Featured Articles in News

Treasury Targets Alleged Iranian Abuse of Religious Charity Networks

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Treasury Department is stepping up scrutiny of religious charity networks that it says the Iranian government uses to divert donations, enrich regime officials and finance terrorist organizations. The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCEN, issued an alert under Operation Economic Outcast urging financial institutions to identify and report suspicious transactions Read More…

30th Medical Brigade advances mobile surgical care with M1087 prototype

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Soldiers with the 30th Medical Brigade are rethinking how surgical care moves on the battlefield, using a prototype M1087 expandable van to turn a traditionally static medical setup into a faster, more mobile and more survivable surgical platform for large-scale combat operations. The prototype gives the 67th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment a Read More…

Brown Praises $7 Million in Obamacare Refunds for Montanans

HELENA—More than 14,000 Montanans are set to receive a combined $7 million in refunds tied to overcharges on Obamacare health plans, according to Montana State Auditor James Brown. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services identified 14,093 Montana residents who are eligible for $500 refund checks, representing a total of $7,046,500. The refunds stem from Read More…

Idaho General Fund Revenue Tops Forecast by $90 Million in First Quarter

BOISE, Idaho—Idaho General Fund revenue exceeded the state’s forecast by $90.3 million during the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, finishing 6.8% above projections. September revenue alone came in $39 million above forecast, with individual income tax collections accounting for much of the strength. Individual income tax revenue is running 18.3% above forecast year to Read More…

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Coalition urges 9th Circuit to uphold parental rights

(The Center Square) – A coalition of 17 states, lawmakers and advocacy organizations has filed 12 friend-of-the-court briefs urging the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold that parents and teachers have constitutional rights to know about their children despite public school gender policies. The briefs were filed in Mirabelli v. Bonta, a case involving California’s Read More…

Gianforte Seeks Nominations for 2026 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced. “Our veterans answered the call to serve our country, and many continue that service long after taking off the uniform,” Gianforte said. “The Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation gives me the honor and opportunity to recognize these outstanding men and women, Read More…

South Dakota DCI Reviews Edmunds County Commission Candidate Petition

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said the Division of Criminal Investigation reviewed discrepancies involving Edmunds County commission candidate Juliane Burgod’s nominating petition and her owner-occupied property-tax status. The matter was referred to the Attorney General’s Office by Edmunds County State’s Attorney Vaughn Beck, who reported that the address listed on Burgod’s candidate petition appeared Read More…

Illinois sued over digital tax, fee

(The Center Square) – Illinois is facing new lawsuits over the state’s digital ad tax and social media platform fee. Internet freedom advocate NetChoice – a trade organization that includes social media giants Meta, Google, X, TikTok and Snap – filed two complaints in Cook County court on Friday. NetChoice Litigation Center Director Paul Taske Read More…

Treasury Flags $17.5 Billion in Suspected Health Care Fraud

  The U.S. Treasury Department said its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network identified about $17.5 billion in suspicious financial activity potentially connected to health care fraud, highlighting the scale of schemes targeting Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers. The findings come from an analysis of 5,702 Bank Secrecy Act reports filed by financial institutions between March 1, Read More…

Seattle mayor gives official explanation for police chief’s forced resignation

(The Center Square) – Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle acknowledged receiving a long-awaited formal explanation from Mayor Katie Wilson’s administration regarding the forced resignation of former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes on Friday. He maintains he still disagrees with how the executive branch handled Barnes’ ousting. In a letter sent on behalf of the mayor, Read More…

Registration Open, Agenda Announced for 2026 Governor’s Workforce Summit

The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced that registration is open and the agenda has been released for the 2026 Governor’s Workforce Summit, set for Sept. 23 at the Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence. The summit will bring together policymakers, employers, educators, workforce professionals and community leaders to explore solutions for strengthening Read More…

UM Political Science Professor Selected to Study at Oxford

A University of Montana political science professor will spend the academic year sharing his expertise and research at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions. Dr. Robert Saldin, a political scientist and co-director of UM’s Democracy Studies Program, has been awarded the Leverhulme Visiting Professorship at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The Read More…

South Dakota Highway Patrol Graduates Nine New Troopers

Nine new South Dakota Highway Patrol troopers graduated Thursday during a ceremony at the Larkspur Landing Event Center, joining the agency’s 73rd recruit academy class. Gov. Larry Rhoden congratulated the graduates and thanked them for their commitment to public service, saying law enforcement officers play an important role in keeping South Dakota communities safe. Highway Read More…

Gillman Makes More History as Grizzlies Improve to 3-0

Montana running back Eli Gillman added another chapter to his record-setting career Saturday, rushing for 147 yards and three touchdowns as the Grizzlies beat Utah Tech 35-14 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The fifth-year senior continued his climb through both the Montana and Big Sky Conference record books. After breaking Chase Reynolds’ Montana career rushing-touchdown record a Read More…

Trump Announces $500 Obamacare Refunds for Nearly 1 Million Americans

President Trump announced that the federal government will return hundreds of millions of dollars in Obamacare overcharges collected under the Biden administration, issuing refunds of $500 per person to nearly 1 million Americans across 30 states. According to the White House, the Biden administration overcharged Americans through Obamacare exchange “user fees” that were passed on Read More…

DEQ Seeks Public Input on Oil and Gas Registration Review

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is requesting public feedback on a draft programmatic environmental assessment for its Oil and Gas Registration Program, with comments due by Oct. 1, 2026. The Montana Environmental Policy Act requires DEQ to analyze impacts from all agency actions that may affect the state’s environment. As allowed under MEPA, and Read More…

Illegal Alien Charged in $1.3 Billion Health Care Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors have charged Erekle Gugava, a 33-year-old Georgian national who authorities say is in the U.S. illegally, with conspiracy to launder money in connection with what the Justice Department describes as the largest health care fraud case it has ever prosecuted. Gugava allegedly served as a money launderer for a transnational criminal organization operating Read More…

Pentagon Invests $11.4 Million to Boost Space Amplifier Manufacturing

The Department of War announced an investment of $11.4 million in Defense Production Act Title III funds to Stellant Systems, aimed at increasing the manufacturability and capability of space-based Traveling-Wave Tube Amplifier production at the company’s facility in Torrance, Calif. The funding also supports the administration’s goal of strengthening key space industrial base capabilities, as Read More…

New Rule Would End Tax Breaks for Private Schools That Discriminate

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have issued proposed regulations that would end federal tax-exempt status for private schools that engage in racial discrimination, an action officials said delivers on President Trump’s executive orders aimed at ending discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity. “Under President Trump, this Administration is standing up for Read More…

UND welcomes new faculty cohort

Last week, UND welcomed its latest cohort of new faculty members to campus for an event designed to familiarize them with the University and the wider Grand Forks community. On August 21, 42 scholars gathered at the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration for the University’ annual new faculty orientation. Vice Provost for Faculty Read More…

Schiess Takes Over as Space Force’s Top Uniformed Leader

Gen. Douglas A. Schiess was formally installed Sept. 3 as chief of space operations, becoming the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the U.S. Space Force and the third person to hold the post since the service was created. Schiess succeeded Gen. Chance Saltzman during a change-of-responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., following his Senate confirmation Read More…

Mount Sinai to End Pediatric Gender Transitions Under DOJ Deal

The Justice Department announced an agreement with Mount Sinai Health System that resolves an investigation into potential violations of federal law arising from the provider’s administration of gender-affirming care to minors. Under the agreement, Mount Sinai, one of the largest health care providers in New York state, will cease providing such interventions to minors, including Read More…

$5 Million NSF Grant to Support UM STEM Students

The University of Montana and its partners have received nearly $5 million from the National Science Foundation to expand scholarship and mentoring support for low-income students pursuing graduate degrees in engineering and natural-resource fields. The award comes as Montana employers face growing demand for workers with science, technology, engineering and mathematics backgrounds. University officials say Read More…

Billings Gazette

Billings Gazette Leaves Longtime Home

The Billings Gazette is preparing to leave its longtime downtown headquarters and move several blocks away to Granite Tower, the latest real-estate move by parent company Lee Enterprises as the newspaper chain continues to reshape its business amid years of financial pressure. The Gazette said its staff will work remotely before moving into the new Read More…

U.S. Economy Adds 162,000 Jobs in August, Beating Expectations

The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, a stronger-than-expected showing that offered fresh evidence of resilience in the labor market as manufacturing and construction hiring picked up. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%. August payroll growth was well above the average monthly gain over the previous year. The White House pointed to the Read More…

Idaho Honors Nine First Responders With Medal of Honor

Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Attorney General Raúl Labrador have awarded the Idaho Medal of Honor to nine first responders for acts of courage that went beyond the ordinary demands of their jobs. The recipients include five law-enforcement officers and four firefighters whose actions ranged from entering burning buildings and fast-moving water to confronting an Read More…

Attorney General Austin Knudsen

Knudsen Launches Investigation Into OpenAI

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and 15 other state attorneys general have opened an investigation into OpenAI over potential violations of consumer-protection and data-privacy laws following a security incident involving one of the company’s experimental artificial-intelligence models. The investigation centers on an incident this summer in which an OpenAI model allegedly accessed outside computer networks Read More…

Leadership program for first-year business students at Montana State sees continued success

The day before fall semester classes began, a group of incoming Montana State University business students hiked the iconic “M” trail and continued forming connections with their peers. The college “M” on the Bridger Mountains pictured from Bozeman. MSU photo by Marcus “Doc” Cravens Step-by-step up the dirt trail, climbing over rocky slabs and through green forest, staff from the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship watched the new students get to know each other. Read More…

Montana Supreme Court Upholds Attempted-Homicide Conviction in Trooper Johnson Case

The Montana Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of Jason Allen Miller for the attempted homicide of Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Lewis Johnson, rejecting a series of challenges to his 2025 trial. Miller was convicted in June 2025 after prosecutors said he ran over Johnson in February 2023, seriously injuring the trooper. Read More…