Featured Articles in News

Commissioner Brown secures more than $160,000 in restitution for Montana investors

4 days ago   Featured, Montana News, News

Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced that thousands of Montana investors will receive more than $160,000 in restitution following enforcement actions against several national brokerage firms accused of charging unreasonable commissions on certain equity transactions. The cases involve small principal equity trades conducted between May 2020 and the end Read More…

Department of Livestock reports brucellosis-affected herd in Gallatin County

5 days ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana Business News, Montana News, News

The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) has confirmed that an animal from a Gallatin County livestock herd within Montana’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) tested positive for brucellosis, marking the second detection of the disease in Montana livestock in 2025. State officials said the affected herd has been placed under quarantine and an epidemiological investigation is Read More…

ND awarded $199M for Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen care in rural communities

5 days ago   Featured, News, Regional News

North Dakota has been awarded $199 million in federal funding to support the first year of a new statewide Rural Health Transformation Program aimed at strengthening health care delivery in rural communities, Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced today. The funding, awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is part of a five-year initiative Read More…

‘Flabbergasted’ WA daycare owner frustrated over alleged Somali fraud in industry

6 days ago   Featured, News, Regional News

(The Center Square) – As more is revealed about the potential daycare fraud within the Somali community in Washington state and the Department of Children, Youth & Families scrambles to respond, one large daycare provider is sharing his frustrations with The Center Square. On Monday, The Center Square visited several Somali-run home daycares in Federal Way, but Read More…

All in: News

More Funding Available for School Field Trips to Helena

2 months ago   Featured, Montana News, News

The Montana Historical Society is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the second wave of its History and Civics Travel Grant program. Thanks to generous support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, the Society has already awarded funding to 46 schools across 23 Montana counties—from Eureka to Hardin—making hands-on history accessible Read More…

Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Ruling Against Texas Congressional Map

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, National News, News

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that found Texas’ 2026 congressional redistricting plan—supported by former President Donald Trump—likely discriminates on the basis of race. The emergency order, signed by Justice Samuel Alito, will remain in effect for the next few days as the court considers whether the new map, Read More…

Attorney General Labrador Scores Legal Win Over Satanic Temple’s Challenge to Idaho Abortion Laws

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, News, Regional News

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced a major legal victory Monday after a federal court dismissed a lawsuit filed by The Satanic Temple challenging the state’s pro-life laws. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye ruled that the group’s constitutional claims were legally flawed and could not be remedied through amendment, dismissing the case with prejudice. Read More…

Governor Gianforte Highlights $200,000 Investment in Great Falls High School House Program

2 months ago   Montana News, News

Governor Greg Gianforte joined Emmy-winning TV host Mike Rowe, NeighborWorks Great Falls, and Wells Fargo this week to celebrate progress on the Great Falls High School House Program and announce a $200,000 investment from Wells Fargo to support the hands-on workforce development initiative. The governor visited the project site to receive updates from student builders Read More…

Gianforte Announces 2025 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation Recipients

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana News, News

Governor Greg Gianforte on Monday announced the 58 Montanans selected to receive the 2025 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, an annual honor recognizing veterans who have demonstrated exceptional service to both their country and their communities. “Our veterans answered the call to serve our nation and continue to answer the call to serve their communities,” Gov. Read More…

Trump Purchases More Than $82 Million in Bonds Since Late August

2 months ago   Featured, National News, National Politics, Politics

President Donald Trump has purchased at least $82 million worth of corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October, according to newly released federal financial disclosures. The information, published Saturday by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, details more than 175 financial transactions conducted by the president from August 28 through October 2. Read More…

Attorney General Knudsen Leads 22-State Coalition Backing Trump’s Chicago Response

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana News, News

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has spearheaded a 22-state coalition supporting President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard units to Chicago in response to violent unrest and threats against federal law enforcement personnel. The multistate coalition filed an amicus brief Monday in Donald J. Trump, President of the United States v. State of Illinois Read More…

Wyoming Business Council Names Chloe Valentine Southwest Regional Director

2 months ago   Featured, News, Regional News

The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) has announced the hiring of Chloe Valentine as its new Southwest Regional Director, serving Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties. Valentine brings extensive experience and a strong commitment to fostering economic growth in Wyoming, reinforcing the WBC’s mission to reverse economic decline and build a prosperous future. A native of Greybull Read More…

DEQ Seeks Public Input on Draft Water Quality Report and Opens Requests for Future Data

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana News, News

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is inviting public comment on the state’s 2022-2024 Draft Water Quality Integrated Report and a new pH Assessment Method for Streams and Rivers. In addition, DEQ has opened a call for data and surface water assessment requests for the next integrated report cycle, which will be submitted to Read More…

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s National Guard Deployment to Portland

2 months ago   National News, News

A federal judge on Friday permanently blocked President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, ruling that the president “exceeded his authority” by federalizing the forces to protect an ICE facility amid ongoing protests. The ruling extends an earlier temporary injunction and underscores judicial limits on the domestic use of military forces. The decision Read More…

Chicago downtown office space vacancy rate jumps to record high levels

2 months ago   Featured, National Business News, National News

(The Center Square) – With Chicago’s downtown office vacancy rate now at a record-high 28%, Illinois Policy Institute researcher LyLena Estabine says city policymakers have become their own worse enemy when it comes to addressing the area’s changing demographics. New data shows Loop vacancies ballooned over the recent third quarter as post-pandemic work trends continue Read More…

Stocks Cool After Record Run as Investors Reassess Economic Signals

2 months ago   Business, Featured, National Business News, National News

U.S. markets lost momentum this week as investors stepped back from recent highs, digesting mixed economic signals and growing uncertainty around the outlook for interest rates and growth. After several weeks of gains, the S&P 500 fell roughly 2.4% for the week, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped about 3%, its steepest decline since April. The Read More…

DEQ and FWP Release Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for 318 Authorizations

2 months ago   Montana News, News

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) have released a draft programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) for 318 Authorization applications and are accepting public comments through Dec. 8. The draft is available on DEQ’s website. The 318 Authorization regulates short-term turbidity, or water cloudiness caused by suspended particles, Read More…

North Dakota Launches Automation Tax Credit Program Portal for Businesses

2 months ago   Featured, News, Regional News

The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced this week that the Automation Tax Credit (ATC) Program Portal is now open for applications. The program is designed to support primary sector businesses that invest in automation to improve productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness in manufacturing and animal agriculture. Authorized under N.D.C.C. § 57-38-01.41, the ATC allows eligible Read More…

South Dakota Attorney General Announces Indictments in Cocaine Network Case

2 months ago   Featured, News, Regional News

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Wednesday that nine individuals—eight men and one woman—have been indicted by a Davison County Grand Jury for their alleged involvement in a cocaine distribution network operating in the county. Three of the suspects are also facing immigration-related investigations. The indictments, returned on Oct. 29, encompass 36 felony charges Read More…

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Over Data Breach

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana Business News, Montana News, News

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) over a data breach that allegedly exposed the sensitive personal and medical information of hundreds of thousands of members. The filing comes as Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown launched a separate investigation into the Read More…

Wyoming PBS Partners with Buffalo Bill Center of the West to Explore the American Frontier

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, News, Regional News

Wyoming PBS and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West have launched a new partnership aimed at sharing authentic stories of the American West through a combination of history, storytelling, and visual media. Their inaugural production, From the Center of the West: A Conversation with Authors Dr. Paul Hutton and Peter Cozzens, features an in-depth Read More…

Grizzlies Survive Late Scare, Stay Undefeated

2 months ago   Featured, Montana News, News

In a game packed with big plays, wild momentum swings, and a finish few will forget, the No. 2 Montana Grizzlies held off Eastern Washington 29–24 on Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium to remain unbeaten on the season. The win pushed Montana to 10-0 overall and 6-0 in Big Sky Conference play, keeping the Grizzlies firmly Read More…

Montana Commerce Tourism Loans Help Revitalize Historic Sites

2 months ago   Montana News, News

The Montana Department of Commerce announced Wednesday that last year $24 million in tourism loan funding was distributed to economic development organizations (EDOs) across the state to help grow local economies, support tourism businesses, and create and retain jobs. The funding comes through the Tourism Development and Enhancement Revolving Loan Fund Program. “The Tourism Development Read More…

Montana State awarded $1.1 million to expand facility for photonics research and development

2 months ago   Featured, Montana News, News

The Montana Microfabrication Facility at Montana State University recently received a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration through its Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program. The funding will support current and new Montana Microfabrication Facility customers to rapidly develop, assemble and test photonic integrated circuits, or PICs. In this 2023 file photo, Read More…

Original Governor’s Mansion to Close for Major Restoration Work

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana News, News

The Original Governor’s Mansion will temporarily close to public tours beginning November 1, 2025, as contractors begin a series of critical exterior repairs aimed at preserving one of Montana’s most cherished historic landmarks. The restoration effort, funded through the Governor’s Long-Range Building Program, will address both the mansion and its adjacent historic carriage house. Planned Read More…

Retailers Scramble as U.S. Penny Phase-Out Forces Price Rounding

2 months ago   Business, Featured, National Business News, National News, News

Now that the United States has officially stopped making pennies, a nationwide scramble is underway among gas stations, fast-food chains, and major retailers to adjust prices and handle cash transactions — a shift that could quietly erode profits for many high-volume businesses. The transition follows President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this year to halt production Read More…

Death threats against ICE officers up by 8,000%, DHS says

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, National News, News

(The Center Square) – Death threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are up by 8,000% compared to the same timeframe last year, the Department of Homeland Security said on Friday. Assaults against ICE officers remain at a 1,000% increase, The Center Square first reported. Targeted removal efforts prioritizing arresting violent offenders are ongoing as Read More…

Bitcoin Heads for First October Loss Since 2018, Snapping Seven-Year Winning Streak

2 months ago   Business, Featured, National Business News, National News, News

Bitcoin was on track Friday to post its first October loss in seven years, breaking a streak that had given the month a “lucky” reputation among cryptocurrency traders. The world’s largest digital currency is set to fall nearly 5% for the month, trading around $66,800 Friday afternoon, as investors pulled back from risk assets amid Read More…

UM Welcomes Adventure Journalist as Visiting Writer in Environmental Studies

2 months ago   Montana News, News

University of Montana alum Cassidy Randall will serve as the 2026 Kittredge Distinguished Visiting Writer in Environmental Studies. As an author and freelance journalist, the Missoula resident covers adventure and the environment in the West. Her most recent book, “Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Journey of the First All-Women’s Ascent of Denali,” recently won Read More…

Hilltop Bank to Acquire Cheyenne State Bank

2 months ago   Featured, News, Regional News

Hilltop Bank announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire Cheyenne State Bank, marking a significant expansion of its banking footprint in Wyoming. Under the terms of the agreement, Hilltop Bank will integrate Cheyenne State Bank’s operations, employees, and branch network, aiming to provide enhanced banking services to both retail and commercial customers Read More…

Dakota Foundry Named One of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

2 months ago   Featured, News, Regional News, Small Business News

Dakota Foundry, a vertically integrated grey and ductile iron foundry, has been named one of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “CO—100 Top 100 Small Businesses in America”, a national recognition that highlights the company’s innovation, craftsmanship, and impact on American manufacturing. The CO—100 designation honors small businesses demonstrating exceptional innovation and influence across the country. Read More…

Montana DOJ, Billings Police Warn of Carfentanil Surge in Yellowstone County

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, Montana News, News

The Montana Department of Justice (MTDOJ) and Billings Police Department (BPD) are alerting residents of Yellowstone County about an increased presence of the deadly synthetic opioid carfentanil. The warning follows a significant seizure by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which confiscated 5,300 pills suspected of being trafficked into Montana Read More…

Montana State University receives grant to support nursing graduates in rural health care systems

2 months ago   Montana News, News

Montana State University’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing and the Montana State University Alumni Foundation recently received a Blue Impact Grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. The $43,685 grant, awarded in August, will help the nursing college collaborate with clinical agencies in rural areas to develop a post-graduate transition-to-practice program Read More…

WYDOT Receives NEVI Plan Approval

2 months ago   Featured, Home Featured, News, Regional News

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s (WYDOT) National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan, certifying that the state’s Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) are fully built out and clearing the way for NEVI funding to be spent on non-interstate highways. Wyoming becomes the third state to achieve full build-out status, a Read More…

Fed Cuts Rates Again, But Powell Warns the Easing Cycle May Be Near Its End

2 months ago   Business, Featured, Home Featured, National Business News, National News, News

The Federal Reserve delivered a widely anticipated quarter-point rate cut this week, lowering its benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%, its second reduction of the year. But despite the move, Chair Jerome Powell sent a clear message to markets: don’t expect a rapid march toward lower borrowing costs. The decision Read More…