Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador joined a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general in calling on the Federal Communications Commission to strengthen rules that would cut off scammers’ access to legitimate telephone numbers, the latest step in a years-long multistate effort to combat illegal robocalls. “Idahoans are tired of scammers swindling their families and flooding Read More…
A former general in Afghanistan’s Border Force and first deputy speaker of the Afghan National Assembly’s House of the People has been extradited to the United States and charged with conspiring to import hundreds of kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine and provide an arsenal of military-grade weapons to a drug trafficking organization. Abdul Zahir Qadeer, Read More…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is requesting public comment on revised water quality goals for Belt Creek, following the completion of a $13 million water treatment plant that has begun removing acid mine drainage from the creek for the first time in more than a century. DEQ has drafted a revised Missouri-Cascade and Belt Read More…
Canada has suspended several animal exports from Texas due to concerns about the New World screwworm, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is immediately suspending the export of horses, pigs, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, deer, elk, moose, llamas and more. Imports from other states are permitted, provided the Read More…
Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality will move forward with a court-ordered environmental review of the controversial gas-fired power plant in Laurel, now that a new state law banning regulation of carbon dioxide is on the books. A state permitting agency, DEQ, announced Thursday that it had limited its environmental review of the Laurel gas plant Read More…
Just weeks old, new Montana laws intended to clear legal challenges to coal mining have landed in court. At issue are two laws passed by the Montana Legislature this spring, one that allows violations of water quality standards, a second that allows mining companies to collect legal fees from people challenging state permits. The Department Read More…
Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Michael Poland, geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey and scientist-in-charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. New Mexico is a volcanic wonderland, home to numerous types of volcanic features like lava flows similar to Read More…
Tourists who picked up an elk calf and hauled it in their car to the West Yellowstone police station are being investigated. Yellowstone National Park announced the Memorial Day weekend incident in a press release, noting several animal vs. human incidents. The visitors likely placed the calf in their car while driving on Highway 191. Read More…
Efforts to pass privacy legislation at the state level are intensifying as progress on the issue remains stagnant at the federal level. Montana recently became the latest state to enact its own privacy law, with Governor Greg Gianforte signing SB 384 into law on May 19. Advocates claim that Montana’s privacy law is one of Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 20 states against Mexico’s lawsuit against the American firearms industry. In an amicus brief filed Thursday, the 20 attorneys general seek to shield the law-abiding firearms manufacturers within their borders. The Mexican government is pursuing a $10 billion claim against multiple prominent U.S. firearms manufacturers, Read More…
The state of Montana is facing a setback in its attempt to enforce a newly created ban an abortion procedure used in the state after 15 weeks’ gestational age. District Court Judge Mike Menahan issued an order preventing the ban from taking effect, stating that Planned Parenthood of Montana has demonstrated “immediate and irreparable harm” Read More…
Over the past three decades, the local adoration for Homeboy Industries has nearly been matched by the nonprofit’s innovation and ability to form high-level connections. Founded by Father Gregory Boyle in East Los Angeles in 1988 with the aim to help gang members change their lives, it has gained legendary status. The program that early on was Read More…
The Federal Reserve raised the target range for its benchmark interest rate by 0.25% on Wednesday while leaving its options open on future rate hikes. The central bank’s move pushed its benchmark policy rate, the fed funds rate, to a new range of 5%-5.25%, the highest since September 2007. The Fed said future rate hikes Read More…
A McDonald’s franchisee in Kentucky employed two 10-year-old children in violation of federal labor laws, the Department of Labor said Tuesday. Bauer Food, LLC, a Louisville-based operator of 10 McDonald’s franchise locations across two states, employed the children, the DOL said in a news release. Officials said the children were not paid, yet sometimes worked as late Read More…
The City of Williston has named two finalists for their city administrator position. Interim Administrator Shawn Wenko and Airport Director Anthony Dudas were selected by the city and a recruiting firm. A total of 12 applicants filed for the position. Two other finalists withdrew from the process last week. The recruitment process involved semifinalists completing a detailed Read More…
Seven agencies requested thousands of dollars in county funding during the Park County Commission’s May 2 meeting. Representatives of Crisis Intervention Services, Powell Economic Partnership, Powell Senior Center, Park County Animal Shelter, Forward Cody, Caring for Powell’s Animals, and Meeteetse Senior Center appeared before the commission Tuesday. READ THE FULL STORY: https://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_cab07cfa-e9e3-11ed-88cd-4b21ba3c02a2.html
State and federal wildlife agencies in Wyoming are investigating a case of a grizzly that was found shot dead, 14 miles outside of Yellowstone National Park. A wildlife photographer in Wyoming came across a bear that had been killed. Pictures have been posted on social media, and it’s not clear exactly what happened. READ THE Read More…
Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) troopers had a big drug bust in Yellowstone County where they seized approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine. According to Colonel Steven Lavin, on April 28th a MHP trooper stopped an out of state vehicle for a traffic violation. The trooper saw indications of drug smuggling and applied for and was granted Read More…
A year after being named the top principal in Montana, Jeff Uhren is leaving Billings Senior High for a new career, which means big changes are coming to the school. There’s a reason why Uhren was named Montana Principal of the Year in 2022. “He is super, super passionate about what he does, and he Read More…
Thousands of dollars will soon make its way into the greater Helena area to help support children aged zero to five. “…the research shows that children who are supported early on do better, out, do better later on in life. They have better outcomes in so many different areas of their life,” says Zero to Read More…
In his initial bid for Senate, Jon Tester, denounced legislators who hire lobbyists, vowing to end the “revolving door.” However, as he seeks reelection to his fourth term, Tester’s campaign is being managed by a former lobbyist. On April 4, Tester expressed his utmost satisfaction in hiring Shelbi Dantic, a former lobbyist, as his campaign Read More…
Jaron Fry is one of Wyoming Department of Transportation’s snow plow drivers, but he used to be a truck driver in a former life. As he was working 12-hour shifts to plow roads in the Evanston area, his eye wandered often to all of the stranded truck drivers. He knew exactly how they were feeling. Truck Read More…
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development in Montana and Wheatland Memorial Healthcare are pleased to announce that the USDA will invest more than $19 million to build a new health care facility in Harlowton. “Everyone deserves quality, accessible health care, no matter where they live, which is why it is critical that we invest in Read More…
The Montana Highway Patrol trooper who was run over by a suspect’s vehicle following a pursuit near Eureka is headed out of state to continue his recovery. Trooper Lewis Johnson was seriously injured on Feb. 16 and was flown by ALERT helicopter to Kalispell’s Logan Health to receive life-saving care. He suffered multiple critical injuries, Read More…
It’s good to have peace of mind knowing that where you live is a safe environment for you, your family, friends, and neighbors. Living in the Peace Garden State should offer some reassurance, so let’s take a look at the ten cities that are considered the safest in North Dakota thanks to some research done Read More…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced Jackie Byam as the Wyoming State Conservationist. She will begin serving in this position on Feb. 26. Byam follows Astrid Martinez, who served as Wyoming State Conservationist for 10 years. Martinez accepted a new position within NRCS on July 18, 2022. READ THE FULL Read More…
The United States Geological Survey is reporting that two 3.5 magnitude earthquakes or greater have occurred in Wyoming since Saturday. One occurred in the Jackson area and the other around Ten Sleep. A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was recorded at 6:22 p.m. on Saturday about 19 miles east-northeast of Jackson and 3.5 miles from Kelly. So Read More…
North Dakota will get a share in a settlement with Google over its location tracking practices. Forty states will split more than $390 million, and North Dakota’s share will be $4.1 million. Attorney General Drew Wrigley says it’s the largest multistate attorney general privacy settlement in U.S. history. The settlement requires Google to be more Read More…
Titus Swen, the University of Wyoming’s starting running back, has been dismissed from the team for what the university says are “violations of team rules.” The junior from Fort Worth, Texas, had been a workhorse for the Cowboys’ offense, rushing for 1,039 yards through 12 games this season, helping UW to a 7-5 record. His Read More…
A California man admitted to trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement officials found roughly a pound of methamphetamine in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Livingston. Michael Romie Cervantes, 48, of Fresno, California, was sentenced to six years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. According to court documents, a Montana Highway Patrol Read More…
When tragedy strikes and a Native American is murdered or disappears on one of the 324 federally recognized reservations across the country, the majority of these cases are within federal jurisdiction, requiring federal law enforcement to investigate. And statistics show these communities see a disproportionate amount of violence and missing persons cases. More than 82% of American Read More…
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office has identified a human skull found 18 years ago south of Red Lodge as a Wisconsin man, and detectives have opened up a case to find his killer. Rogers “Roger” Lee Ellis left his home in Wisconsin in 1976 after he was facing legal problems related to an arrest for Read More…
Domestic cattle and bison – America’s national mammal – have more in common than previously known, according to two recent scientific studies. In May, it was reported that even iconic conservation herds like Yellowstone National Park’s and the bison in Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada have a small amount of cattle genes, according to Read More…
LAUREL – It was an opportunity to try something wild and crazy. That’s what a Laurel blacksmith said about the History Channel show, “Forged In Fire: Gladiators of the Forge.” John Lockie’s passion and knowledge of blacksmith skills transferred over well to showing his talents in the timed competition. “It’s a hobby run amok,” said Read More…
The Missoula Human Trafficking Task Force filled in cracks of the sidewalk down the Hip Strip on April 8 in partnership with other local organizations. It is part of The Red Sand Project, a way to bring awareness to sexual violence. READ THE FULL STORY
With starting running back Isaiah Ifanse out for the spring as he recovers from offseason surgery, it has opened the door for other running backs to step up and take more reps in Montana State’s practices. Head coach Brent Vigen has emphasized the importance of building depth at all positions, especially after last season when Read More…
Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2022, select roads in Yellowstone National Park will open to the public for the season, weather permitting. On Saturday, April 16, entrance fees will be waived in celebration of National Park Week. READ THE FULL STORY
Many in Billings are mourning the loss of Parker Hopkins, a local photographer who was the victim of a fatal accident Tuesday morning on Billings West End. Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder says his office got a call around 8:20 a.m. Tuesday to an area on the 1600 block of South 32nd Street West. Linder Read More…
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Montana Department of Justice is hosting training in Helena for forensic interviews in child abuse cases. “Working with child victims of crime and abuse is very different from working with an adult victim, and it requires specialized training because children do not think as adults do. We Read More…
A Montana judge says, after more than 25 years on a federal appeals court, he’s ready for his successor to be chosen. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced Tuesday that Judge Sidney Thomas, of Billings, has announced plans to assume senior status, effective when his replacement takes office. According to a statement from the court, Read More…
Republican state attorneys general are sounding alarms about money management and left-wing bias at the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). The flagship organization for top state legal officers controls tens of millions of dollars in settlement funds, which it disperses to support consumer protection training and enforcement. Some Republican attorneys general fear those accounts Read More…
Two Native American tribes are suing North Dakota over newly drawn political boundaries they argue illegally dilute votes from indigenous communities. North Dakota’s Turtle Mountain and Spirit Lake tribes filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court last month. It alleges that the map does not comply with section two of the Voting Rights Act. READ Read More…
Grand Teton National Park hosted 3,885,230 recreation visits in 2021, the highest number of recreation visits for one year in the park’s history. Previously, 2018 had the record for the most recreation visits in a year with 3,491,151. Recreation visits in 2021 exceed the 2018 record by 11% and surpassed the 2018 record in September Read More…
Missoula County and the Poverello Center will hold a virtual public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Monday on developing single unit housing for 20 homeless veterans. The Poverello Center bought the Clark Fork Inn on West Broadway, for $1.5 million. The total price is $3.6 million. Organizers are applying for a $600,000 community development block grant. Read More…