CHEYENNE, Wyo.—Gov. Mark Gordon has appointed Nancy Vehr as interim director of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality following the retirement of longtime director Todd Parfitt. Vehr, who has been serving as the department’s deputy director, took over the role effective Oct. 2. She previously led DEQ’s Air Quality Division for nearly a decade and Read More…
BOZEMAN—Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Chamber of Commerce will host the third annual Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit on Oct. 15 in Bozeman, with this year’s event focused on technology and innovation in Montana. The summit will bring together business leaders, policymakers and technology executives to discuss artificial intelligence, national security, precision agriculture, Read More…
WASHINGTON—The Justice Department said UCLA School of Law discriminated against white and Asian applicants in admissions for its 2023, 2024 and 2025 incoming classes, finding that the school continued to consider race after the Supreme Court restricted race-conscious college admissions. The department’s Civil Rights Division said its investigation found UCLA Law violated Title VI of Read More…
(The Center Square) – Fraud could cost federal taxpayers as much as $521 billion annually, according to a Foundation for Government Accountability report citing a federal estimate. The report estimates that improper payments by the federal government have totaled about $3 trillion since 2003. Liesel Crocker, the report’s author and senior research fellow at FGA, spoke with Read More…
More Montana kids who are fighting critical illnesses could have wishes granted, and it’s because of a partnership involving South Dakota. Make-A-Wish South Dakota has joined forces with Make-A-Wish Montana to form one chapter. The new chapter is called Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana. “So really we were presented with an opportunity to look at Read More…
The fight over gold mining in the mountains east of the Paradise Valley hit the Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday, with attorneys tangling over whether a 2011 amendment to state environmental laws is unconstitutional. Justices heard arguments over whether a Park County judge was right to invalidate Montana’s approval of an exploratory drilling permit for Read More…
In an already crowded landscape of yard advertising for political candidates, new signs are cropping up across the valley that have nothing to do with the general election, promoting messages such as “put patients before profits.” The signs are the result of unionizing nurses deciding to go public with their grievances amid collective-bargaining negotiations with Read More…
Veterans Administration Secretary Robert Wilkie visited the Missoula Veterans Clinic on Palmer Street on Monday along with Montana Senator Steve Daines to deliver a message to all the staff members and employees, to thank them for their hard work in serving the growing population of western Montana veterans, especially during the COVID 19 pandemic. “It Read More…
CHEYENNE – If you’ve noticed the new fishing line boxes at some of Cheyenne’s popular lakes and parks, you can thank Taylor Merriman-Fish. Taylor installed the boxes as part of her service project, which is a required step before any Scouts BSA member can earn the prestigious top rank of Eagle Scout. It was only Read More…
MISSOULA — Another feature film is looking for actors in the Missoula area. According to IMBD “Slant Streets” is a memory loss drama about a homeless Native American in Montana trying to put his life together, despite losing his memory. The website says it is in the pre-production stage. There is a casting call for actors Read More…
Montana has a 90.3% response to the census so far. The current deadline for responding is September 30. The national response to the census is 95.8%. You can respond to the census online at 2020census.gov, by phone at 1-844-330-2020 or in person with a census taker. A census taker will have a government ID with a Read More…
Violent crime is on the rise, and not just in America’s major cities. We’ve seen the violent rioting and looting spread to the suburbs in places like Kenosha, Wisconsin. Montana is also seeing an increase in violent crime, according to Montana’s US Attorney Kurt Alme. He joined us recently on the radio, and three things Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Politicians and rail experts are backing the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority spearheaded by Missoula Commissioner Dave Strohmaier. They discussed the benefits of rail service at the Montana Passenger Rail Summit on Thursday, including improved economy, infrastructure and connectivity. READ FULL STORY
PEMBINA, ND (KFGO) – More than $3.5 million in counterfeit US currency was seized Friday by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pembina port of entry. READ FULL STORY
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Monday, Sept. 14 that deer, elk and moose hunters should have plans in place to properly transport and dispose of carcasses this fall. “Game and Fish cares about the future of healthy deer, elk and moose populations. Proper carcass transport and disposal helps to protect our Read More…
Protesters poured onto the streets of Lancaster, Pennsylvania Sunday night calling for “justice” — for a man shot dead by police while charging at an officer with a knife. Body camera footage showed Ricardo Munoz, 27, brandishing a knife and wielding it over an officer’s head as cops responded to a domestic disturbance around 4:15 p.m. Read More…
WYOMING—The U.S National Weather Service predicts smoke from the western wildfires will begin to move eastward into the afternoon filling the valleys in Northwestern Wyoming with smoke. Jackson remains under a fire weather watch with elevated fire weather conditions predicted until at least Tuesday. On Sept. 9, during a COVID-19 press conference update, Governor Gordon Read More…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – The Brother’s Keepers Motorcycle club provided a funeral escort for a North Dakota World War 2 veteran. Harold Krueger of Kulm was honored for his service in the Marine Corp. READ FULL STORY
Idaho is small when it comes to population but very big when it comes to agriculture. Idaho ranked No. 1 among the 11 Western states in 2019 in farm income on a per capita basis. USDA data released Sept. 2 shows that Idaho farmers and ranchers produced $4,562 per person in 2019 in farm cash Read More…
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Being a member of the National Guard is rigorous, both mentally and physically. To make sure those serving get all the resources they need, the Idaho National Guard is making sure to do regular check-ins and host education programs on suicide prevention. The Idaho National Guard says there is no single factor Read More…
As wildfires rage across the state and country, a climate change report over a year in the making commissioned by Gov. Steve Bullock hopes to fight its effects in Montana. Bullock issued an executive order to create the Montana Climate Solutions Council in July 2019, with a final goal of developing a climate solutions plan Read More…
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The $2.7 billion future USS Montana fast attack submarine was christened Saturday at Newport News Shipbuilding, where it has been under construction since April 1, 2015. The Virginia-class sub is a product of a unique partnership between Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. The two Read More…
BILLINGS- Beartooth Pass is completely open on both the Montana and Wyoming sides after being closed due to snow, ice and high winds September 7. The pass is scheduled to close for the season on the weekend of October 12, Columbus Day, however, the date can change depending on earlier adverse weather conditions. READ FULL Read More…
Fargo attorney Joseph Wetch Jr. has resigned from the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education less than two months after being appointed. Gov. Doug Burgum in July named Wetch, a Bismarck native, to serve a four-year term on the board, effective July 1. Wetch resigned Aug. 20, citing “unforseen circumstances” that made him unable Read More…
Families will be able to attend Laurel Schools sporting events. The Laurel School Board approved that plan 5-1 at a virtual speical meeting Wednesday night. It would allow four fans at games for each player, cheerleader, pep band member and coach. READ FULL STORY
The Lewis and Clark County Commission has approved a plan to place armed security officers at the county courthouse. On Tuesday morning, commissioners unanimously supported a contract with the security firm Securitas. The county will pay about $236,000 a year to place three officers in the courthouse on weekdays. The contract is set to run Read More…
Airlines desperate for governments to lift travel restrictions and passengers to return are looking at ways to reassure the public that their health won’t be compromised on a flight. New-look seats and fresh cabins could be a start. One of the biggest companies in that business, Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH, has designed a range of modifications Read More…
LIVINGSTON – Two Park High School faculty members have tested positive for COVID-19 according to the Park County Health Department. The Montana State Health Lab reported the first result to the Park County Health Department Tuesday evening, and that through contact tracing, the additional positive test result was found Wednesday. Livingston School District and the Read More…
The new owners of 5 million combined acres of land and mineral rights in southern Wyoming say they plan to pursue opportunities to expand renewable energy development in addition to existing drilling and mining activity — a potential new source of revenue for the state as a third-party investment company takes over land long held Read More…
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The final field appears set for the South Dakota Legislature’s seats that are being contested in the November general election. All 70 representatives and 35 senators will hold 2-year terms, but many of the races have already been settled in Republicans’ favor because they are running unopposed. The latest list includes a handful Read More…
Department of Education Secretary Betsy Devos has issued a letter to the public stating “schools must be open for in-person learning” as an option for parents. Devos, nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2017, expressed her support and the support of the President for a bill which would provide scholarships to families Read More…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota set a near record Thursday for the number of daily positive coronavirus tests, and has increased its per-capita figures for the infection to the highest in the country. The state Health Department’s update showed that 360 of the 12,629 tests in the past day came back positive, with Cass, Read More…
RAWLINS — After a month and a half of restricted activity and an ultimate lockdown because of a COVID-19 outbreak at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, inmates and their families are concerned about conditions inside the correctional facility. Sylvia Brown’s husband is an inmate at the prison, and she said she has had no contact visits Read More…
Cheyenne – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department needs help from hunters this fall to collect lymph node samples from deer and elk for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing in focused monitoring hunt areas across Wyoming. Hunters are a very important component in helping Game and Fish understand the disease and achieve CWD monitoring goals. Game and Fish Read More…
Congressman Greg Gianforte on Sept. 1 toured Montana State University’s new COVID-19 testing site for students, as well as a lab that tests hundreds of samples from around the state in a day. Next to a big white tent at Bobcat Stadium, Director of Emergency Management Haylee Gerow says students with COVID-19 symptoms can walk Read More…
MONTANA — The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that the eight tribal nations in Montana will receive a share of $160,000 to support small businesses through economic and business development organizations. Each tribal community will receive $20,000 to support the development of Native-owned small businesses through Commerce’s Native American Business Advisors program. The program Read More…
BOZEMAN — A Montana State University professor and her collaborators have received a grant worth nearly $1 million to create a program for Apsáalooke youth that they hope will ultimately spark interest in STEM fields and lead to cleaner water for the Apsáalooke nation in southeast Montana. Vanessa Simonds, associate professor in the Department of Health Read More…
Gov. Doug Burgum welcomed the White House’s Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, to North Dakota Saturday to discuss the state’s efforts to save lives and livelihoods in the fight against COVID-19. Birx, an ambassador-at-large and U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, met with the governor and first lady and held a round-table discussion Read More…
Autility company serving 146,000 customers in Wyoming has taken the next step to bring $2 billion in energy transmission lines to fruition across the state. Rocky Mountain Power announced on Wednesday it had submitted an application for regulatory approval with the Wyoming Public Service Commission, a necessary step before it can break ground and Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. – You may have seen these Strongman competitions on TV, but have you ever seen them in person? Residents of the Magic City got their chance Saturday with Ron Wilson’s Iron Barn Gym hosting Montana’s first-ever strongman competition. When you think about lifting weights, many people may think of lift barbells or dumbbells, Read More…
Montana airports might have been spared the worst damage from the COVID-19 pandemic this summer. According to a new analysis from industry group Airlines for America, Montana experienced the smallest percentage decline in passenger flights out of any state in the country when compared to July of last year. Montana saw a 25% reduction in Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Teton County Health Department confirmed Montana’s first case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, otherwise known as MIS-C, associated with COVID-19. In a press release, officials say the patient is a resident between 10 to 19-years-old. They added that the patient was hospitalized in Salt Lake City, and is now recovering at Read More…
Morgan Rose rode horses for as long as she wanted growing up. She woke up early in the morning and basked in life on her parents’ ranch in Dillon. Rose knew what she wanted to do when she was older: live on a ranch, raise cattle and pursue a career in agriculture. “You think this Read More…
FORSYTH — Lance Lawrence received more than a hero’s welcome last Friday. The Forsyth 5-year-old with the Iron Man mask got a welcome-home parade fit for the superhero he’s become. “The parade was pretty awesome, the amount of people that came out. We’re like, ‘They’re here for you, you know that?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, I Read More…