North Dakota has been awarded $199 million in federal funding to support the first year of a new statewide Rural Health Transformation Program aimed at strengthening health care delivery in rural communities, Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced today. The funding, awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is part of a five-year initiative Read More…
(The Center Square) – As more is revealed about the potential daycare fraud within the Somali community in Washington state and the Department of Children, Youth & Families scrambles to respond, one large daycare provider is sharing his frustrations with The Center Square. On Monday, The Center Square visited several Somali-run home daycares in Federal Way, but Read More…
The Wyoming Department of Transportation has launched an online, self-guided public meeting as part of its update to the Statewide Rail Plan, giving residents and stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the process and provide feedback. The online meeting is open now and will remain available through Jan. 31, 2026, and can be accessed Read More…
Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Friday welcomed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ release of its final Environmental Impact Statement on the Dakota Access Pipeline, which recommends maintaining pipeline operations and reinstating the easement allowing the line to cross Lake Oahe. In a statement, Armstrong said the decision marks a significant step toward ending what he Read More…
North Dakota has been awarded $199 million in federal funding to support the first year of a new statewide Rural Health Transformation Program aimed at strengthening health care delivery in rural communities, Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced today. The funding, awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is part of a five-year initiative Read More…
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon praised the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s finalized Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA), saying the decision affirms Wyoming’s authority over wildlife management and reflects years of collaborative work between the state and federal officials. Gordon received the Record of Decision (ROD) for the plan, which governs management of greater Read More…
(The Center Square) – As more is revealed about the potential daycare fraud within the Somali community in Washington state and the Department of Children, Youth & Families scrambles to respond, one large daycare provider is sharing his frustrations with The Center Square. On Monday, The Center Square visited several Somali-run home daycares in Federal Way, but Read More…
The Wyoming Department of Transportation has launched an online, self-guided public meeting as part of its update to the Statewide Rail Plan, giving residents and stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the process and provide feedback. The online meeting is open now and will remain available through Jan. 31, 2026, and can be accessed Read More…
Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Friday welcomed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ release of its final Environmental Impact Statement on the Dakota Access Pipeline, which recommends maintaining pipeline operations and reinstating the easement allowing the line to cross Lake Oahe. In a statement, Armstrong said the decision marks a significant step toward ending what he Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has asked a circuit court to order two companies to stop what he calls deceptive advertising related to abortion pills and abortion services in the state. Jackley filed a motion Monday in Hughes County Circuit Court seeking a preliminary or permanent injunction against Mayday Medicines Inc., doing business as Read More…
(The Center Square) – Wyoming lawmakers passed legislation to expand education savings accounts and property tax protections in 2025. However, the legislature remained divided on substantial spending increases to boost particular school capital construction projects. The Club for Growth Foundation reviewed 875 floor votes in the Wyoming legislature, with a specific focus on 19 votes Read More…
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., announced Friday that she will not seek reelection next year, setting the stage for an open-seat Republican primary in one of the nation’s most reliably red states. Lummis made the announcement after the Senate adjourned for the holiday recess, a decision that will end her tenure after a single six-year Read More…
Governor Armstrong voiced strong support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed revision to the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) definition, calling it a common-sense approach that benefits North Dakota farmers, ranchers, energy producers, and businesses. The proposed rule, which is open for public comment through Jan. 5, Read More…
North Dakotans can now review updated school accountability reports and the first results from the state’s new ND A+ summative assessment, State School Superintendent Levi Bachmeier announced Friday. The information—published on the state’s Insights education portal—comes as part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires states to release annual accountability reports for every Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Monday that Phase 2 of the National Operation Robocall Roundup is underway, with warning letters issued to four telecommunications companies accused of allowing illegal robocalls to pass through their networks. Jackley is a member of the 51-state Attorneys General Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force, created in 2022 to combat Read More…
Attorney General Raúl Labrador recognized Detective Jared Mendenhall of the Idaho Falls Police Department and Detective Korey Payne of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office for achieving 100 combined arrests through the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The milestone highlights years of work protecting vulnerable children from online predators across the state. Both Read More…
Governor Mark Gordon has highlighted economic development as a central focus of his administration, stressing the importance of creating a climate that encourages business growth and job creation across Wyoming. “Economic development is truly economic growth. Wyoming’s government must foster an environment where individuals who create and build businesses can flourish,” Gordon said in his Read More…
Governor Brad Little joined U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Director Dustin Miller today to renew and expand Idaho’s Shared Stewardship agreement with the federal government, aiming to increase the pace and scale of forest management across the state. “Idaho’s early leadership with the Good Neighbor Authority laid the Read More…
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced Friday a judgment and permanent injunction against Arenal Outdoor Center and its owner, Keith Craig Fletcher, in a consumer protection lawsuit. The ruling bars Fletcher from offering travel-related goods and services within the state. Fletcher’s record extends far beyond the current case. Over the years, he has faced numerous Read More…
The University of North Dakota is seeking candidates for the position of Dean of its School of Law, reopening the search for a leader to guide the institution into the next phase of growth and development. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean will serve as the chief executive officer Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced the creation of a new Advisory Task Force Committee to review the state’s Open Meetings Laws. The group is scheduled to hold its first meeting Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Pierre. This new task force differs from the South Dakota Open Meetings Commission, a five-member body of state attorneys Read More…
Fargo North High School’s Law and Justice students took a trip to Bismarck on Thursday, November 20th, for a firsthand look at the judicial process. Led by Social Studies teacher Melissa Evensen, the students attended a live oral argument at the state Supreme Court and had the opportunity to meet with the justices. https://bigskyheadlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DOJ-Scam1.mp4 During Read More…
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced a major legal victory Monday after a federal court dismissed a lawsuit filed by The Satanic Temple challenging the state’s pro-life laws. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye ruled that the group’s constitutional claims were legally flawed and could not be remedied through amendment, dismissing the case with prejudice. Read More…
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) submitted the state’s application Tuesday for the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, seeking up to $200 million per year for five years — a total of $1 billion — to revamp healthcare delivery in rural communities. The funding request follows Governor Brad Little’s Executive Order 2025-08, the Read More…
The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) has announced the hiring of Chloe Valentine as its new Southwest Regional Director, serving Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties. Valentine brings extensive experience and a strong commitment to fostering economic growth in Wyoming, reinforcing the WBC’s mission to reverse economic decline and build a prosperous future. A native of Greybull Read More…
The Wyoming Military Department honored Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian employees for their service and contributions during a series of award ceremonies held Nov. 3 and 4 at the Joint Forces Readiness Center, the 153rd Airlift Wing, and Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center. Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Wyoming’s Adjutant General, praised award recipients for their dedication Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced this week that the Automation Tax Credit (ATC) Program Portal is now open for applications. The program is designed to support primary sector businesses that invest in automation to improve productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness in manufacturing and animal agriculture. Authorized under N.D.C.C. § 57-38-01.41, the ATC allows eligible Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Wednesday that nine individuals—eight men and one woman—have been indicted by a Davison County Grand Jury for their alleged involvement in a cocaine distribution network operating in the county. Three of the suspects are also facing immigration-related investigations. The indictments, returned on Oct. 29, encompass 36 felony charges Read More…
Wyoming PBS and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West have launched a new partnership aimed at sharing authentic stories of the American West through a combination of history, storytelling, and visual media. Their inaugural production, From the Center of the West: A Conversation with Authors Dr. Paul Hutton and Peter Cozzens, features an in-depth Read More…
(The Center Square) – Dick Cheney, vice president to former President George W. Bush, has died. He was 84. His family was with him Monday evening and said the cause of death was due to complications of pneumonia and cardiovascular disease. Cheney served as the 46th vice president, often being referred to as the “most Read More…
Hilltop Bank announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire Cheyenne State Bank, marking a significant expansion of its banking footprint in Wyoming. Under the terms of the agreement, Hilltop Bank will integrate Cheyenne State Bank’s operations, employees, and branch network, aiming to provide enhanced banking services to both retail and commercial customers Read More…
Dakota Foundry, a vertically integrated grey and ductile iron foundry, has been named one of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “CO—100 Top 100 Small Businesses in America”, a national recognition that highlights the company’s innovation, craftsmanship, and impact on American manufacturing. The CO—100 designation honors small businesses demonstrating exceptional innovation and influence across the country. Read More…
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s (WYDOT) National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan, certifying that the state’s Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) are fully built out and clearing the way for NEVI funding to be spent on non-interstate highways. Wyoming becomes the third state to achieve full build-out status, a Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced that three companies received a combined $460,000 in investments through the North Dakota Development Fund Inc.’s Angel Match Program (AMP) during the third quarter of 2025. AMP supports early-stage, high-growth North Dakota businesses by matching private angel investments with direct equity or convertible note funding. The program is Read More…
The Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) and the Missoula County Attorney’s Office have charged an Idaho man with conspiracy to defraud investors, including elderly Montanans, through a scheme tied to cryptocurrency investments. According to charging documents, Shawn Cutting, an Idaho resident, along with two unidentified co-conspirators — one from Idaho and one from Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Wednesday that five people, including a former correctional officer and two current inmates, have been indicted for transporting contraband into the South Dakota State Penitentiary. “Transporting illegal items into the prison makes the facility less safe for staff and inmates,” Jackley said. “We will not tolerate such activity Read More…
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder joined U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Tuesday at Jackson Hole Classical Academy as part of the nationwide Returning Education to the States 50-State Tour. The initiative celebrates the shift of educational decision-making from the federal level back to individual states. “Wyoming students have consistently outperformed national learning Read More…
The Sioux Falls School District marked a major milestone on Tuesday, August 19, with the ribbon-cutting of its first-ever SmartLab at the newly built Marcella LeBeau Elementary School. The state-of-the-art STEM learning environment is designed to give students hands-on, project-based learning experiences that foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking while preparing them for future careers. Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has relaunched Innovate ND, a voucher-based reimbursement program providing up to $50,000 to help entrepreneurs validate business ideas and accelerate growth. The program is divided into two six-month phases, each offering up to $25,000 in reimbursements, which participants must complete within 12 months. “Innovate ND is more than funding Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced the 2025 Autonomous Agriculture Grant Program, a competitive funding opportunity offering up to $7.5 million to support transformative projects that advance autonomous agriculture in the state. The program is designed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation agricultural technologies, infrastructure, and workforce solutions. Funding may be Read More…
U.S. Senator John Hoeven announced that U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy E. Meink will be a featured guest speaker at the 19th annual UAS Summit & Expo, scheduled for October 14–15 at the Alerus Center. The Summit, one of the nation’s premier gatherings for unmanned aircraft systems, draws government, military, and commercial Read More…
Idaho Fish and Game officials have issued an update on the state’s fall Chinook salmon season, noting that lower-than-expected wild fish returns may prompt regulation changes later this month. Adult wild fall Chinook returns are measured by the number of fish passing over Lower Granite Dam. A sliding scale developed with NOAA Fisheries sets harvest Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Tuesday that a former state Department of Health employee has been sentenced for falsifying her own medical marijuana card. Alexandra Feiner, 24, of Pierre, pleaded guilty to one felony count of offering a false or forged instrument for filing, registering, or recording. She was sentenced in Hughes County Read More…
The Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing will host Discovery Day 2025, the state’s largest science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) event, on September 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wyoming Air National Guard Base in Cheyenne. The event brings together local colleges, universities, trade career experts, and STEAM-focused organizations Read More…