Featured Articles in News

Obama Administration Under Fire as Declassified Intel Questions 2016 Election Narrative

Newly declassified documents released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard are reigniting fierce political debate over the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation, with conservatives alleging they show top Obama administration officials helped fabricate the narrative of collusion to discredit then-candidate Donald Trump. The documents include a previously unreleased annex to the 2023 Durham report Read More…

South Dakota Officials Warn Public About Jury Duty Phone Scam After Resident Loses $22,000

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and Hughes County Sheriff  Patrick Callahan are urging residents to be vigilant against a jury duty telephone scam after a Hughes County resident was defrauded out of $22,000. The victim received a phone call from someone falsely claiming to represent the Hughes County Sheriffʼs Office, informing them that they Read More…

UM Program Awarded $2.4M to Support Behavioral Health Care Across Montana

A University of Montana program that trains students for careers in behavioral health care recently received a $2.4 million grant to continue growing the program and produce more providers serving Montana’s children, young adults and those in rural and underserved areas of the state. UM’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program was awarded the Read More…

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Why the Super-Rich Are Flocking to South Dakota

For the past 30 years, South Dakota has been a bastion of extreme wealth, a place for multimillionaires and billionaires around the world to stash their money in vehicles known as trusts. As the explosive Pandora Papers investigation has exposed, the world’s wealthy employ complex schemes in order to avoid taxation, and the use of trusts is Read More…

Fully vaccinated Idaho mom loses battle with Covid: ‘It’s so lonely without her’

STAR, Idaho (CBS2) — A fully-vaccinated mother from Star lost her battle with COVID-19 on Thursday. Susan Ward’s death was felt throughout the community. Ward was just 58-years-old. Despite being fully vaccinated, she contracted the coronavirus and was admitted to the ICU at St. Luke’s Meridian. “I miss her, I’ve missed her, it’s so lonely here Read More…

UM professor resigns amid investigation into his controversial blog

A tenured professor at the University of Montana announced through his attorney that he has resigned amid an investigation into his blog. This comes after a student newspaper reported the blog shared homophobic and misogynistic views. Rob Smith’s statement, which was shared on Twitter, said the university previously told him his blog, which he says expresses Read More…

Former Montana Native Women’s Coalition chairwoman sentenced for stealing federal grant funds

Former chairwoman of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition, Meredith McConnell has been sentenced for stealing federal grant funds for unapproved travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, and other unauthorized expenses. McConnell was found guilty at a trial on April 2 by a federal jury on all counts in a superseding indictment, including theft from a program receiving federal Read More…

North Dakota Health Department seeks to augment health care workforce, citing ‘unprecedented need’

North Dakota’s Health Department on Monday urged volunteers and people with medical experience to join the health care workforce due to what it called an “unprecedented staffing need.”   Active cases of COVID-19 in North Dakota have dropped to the lowest level in a month and the average test positivity rate appears to have started Read More…

FBI agents swarm Washington home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

FBI agents on Tuesday swarmed the home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in Washington, D.C., an agency spokesperson confirmed to NBC News. The reason for their presence wasn’t immediately clear. The spokesperson said the agency is conducting “law enforcement activity at the home” but wouldn’t elaborate. The investigation is being led by federal investigators in Read More…

Former FDA commissioner says child vaccine mandates are ‘multiyear effort’

The former head of the Food and Drug Administration said Sunday that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for children will be a “multiyear effort.” “I think that’s a very long way off,” Scott Gottlieb said on CBS’s Face the Nation. “The older kids, the high school kids, the middle school kids, do seem to get into trouble more with COVID. It’s harder Read More…

Plans underway to bring sobering center to Billings

BILLINGS, Mont. – Plans are underway to bring a sobering center to Billings. The Gratitude in Action Foundation said it would be a place for people to sober under medical supervision and then, be offered services as needed. “We have been working on the sobering center for a few months,” Director of Development at the Gratitude Read More…

$31 million in federal funding now available to help Montana childcare providers

The demand for statewide childcare services outstripped supply before the start of the global pandemic. COVID-19 exacerbated the problem. State officials hope a new pool of federal grant money will bolster the availability of childcare services. The state health department Thursday announced the funding is now available through the American Rescue Plan Act. The $31 million can help registered Read More…

Researchers hunt for soldiers’ graves at Montana’s Rosebud Battlefield

It was the early afternoon of June 17, 1876, when a bullet ripped through Cpt. Guy Henry’s cheek. For several hours, he was one of more than 2,000 people fighting in the largest battle of the Plains Wars. The fighting involved the United States government, committed to confining the Indigenous peoples of the continent to reservations, and the Cheyenne and Read More…

UM Law School Dean steps down

MISSOULA — The University of Montana confirmed to MTN News Thursday morning that the Dean of the Alexander Blewett II School of Law, Paul Kirgis, submitted his resignation. University spokesman Dave Kuntz said Kirgis sent an email to UM President Seth Bodnar shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday announcing his resignation. READ FULL STORY

Multiple law enforcement agencies approved for a grant to help train new canine units

HELENA, Mont. – Multiple police and sheriff’s offices in Montana have had grants approved that will help them obtain and train new canine units. The canine units will help local law enforcement crackdown on illegal drugs being trafficked into Montana according to the Department of Justice. “Dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl are coming in Read More…

New Zealand to End ‘Zero Covid-19’ Strategy

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—New Zealand is ending its effort to keep Covid-19 out of the remote South Pacific country as the economic costs mount and after its latest lockdown failed to halt the spread of the virus. Pandemic restrictions in the country’s largest city, Auckland—in place after a Covid-19 outbreak in mid-August—will be eased in stages starting this week, Read More…

Warren urges SEC to open insider trading probe into Fed Vice Chair Clarida, others

Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether three Federal Reserve leaders violated insider trading rules in 2020, when they bought and sold assets as the central bank ramped up efforts to save the U.S. economy from economic turmoil. Warren, who sits on the congressional committee that oversees the Fed, pressed Read More…

Manhattan DA suspends bail for nonviolent cases, says it may increase ‘low level’ crimes

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. told staff at Rikers Island on Monday not to ask for bail in many nonviolent cases, even though the policy could result in additional “low level” crimes. Under the new directive, trial division attorneys should avoid asking for bail when “the threat of confinement under these conditions outweighs the threat to Read More…

Secretary of State’s Office, election officials recognize National Voter Registration Day

HELENA, Mont. – Tuesday, Sept. 28, is National Voter Registration Day, and the Office of the Secretary of State and election officials across Montana proudly recognized it while encouraging Montanans to register. “Registering to vote is the first step in ensuring your voice is heard on Election Day,” Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen said. Read More…

University of Montana reports enrollment increase

MISSOULA — The University of Montana is reporting that for the first time in a decade, more students are enrolled than the previous year. UM officials say a 30% increase in the incoming class, as well as continued improvement in the retention rate, is responsible for the rise in enrollment. READ FULL STORY

Pfizer booster shots to begin in Flathead County

Flathead City-County Health Officer Joe Russell said the health department will begin giving Pfizer booster shots, now that the Centers for Disease Control’s independent advisory committee has recommended certain people get a booster shot at least six months after the completion of their Pfizer vaccine primary series. Russell provided information from the Advisory Committee on Read More…