(The Center Square) – Congress has created several programs to allow illegal border crossers claiming to be minors to remain in the U.S. Despite years of documented abuse of the programs, Congress continues to fund them to the tune of billions of dollars. One is the failed unaccompanied minor program, with decades of documented reports Read More…
Montana’s unemployment rate held steady at a remarkably low 2.8% in June, marking the ninth consecutive month below 3% and extending a historic run of four straight years with unemployment at or below 3.4%, according to Governor Greg Gianforte. “With more Montanans working now than ever before and historically low unemployment, we’re seeing the results Read More…
(The Center Square) – The nation’s largest nurses’ union is blasting Kaiser Permanente for pausing gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19 starting next month, due to pending litigation and pressure from the Trump administration. “As the legal and regulatory environment for gender-affirming care continues to evolve, we must carefully consider the significant risks being created Read More…
The University of Montana (UM) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) have announced the creation of the Center for Hunting and Conservation, a pioneering initiative dedicated to advancing science, research, education, and outreach focused on land and wildlife management across the United States. The new center builds on the longstanding partnership between UM’s top-ranked Read More…
The U.S. Senate confirmed retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a 60-25 vote on Friday, officially filling the nation’s top military post nearly two months after President Donald Trump ousted the previous chairman. The confirmation vote came just before lawmakers departed Washington Read More…
Scholars from across the U.S. recently joined Montana State University faculty, students, staff and members of the public for a two-day symposium focusing on “The Future of Research in the Age of AI.” The event held March 27-28 was one of three major symposia in 2025 sponsored by the American Historical Association on topics pertaining Read More…
A national organization recently named the University of Montana the No. 1 “Military Friendly” college in the United States. The ranking is for top “tier-1 research institutions.” The Military Friendly Schools list is compiled each year from data collected from 8,800 schools nationwide. Input is provided by student veterans and a Military Friendly survey by Read More…
Montana State University and local partners are on track to meet their goal of training 40 sexual assault nurse examiners in the first year of a new grant program aimed at increasing support for victims of sexual assault in Montana. The three-year, $1.5 million grant was awarded in July 2024 to MSU’s Mark and Robyn Read More…
In a powerful show of support for American energy, Governor Greg Gianforte joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House on Thursday to celebrate the signing of executive orders aimed at revitalizing the U.S. coal industry and unleashing American-made energy. The orders, which directly counter the energy policies of the Biden administration, are designed Read More…
Governor Kelly Armstrong and Lieutenant Governor Michelle Strinden participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Heart River Correctional Center (HRCC) in Mandan, marking a historic milestone in North Dakota’s prison system. The state’s first facility designed specifically for women will focus on rehabilitation, safety, and family reintegration. The 191,500-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in Read More…
(The Center Square) – Billionaire Alex Meruelo is looking to use nearly $100 million in Reno city redevelopment funding for a new multi-use stadium at the University of Nevada, Reno. The public funds would come from a property tax cut, called Tax Increment Financing, which would take off a significant portion of Meruelo’s $1 billion Read More…
Montana has officially been named the best state in the nation for launching a new business, according to a new report highlighted by Governor Greg Gianforte on Friday. Topping the list compiled by Entrepreneur Media and Booking.com for Business, Montana scored highest among all 50 states in key metrics including the number of startups, startup Read More…
The Center Square) – The U.S. added 228,000 jobs in March, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday, nearly double what was forecast. Employment gains occurred in the health care, transportation, warehousing and retail trade industries, according to the Labor department. The overall gains come despite significant layoffs in the federal government under the Trump Read More…
A 20-year-old Kalispell man has been sentenced to 50 years at the Montana State Prison, with 10 years suspended, for the brutal killing of a homeless man in 2023, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced Friday. Kaleb Elijah Fleck pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of deliberate homicide in the death of Scott Read More…
A Missoula judge appointed by former Democratic Governor Steve Bullock has temporarily blocked a newly enacted law that protects women’s bathrooms and locker rooms from being accessed by biological males. District Court Judge Shane Vannatta, who openly identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community, issued a ruling Wednesday putting the law on hold just Read More…
(The Center Square) – California did not materially comply with the requirements for seven of the 22 federal programs the state auditor examined, including “pervasive” noncompliance in its unemployment benefits program, which could put essential federal funding at risk. “This report concludes that the State did not materially comply with certain requirements for seven of the Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that Lonna Carroll, a former employee of the state Department of Social Services (DSS), was found guilty on Thursday of stealing an estimated $1.8 million from Child Protection Services. Carroll, 68, of Algona, Iowa, was convicted by a Hughes County jury on two felony counts of Aggravated Grand Read More…
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has released the results of its biennial Customer Satisfaction Survey, showing that approximately 70 percent of respondents are satisfied with the department’s services. The 12th edition of the survey, conducted by the University of Wyoming’s Survey and Analysis Center, collected 997 responses from Nov. 6 to Dec. 17, 2024. Read More…
Los Angeles County has reached a record-setting $4 billion tentative settlement to resolve more than 6,800 sexual abuse claims, marking the largest financial settlement in the county’s history. Announced Friday, the agreement would settle decades of lawsuits from individuals who allege they were sexually abused or mistreated while in the county’s foster care system or Read More…
nna Erickson, a junior from Dalton, Minnesota, majoring in psychology and cell biology and neuroscience, and Derek Jollie, a junior from Butte majoring in mathematical sciences and physics, are Montana State University’s two newest winners of the scholarship given by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The foundation announced Friday that 441 students Read More…
In a strong stand for parental rights and the rule of law, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the justices to overturn a controversial ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that struck down a common-sense law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s decision to get an abortion. Read More…
Governor Kelly Armstrong has announced the appointment of Zachary Greenberg as North Dakota’s permanent Labor Commissioner. Greenberg had been serving as interim commissioner since January and has been recognized for his leadership in enforcing the state’s labor and human rights laws. “Zach has proven himself to be a capable leader these past few months, ensuring Read More…
The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has officially opened the application process for Education Service Providers (ESPs) for the state’s newly established Education Savings Account (ESA) program. The application portal will be accessible starting at 1 p.m. MDT on April 1, 2025, on the ESA website. Organizations interested in offering educational goods or services through Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined a coalition of 25 state attorneys general in calling on the Trump Administration to take action against a little-known import program that they say is being exploited by drug traffickers and foreign adversaries to smuggle deadly fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States. In a letter sent Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte joined law enforcement leaders in Billings to emphasize the importance of major new investments in Montana’s public safety infrastructure, including a proposed $150 million in one-time funding to expand the capacity of the Montana State Prison. Standing alongside local officials at a press conference, Gianforte stressed the urgency of addressing rising crime Read More…
(The Center Square) – Boeing earned a contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s top air dominance fighter, the F-47 and the service has plenty of options to base operational squadrons both in the U.S. and overseas. The sixth-generation aircraft is intended to replace the Air Force’s existing top fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and Read More…
Belgrade High School was victorious in the Montana ProStart Invitational held March 20 at Montana State University, securing the school’s spot in the national competition in May. ProStart, a two-year culinary and business management program, prepares thousands of high school students nationwide for industry work through catering events, field trips and an annual competition. Gallatin Read More…
In a significant move for the cryptocurrency and banking sectors, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced on Friday that U.S. banks can engage in certain cryptocurrency-related activities without seeking prior approval from the regulator. The FDIC clarified that as long as these activities are legally permitted and banks manage their risks appropriately, they do Read More…
(The Center Square) – Live Nation Entertainment, the events giant that operates Ticketmaster, is fighting to hold on to practices that states and the federal government allege are anti-competitive and hurt both fans and musicians. The company recently lost its bid to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Montana’s unemployment rate remained at 2.8% in February, marking the 44th consecutive month of unemployment at or below 3.4%—a historic low. The strong labor market continues to be a key indicator of Montana’s resilient economy. “Montana’s economy is strong, adding 3,000 new jobs and reaching a record-high labor force of Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is taking a strong stand against human trafficking, bringing a major regional training conference to Bozeman this April to equip law enforcement and frontline professionals with the tools they need to combat this growing crisis. The 2025 Greater Rockies Immersive Training (GRIT) Conference, scheduled for April 28–30, will unite law Read More…
For the second year in a row, Bozeman, home to Montana State University, has been ranked the No. 1 college town in America by RentCafe.com, reaffirming its reputation as one of the best places in the country for students to live, learn, and launch their careers. Bozeman topped the rankings based on several factors, including Read More…
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against affiliates of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), seeking to end collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that it claims hinder national security operations. The lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Texas on behalf of eight federal agencies, follows an executive order issued by Read More…
Ventenata, cheatgrass and spotted knapweed are all considered invasive species in Montana because of their tendency to muscle native grasses and other plants out of their habitats. While completely eradicating invasive plants is virtually impossible, Montana State University plant ecologist Lisa Rew has dedicated her decades-long career to understanding the ecology of invasive species and Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Department of State will assume many of the responsibilities and oversight of programs previously performed by the U.S. Agency of International Development, effectively shuttering the controversial USAID department. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had been targeting USAID’s questionable spending for cuts, leading to legal challenges. But on Friday, Read More…
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has announced several important updates to its leadership team, aimed at strengthening the department’s ongoing initiatives and operations across the state. Franz Fuchs, who has served as the department’s chief policy analyst and legislative liaison, has been appointed as the new WDH Deputy Director. Fuchs, a U.S. Navy veteran, Read More…
Wells Fargo has officially abandoned its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, prompting Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen to close his investigation into the bank’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies. The move follows a broader controversy over whether financial institutions should consider climate-related targets in their lending practices. The investigation, launched in October Read More…
For the fifth consecutive year, Montana State University’s efforts to support student veterans have been recognized with a designation as a top-10 military-friendly school in a nationwide survey through the website Militaryfriendly.com. MSU ranked third in military-friendly schools in the survey’s Tier 2 research institution category. The university has consistently placed top 10 in the Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding the privacy, safety, and fairness of Montana women and girls by signing two key pieces of legislation aimed at protecting women’s spaces and ensuring fairness in women’s sports. “Standing alongside our partners in Montana and across the country, I am proud to safeguard privacy and security for Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, is fighting back against a recommendation from the Montana Supreme Court’s Commission on Practice to suspend him from practicing law for 90 days, following his controversial actions in a separation of powers dispute with the state’s judicial branch. At the center of the dispute is Knudsen’s public criticism Read More…
In a groundbreaking move that fuses artificial intelligence with social media, Elon Musk’s xAI has acquired X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in an all-stock deal valued at $33 billion. Announced by Musk on X late Friday, the acquisition raises xAI’s valuation to an impressive $80 billion, creating a combined entity that aims to Read More…
Governor Brad Little announced key leadership changes in his administration today, including a new director for the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) and an appointment to the Idaho Transportation Board. Bree Derrick Appointed as IDOC Director The Idaho Board of Correction has appointed Bree Derrick as the new Director of IDOC, succeeding Josh Tewalt, who Read More…
The Wyoming Transportation Commission allocated $21.49 million in contracts for eight highway construction projects across the state during its regular business meeting on March 20, 2025. The awards, granted to various contractors, will fund improvements ranging from concrete slab replacements to bridge rehabilitation and road resurfacing, with completion dates spanning from June to November 2025. Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general in supporting President Donald J. Trump’s push to deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), a group recently designated as a foreign terrorist organization. In an amicus brief filed Tuesday, the attorneys general urged the U.S. Court of Appeals Read More…