Gov. Kelly Armstrong appointed Tony Hillig, recreation division chief for the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, as the agency’s new director, effective immediately. Hillig has served as chief of the department’s recreation division since December 2020, overseeing recreation grants, trail management, motorized recreation and safety programs statewide. He joined the department in 2019 as Read More…
Montana’s unemployment rate fell to 3.2% in July, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced, continuing the state’s record stretch of low unemployment and remaining nearly a full percentage point below the national rate, which also declined over the month to 4.1%. “As Montana’s unemployment rate continues to decline, businesses across our state are expanding, creating high-paying jobs, Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley commended the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals after it dismissed a legal challenge brought by suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua who were seeking to avoid removal from the United States. The en banc Fifth Circuit dismissed the case on August 13 as moot after the Read More…
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Board of Directors has appointed Cara Kolb as senior vice president of Risk and Compliance, the bank announced. In her new role, Kolb will be responsible for ensuring bank staff effectively manage risks while rigorously complying with procedures and policies. She will also oversee functions related to data privacy Read More…
BILLINGS — Montana’s first suspected case of CWD in a wild elk killed near Red Lodge was recorded Monday, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. In addition, three deer killed in south-central Montana also tested positive for the disease Monday. They included a mule deer taken on national forest land near Crooked Creek in Read More…
The FBI is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying persons responsible for placing skimming devices on ATMs in Washington, then using the skimmed information in Montana. In early March, the unknown suspects placed skimming devices on ATMs at various locations in Vancouver, Washington. The devices were installed for the purpose of recording information from Read More…
By: DEB HILLNews-Argus Managing EditorFriday, November 22, 2019 Crowds gather around the bonfire, some for warmth and some hoping for a toasted marshmallow or two, at last year’s Christmas Stroll. This year’s Stroll starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29. News-Argus File Photo With Thanksgiving just a week away, can the Christmas Stroll be far Read More…
Kanye West has been denied a permit to build an amphitheater on his ranch in Wyoming. The Park County Planning and Zoning Commission made the decision Tuesday after the rapper changed his plans for the structure near Cody. West told county officials he now wants to include residential space. READ FULL STORY
LARAMIE, Wyo. — The board of trustees at the University of Wyoming has voted unanimously in approval of several new educational programs. The Laramie Boomerang reports voting, which took place during the board’s November meeting, granted approval for a new computer science education certificate, a master’s in “environment and natural resources in society,” and go-ahead for a neuroscience and Read More…
U.S. Attorney General William Barr, already scheduled to visit Kalispell Friday, will travel first to the Flathead Reservation to discuss missing and murdered indigenous persons. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes announced the visit Thursday morning. On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines’ office announced that Barr would visit Kalispell with Daines, a Republican representing Montana, to Read More…
The committees overseeing plans to expand the Montana Historical Society could finalize their report on possible sites for the building by the end of the week. The steering and building committees met in Helena Wednesday, for their final meeting before submitting their report on locations for the Montana Heritage Center. The report will go to Read More…
Brothers James, left, and Chris Wright stand by Café 406, which they hope to open by spring 2020. The restaurant will be Lewistown’s new greasy spoon, where people can go for an omelet, Belgian waffles or one of Chris’s famous “man dogs.” Photo by Charlie Denison PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires Read More…
HiSet, career education, college placement and moreBy: MIRIAM CAMPANReporterTuesday, November 19, 2019 Paula Walker, HRDC adult education lead instructor, sits in her office Thursday. Part of Walker’s job is to ease the anxiety of tests and schedules for those returning to education. Photo by Miriam Campan HRDC’s Adult Education program offers a second chance towards a Read More…
Kylie Jenner has sold a majority stake in Kylie Cosmetics to beauty conglomerate Coty Inc. Coty, owned by the European investment firm JAB Ltd., acquired a 51% controlling stake in the company for $600 million, valuing the brand at $1.2 billion. The Wall Street Journal reports that Jenner will remain the “public face” of the brand. Jenner founded the brand in 2015, and Read More…
HELENA – In a few weeks 27 young ladies from around the country will be vying for the title of Miss Rodeo America and one of those contestants is our very own Miss Rodeo Montana Kayla Seaman. The pageant will be held December 1st -9th at the Tropicana in Las Vegas in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo. She will go through eight days Read More…
In October of this year, the BLM released an environmental assessment for adding more wind turbines to Wyoming’s Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project. BLM Rawlins Field Manager Dennis Carpenter, was quoted then in a BLM press release when he said, “The project fulfils many of the agency’s priorities, including sustainably developing energy resources, modernizing Read More…
By: MIRIAM CAMPANReporterFriday, November 15, 2019 Dr. Cassandra Lopez has recently joined the staff at the Central Montana Medical Center. Photo by Miriam Campan “They convinced me to come out and interview. The job here was just too good to pass up,” said Dr. Cassandra “Cassie” Lopez, who joined CMMC on Nov. 1. When Tori Poser Read More…
BUTTE, Mont. — A rescue mission in Butte is opening a “low-barrier” homeless shelter to take in persons who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Montana Standard reports the Butte-Rescue Mission is opening the shelter Friday at the urging of Silver Bow County officials and community leaders. Modular units in the city Read More…
FARGO — After a year of construction, the 18-story Block 9 building in downtown Fargo reached its full height of 235 feet when the roof was poured Thursday, Nov. 14. The structure that is changing the city’s skyline is now the second-tallest building in the state behind the state Capitol. A flag has been hung on the Read More…
CASPER – Gov. Mark Gordon said he “firmly supports” the state Health Department’s director amid allegations that a 2015 Medicaid fraud investigation was obstructed by various government officials, a charge that has been denied by those involved. “The Governor firmly supports Mike Ceballos, the Director of the Wyoming Department of Health and his ability to Read More…
On any given day, thousands of packages from Walmarts, Targets, and stores around the country travel north along a two-lane road out of Billings, Montana — past the Tumbleweed Saloon, past cows grazing on empty rangeland, past the Busy Bee Cafe and stands of short pines — to the town of Roundup, where they will be Read More…
The owner of three struggling Powder River basin coal mines says it’s negotiating with a new broker to back the bonds required to keep the mines operating after the Navajo Nation said it’s pulling its financial support. Erny Zah, a spokesman for the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), said Wednesday the firm doesn’t foresee a Read More…
Two grizzly bears have been killed in northwest Montana, one by a hunter and one by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. Information and Program Manager for District One, Dillon Tabish provides details. “We had an adult male grizzly bear that was euthanized this weekend near Libby after he broke into a garage seeking a food Read More…
By: CHARLIE DENISON ReporterTuesday, November 12, 2019 Local veteran and American Legion Post 16 Vice Commander John Payne plays “Taps” to conclude the Bells of Peace ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park Monday (Veterans Day). American Legion Post 16 Commander Bryan Armour spoke during the commemoration. The Honor Guard also paid their respects. Photo by Charlie Denison Read More…
Moore’s Mamie Hertel will represent National FFA as the central region vice president during the 2019-2020 year. Photo courtesy of FFA Sat, 11/09/2019 – 5:00am Moore’s Mamie Hertel has done it again. Hertel is the first female from the state of Montana to be elected as a national officer in FFA. Just prior to Read More…
Lewistown women choose military serviceBy: MIRIAM CAMPANReporterFriday, November 8, 2019 Roberta Mae Deal (left) not only served in the WAACs, but was also a model for recruiting more women (not to mention selling Grapette soda pop). Image courtesy of Miriam Deal Campan Army reservist Sandy Alexander, now Sandy Youngbauer, stands at a camp in Saudi Arabia Read More…
The head of North Dakota’s Commerce Department has personally retained an attorney amid a criminal investigation into audit findings of potential state law violations. Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer appeared Wednesday before the Legislature’s Audit and Fiscal Review Committee to answer lawmakers’ questions related to audit findings that agency officials mishandled appropriations and also skirted public Read More…
MEXICO CITY — A Williston, N.D., woman and four of her children were among those killed during a series of brutal attacks in northern Mexico on Monday, Nov. 4, according to a family member’s Facebook post. The onslaught has sent shock waves through two countries and prompted impassioned responses from political leaders. Kenny LeBaron Read More…
KEMMERER, Wyoming. — The Lincoln County, Wyoming Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a couple in Star Valley. A news release from the sheriff’s office indicates deputies were doing a welfare check at a home on Alta Drive just before noon Monday. When deputies arrived, no one answered the door so they entered the Read More…
IDAHO FALLS – Police in Idaho are looking for information after equipment was stolen from a Montana fire crew on their way home from fighting fires in California. According to a Facebook post from the Idaho Falls Police Department, a crew stopped at the Super 8 in Idaho Falls to spend the night Sunday. Sometime between Read More…
In a decade when many American universities are struggling with falling enrollment, Montana State University’s student population has grown, along with its graduation numbers and spending on instruction. MSU’s fall report card on itself also showed that while the Bozeman campus still has more tenured and tenure-track faculty than non-tenured or adjunct instructors, the Read More…
A local businesswoman and activist in Havre has been recognized on the floor of the Senate. The office of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said he recognized Havre’s Dottie Wilson for her tremendous impact on the state of Montana in his “Montanan of the Week” this week. Each week Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting Read More…
Local five-year-old beats cancerBy: CHARLIE DENISON Senior ReporterTuesday, November 5, 2019 Daizee Dae Douglass celebrates being cancer free at Billings Clinic Thursday, Oct. 3. Photo courtesy of Tammy Jo Douglass Five-year-old Daizee Dae Douglass has not had the most ordinary childhood. In June of 2017, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and she’s been going Read More…
By: CHARLIE DENISON Senior ReporterTuesday, November 5, 2019 Lori Byron, left, and husband Robert delivered a presentation on how climate change impacts public health during the Rotary Club’s meeting Monday at the Elks. Photo by Charlie Denison Before every Rotary International meeting in Lewistown, Rotarians recite the four-way test, which they consider an ethical guide for Read More…
By: CHARLIE DENISON Senior ReporterFriday, November 1, 2019 A sign on Highway 87 west of town directs travelers to Main Street, part of local tourism efforts. Photo by Deb Hill Jan Stoddard How do we bring more tourist dollars to Lewistown? Much discussion took place on this topic Thursday morning at Central Feed Grilling Co. during Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. — The Defense Department says a soldier from Montana — 23-year-old Nathaneil G. Irish — has died as a result of a non-combat related incident in Iraq. According to Sgt. Irish’s Facebook page, he was a proud Senior Bronc, attending the high school from 2010 to 2013. Several posts on his Facebook page indicate Sgt. Read More…
A Montana hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear Saturday in apparent self-defense, bringing to three the number of “human-caused” grizzly bear deaths to have occurred during the past week. Saturday’s incident occurred in the Eureka Basin of the south Gravelly Mountains. The hunter, who was not injured, contacted the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Read More…
BOISE, Idaho — Governor Brad Little approved an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) agreement with California to assist with recovery efforts following wildfires. “Idaho has an amazing depth of emergency management professionals that are willing to step up and help our fellow Americans during their times of need,” Governor Little said. “Their skills and expertise Read More…
BILLINGS — Protesters briefly disrupted a public meeting on the Keystone XL pipeline in Billings Tuesday night, arguing the project is bad for Montana lands and the meeting format did not allow for open dialogue. About an hour after the meeting started at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, some demonstrators moved inside to argue Read More…
HELENA, Mont. — The state of Montana has spent more than $2 million on snow plowing so far this year surpassing what costs were this time over the last two years. The Independent Record reported Tuesday that snow plowing costs for the state Department of Transportation increased by more than 250% since last year. Department officials Read More…
What’s your least favorite Halloween candy?By: MIRIAM CAMPANReporterTuesday, October 29, 2019 Bre Warren and Eevee the dog: “Whoppers. I’ve never liked them.” Chelsea Kilgore: “Dots. They stick to your teeth.” Laura Flugge: “Black licorice. I used to own a restaurant and I like real licorice flavor, but not the fake flavor of black licorice.” Ralph Mihlfeld: Read More…
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon announced today he has appointed Greg Lanning Wyoming State Engineer. Lanning takes over for Pat Tyrrell, who retired in January after serving as State Engineer for 18 years. The State Engineer is a position established by the Wyoming Constitution and has a term of six years. The State Engineer serves Read More…
HELENA – Today, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality reached a short-term agreement with the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) that ensures compliance with the State’s mining and environmental laws, and allows coal production to resume at the Spring Creek Mine in Big Horn County, Montana. On Thursday, NTEC assumed ownership of the coal mine Read More…
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — An unpiloted Air Force X-37B spaceplane, one of two winged orbiters used to carry out classified research, made a surprise landing at the Kennedy Space Center early Sunday to close out a record 780-day mission. It was the fifth flight in the secretive Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) program, pushing total Read More…