State University (MSU) is set to welcome nearly 1,800 high school and middle school students from across the state for the annual Montana FFA Ag Expo, taking place from November 14 to 16. The expo will feature a variety of activities designed to enhance leadership skills and provide educational opportunities. Students will participate in Read More…
(The Center Square) – The surge of undocumented immigration in the U.S. strains resources far beyond the border, leaving many areas grappling with mounting pressures on social services. This includes hospitals that face the cost of uncompensated care. Uncompensated care refers to services provided without payment, such as charity care and unanticipated bad debt. Federal Read More…
(The Center Square) – Colorado Governor Jared Polis launched the Colorado Hospital Price Finder this week. It’s a tool made available to the public by HB22-1285. It hopes to “connect Coloradans with services, increase price transparency, and save people money on health care,” according to the governor’s office. It complements another state-generated price transparency initiative Polis announced Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging the social media platform knowingly shares addictive and harmful content with children and teens, while engaging in deceptive practices that violate the Montana Consumer Protection Act. The lawsuit follows a comprehensive investigation by the Montana Department of Justice, which found that TikTok presents Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a bid brought by Washington State Republican Party Chair Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, to stop the state from issuing financial impact statements on three initiatives on the Nov. 5 ballot. The three measures are Initiative 2109, to repeal the state’s capital gains tax; Initiative 2117, to Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined staff from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) Region 7 yesterday to celebrate expanded public access at the Isaac Homestead Wildlife Management Area (WMA). “As we work to increase public access across the state, we enhance and protect our Montana way of life,” said Gov. Gianforte. “We’ll continue to keep public Read More…
State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced on Friday that the application deadline for two openings on the North Dakota Board of Higher Education has been extended to 5 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, December 17. The terms of current board members Casey Ryan and Jeffry Volk expire on June 30, 2025. Volk, an engineer and Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Pritzker administration continues to deny the state is losing population. During a panel discussion about pensions with the Better Government Association this week, Deputy Gov. Andy Manar was asked about the state’s economic trends, including population decline. “There has never been more people living in the state of Illinois than Read More…
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is set to unveil a new photographic exhibition titled “Fire on the Mountain: Photographs of Wildland Firefighting by Kyle Miller,” opening to the public on October 26, 2024, in the John Bunker Sands Photography Gallery. This compelling exhibition showcases the work of Wyoming Hotshot Captain Kyle Miller, who Read More…
Montana State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics, in collaboration with MSU Extension, will host the 18th Annual Agricultural Economics Conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, November 8. The event will take place at the Best Western GranTree Inn, located at 1325 N. Seventh Ave. in Bozeman. This year’s conference is Read More…
Governor Brad Little announced today the appointment of Christine Starr as the new executive director of the Commission of Pardons and Parole. Starr brings a wealth of experience in the criminal justice system, having most recently served as deputy director and chief of staff at the Idaho Department of Correction. Her background includes roles as Read More…
The Montana University System (MUS) is initiating a comprehensive national search to find a successor for Waded Cruzado, who has announced her retirement as President of Montana State University (MSU) at the end of the academic year. To facilitate the recruitment process, MUS has engaged the services of Greenwood Asher and Associates, a firm specializing Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is set to host an Attorney General Alliance (AGA) Working Group Meeting from October 23 to 25 in Deadwood. “It is an honor to host Attorneys General from both parties here in South Dakota,” said Attorney General Jackley, who previously served as the Chairman of the AGA. “While each Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is taking fire for its increased focus on migrants, and diversity, equity and inclusion policies while its response to recent hurricanes is under scrutiny. Many Americans assume FEMA is only focused on helping respond to disasters, but a closer look at FEMA’s recent internal documents, spending, Read More…
High school students are invited to register for free mathematics contests taking place on Wednesday, November 6, and Tuesday, November 12, at Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman. The exams will be administered in person on campus, with results submitted online and compared against a national competition pool. The contests, known as the American Mathematics Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Dec. 4 in a case challenging a bill that prohibits gender-affirming surgeries and treatments for minors. Senate Bill 1 passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2023 and signed by Gov. Bill Lee would have taken effect on July 1, 2023. The American Civil Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte recently praised the innovative efforts of Missoula FFA students during the FFA State Convention, where they showcased their work on building a tiny home. “Innovation in education and programs like FFA are crucial for student success and unlocking the full potential of the next generation of Montanans,” Gov. Gianforte said. He expressed Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Tuesday that he is spearheading a coalition of seven attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against a Biden-Harris administration rule. This rule, known as the “Parole-in-Place” (PIP) policy, would permit illegal immigrants to remain in the United States and access employment and public benefits. The Read More…