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…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans remain largely mistrustful of the mass media as 41% currently have “a great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, television and radio to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly.” This latest reading represents a four-percentage-point dip since last year and marks the end of improvements in back-to-back years after hitting an Read More…
Depriving a transgender inmate with severe gender dysphoria of sex reassignment surgery is a form of “cruel and unusual punishment,” a federal appeals court ruled Friday, affirming a lower court ruling. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state of Idaho to provide the surgery for trans inmate Adree Edmo. The ruling is Read More…
CODY, Wyo. — Thousands turned out to the Powwow Garden at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyo. Saturday to see Kanye West perform a free Sunday Service. The free service is a different kind of cultural event then the town of Cody is used to. “It was really cool for them Read More…
A Billings teacher accused of sexual assault allegedly exchanged “inappropriate” text messages with two female students, ages 11 and 12, and touched them under their underwear in class, according to charging documents released Friday. Brent Skelton, who resigned from his job teaching fifth grade at Orchard Elementary School, faces between four years and life in Read More…
A California judge has dismissed a high-profile case alleging sexual abuse against Michael Goguen, a prominent venture capitalist and philanthropist whose local contributions include The Whitefish Trail and the Two Bear Air search and rescue program. In a lengthy Sept. 12 order terminating the case, retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Read Ambler, who is Read More…
Law enforcement officials said they’re seeing larger amounts of drugs coming into bigger and growing Montana cities. Capt. Ryan Stratman, commander of the Missouri River Drug Task Force, said the task force sees this trend in bigger, growing Montana cities like Bozeman, Livingston and Helena. “Gallatin County and Bozeman, especially — we’re growing so fast Read More…
A rig was drilling three new wells in North Dakota in this file photo. Oil and gas production broke another record in July in the state. North Dakota again posted records for oil and gas output in July, and Monday’s surge in oil prices could fuel further production gains in the coming weeks. Global oil Read More…
The Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday against former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden for violating his non-disclosure agreements with the CIA and the NSA by writing a new book about his leaks. Snowden’s memoir, “Permanent Record,” hit bookshelves Tuesday. Snowden, who famously leaked classified documents about government surveillance, has avoided prosecution by living in Russia. EDWARD Read More…
Robert Bialecki couldn’t get high-speed Internet when he moved to the outskirts of Great Falls a decade ago – so he figured out how to do it himself, through wireless Internet, and started a company to bring it elsewhere. “I thought, there must be a way to do it,” he told MTN News in a Read More…
On the same day and in the same area, three hunters in Montana were injured in two separate grizzly bear attacks, state wildlife officials said. Officials have not determined if the same animal was involved in both attacks this week in the Gravelly Mountains, which are southwest of Bozeman. The three hunters suffered injuries described Read More…
An internet safety report published by safewise shows that Montana has a lot of work to do to make the online experience safer for children. Montana earned a D when it comes to current measures in place to protect kids online. That’s the lowest grade awarded by the safety and security brand. The cowboy state Read More…
DETROIT — The music and chants from outside a General Motors assembly plant at midnight Monday could be heard from several blocks away as United Auto Workers members picketed the plant. “No contract, no cars!” chanted dozens of workers outside GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, on the outskirts of the city. Others yelled, “No more tiers,” in reference to Read More…
BISMARCK — Five educators in North Dakota are finalists for the state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year award, the state superintendent announced Friday, Sept. 13. The finalists are: Jessica Brandt, Title 1 English and reading teacher at Central Cass Public School in Casselton. Karyn Chiapella, special education teacher and intervention specialist in the Scranton public Read More…
Legislative leadership voted Thursday to create a special committee of lawmakers to try and stem losses from future coal company bankruptcies for both miners and the state. Priorities for the new committee include securing taxes owed to Wyoming counties, getting the Wyoming attorney general’s office to assist county officials in bankruptcy court and trying to Read More…
KALISPELL, Mont. — In August, an all-girls robotics team won at a NASA competition. On Saturday, they showed off their skills to U.S. Senator Steve Daines. The challenge included flying a drone and using a moon map. The moon map pays homage to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing. The girls made lots of Read More…
BILLINGS, MONTANA, September 16, 2019 — The Montana Red Cross is partnering with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during its Day of Service to install free smoke alarms in Billings homes. On Sept. 21, the Red Cross, church members and community volunteers will go door-to-door installing free smoke alarms and teaching families about Read More…
BOISE, Idaho — If a government agency in Idaho violates the Idaho Public Records Law, there’s only one thing you can do: Go to court. Under the law, that’s the “sole remedy.” You get a lawyer and file a lawsuit. It doesn’t happen often, and it’s obvious why not: Getting a lawyer and going to Read More…
A second Wyoming man has filed a federal lawsuit against agribusiness giant Monsanto, alleging its popular weedkiller brand Roundup caused him to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Gerald Kubena, of Casper, alleges in the lawsuit filed last week that he used Roundup from 2009 through 2018 on his property. He was diagnosed with the lymphoma in Read More…
The United States Air Force announced Monday it will be conducting military exercises in parts of the Powder River Training Complex this week. The training complex is a massive airspace that stretches over southeast Montana, northeast Wyoming, southwest North Dakota, and northwest South Dakota. The exercise, called “Combat Raider,” is set to begin Tuesday and Read More…
Whitefish City Manager Adam Hammatt tendered his resignation Sept. 6, stepping down as the city’s top administrative officer after less than three years on the job. Mayor John Muhlfeld announced Hammatt’s resignation in a press release but provided no additional details behind the decision. “Mayor Muhlfeld, Whitefish City Council and city staff wish Mr. Hammatt Read More…
Looming among our neighbors to the north is an invasive species Montana experts say would cause extensive environmental degradation to the Big Sky state, should they ever successfully saunter across the border. And they’re edging closer every year. Large populations of feral hogs throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta have been slowly encroaching on the Montana-Canada border, Read More…
The Wyoming Council For Women announced the winner of its second annual Woman Entrepreneur Award. This year Ariane Jimison, the owner of Pizza Carrello in Gillette received the honor. Pizza Carrello is a wood-fired pizza restaurant that features house-made dough and sauce. Jimison started the business as a food cart in 2011 and opened the Read More…
Kanye West is not just a Wyoming visitor anymore, because we’ve learned he just bought a massive property. Kanye plunked down some serious money for a property called Monster Lake Ranch. The asking price was $14 million for the huge chunk of land outside Cody, Wyoming. The Ranch itself has 8 lodging units and is Read More…
BIGFORK — During the summer of 2017, the Sprague Fire in Glacier National Park destroyed the historic Sperry Chalet. Now, a Montana distillery is giving thousands of dollars to help with rebuilding the iconic structure. Gabe Spencer with Whistling Andy Distillery said, “What better way for us to raise money is through something that we Read More…
WASHINGTON – Congressman Greg Gianforte today opened nominations for the Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation, a tribute to recognize outstanding Montana veterans who have honorably served both our nation and our communities. “More than one in ten Montanans have served and sacrificed for our country. After their time in uniform, many have continued to serve our Read More…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The disturbing number has held steady for years: Roughly 20 U.S. military veterans take their own lives each day. The Defense Department reported a significant uptick last year in the number of active-duty and reserve men and women who died by suicide. The suicide rate among veterans ages 18 to 34, some Read More…
On a normal year, millions of Huawei fans anticipate the announcement of the company’s new smartphones. But 2019 is not a normal year. In May 2019, Huawei was placed on a US trade blacklist, preventing US companies from doing business with Huawei without permission from the US government. As a result, Huawei cannot use Google’s Read More…
GREAT FALLS — The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) made an appearance over the skies of Montana on Saturday night and into Sunday morning. A moderate geomagnetic storm over the weekend produced the aurora. Some people headed out of town to escape the city lights in order to maximize their chances of seeing – including Brennen Read More…
There have been at least three reports confirmed by officials of voting machines in two counties changing voters’ selections in the state’s GOP governor primary runoff. In one case, the glitch was caught on video. Tuesday morning, Facebook user Sally Kate Walker posted a video showing what appeared to be a touch-screen machine changing someone’s selection Read More…
A former law clerk in Lewistown who settled a 2011 lawsuit against a state district judge sued the governor and attorney general Friday, saying an agreement not to reveal details of the initial case should be voided as unconstitutional. Britt Long, who lives now in New Jersey, settled a lawsuit with the state in 2013. Read More…
MISSOULA – A man arrested in Bozeman for sympathizing with terrorist groups is scheduled to change his plea this week. Court documents say Fabjan Alameti is set for an Aug. 28 hearing to change his plea in federal court. A plea agreement says Alameti will plead guilty to two counts of making a false statement Read More…
Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page could hinder a criminal case against former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe if the Justice Department decides to bring charges against him. Federal prosecutors are close to making a final decision on whether to indict McCabe, who is accused of lying to federal agents, the New York Times reported Monday. McCabe’s lawyers met Read More…
WASHINGTON—President Trump said he is considering measures to bolster the economy, including a possible reduction in capital-gains taxes, and continued to press the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates even as he played down warning signs of a possible slowdown. “We’re looking at various tax reductions,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House on Read More…
Walmart is suing Elon Musk’s electric vehicle and clean energy company after Tesla solar panels atop seven of the retailer’s stores allegedly caught fire, according a court filing. The Walmart suit alleges breach of contract, gross negligence and failure to live up to industry standards. Walmart is asking Tesla to remove solar panels from more than 240 Walmart locations Read More…
Sen. Mike Rounds said there’s been a positive development in his wife’s cancer treatment. “After multiple rounds of chemo treatment, we’re pleased to report that not only has Jean’s tumor shrunk in half, a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan showed no signs of the tumor spreading or metastasizing,” the South Dakota Republican said in a statement. He added that “the Read More…
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – On Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture honored five individuals for their contributions to the agriculture industry and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture at the Ruthe James Williams Center on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds during the 107th State Fair. The excellence in agriculture awards are given to individuals who Read More…
Thomas Penley, an incoming senior at Helena’s Capital High School, says when he took part in the Montana American Legion Boys State program in June, he hoped he might be selected to represent the state at Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. “I really wanted to do it, I was hoping and just really worked hard Read More…
BOZEMAN, Mont. — As students prepare for a new school year, Montana’s Office of Public Instruction wants parents and educators to be aware of new trends found in their recently published Youth Risk Behavior Survey . The survey is conducted every two years and given to all Montana middle and high school students. Over 90% participated this year. Read More…
HELENA – There are two new AmeriCorps billboards around the Treasure State. Their goal is to increase awareness of their programs and the opportunities for Montanan’s to serve right here in our fine state. There are eight programs for people to get involved in, which are all starting back up again in September. AmeriCorps offers Read More…
GREAT FALLS — Glacier National Park has temporarily closed access to the Granite Park area due to unusual grizzly bear activity, according to press release from park officials. The Highline, Loop, and Swiftcurrent Trail (from Swiftcurrent Pass to Granite Park Chalet) are all closed as of Sunday evening, meaning that access to the Granite Park Read More…