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…
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…
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…
The 2025 Idaho Rural Success Summit is set to take place on April 30 and May 1 at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel in Worley, Idaho. The event will bring together community leaders, policymakers, and organizations to share successful strategies for rural development and foster collaboration. The summit will feature dynamic lightning-round presentations, panel Read More…
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is inviting the public to submit creative name ideas for its annual Name-A-Plow Contest. Past winning entries have included clever names like Buzz Iceclear, Alice Scooper, Darth Blader, and CtrlSaltDelete. Submissions can be made through the NDDOT website at www.dot.nd.gov/name-a-plow until November 15. Now in its fourth year, Read More…
On October 23, 2024, the Wyoming Veterans Commission announced the appointment of a new commissioner and the re-appointment of several dedicated members committed to advocating for veterans throughout the state. Bobby Werner from Basin, Wyoming, has been appointed as the new commissioner for Judicial District 5. The commission also re-appointed the following individuals: – Rosemarie Read More…
(The Center Square) – Colorado Governor Jared Polis launched the Colorado Hospital Price Finder this week. It’s a tool made available to the public by HB22-1285. It hopes to “connect Coloradans with services, increase price transparency, and save people money on health care,” according to the governor’s office. It complements another state-generated price transparency initiative Polis announced Read More…
State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced on Friday that the application deadline for two openings on the North Dakota Board of Higher Education has been extended to 5 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, December 17. The terms of current board members Casey Ryan and Jeffry Volk expire on June 30, 2025. Volk, an engineer and Read More…
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is set to unveil a new photographic exhibition titled “Fire on the Mountain: Photographs of Wildland Firefighting by Kyle Miller,” opening to the public on October 26, 2024, in the John Bunker Sands Photography Gallery. This compelling exhibition showcases the work of Wyoming Hotshot Captain Kyle Miller, who Read More…
Governor Brad Little announced today the appointment of Christine Starr as the new executive director of the Commission of Pardons and Parole. Starr brings a wealth of experience in the criminal justice system, having most recently served as deputy director and chief of staff at the Idaho Department of Correction. Her background includes roles as Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is set to host an Attorney General Alliance (AGA) Working Group Meeting from October 23 to 25 in Deadwood. “It is an honor to host Attorneys General from both parties here in South Dakota,” said Attorney General Jackley, who previously served as the Chairman of the AGA. “While each Read More…
The Idaho Department of Commerce has announced the formation of a new Rural Services team aimed at enhancing support for rural communities across the state. Leading the team is Jerry Miller, a seasoned economic development professional with over 29 years of experience at Idaho Commerce. As the Rural Services Manager, Miller will spearhead initiatives designed Read More…
On September 30, Idaho Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Kolby White received a report from an archery hunter who found four quarters of a harvested elk abandoned alongside a road near Geneva in Bear Lake County. Officer White promptly investigated and confirmed that the elk quarters had been dumped on US Forest Service Road Read More…
Governor Doug Burgum has announced that Steve D. Scheel, board chairman emeritus of Fargo-based sporting goods retailer Scheels, will receive the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, North Dakota’s highest honor for its citizens. This marks the 50th recipient of the prestigious award. Under Scheel’s leadership, Scheels has transformed from a regional brand into one of Read More…
The 2024 South Dakota State Fair generated $266,352.21 in tax collections, reflecting a 20% increase from the $222,108.58 collected in 2023. This year’s fair featured 602 booths rented to 301 vendors, marking a 6.5% decrease from the 322 vendors in 2023. Despite the drop in vendor numbers, fairgoers contributed over $3.2 million in total spending Read More…
(The Center Square) – If you’re a Washington resident reluctant to buy or drive an electric vehicle due to the lack of charging infrastructure around the state or in cold weather conditions, you’re not alone. Some state agencies are reporting that their staff are hesitant to use EVs for that same reason, highlighting an ongoing challenge Read More…
n response to escalating wildfire risks, Governor Doug Burgum has signed an executive order declaring a statewide fire emergency. This action activates the State Emergency Operations Plan to strategically position resources for a swift response to wildfires throughout North Dakota. The state has already seen significant fire activity, with nearly 3,500 acres burned in the Read More…
(The Center Square) – North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said the state will appeal a district court decision to strike down North Dakota’s abortion law. South Central District Court Judge Bruce Romanick said Thursday the law was unconstitutional due to its “vagueness” and that “pregnant women in North Dakota have a fundamental right to Read More…
(The Center Square) – More than 138,000 North Dakotans applied for the new primary residence credit, and 134,893 applications were approved, Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus told a legislative committee on Wednesday. Approved North Dakotans received $500 toward their property tax for their primary residence, which could include houses, condominiums and mobile homes. Taxpayers could only claim Read More…
At the 2024 annual meeting of the State Bar Association of North Dakota, State Court Administrator Sally Holewa was awarded the prestigious Gerald W. VandeWalle Medal. This honor, bestowed by the State Bar Association’s Board of Governors, recognizes individuals for their exceptional dedication and contributions to the administration of justice and the enhancement of the Read More…
The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota will hold two naturalization ceremonies in Bismarck on Friday, September 13, 2024. The ceremonies will take place at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom 2 at the William L. Guy Federal Building, located at 220 East Rosser Avenue. U.S. Magistrate Judge Clare R. Read More…
The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is looking into an officer-involved shooting that occurred late Saturday night in Valley County. Around 9:19 p.m., deputies from the Valley and McCone County Sheriff’s Offices were responding to a disturbance at Roundhouse Point Campground. En route, a McCone County deputy—working under contract with Valley County—came across an Read More…
Twin Falls is gearing up for a major celebration this Sunday, September 1, marking the 50th anniversary of Evel Knievel’s legendary attempt to jump the Snake River Gorge using a steam-powered rocket. The festivities will kick off at 10 AM with a special tribute by local daredevil Kyle Miller. Miller will execute a dramatic motorcycle Read More…
(The Center Square) – The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) is out with June’s unemployment numbers for the state. The June rate is 4.9%, which doesn’t sound too bad until you compare Washington’s performance to the rest of the nation. “When you compare us to somewhere like North and South Dakota, they’re at the 2.0% and Read More…
The Wyoming National Guard proudly celebrated the fourth successful year of its Educator Leadership Rendezvous (ELR) from July 30 to August 1, 2024, at the Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center. This annual event continues to play a pivotal role in fostering strong relationships between educators and Guard members, showcasing the National Guard as a promising Read More…
(The Center Square) – A now-deceased former state employee allegedly forged 13 vehicle titles to obtain almost $400,000 in fraudulent loans, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said Thursday. The State Department of Revenue contacted Jackley’s office in February. The Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the probe with the cooperation of the Department of Revenue Read More…
Casey Childers of Sheridan has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Rachel Holeman, a Montana woman, in Colorado. Childers was convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping, according to Sheridan Media. The case unfolded in November 2021 when Childers, Shantel Edlund Read More…
Southeastern Idaho boasts abundant wildlife and expansive outdoor adventures, but perhaps none captivates local interest and conversation quite like the mule deer. Thriving in the sagebrush steppe and mountain shrub/aspen habitats that define the region, mule deer hold a special place in the hearts of Idahoans. However, the iconic mule deer herds face numerous challenges. Read More…
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced a significant development in a case involving alleged embezzlement from the state’s Department of Social Services. Lonna Carroll, 68, of Algona, IA, has been indicted for reportedly stealing an estimated $1.8 million in state and federal funds from the department’s Child Protection Services program. Carroll faces two Read More…
Governor Doug Burgum has appointed Greg Hoffman to serve as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) department, effective immediately. Hoffman, recognized for his extensive leadership within the agency, steps into the role following his tenure as interim CIO since June 1, succeeding Kuldip Mohanty. With a career spanning nearly Read More…
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Transportation Commission is scheduled to convene for its regular business meeting on Thursday, July 18, starting at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will be conducted exclusively via Zoom to address agenda items and conduct necessary votes. The primary agenda items include critical discussions related to transportation infrastructure and pertinent statewide initiatives. Read More…
(The Center Square) – A bill that bans China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia or Venezuela from owning agricultural land in South Dakota took effect Monday. The bill also prohibits any of the countries from leasing agricultural land unless it is for research and is no more than 320 acres or is for the contract Read More…
(The Center Square) – Idaho Gov. Brad Little issued an executive order Wednesday meant to protect Idaho’s water resources from federal intervention. The order comes after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an agreement between water users in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado over the Rio Grande Compact, asserting federal control in water disputes. That decision Read More…
(The Center Square) – Wyoming transportation officials believe a temporary detour can be built around where Highway 22 in Teton Pass collapsed once the area is secured, the Department of Transportation said on Monday. The pass, which connects Jackson, Wyoming to Victor, Idaho, was closed Thursday following a landslide that caused cracking in the road. Read More…
A truck driver who collided with an SUV carrying a Wyoming family on Interstate 25 was sentenced on Friday to serve 11 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by a mandatory three-year parole period. Jesus Puebla, 27, had been found guilty by a jury in March on five counts of vehicular homicide, as well Read More…
An Oregon man, Michael Meyden, admitted to spiking the smoothies of three of his daughter’s friends with sedatives during a sleepover last year and pleaded guilty to multiple felonies. Meyden, 57, of Lake Oswego, confessed to three counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance in Clackamas County Circuit Court. District Attorney John Read More…
(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, introduced a bipartisan bill this week in hopes of supporting ranchers who graze their livestock on federal lands. Wyden filed the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act with U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming. “After embracing the Bureau of Land Management pilot program, ranchers in eastern Oregon worked closely Read More…
(The Center Square) – Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said Gov. Kristi Noem should examine how she is handling tribal relations after the governor called Mexican drug cartel presence in Indian country “a problem across the nation.” In a statement sent to The Center Square, Star Comes Out said Noem’s current approach Read More…
(The Center Square) – Hearings are scheduled for a carbon dioxide pipeline initially rejected by North Dakota regulators, keeping the multi-state project alive. North Dakota regulators rejected Summit Carbon Solutions’ application for the CO2 pipeline. The company was allowed to re-submit the project. North Dakota is an essential state for the project. Summit has partnered Read More…
(The Center Square) – Wyoming’s U.S. senators, John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, are not happy with the Environmental Protection Agency’s new vehicle emissions standards. The EPA says the new standards, which will be phased in from 2027 through 2032, are necessary to combat climate change and air pollution, cutting carbon emissions by 7 billion tons. The Read More…
(The Center Square) – Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray wants the U.S. Postal Service to withdraw a proposal to move mail processing from Casper’s distribution center to Montana. The USPS would move processing operations from Casper to Billings is part of a broader plan to help save money, improve service, and retain employees. Gray also opposes the Read More…
The Center Square) – Teachers in South Dakota will see raises and a new minimum salary under a bill Gov. Kristi Noem signed into law Wednesday. Noem also signed a literacy bill into law, which will appropriate $6 million to the Department of Education to fund professional development in literacy education for teachers. The teacher Read More…
(The Center Square) – Most major industries in North Dakota will add jobs over the next two years, according to a new report released by the state’s Labor Market Information Center. The state-level report looks at short-term projections through 2025. It predicted only three North Dakota industries would shrink in job numbers. The agriculture, forestry, Read More…