On the steps of the Montana State Capitol, Governor Greg Gianforte was officially sworn in Monday for his second term as the 25th Governor of Montana. Accompanied by his wife, First Lady Susan Gianforte, the ceremony marked a historic milestone, as Gianforte became the first Republican governor to secure a second term since 1996. Chief Read More…
(The Center Square) − Pornhub will soon be inaccessible in 13 states after lawmakers passed a slurry of restrictions for social media and other internet sites. The bills require certain age verification measures for websites hosting adult content. A total of 16 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Read More…
Wyoming families will soon have greater access to educational choices as the first phase of the Wyoming Education Savings Account (ESA) application process goes live on January 1, 2025. The ESA program, established under the Wyoming Education Savings Account Act signed into law in March 2024, aims to empower families by providing financial support for Read More…
In a historic milestone, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has announced the investment of more than $92 million in public schools, marking a record-breaking revenue contribution from the state’s trust lands. “Thanks to DNRC’s responsible management of state trust lands, this historic $92 million investment will provide our students with the Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today launched the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard. “With over 77,000 safe and effective vaccine doses administered in Montana, we continue to make strides to protect the most vulnerable. We can make even greater progress if the federal government increases our supply,” Governor Gianforte said. “I encourage Montanans to use Read More…
BUTTE – Montana Tech director of athletics Matt Stepan announced the upcoming addition of track and field to the Orediggers’ list of varsity sports. The men’s and women’s teams will begin recruiting immediately and are scheduled to compete in the Frontier Conference and the NAIA indoor and outdoor seasons in the spring of 2022. “We Read More…
BOZEMAN – Montana State University announced that it will extend free asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for students living on campus beyond the first two weeks of spring classes. The tests are offered by appointment at MSU’s Student Testing Center near Bobcat Stadium. Only students living in the campus residence halls are eligible for asymptomatic testing, though any student showing symptoms Read More…
HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday he requested the returning home of Montana National Guard soldiers deployed for security assistance at the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C. In a tweet, Gov. Gianforte wrote, “With their mission complete, I have instructed Adjutant General Hronek to bring our @GuardMontana soldiers home.” READ FULL STORY
BILLINGS — A portion of Governor Greg Gianforte’s proposed Montana budget is aimed at bolstering drug and alcohol treatment, both inside and outside prison walls. He demonstrated his agenda on his first day in office by having Yellowstone County District Court Judge Mary Jane Knisley administer the oath of office. Then, at the top of Read More…
HAVRE, Mont. – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced 250 veterans will receive their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Havre Thursday. The Montana VA Health Care System (MTVAHCS) was chosen to be the forefront of the VHA pilot program bringing vaccines to rural veterans nationwide. “With the vaccines, our Veterans and staff finally have Read More…
BISMARCK — North Dakota’s statewide mask mandate will expire at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 18, as COVID-19 cases continue to drop in the state. Medical professionals have widely credited North Dakota’s mask mandate with reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the state, but Gov. Doug Burgum said on Friday, Jan. 15, he believes Read More…
South Dakota, a state that weathered months of criticism from the media and Democrats for how it handled the COVID-19 epidemic, has become a model for vaccine distribution while other states struggle. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, South Dakota is the third-most successful state in administering its provided coronavirus vaccines, following West Read More…
Smoke could be smelled for miles and the sky blazed red through the night in northwest South Dakota on Thursday, January 14. A grass fire broke out just after 4:30 p.m. in Adams County, North Dakota, just across the border from Lemmon, South Dakota. Wind speeds in Lemmon at the time were 30 to 40 Read More…
JACKSON —PAWS of Jackson Hole Executive Director Amy Moore’s four-person staff gathered in an office around the holidays to open a certified letter inbound from the Lynn and Foster Friess Family Foundation. Only one person present, PAWS Development Director David Watson, knew what was concealed within. “As we opened up the envelope, we had no Read More…
BOZEMAN — A Montana State University nursing instructor has been recognized for her outstanding contributions made to professional nursing. Leesha Ford, clinical nursing instructor on the College of Nursing’s Bozeman campus, received the Distinguished Nurse of the Year award. The statewide award, which was founded in honor of nurse Trudy Malone, is given annually by the Montana Read More…
(CNN)A Montana Highway Patrol trooper is being praised for his heroic actions after pulling a driver from her submerged vehicle in the icy Yellowstone River Thursday. Trooper Connor Wager entered the near-freezing water after responding to a rollover crash south of the town of Emigrant, the Montana Highway Patrol said on Twitter. “After arriving on scene, Read More…
BILLINGS — Montana could be on the cusp of achieving something that has never happened before in U.S. history. In early March, state officials expect to find out if Montana’s population has grown enough to warrant a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. If that happens, it will be a first. “If we Read More…
The new $1.9 trillion ‘rescue plan’ introduced by President-elect Joe Biden includes an additional $1,400 in direct payment to Americans. “We will finish the job of getting a total of $2,000 in cash relief to people who need it the most,” Biden said at an event in Delaware on Thursday evening. “The $600 already appropriated is simply Read More…
The Wyoming Highway Patrol says it’s prepared should any violence erupt at the Wyoming State Capitol next week. The FBI has warned of possible armed protests across the U.S. in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, but WHP spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Beck says they’re “not anticipating” things to “go south.” READ FULL STORY
GREAT FALLS — The powerful winds that rocked most of Montana on Wednesday caused widespread damage – tipping semi trucks, toppling trees, ripping roofs, and more. The National Weather Service in Great Falls said: “This is an extreme wind event even for this area.” The NWS said that three locations set new January wind speed Read More…
(CNN) — They’re watching you, wherever you walk. They know exactly where you pause, when you slow down and speed up, and they count you in and out of the city. What’s more, they’re tracking your phone, so they can tell exactly how many people from your country or region are in which area, at which Read More…
HELENA — Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined a broad coalition of 48 attorneys general in pushing federal regulators to examine recent progress in their fight against opioid abuse. The bipartisan coalition specifically seeks a progress report regarding recent steps taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to combat the opioid crisis, given the new Read More…
PIERRE, S.D. — An annual report documenting alleged violations of free speech on public university campuses across South Dakota turned up only a single complaint, a grievance over “Hobo Days” as the name of South Dakota State University’s homecoming celebration, according to the state’s Board of Regents. Nathan Lukkes, the Board of Regents’ counsel, presented Read More…
RIVERTON, Wyo. — Have you ever wanted to start your own business? If so, then you’re in luck! Central Wyoming College is teaming up with the University of Wyoming to offer a six-week Entrepreneurial Essentials Course starting on January 29 that will provide Wyoming residents with the knowledge and tools to become successful entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial Essentials Read More…
GREAT FALLS — It’s not quite time yet, but some Montana school districts have begun planning to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to their teachers and staff when they are available. According to the latest draft of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, Frontline Essential Workers will receive the vaccine in Phase 1c. The Centers for Disease Control Read More…
Travelers will have a new nonstop route this summer to fly between Las Vegas and Wyoming. Allegiant Air will kick off a new nonstop route from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, starting June 4. To mark the new route, Allegiant is offering one-way rates starting at $49. “We’re thrilled to announce Read More…
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A Kansas woman was executed Wednesday for strangling an expectant mother in Missouri and cutting the baby from her womb, the first time in nearly seven decades that the U.S. government has put to death a female inmate. Lisa Montgomery, 52, was pronounced dead at 1:31 a.m. after receiving a lethal injection at the federal Read More…
Sheldon Adelson, who rose from selling newspapers on Boston street corners at age 12 to one of the most successful luxury resort developers, philanthropists and political influencers of his generation, died Monday night at his home in Malibu, California. He was 87. Adelson founded and served as chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Last week, Governor Greg Gianforte unveiled a revised vaccine distribution plan that prioritizes protecting the most vulnerable Montanans. With Gianforte’s revisions, Montanans most at-risk for serious illness or death from COVID-19 – Montanans 70 years of age and older, Montanans 16 to 69 years of age that have a severe underlying medical Read More…
BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — A man from Boise, Idaho who was photographed dropping down into the U.S. Senate chamber from the gallery during Wednesday’s riot at the Capitol has apologized for his actions. Photos from Wednesday’s siege of the U.S. Capitol building showed Josiah Colt climbing down the balcony onto the Senate floor. KBOI-TV News has Read More…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – January is Human Trafficking awareness month. Since 2016, 31:8 Project has worked with the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force to help 514 people connect with resources. One survivor shared her story publicly for the first time. Human trafficking can happen to anyone. Nikki Blowers walked these very streets hoping to Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Gallatin County is working to get an interim sheriff in place after Gov. Greg Gianforte nominated Brian Gootkin to lead the Montana Department of Corrections. Gootkin had served 27 years with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office. READ FULL STORY
It’s wolf harvest time in South Dakota. As of Jan. 4, federal protections have been lifted from gray wolves, putting management back into state hands. As a result, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) will allow sportsmen and women, trappers, landowners and livestock producers the “ability to harvest gray wolves across the state” as long as Read More…
A landmark decision delivered by the Trump administration late last month gives five oil and gas companies the green light to forge ahead in drilling 5,000 wells over the next decade in northeastern Wyoming. Though cheered by state officials and industry groups, leaders of several tribal nations with enduring ties to the land remain Read More…
HELENA — A Republican state representative from Hamilton revealed late Thursday that he has tested positive for Covid-19 – the first state lawmaker to be known as infectious with the disease during the 2021 Legislature, which began Monday. Rep. David Bedey came into contact with the virus before the Legislature began, said Sen. Jason Ellsworth, Read More…
BOZEMAN — As part of a new contract Montana State head football coach Jeff Choate signed with the university last year, he would have to pay the university $250,000 if he terminates the agreement with more than 12 months remaining on the contract. The contract is set to expire on Jan. 31, 2024. MTN Sports Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte vowed Tuesday to rescind the statewide mask mandate — though not immediately — and announced he is revising the state’s vaccine distribution plan to prioritize Montanans over 70 and people with specific underlying health conditions. Gianforte, a Republican, said he will lift the statewide mask rule once the most vulnerable Montanans are vaccinated and once the Read More…
GREAT FALLS- On Jan. 2, community members around the Electric City are gathering to spread awareness of the reality of human trafficking in Great Falls. Chelsi Lanphear founded Solid Ground when she moved to Great Falls in Oct. 2020 after not being able to find an awareness and support group in central Montana for human Read More…
Free speech advocates are striking out in their legal challenges to revenge porn laws. The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously upheld a law that bars displaying intimate images or video of another person, either nude or engaged in sexual acts, without the subject’s consent. A lower court had thrown out the state’s non-consensual porn Read More…
WILLISTON, N.D. — A Williston, N.D., man is accused of kicking in the front door of a house after his ex-coworker did not reply to his Facebook friend request. Caleb Burczyk, 29, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of burglary and terrorizing filed in Williams County District Court Tuesday, Dec. 29. Burczyk’s attorney Jeff Nehring Read More…
PIERRE, S.D. KELO) – During the week of Dec. 13-19, a total of 696 initial weekly claims for state unemployment benefits were processed by the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. This is a decrease of 230 claims from the prior week’s total of 926. It is a decrease of more than 20%. The Read More…
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon announced Saturday that Wyoming will soon resume normal operating hours for bars and restaurants in the state. Gordon praised the people of Wyoming in a news release, crediting their actions for a statewide decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations. READ FULL STORY
CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – Carbon Power & Light, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and the Wyoming Rural Electric Association donated $30,000 to six fire departments that helped fight the Mullen fire. Each fire department will receive $5,000. READ FULL STORY
Bruce Burnworth used to clip coupons and look for deals before his investment in Tesla Inc. made him a millionaire. He is part of a widening class of affluent Americans who are doubling, or even tripling, down on this year’s highflying stock market. The S&P 500 has soared 66% since bottoming in March in the early days Read More…