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…
Workers for the general contractor toil eight days straight, in 10-hour shifts, before hiking the 6-plus miles out for six days off. They’re replaced during that time by another crew from Dick Anderson Construction of Great Falls. That rotation means the ongoing work in Glacier National Park to rebuild the historic Sperry Chalet dormitory, perched Read More…
Idaho officials are focusing their attention on the state’s growing opioids and substance abuse problems. The Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Advisory Group met for the first time Thursday, with Gov. Brad Little (R) calling it a “very comprehensive and complex problem.” “I’ve looked, observed, talked about, observed from a distance, and sometimes, I’ve observed Read More…
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said in a Tuesday news release that the state is “doing everything we can to launch the hemp industry.” The Wyoming Legislature earlier this year passed House Bill 171, authorizing the launching of a state hemp program. The action followed the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in Congress, which formally removed hemp Read More…
The collapse of an irrigation tunnel near Fort Laramie could cost Wyoming and Nebraska roughly $89 million in economic losses if affected crops are a total loss, according to a new report by researchers from the two states’ universities. “If farmers are unable to sell these commodities, there will be a negative impact not only Read More…
HELENA, Mont. — A judge has sentenced a Montana man to 80 years in prison without the possibility of parole for a stabbing outside a bar. The Helena Independent Republic reports the attack happened outside Jesters Bar in 2017. Andrew Pierce Lake stabbed the victim seven times before going home, getting rid of the knife and Read More…
Nearly 30 people from 20 countries raised their right hand on Thursday and swore allegiance to the United States before waving the Stars and Stripes to celebrate their achievement as the nation’s newest citizens. In a ceremony that marked many firsts, and with a diverse crowd looking on, the 28 new Americans took their “obligation Read More…
With school starting up soon, school districts in Williams County are still trying to solve overcrowding issues. Monday afternoon, school officials, and other city and county officials met with the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the State’s Superintendent. Two school districts in Williams County have been unsuccessful at convincing voters to support tax increases to Read More…
Police in Wyoming are recommending sex abuse charges against two unnamed Catholic leaders in the state, a move that comes roughly a year after police reopened a case involving accusations of sex abuse by a local bishop who is now retired. “An investigation into sex abuse taking place in Cheyenne by members of the Catholic Read More…
1. DUBBED “Big Sky Country,” Montana is the third-least densely populated state in the United States. Forty-six of its 56 counties are considered “frontier counties,” and average just 6.86 people per square mile of land. 2. What it lacks in human population numbers, it makes up for in cattle. Montana has more than double the number of cows Read More…
MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana is ranked the fourth most dangerous state for kids online. The reason, according to a Century Link study, is because of “one law simply defining what bullying is, nothing else.” The study adds there is a “relatively low” victim rate of 8.21 per 100,000 residents. Century Link says more than one out of every Read More…
Olive Garden’s Never Ending Pasta Pass is back for a sixth year, and this time they’ve got an upgrade available: a $500 Lifetime Pasta Pass that will be available to 50 fans. The Never Ending Pasta Pass, which costs $100 plus tax, offers guests nine weeks of unlimited pastas and sauces from Olive Garden’s Never Read More…
The last time reporters and photographers scrambled after the Washington power lawyer Greg Craig as he entered the federal courthouse blocks from the Capitol, he was shepherding a high-profile defendant — Gen. James “Hoss” Cartwright — to face charges of lying in a leak investigation. On Monday, the press scrum will again descend on the Read More…
GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming officials have approved a $2 million state loan to help renovate an events center. The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board on Thursday unanimously approved the loan for remodeling parts of the Cam-Plex in Gillette. The Gillette News-Record reports the work began in July and will take about a year. The Read More…
Montana State University President Waded Cruzado always sounds upbeat, but she talks about the outlook for the upcoming school year as especially exciting. “We are very, very happy because we have many things to celebrate this coming year,” Cruzado said. Cruzado, 59, MSU’s first female president, spoke in an interview this week in the Montana Read More…
“We’re not going to be doing business with Huawei,” President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday, according to Bloomberg. Trump’s announcement will prohibit US agencies and companies from buying Huawei telecoms products, unless the US and China can come to an agreement over trade. Trump said “China wants to do something, but I’m not doing Read More…
HELENA — Helena non-profit Executives and Directors met Monday afternoon at the Power Block building with Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte. The roundtable meeting was held with intent to discuss concerns by each non-profit from Helena Food Share to Habitat for Humanity. Congressman Gianforte listened intently as they went around the table highlight this year’s achievements Read More…
GREAT FALLS — Second Lieutenant Jenna Schaack recently graduated from the United States Armor School in Fort Benning, Georgia, and is now the first female Armor Officer in the history of the Montana Army National Guard. After graduating in June, Schaack was assigned as a Platoon Leader with C Company, 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion in Read More…
DEER LODGE – An official U.S. senate hearing on Montana’s national parks was held Thursday in a barn. Senator Steve Daines, who chairs the Senate’s subcommittee on national parks, held the hearing at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge to get feedback from those in the state’s tourism industry. The hearing focused on bringing more Read More…
The Supreme Court could for the first time take a case that strikes at the heart of the American opioid epidemic, thanks to an unusual lawsuit brought by the state of Arizona against members of the Sackler family and their pharmaceutical business Purdue Pharma. In a petition filed with the justices this week, Arizona Attorney General Mark Read More…
BISMARCK — U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson postponed a trip to North Dakota planned for Tuesday, Aug. 6, Sen. John Hoeven said Monday. Hoeven’s office announced the visit Monday afternoon but said just hours later that Carson’s schedule had changed. The Republican senator’s office said they were working to reschedule. Carson Read More…
FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota’s law banning Sunday shopping from midnight to noon is now history. Whatever it is you’re in the market for, you can now shop for it on Sunday mornings in North Dakota. That’s because the state’s Blue Laws have been lifted. “Well you’ve never been able to come until after lunch, Read More…
LONDON (AP) – Police in Scotland say two pilots have been arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs before a scheduled flight to New Jersey. The flight, United Airlines 162 to Newark, New Jersey, was due to leave Glasgow Airport at 9 a.m. on Sunday. It was canceled after the Read More…
BILLINGS, Mont. — This is the 96th year that the Marine Corps League is hosting their annual national convention, but for many veterans, this is their first time in the Magic City. Tom Lowry is a Marine Corps veteran himself and plays a key role in organizing the convention. “Coming in they wanted a western Read More…
Flathead High School Principal Michele Paine was surveying an assortment of old, at times decrepit, tables and shelves destined to be tossed or recycled last week as she prepared for the start of the school year. With the school gearing up to unveil its multi-million-dollar remodel later this month, Paine had decisions to make. “Education Read More…
Nearly half the bid and rental receipts from lease sales go to the states to directly support public education, infrastructure improvements and other state-determined priorities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana/Dakotas raised $1.6 Million in its quarterly oil and gas lease sale held online July 30. Nearly 50 percent of the revenue from Read More…
The finding by the Federal Highway Administration puts pressure on the Obama Foundation to find a way to “resolve adverse effects” and turns up the heat on Mayor Lori Lightfoot to order the foundation to make those changes. Construction of the $500 million Obama Presidential Center will have an “adverse impact” on historic Jackson Park Read More…
NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) – A drone made a successful commercial delivery in The Bahamas for the first time last month traveling more than 50 miles over land and water in 28 minutes. The flight on June 18 also marked the first time that a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) operated in controlled airspace at an active commercial international Read More…
A wolf trapper certification class scheduled for Billings aims to educate those willing to learn, how to properly trap and conserve in the state of Montana. The class will be a comprehensive education session taught by FWP staff and experienced wolf trappers. The trapping portion of each course will be taught by trappers who have Read More…
The Capital One hack is of the largest data breaches ever — and among those affected are some of the bank’s most financially vulnerable customers. The bank and the US Department of Justice revealed Monday that a hacker was able to access private data for more than 100 million Capital One customers. Social Security numbers, credit card applications, Read More…
Gloria Schmidt visits Pacific Steel and Recycling in Kalispell every couple of weeks to drop off her recyclables. On Monday morning she deposited a few boxes and newspapers into the appropriate bins, just like usual. Although it’s not a lot, it’s important to her to do what she can to help the environment. But a Read More…
BELGRADE – A bull that legend says no cowboy could ride now has a permanent tribute in downtown Belgrade. In the 1890s, a bull named Corbett rose to fame with a reputation for being gentle in the pasture and a wild bucker outside of it. Cowboys came from hundreds of miles away to hop on Read More…
BROWNING – Water issues in Browning forced a late start Tuesday morning for the staff at public schools. Staff say it’s unclear what happened overnight, but when they arrived at work the faucets weren’t working. Corrina Guardipee Hall, Superintendent for Browning Public Schools, wrote the following on the schools, Facebook Page: READ FULL STORY
A coalition of conservation and sportsmen groups on July 29 denounced the hiring of William Perry Pendley as the new acting co-director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), saying his support for selling off millions of acres of public lands puts him at odds with the agency’s core mission, which is to administer public Read More…
London (AFP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday urged EU leaders to drop their opposition to renegotiating Brexit, as the pound slumped on growing concerns about a no-deal departure. Johnson, who took office last week, wants to change the exit terms struck by predecessor Theresa May but insists he will leave the European Read More…
BILLINGS- For many, the first day of school is something to look forward to: new school clothes, new school supplies. For many, this is also a challenging time due to money constraints. Area Verizon Cellular Plus stores are doing their part to help relieve some of that burden and give back. On Saturday, July 27th all Montana Read More…
Southeastern Montana Development (SEMDC) announced last week that eight grant applications have recently been awarded into the SEMDC service region. “These funding opportunities resulted in $1,357,500 being awarded to much needed projects in Southeastern Montana” noted Jim Atchison, Executive Director of SEMDC. “Some of the eight grant applications were submitted over one year ago, so Read More…
Google blew past Wall Street’s revenue and profit targets in the second quarter, sending its stock up more than 9% in extended trading on Thursday. A resurgence in Google’s core advertising business, after a weak performance in the first quarter of the year, along with strong results in the cloud business pushed Google’s net revenue up about 21% to $31.7 Read More…
HELL CREEK FORMATION, N.D. (WTHR) — A University of California Merced student had the experience of a lifetime finding a 65-million-year-old fossil. Harrison Duran is studying biology at the California school. As a longtime fan of dinosaurs, he decided to take a course on the history of dinosaurs his freshman year. He furthered his interest outside the Read More…
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota’s travel and tourism season is on track to beat last year’s numbers, even with weather delays to many popular destinations. Last year, more than 1.3 million visitors took in North Dakota’s state parks and events, according to the Parks and Rec. This year, that number is expected to jump. “Last year, Read More…
Many of us have tried our luck with a lotto ticket, but it’s safe to say, the grand majority of us don’t win. But did you know the money from the Montana Lottery plays a big role in our local economics across the state? The Montana State Lottery money is disbursed in two different ways. Read More…