WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order directing federal health officials to review and potentially update the United States’ childhood vaccine schedule to better align with practices in peer developed nations, citing findings that the U.S. currently recommends more childhood vaccines than any comparable country. The order directs the Centers for Disease Control Read More…
WASHINGTON — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined Vice President JD Vance, the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and attorneys general from 15 other states at an anti-fraud roundtable focused on combating wasteful spending, abuse, and fraud in federal benefit programs including Medicaid and SNAP. The White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Read More…
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…
Montana State University’s president says renovating Romney Hall isn’t sexy, it’s mundane deferred maintenance. At the Montana Board of Regents meeting Wednesday in Havre, MSU President Waded Cruzado defended the Bozeman campus’ request to the governor and 2019 Legislature for $32 million to modernize the historic building and turn it into classrooms. Given the huge Read More…
A Glendive woman who claims the Bureau of Indian Affairs violated a tribal order when it handcuffed her and removed her two grandsons from the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in 2015 filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday in which she is seeking $1 million in damages. BIA agents used an “invalid Minnesota warrant” to seize Patsy Read More…
The man the Belgrade School Board wanted to lead the district as superintendent has turned down the job leaving trustees to go back to the drawing board. It is unclear why Tony O’Brien, a superintendent in Newcastle, Okla., turned down the job, two trustees said Wednesday. The board voted 6-1 to offer the post to Read More…
HELENA – Montana Attorney General Tim Fox, along with the attorneys general of Ohio and Washington, led a bipartisan coalition of 39 state and territory attorneys general calling on congressional leaders to promptly pass measures to help hold opioid manufacturers accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic and stem diversion. The coalition sent a Read More…
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke met with ranchers and farmers affected by the Lodge Pole Complex Fires. Zinke made his first stop on a 10-day tour at the Fort Peck Interpretive Center on Sunday. He started with a few words about the U.S. and energy independence. “We should be energy dominant,” Zinke said. “That’s a wise Read More…
A traffic stop by the Wyoming Highway Patrol netted approximately 50 pounds of methamphetamine worth over $425,000 on the street. Public Information Officer, Sergeant Kyle McKay said the bust actually took place in April on Highway 80 in Sweetwater County, but the information couldn’t be released until this week. “Our trooper stopped a semi-tractor and Read More…
For all of Montana’s exquisite colors and variegated beauty, in the right light, with the right eyes, it can be seen as a vast blank canvas. That’s how director and screenwriter Michael Polish and his actress wife Kate Bosworth see the Treasure State through the lens of filmmaking potential, not just as a pretty backdrop, Read More…
U.S Representative Greg Gianforte (R-MT) honored Patricia Spoonheim, better known as “Piano Pat,” with his weekly “Spirit of Montana” award on Friday. In a press release Gianforte said that she was chosen for “entertaining countless patrons from Montana and across the globe at the Sip ‘n Dip Lounge since 1963.” Gianforte’s statement about Spoonheim is Read More…
Lincoln County will soon receive $4.1 million in payments from the U.S. Forest Service, thanks to reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program. Approximately two-thirds of that amount will go into the county’s road budget, with the remainder going to local school districts, according to Lincoln County Commissioner Jerry Bennett. Under the SRS program, created Read More…
The National Park Service on Thursday granted a key permit for the rebuilding of Sperry Chalet. The project has been moving quickly through the regulatory process. Last month, the Park Service released a draft environmental assessment with four options for rebuilding the chalet that burned last summer in the Spraque Fire. Of these, the “preferred Read More…
DICKINSON, N.D. – The state is getting a $29 million boost from the federal government to improve water projects. As the southwest region grows, so does the need for clean water. The Southwest Pipeline Project will receive $2 million for expanding capacity at the Dickinson plant, allowing them to process six million gallons of water Read More…
HELENA – Governor Steve Bullock today announced he will appoint Gene Walborn to serve as the Director of the Montana Department of Revenue. “It is fitting that 28 years ago today Gene started with the Department of Revenue and now he’s taking over the reigns as Director,” said Governor Bullock. “I’m confident Gene will lead Read More…
Glacier High School football coach Grady Bennett has been named the Most Spirited Coach by Varsity Brands. The announcement was made Saturday during the Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards. Glacier High School will receive $3,000 as part of the award. The award recognizes a successful coach who makes the connection between athletic involvement, academic achievement Read More…
Facing public opposition to a proposed cell tower on top of Flathead High School, the Kalispell public school board voted 7-1 Tuesday night against entering into a lease agreement with Verizon Wireless, halting the project from moving forward. Led by a grassroots group called the Committee for Responsible Information on the Health of Children and Read More…
BILLINGS — The developer of the largest home ever built in Billings is facing federal charges for allegedly faking his own abduction in Virginia in a scheme to “disappear” with his mistress last month. Larry Price was charged in U.S. District Court in Virginia with giving false statements to investigators. Price, who developed the 26,000-square-foot Read More…
BILLINGS – The old James F. Battin Federal Courthouse has been vacant for several years. WC Commercial and EEC, Inc. have been removing asbestos and remodeling what is now known as the Stillwater Building. The first tenant, Yellowstone County, will soon move into a third floor office at 316 North 26th Street. Crews worked on Read More…
over 2,400 students received 3,344 degrees from the University of Montana on Saturday inside the Adams Center. They also enjoyed their commencement speaker, Griz Alum and Chief Operating Officer for Nike Corporation, Eric Sprunk, who looked ahead at what the future might hold. “I don’t believe anybody born after today will need a drivers license Read More…
The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for states to legalize sports betting, striking down a 1992 federal law that limited such gambling and likely touching off a nationwide battle to dominate what is sure to be a multi-billion-dollar industry. The justices ruled in favor of New Jersey, which had long argued that the Read More…
Following that Sunday shooting there has been an outpouring of support from many in Casper. News 13’s Amy Lanski told us how and where we can help out Officer Carlson and his family. Many in Casper show their support for Officer Jacob Carlson who was injured in a shooting on Sunday afternoon. Ryan Edwards at Read More…
What do you think? Does Netflix need to pay up? I took the poll shortly before noon on Thursday and nearly 65% of those who answered the question, over 13,000 people, seemed to agree with me: Netflix needs to compensate Glasgow, Montana photographer Sean Heavey. PetaPixel.com notes: “Photographer Sean R. Heavey was watching the hit Read More…
Winter still reigns in the upper reaches of Glacier National Park. Its mountains remain coated with snow, and a dark layer of clouds cloaked their tips May 2. But as the ALERT rescue helicopter flew over Lake McDonald, bound for Sperry Chalet, Orrin Webber wasn’t concerned. “We’re gonna have good visibility, that’s for sure,” the Read More…
The Montana Army National Guard conducted a change of command ceremony on Saturday at Fort Harrison in Helena. Brigadier General Robert Sparing relinquished command to Colonel Donald Emerson in front of military personnel, congressional representatives, and friends and family. “Colonel Emerson brings an outstanding experience level with him. He’s a top notch professional officer and Read More…
Amtrak will close two ticket counters in Montana in early June with company officials citing the decision as a cost-saving move and the fact 90 percent of riders are buying tickets online or via telephone. The counter at the Havre station will close June 1 and the Shelby ticket counter will close June 3, an Read More…
Despite holding an initial lead during the Kentucky Derby, Bolt D’Oro lost steam halfway through the race and finished 12th. His owners say he was checked for any heart or lung issues, but seems to be fine. First-place finisher Justify won the race on some of the worst, muddiest conditions in the derby’s history. Owner-trainer Read More…
The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office reports that it has recovered the remains of Dr. Patrick J. Fitzpatrick, of Bismarck, N.D., missing since 2015. In a press release, the Sheriff’s Office said the following: Saturday, April 28, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue recovered the remains of Dr. Patrick J. Fitzpatrick, of Bismarck, ND. His vehicle Read More…
HELENA – A study commissioned by Montana’s lodging industry says rentals by Airbnb, the on-line lodging giant, generated $69 million of revenue last year in Montana, but likely didn’t pay state lodging taxes on that amount. Industry spokesmen this week that the Montana Legislature should pass a law to clarify taxation of Airbnb and other Read More…
BILLINGS – Authorities say 17 people have been arrested on drug and gun charges under an initiative targeting an increase in violent crime in southeastern Montana that’s blamed on the drug methamphetamine. The arrests were announced Monday by Federal and state prosecutors and local law enforcement in Billings. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme says all but Read More…
The Kalispell School Board of Trustees approved Callie Langohr as the assistant superintendent for School District 5 on April 24, selecting the only principal Glacier High School has known to help steer the future of every public school student in Kalispell. Langohr will assume her new position on July 1. Before opening Glacier in 2007, Read More…
JAMESTOWN, N.D.—Economic development officials are looking at the newly announced Opportunity Zones as a chance for people to invest in local communities and shelter some income from capital gains tax. Gov. Doug Burgum announced Friday, April 20, the designation of 25 zones in 15 counties in North Dakota. The Opportunity Zone program was part of Read More…
BAGGS — Carbon County Future Farmers of America chapters proved during the state convention hosted in Cheyenne last week that community impact has more to do with involvement than numbers. About one-third of the size of other chapters across the state, Little Snake River Valley FFA earned Wyoming’s Chapter of the Year and Growing Leaders Read More…
As the flatland flooding around northcentral Montana begins to recede, counties, road departments and ag producers are assessing the toll. At this point the basic assessment is that spring seeding is about a month behind where it should be at this point, and it could be two or three weeks before the ground dries out Read More…
Seth Bodnar, who took the reins as president of the University of Montana in January, sees a world that increasingly values people with diverse, interdisciplinary educations and employment capabilities. His own experience speaks to this assessment: graduate of West Point, “a liberal arts college with a bunch of military training;” Rhodes and Truman scholar who Read More…
Missoula City Councilman Jesse Ramos wants to see how much a private attorney is receiving in compensation for work on the Mountain Water Condemnation lawsuit, but says he has been blocked from seeing the information by city officials. Missoula Attorney Quentin Rhoades explains. “The Mayor, the city attorney, and apparently the private attorney who has Read More…
BILLINGS – In the summer, the field behind the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch is full of fruit. “We had such a huge, I mean huge, amount of fruit last year,” said Jim Klempel, a teacher at YBGR. “Monday mornings we’d start at 6 in the morning and we’d pick all day.” That fruit is Read More…
Sheridan Head Start kids need a new place to go, and if they don’t find a place soon, the program could end for them. Parents say Sheridan needs this program and if they don’t have it, preparation for kindergarten may greatly decline. Sheridan parents and teachers rallied together to save the local head start program. Read More…
CHEYENNE – When Matt Mead was elected to serve as Wyoming’s 32nd governor, his life wasn’t the only one that changed. After Nov. 2, 2010, the lives of his wife, daughter and son were all altered as well. “I remember right after the general election, when Matt had won, then the next morning I woke Read More…
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox is praising his doctor and advocating for cancer screenings after he was diagnosed with colon cancer last month. According to Fox, he went his doctor with symptoms of fatigue and back pain. “[My doctor] recommended some blood tests and asked if I ever had a colonoscopy,” Fox said. “I told Read More…
MISSOULA – It will take a combination of “cuts and curriculum” if the University of Montana is going to solve its on-going budget issues. And UM President Seth Bodnar says that’s going to take some “hard decisions”. Everyone on campus has known this day was coming, as the administration grapples with a way to not Read More…
(HELENA) Paul Jenkins and Freddie Lawrence, convicted for the 1994 murder of Donna Meagher and a robbery, have been ordered to be released from prison. The order freeing Jenkins and Lawrence comes just days after Lewis & Clark County District Judge Kathy Seeley overturned their convictions and ordered a new trial. In her ruling, Judge Read More…
The allegations were shocking: an Army major and his wife accused of abusing their three young foster children through beatings, denial of food and water and forcing them to eat hot pepper flakes as punishment. When John and Carolyn Jackson were convicted of child endangerment in 2015, prosecutors received another shock when the trial judge, Read More…