The Department of War has awarded $27.3 million to Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company, bringing its total investment in the solid rocket motor supply chain to $191 million since December 2024, as the Pentagon moves aggressively to close production gaps in a segment it considers strategically vital. The latest award, funded through the Defense Production Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of ten state attorneys general in calling on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct a rigorous review of any filings submitted by OpenAI ahead of the company’s anticipated initial public offering, citing concerns about undisclosed conflicts of interest involving chief executive Sam Altman. In Read More…
As the fourth largest state in the U.S. with the sixth smallest population, each agency relies on another for niche expertise, whereas bigger agencies can potentially accomplish everything on their own, said Adam Pankratz, deputy chief of Montana State University’s police department. These relationships start to form during basic training, which 14 future officers from Read More…
Montana has vaulted from 22nd to 8th in national fiscal health rankings over the past four years, according to a new report from Truth in Accounting, a nonpartisan think tank that annually evaluates the financial condition of all 50 states. The 2025 Financial State of the States report credited Montana’s rise in part to revenues Read More…
(The Center Square) – Consumer prices rose by 0.2% overall in January, according to recent data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the inflation rose to 2.4% annually in January, a significant cooldown from previous months. In December and November, inflation rates rose 2.7%, respectively. Those rates were still lower from the Read More…
When Cedar Stellon O’Donnell was in high school in Fairbanks, Alaska, she visited Montana State University as part of a tour of colleges she was considering. She wasn’t expecting to decide on attending MSU so quickly, but she said the energy of the campus during that visit made a lasting impression. “Everyone here seemed proud Read More…
The Department of War said Thursday it is restructuring two key arms-transfer and technology-security offices, consolidating them under the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment in a move aimed at accelerating foreign military sales and strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base. The reorganization places the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the Defense Technology Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte’s Energy Task Force will host a series of public open houses aimed at gathering input from Montanans on key energy issues facing the state. The first of three events is scheduled for Feb. 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Copper Lounge on the campus of Montana Technological University in Butte. Additional Read More…
(The Center Square) – American colleges and universities have received $5.2 billion in foreign gifts and contracts in 2025, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education. The department released data compiled from foreign funding disclosures submitted by American colleges and universities, documenting over 8,300 transactions worth more than $5.2 billion in reportable foreign Read More…
Austin Knudsen is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to review a proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway, citing concerns the deal could reduce competition and increase costs for American businesses and consumers. Knudsen led a coalition of state attorneys general in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Read More…
(The Center Square) – On Tuesday, a judge will decide whether or not to approve a $29 million settlement between the city of Seattle and the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India who, in January 2023, was struck and killed by a police SUV speeding at 74 mph in a 25 Read More…
(The Center Square) – Climate and energy experts have praised President Donald Trump’s recent elimination of former President Barack Obama’s Endangerment Finding, with several noting the freedom the action will bring to the auto industry and others stating this is only a beginning step. American Energy Institute CEO Jason Isaac told The Center Square that Read More…
The Department of War said it is partnering with the Department of Energy on what officials described as a landmark initiative to advance next-generation nuclear power for national security applications. Under the collaboration, a reactor developed by private-sector firm Valar Atomics will be transported Sunday aboard a C-17 aircraft from March Air Reserve Base in Read More…
More than 200 Montana property owners have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit challenging how the Montana Department of Revenue assessed property values in the latest appraisal cycle, alleging the agency relied on sales data outside the statutory valuation window and inflated taxable values. The suit, brought by the Silverman Law Office, centers on residential properties Read More…
The Trump administration on Wednesday pointed to a stronger-than-expected consumer inflation report as evidence that price pressures are easing and real wages are rising, arguing that the economy has rebounded from what officials describe as the prior administration’s inflation surge. In a statement, White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai said the latest Consumer Price Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury moved Thursday to disrupt what officials described as two key financial pipelines sustaining Hezbollah, targeting a Lebanon-based gold exchange and an international procurement and shipping network tied to the Iran-backed group. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Jood SARL, a Lebanese gold exchange company it said operates Read More…
The University of Montana recently named Yoichiro Kanno, one of the nation’s leading fisheries scientists, as the newest endowed chair in its top-ranked Wildlife Biology Program. Beginning in January 2026, Kanno joined the University as the inaugural Siebel-Lewis Endowed Chair in Fisheries Science. His arrival strengthens UM as a national leader in aquatic research, education and conservation at a Read More…
Navy Lt. Carlton Barmore Hutchins was a skilled aviator who did his best to save his crew during one of the worst naval air disasters before World War II. He kept his damaged plane in the air long enough for a few crewmates to parachute out. Hutchins went down with his aircraft, but his bravery Read More…
Greg Gianforte and Austin Knudsen announced Thursday that the state will investigate whether recent actions by the Helena City Commission violate Montana’s ban on sanctuary city policies. The announcement follows a vote by the Helena City Commission approving a resolution that prevents local law enforcement officers from assisting with certain federal immigration enforcement operations. “In Read More…
The Montana Historical Society received a $15,000 donation from Stockman Bank during the grand opening of the bank’s newest Helena branch on Feb. 12. The gift will support the Montana History and Civics Education Endowment, which provides grants to schools across the state for educational field trips to the Montana Heritage Center and the Montana Read More…
Officials at the Federal Reserve this week reinforced a cautious, data-dependent stance on interest rates, tempering investor expectations for rapid easing despite cooling inflation. In public remarks following the latest Consumer Price Index report, policymakers indicated they are encouraged by moderating price pressures but want clearer evidence that inflation is sustainably returning to the Fed’s Read More…
Steve Daines praised the Trump administration’s decision to impose a 132.83% anti-dumping duty on Russian palladium imports, calling the move a critical step to protect Montana mining jobs and counter what he described as market manipulation by Moscow. The Commerce Department’s duty, enforceable upon publication in the Federal Register, is aimed at offsetting what U.S. Read More…
Logan Head is a lifelong entrepreneur and the co-founder and chief technology officer of Whatnot, the largest live shopping platform in North America, the U.K. and Europe. Head will present the next installment of the Gilkey Executive Lecture Series at the University of Montana College of Business. This in-person event at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. Read More…
More than 100 National Guard personnel from nine different states gathered in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington today to recite the oath of enlistment and extend their service contracts. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth administered the oath. Those guard members — from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Read More…
A new $750,000 EPSCoR grant from NASA will help researchers at Montana State University work to limit the impact of atmospheric turbulence in quantum laser communications links between ground stations and space terminals. The project, titled “Programmable Photonics for Quantum Space Networks,” is funded through September 2028. The project builds on optical communications technologies developed Read More…
The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing at Montana State University is set to nearly double its financial support for students after receiving a large grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF. The $2.5 million gift will go toward scholarships for students from Montana and student success efforts. The college and MSU Alumni Foundation expect the money to directly fund upward of 380 scholarships over five years starting this fall semester. The Bedford Falls Foundation seeks to remove financial Read More…
(The Center Square) – A majority of Americans say they prefer President Donald Trump’s approach to border security and immigration than they do former President Joe Biden’s, according to new polling data. The poll from Napolitan News Service found that 52% prefer Trump’s handling of the issues to 33% who prefer Biden’s. The remaining 15% Read More…
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy, are fast approaching. As always, there’s a contingent of U.S. military athletes who have qualified to represent their country on the biggest sports stage in the world. While this Olympics will not feature any athletes from the Navy or Marine Corps, there are plenty of Read More…
(The Center Square) – California has a new law that prohibits law enforcement from wearing masks, but don’t expect it to be enforced in Los Angeles. At least not when it comes to federal immigration officers. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said enforcement of Senate Bill 627 would endanger officer safety. McDonnell, who decided Read More…
In just a few days, the floors, walls and ceiling of Schreiber Gym will seemingly fade away and transform into a vibrant century-old logging town brought to life with music, dancing, a jail, a chapel, a barbershop and more. It’s a tradition unique to the University of Montana, which has hosted the ever-vivacious Foresters’ Ball Read More…
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth today announced the War Department would sever its academic ties with Harvard University, because attendance at the school no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services. “For too long, this department has sent our best and brightest officers to Harvard, hoping the university Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced the membership of the Licensing Reform Task Force, fulfilling his commitment to streamline state government and make it easier for Montanans to enter the workforce. Established by executive order in January, the task force is charged with identifying and recommending the elimination of unnecessary or redundant professional and occupational licensing requirements, Read More…
Corey Mock, Chief Information Officer for the State of North Dakota, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). Mock will serve as an Executive Committee Director, completing the unexpired term of Laura Clark, former CIO for the State of Michigan. The term runs through 2026, Read More…
The Department of War (DoW) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) today announced the launch of LYNX, a new digital platform designed to help businesses enter, navigate, and compete more effectively in defense markets by improving supplier readiness and visibility across the defense industrial base. Registration for the platform is now open at https://www.lynxconnect.io. Businesses Read More…
A class-action lawsuit filed by two Montana property owners alleges the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) used illegal appraisal methods that artificially inflated property valuations statewide, forcing many taxpayers to pay more in property taxes than required by law. Attorneys from Silverman Law Office and Edwards & Culver filed the lawsuit Feb. 2 in Madison Read More…
The South Dakota State Senate has confirmed Governor Larry Rhoden’s appointment of Dean Kirkeby to the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks (GFP) Commission. “South Dakota is the most beautiful state, and protecting our great outdoors is a responsibility we don’t take lightly — we owe it to our kids and our grandkids,” Governor Rhoden Read More…
The U.S. Department of the Treasury this week convened a public meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) focused on implementation and outreach for Trump Accounts, a new initiative aimed at expanding financial literacy and long-term wealth building for American children. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent chaired the meeting and delivered Read More…
President Donald J. Trump officially launched TrumpRx.gov, a new federal platform designed to provide Americans with direct access to dramatically lower prices on dozens of high-cost, brand-name prescription drugs. The platform is built on landmark Most-Favored-Nation pricing agreements negotiated with leading pharmaceutical manufacturers, aligning U.S. drug prices with the lowest paid in other developed nations. Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined a 22-state coalition urging the U.S. House Judiciary Committee to broaden its ongoing investigation into improper influence on federal proceedings to include the Federal Judicial Center (FJC), which recently published a climate change manual for judges that the coalition says is biased. In a letter sent Tuesday to House Read More…
he Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced Friday, Feb. 6, that it has signed an administrative consent order with Montana Resources (MR) to resolve a water backflow incident that occurred in Butte last summer. The agreement concludes DEQ’s enforcement investigation into the event. The consent order details actions Montana Resources has taken since the Read More…
Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Wyo.) announced that Montana will receive $32 million in the latest federal funding package, signed into law by President Trump. The funds are earmarked for critical infrastructure projects, health care initiatives, and community development across the state. “I’m proud to deliver on these commonsense investments to upgrade critical infrastructure, increase access to Read More…
The Wyoming Army National Guard graduated Soldiers from the Field Artillery Weapons Locating Radar 13R Advanced Leader Course during a ceremony Jan. 30, 2026, at the 213th Regional Training Institute. Conducted Jan. 6–30, the course prepared noncommissioned officers to serve as weapons locating radar section chiefs, combining advanced technical training with leadership development focused on Read More…
Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown announced that preliminary federal data indicates a slight decline in enrollment in Montana’s Health Insurance Marketplace for the 2026 coverage year. According to the early figures released by federal officials, overall Marketplace participation dipped modestly compared to the prior enrollment period. Brown emphasized that Read More…
From Vietnamese pho to Greek halloumi flatbread to French crepes, there will be something for everyone at Montana State University’s annual International Food Bazaar on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The event will be held in MSU’s Miller Dining Commons and Rendezvous Dining Pavilion from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. It is open to the public and requires paid Read More…