The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said Duke University School of Law intentionally discriminated on the basis of race in admitting students to its 2023, 2024 and 2025 incoming classes, announcing investigative findings that the school violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Read More…
Kellogg said it will remove artificial colors from all its cereals by the end of this year, moving up a timeline the company set just last August by more than a year. Kellogg had said in August 2025 that it would eliminate synthetic dyes from its cereals by the end of 2027. The company said Read More…
Two former NBA players, Royce White and Enes Kanter Freedom, say they intend to declare for the WNBA draft in 2027, arguing that the league’s collective bargaining agreement fails to clearly define who is eligible to play. White, a former NBA player and Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Minnesota, said Sunday that the league’s lack Read More…
The White House launched a website, fraud.gov, to publish the actions and recoveries of its Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, saying Americans should be able to track federal enforcement efforts in one place. The administration said the task force has uncovered nearly $230 billion in fraud since beginning its work, blocked $56 billion in fraudulent Read More…
Department of Homeland Security purchases facilities in California’s Kern and San Diego counties Private prison operator CoreCivic has sold two Southern California immigration detention centers to the federal government for $1.5 billion. Under the deal, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security takes ownership of the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego County for $739.2 Read More…
Two Romanian brothers illegally in the United States pleaded guilty in federal court to orchestrating a fraud scheme that stole more than $760,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from recipients across multiple states. Marian Ovidiu Dumitru, 37, and Catalin Dumitru, 39, both Romanian citizens who were residing unlawfully in the United States, each pleaded Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury released an analysis of the first filing season under the Working Families Tax Cuts, the sweeping tax legislation President Trump signed into law one year ago, showing American families and workers claimed more than $82 billion in individual tax relief through the April filing deadline. According to Treasury’s analysis, Read More…
Montana State University earned a spot on Forbes magazine’s annual list of “America’s Top Colleges,” which ranks universities according to factors such as students’ return-on-investment from their degrees and their ability to earn scholarships. MSU ranked 345th on Forbes’ list, placing it among a select group of 500 institutions recognized from approximately 2,600 four-year colleges Read More…
The U.S. Department of Commerce has named Andrew Silberstein as executive director of the U.S. Investment Accelerator, the federal office created by President Trump in March 2025 to attract and fast-track large-scale domestic and foreign investments. Silberstein brings nearly three decades of experience in real estate, private equity and investment banking to the role. He Read More…
Montana officially began implementing community engagement requirements for its Medicaid expansion program July 1, making the state one of the first in the nation to enforce the new rules, which stem from federal legislation signed into law last year. The requirements, known formally as community engagement requirements, mandate that most adults between the ages of Read More…
Medicare and Medicaid funding accounted for almost $12 billion of services provided through assisted living facilities, according to a new report released by the Government Accountability Office. The independent nonpartisan agency examined spending for services in assisted living facilities in 2024, the year with the most recently available data. The agency found $3.5 billion in Read More…
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled the federal government can’t hold undocumented immigrants for more than 90 days without a bond hearing, rejecting a Trump administration policy that requires immigration agents to hold immigrants until they are deported. In 2-1 ruling, the three-judge panel based in New Orleans said the federal government Read More…
A Gallatin County man accused of strangling his now-deceased wife has been offered a plea deal that would result in no prison time, drawing public outrage and calls for the Montana attorney general to intervene — the latest controversy for a county attorney’s office already embroiled in a lawsuit over its refusal to cooperate with Read More…
The Justice Department announced charges against eight alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in two separate cases involving kidnappings and murders in Texas and Illinois, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche saying all eight entered the United States illegally between December 2021 and April 2024. In the Texas case, a grand jury Read More…
Billings Police Chief Rich St. John announced Friday he plans to retire Sept. 30, ending a 45-year law enforcement career in Montana’s largest city and one of its most crime-challenged. St. John began his law enforcement career in 1981 as a Billings patrol officer, a role he held for six years before moving into the Read More…
The Montana Department of Commerce announced that $250,000 in grant funding has been awarded to two Montana communities to support public safety and development projects in coal-impacted areas, allocated by the Montana Coal Board. “Commerce is proud to support the people who live in Montana’s coal country,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “In the last Read More…
A former Powell County Sheriff’s Office captain and high school wrestling coach has been charged with sexual intercourse without consent involving a student, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced. John Austin Micu, 42, was charged Wednesday in Powell County District Court following a more than year-long investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a student and Read More…
Two hundred and fifty years after 56 delegates affixed their signatures to the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, the United States is marking its semiquincentennial — one of the rarest milestones a nation can reach — with a yearlong wave of celebrations, commemorations and reflection stretching from coast to coast. July 4, 2026 is the Read More…
Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced that a series of enforcement settlements with entities that failed to properly file required notices of business activity in Montana has added roughly $60,000 to the state’s Securities Fraud Restitution Assistance Fund in 2026. The fund provides financial assistance to Montana residents harmed in cases prosecuted Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced it will accept large philanthropic contributions of publicly traded stock to support Trump Accounts, the federal child investment program launching July 4 to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary. Under the new process, eligible philanthropic contributors may transfer approved publicly traded stock to Treasury, which will then distribute the Read More…
The U.S. Justice Department sued California and Virginia Wednesday over new gun laws that went into effect the same day. Both states used their Democratic trifectas – a Democratic governor and both legislative chambers under Democratic control – to pass more restrictive gun laws earlier this year that went into effect on July 1. California Read More…
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources announced that the Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved $54.8 million in loans and grants for water, wastewater and solid waste projects across the state. The $54,856,749 total consists of $52,400,000 in low-interest loans, $2,000,000 in principal forgiveness and $456,749 in grants to be Read More…
The University of Montana recently selected Dr. Paul Lukacs to serve as interim vice president for research and creative scholarship. Starting July 2, he will take the reins of UM’s “R1” research enterprise, which tallied nearly $150 million in science expenditures in fiscal year 2025. Lukacs will serve as interim for one year, reporting directly Read More…
President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission delivered its final draft report to the president during an Oval Office presentation, capping a yearlong review of religious-liberty issues across education, healthcare, the military and the private sector. Chairman Dan Patrick, the Texas lieutenant governor, and Vice Chairman Ben Carson presented the 224-page report alongside other commission members. Trump Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce and North Dakota Information Technology have partnered to launch Dakota BOT, a new AI-powered chatbot designed to improve how citizens, businesses and visitors access information across ND.gov and affiliated state agency websites. Dakota BOT serves as a digital front door to state government, offering 24/7 support, multilingual assistance and Read More…
The Montana Lottery released sports wagering data for the week ending June 20, reporting a handle of $1,161,501, a payout of $955,500, gross gaming revenue of $206,001 and sales agent commissions of $34,845. The top three sports by share of total handle were baseball at 39.9%, soccer at 36.2% and MMA at 7.7%. The Montana Read More…
An Arizona woman pleaded guilty to attempting to steal more than $7.7 million in government funds by filing false tax returns with the IRS. According to court documents, Regina Durkin of New River, Ariz., conspired with others to defraud the United States by submitting false quarterly employment tax returns to the IRS. “No matter the Read More…
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal by Robb Elementary students and teachers who argued failures by the Department of Public Safety and Uvalde County contributed to a botched response to the 2022 shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers. The court’s order, issued without comment, upheld a February ruling by the Read More…
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision on Monday, allowed President Donald Trump to fire Rebecca Slaughter, a member of the Federal Trade Commission. Trump fired Slaughter in March 2025. Under federal law, members of the FTC can only be fired for a certain cause, but Trump did not include a cause. Justices on Read More…
The Montana Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit recently uncovered more than $1 million in fraudulent Medicaid claims and filed charges in two cases, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced. The investigations were part of the National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a federal effort to combat fraud, waste and abuse in taxpayer-funded programs. “I am Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley’s office issued an official opinion clarifying that public school districts must follow state competitive bidding and design-build procurement laws when entering into construction contracts valued at $100,000 or more. The opinion states that districts may not use cooperative purchasing organizations to bypass those statutory requirements. “Open and fair bidding Read More…
Montana State University’s most prestigious scholarship was awarded to 22 high school graduates from across the nation and the world, including 13 students from Montana. The MSU Presidential Scholarship is awarded based on scholastic achievement, demonstrated leadership and exemplary public service. Recipients receive an annual stipend plus a tuition waiver, renewable for three additional years Read More…
Montana’s unemployment rate ticked down to 3.4% in May, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced, remaining below the national unemployment rate, which held steady at 4.3% over the month. “Since taking office, we’ve been focused on unleashing Montana’s economy to support business owners who create good-paying jobs, strengthen our workforce, and reduce barriers to employment,” Gianforte said. Read More…
Gov. Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of Cassidy Stalley as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, filling a vacancy created by the appointment of Justice Robert Gusinsky to the South Dakota Supreme Court. “Cassidy is a bright, talented and highly respected professional who is deeply passionate about serving South Dakota,” Rhoden said. Read More…
A grassroots group of Laurel residents is asking a state judge to halt all planning and construction of a proposed forensic mental health facility after the state purchased 114 acres of farmland for the project west of town. Laurel Citizens Advocating for Responsible Economic Development, known as C.A.R.E.D., a group that formed in January 2025, Read More…
Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation applauded the U.S. Forest Service’s Montana Tri-Forest Federal Sustained-Yield Unit management plan, which is intended to support the state’s timber industry and improve forest health. “This is a key step to strengthen forest management and the infrastructure we rely on to keep our Read More…
Carlos Javier Padron, 36, an illegal alien from Venezuela, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs across the United States, a scheme known as “ATM jackpotting.” His co-defendant, Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba, 37, also an illegal alien from Venezuela Read More…
Montana Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar will remain unable to work from the PSC’s offices in Helena for now, after a federal judge denied his request for an order allowing him back into the building. The ruling means the commissioner, who represents Billings and much of south-central Montana, will continue participating in the regulatory body’s Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has awarded $600,000 through the Native American Small Business Support Program to help Native American-owned small businesses expand operations, strengthen competitiveness and create lasting economic impact across the state. The program was established through funding appropriated by the 69th Legislative Assembly and provides flexible financial assistance to Native American Read More…
The Department of War’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy announced the launch of an interactive public website tracking the department’s investments in domestic and allied supply chains, mapping more than $6.7 billion in Defense Production Act and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment funding made since 2015. The Investment Intelligence Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on eight individuals and entities linked to procurement and recruitment networks that the agency said continue to fuel Sudan’s civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Treasury said the networks have enabled both sides to expand Read More…
Appointees offer insight on community banking, regional economy, including one from Montana Three community bank executives were appointed this spring to an advisory council by Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President and CEO Neel Kashkari. The Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council provides information, advice and recommendations to the Minneapolis Fed president from the perspective of Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen led a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in urging the U.S. Senate to confirm Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the next attorney general of the United States. In a letter sent to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, Ranking Member Richard Durbin and other committee members, Knudsen urged Read More…
The Justice Department said fifteen individuals — eleven described as illegal aliens and four U.S. citizens — have been charged in Massachusetts in connection with more than $1.4 million in alleged fraud involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, MassHealth, and disability and unemployment benefits. The charges, announced this week, are the latest from a Benefit Read More…