The Center Square) – Minnesota’s special districts reported $5.4 billion in outstanding long-term debt in 2023, while increasingly relying on state funding as pandemic-era federal aid declined. This is according to a new report from the Minnesota Office of the State Auditor. The 91-page report examined 572 special districts that submitted financial data to the auditor’s Read More…
Former Montana utility regulator will lead the $4 billion federal power-marketing agency serving the Pacific Northwest U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced Travis Kavulla as administrator and CEO of the Bonneville Power Administration, putting the former Montana utility regulator in charge of the agency that markets wholesale power across the Pacific Northwest. “Travis Kavulla’s Read More…
Army Pvt. Joe Gandara was a paratrooper who fought in France during World War II. Little is known about him other than that he was the son of Mexican immigrants. However, his bravery and selflessness earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor — nearly 70 years after he sacrificed himself to save his battle buddies. Read More…
Five-day celebration in Helena will run June 24-28 with free tours, workshops and a Capitol Lawn finale The Montana Historical Society will host the Montana History Festival from Wednesday, June 24, through Sunday, June 28, a five-day community celebration marking the grand opening of the fully completed Montana Heritage Center. The festival will feature free Read More…
BOZEMAN – Montana State University, the state’s largest research entity and a designated Carnegie R1 institution, has received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to significantly expand its computational infrastructure for research. The grant was awarded to MSU’s Research Cyberinfrastructure Core Facility, which manages the advanced information technology systems that support large research Read More…
Electric vehicle (EV) owners, particularly those driving Tesla cars, are facing challenges in cold weather, emphasizing the importance of winter preparedness. Reports from the Chicago area reveal that EV owners endured lengthy waits at charging stations due to heavy snow, freezing rains, and sub-zero temperatures caused by Arctic storms affecting the U.S. Complaints include spending Read More…
(The Center Square) – Since April 2022, more than 100,000 foreign nationals who have illegally crossed the border have been bused or flown from Texas to six sanctuary cities. This equates to roughly 5% of those who illegally entered Texas in fiscal 2023 alone, the highest number on record, The Center Square exclusively reported. Gov. Read More…
ED KEMMICK for the Gazette Editor’s note: This story from former Gazette reporter Ed Kemmick was first published in 2006. Questions raised in the article are still being debated. Beneath the signature of William Clark etched into the sandstone at Pompeys Pillar National Monument, an interpretive sign explains the significance of the artifact. It reads: Read More…
Marcus Lashley, University of Florida They go by many names – pigs, hogs, swine, razorbacks – but whatever you call them, wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most damaging invasive species in North America. They cause millions of dollars in crop damage yearly and harbor dozens of pathogens that threaten humans and pets, Read More…
Rocky Vista University (RVU), which inaugurated the RVU Montana College of Medicine (MCOM) in July 2023, announced its plans for the establishment of the Rocky Vista University College of Veterinary Medicine in Billings, MT. The college will provide a comprehensive Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program to train future veterinarians. RVU has been diligently working Read More…
The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, which began with Israel’s declaration of war in response to Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7, marks the longest and deadliest war between the two since Israel’s establishment in 1948. Despite weeks of intense airstrikes and a ground offensive by Israel, Hamas remains largely intact, and more Read More…
Scheduled for a mail-in ballot this March, the $4.6 million levy, if sanctioned, will finance the acquisition of new equipment and the recruitment of additional personnel for Kalispell’s police and fire departments. After experiencing a rise in call volumes and delayed response times over the years, Kalispell city officials are initiating an educational campaign ahead Read More…
HELENA – The Montana Department of Justice is seeking applications to fill two spots on the Tow Truck Complaint Resolution Committee. The positions available are a representative of the tow truck industry from eastern Montana and a representative of the commercial truck industry. The Committee reviews and resolves complaints involving tow truck issues. The term Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced his appointment of Paul Green to lead the Montana Department of Commerce as its director. “As a veteran with a background in business and economic development and strong leadership skills, Paul has my full confidence, and he will make an outstanding director for the Department of Commerce,” Read More…
The Center Square) – Understanding how a home mortgage works, how credit cards and debt can pile up and how to make a budget are critical financial life skills. But many students graduate high school without ever learning those skills, then find themselves deeply in debt for years to come. If a bill sponsored by Read More…
(The Center Square) – A federal judge ordered a California school district to reinstate two teachers who had been placed on administrative leave for not following a gender secrecy policy adopted by administrators without school board or public input. U.S. District Court for Southern California judge Roger Benitez had already issued a preliminary injunction against Read More…
(The Center Square) – The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is holding its second hearing next week as part of its efforts to bring impeachment proceedings against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The hearing will examine the human cost of the border crisis, and witnesses will testify as to how they’ve been Read More…
(The Center Square) — New Jersey has given labor unions the legal authority to file litigation against companies over alleged labor violations despite claims from business groups that it will result in a slew of lawsuits. The legislation, recently signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy, will allow unions to represent workers or a third party Read More…
(The Center Square) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams is considering a curfew at the city’s homeless shelters amid complaints about migrants shoplifting and wandering neighborhoods begging for money. The Adams administration is considering the plan as the ‘sanctuary’ city continues to wrestle with the influx of tens of thousands of asylum seekers arriving Read More…
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen today announced a record number of new businesses were created in Montana last year. At Copperline Smashburgers! in Helena, Sec. Jacobsen reported that Montanans registered more than 59,420 new businesses with her office in 2023, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 by Read More…
New data suggests incidence of violent crimes in the state, revealing a notable decline in various criminal activities based on data provided by the Montana Board of Crime Control. The most significant drop was observed in the number of murders, which decreased by 38.6% from 57 cases in 2022 to 35 cases in 2023. This Read More…
Sarah Ransome, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, claimed Tuesday that tapes of former President Bill Clinton, British royal Prince Andrew and billionaire Richard Branson having sex at the pedophile financier’s mansion do exist — after previously saying she invented the existence of the tapes. Speculation over the alleged tapes was renewed Monday after a trove Read More…
On a single night in 2022, 582,462 people experienced homelessness in the United States, and numbers are on the rise. Since 2017, there has been a 6% increase in homelessness. About six in 10 of the people experiencing homelessness in 2022 had access to emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens, while the remainder Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Texas economy grew at a much faster rate than nearly all U.S. states in the third quarter in 2023. Texas also surpassed national growth rates in all categories and grew faster than the nation for five quarters in a row, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. Real gross Read More…
(The Center Square) – U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is recovering after a New Year’s Day visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Austin went to the Walter Reed after “complications following a recent elective medical procedure.” He did not give details about the elective procedure. “He is Read More…
In a press conference held Thursday to observe Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Governor Greg Gianforte was joined by Attorney General Austin Knudsen, law enforcement officials, and nonprofit leaders. Governor Gianforte expressed his strong stance against human trafficking, condemning the perpetrators who prey on individuals and engage in heart-wrenching crimes. He emphasized Montana’s unwavering commitment to Read More…
The first two years of the coronavirus pandemic had a profound impact on the U.S. housing market as Americans fled expensive, high-population areas to mid-sized cities or adjoining suburbs in lower-cost parts of the country. (See how the cost of housing has skyrocketed in these major U.S. cities.) Low-mortgage rates and high demand for homes Read More…
(The Center Square) – Former President Bill Clinton is among several high-profile names identified in nearly 1,000 pages of unsealed court documents stemming from a defamation lawsuit related to Jeffrey Epstein. The documents released out of the Southern District Court of New York Wednesday evening, were filed by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s Read More…
As Human Trafficking Awareness Month begins, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen urges Montanans to familiarize themselves with the indicators of human trafficking and report any instances they observe to aid the state in combating this reprehensible crime. In a stern message, he warns human traffickers and their accomplices against conducting business in Montana, emphasizing that Read More…
The implementation of a Montana state law scheduled to ban the TikTok app on January 1 has been temporarily halted by a federal judge pending the outcome of a lawsuit challenging the law. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed notice of an appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, contesting the preliminary Read More…
Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Jay Nelson has verified the evacuation of the Montana State Capitol in response to a bomb threat received around 8:30 a.m on Wednesday. MHP troopers efficiently cleared the Capitol, evacuating both staff and visitors. This incident is part of a series of threats directed at state capitol buildings on Wednesday morning, Read More…
(The Center Square) – Starting Monday, electronic cigarette products will be banned inside public places in Illinois. Kristina Hamilton of the American Lung Association said the association has been leading the charge to encourage states to expand their smoking bans to include e-cigarettes. A coalition of partners across Illinois have been working with the association Read More…
The Montana Grizzlies’ thrilling run to the FCS national title game in Frisco, Texas, has not only captivated fans but also garnered heartfelt praise from former teammates who intimately understand the team’s relentless dedication. These ex-Griz players, having shared the day-to-day grind with the current roster, are expressing their immense pride and joy for the Read More…
A beer company that calls itself “anti-woke” and gained popularity in response to Bud Light’s promotion of transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney has announced that its recent campaign successfully raised thousands of dollars for the Riley Gaines Center, dedicated to safeguarding women’s sports. Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right Beer collaborated with Riley Gaines, a women’s sports activist, Read More…
Electric Vehicles are “piling up on dealer lots” as consumers continue buying traditional cars at faster rates, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Wall Street Journal reports that, contrary to expectations from both the administration and the automotive industry, President Joe Biden’s green energy agenda has not gained widespread acceptance among Americans, despite substantial investments Read More…
The IRS recently announced the waiver of approximately $1 billion in common penalties for taxpayers who faced delays in paying their taxes during the pandemic. This decision aims to bring relief to nearly five million taxpayers who may have been unaware of accumulating balances from tax years 2020 and 2021. The IRS had temporarily suspended Read More…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Grand Canyon University (GCU), marking the second federal agency under the Biden administration to take legal action against the largest Christian school in the nation within the past few months. The university asserts that this is part of a coordinated attack by Read More…
(The Center Square) – Four high school female track athletes in Connecticut have stood against the influx of transgender athletes seeking to compete against girls in school sports, likely setting up a defining legal battle of 2024. The U.S. Court of Appeals rescued the legal challenge, Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools, in December after Read More…
(The Center Square) – Newly released data shows the five states where Americans are most and least in debt. Forbes Advisor released the report, which found the five most indebted states by determining the per capita debt burden when considering the state government’s debt as well as state residents consumer debt, such as their credit Read More…
Efforts to convene a special session of the Montana Legislature aimed at addressing tax-related concerns have fallen short. On Friday evening, the Montana Secretary of State’s Office disclosed the outcomes of a legislative poll. Of the total votes cast, 55 were in favor of scheduling a special session on January 15, falling short of the Read More…
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted morning traffic on Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport—two of the busiest airports in the nation—during coast-to-coast protests that concluded with numerous arrests. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that 36 individuals were apprehended at LAX, where the protesters became unruly. According to the Read More…
For those who have ever envisioned owning their own ranch, particularly a piece of historically rich land, a cool $67 million can transform that dream into reality. Situated in the Greybull River valley in Northwestern Wyoming, this expansive property spans 96,000 acres, offering natural grass, freshwater, and natural shelter for livestock. The current listing marks Read More…
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Thursday that Mexican and U.S. officials have agreed to keep border crossings open. This decision follows a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, focusing on securing Mexico’s cooperation to address the record-high migration levels. Earlier this month, the United States temporarily closed several crossings, including Read More…
A 58-year-old Billings woman, Mary Ann Whitecrane, who was previously charged with attempted murder for shooting a police officer during a standoff earlier this year, has entered a guilty plea. Whitecrane appeared in Yellowstone County District Court on Friday, having reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. As per the agreement, Whitecrane pleaded guilty to the Read More…