In The News

I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love.” Lisa Diekmann remembers John Steinbeck’s quote about Montana from his travelogue, “Adventures with Charley: In Search of America,” when she thinks about the state where she and her late husband Alex Diekmann raised their sons, Logan and Liam. Before he passed away in February after a battle with cancer, Alex worked with the Trust for Public Land to head projects that conserved more than 125,000 acres of land and contributed to the conservation of hundreds of thousands more.

Cattle prices were losing value faster than autumn sheds daylight when the unexpected happened. China announced it was lifting its 13-year ban on U.S. beef. If you don’t think a cowboy or two cried with joy, think again. China is the second largest beef customer in the world. It’s expected to import 825,000 tons of beef this year. That’s the kind of shopper that could turn current prices around. “The beef industry has suffered huge losses in the last 12 to 14 months,” said Jim Peterson, who ranches near Buffalo. “There are a lot of ag producers in both cattle

The Kootenai Business Park is getting a boost. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines announced on Friday that $750,000 from the federal Economic Development Administration is being awarded to the 400-acre Kootenai Business Park, which is located south of town limits. The grant will be used to fund development of a railroad, according to a press release from Daines’ office. “The investment will support the creation of additional wood product manufacturing jobs in the distressed region of Lincoln County and will help the Lincoln County Port Authority to redevelop its defunct rail spur, which serves the business park,” the release states. “Completion

BILLNGS, Mont. –It’s a program for veterans to help heal their chronic pain without opioids. Those with the Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic say they’re committed to the cause, offering alternative therapy to help veterans live a more productive life. George Blackard was injured during active duty in 1988 and dealt with chronic back pain for years, until he was introduced to the hard working and caring staff at the clinic. Blackard says the treatment offered at the clinic has changed his life for the better. He tells us it’s programs like this that all veterans need to know about. He says

BILLINGS – Service members, both active duty and veterans, have a lot to deal with upon returning home. Many come back with chronic pain, PTSD and lasting injuries. To cope, veterans are often prescribed a number of different medications, but in some cases, those medications end up causing more problems. On Friday, Senator Steve Daines visited the Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic, where doctors have been working on a program to provide veterans with alternatives to medication. Instead, the clinic uses methods like chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, massage and exercises to help alleviate chronic pain and ongoing pain from injury. Currently, some chiropractic and acupuncture services are covered

China has agreed to begin buying U.S. beef, a major break for Montana ranchers. The announcement was made this week by China Premier Li Keqiang, who was speaking in New York. It wasn’t clear exactly when China would lift its 13-year-old U.S. beef ban, which stems from the 2003 discovery of mad cow disease in a Washington dairy animal. China is the second-largest beef consumer in the world.  U.S. Sen Steve Daines in May discussed ending China’s beef ban with with Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. Daines was on a fact-finding trip to China at

The Montana Stockgrowers Association’s Executive Vice President, Errol Rice, has spent his whole life raising cattle, and the past 13 years trying to reopen beef trade between the United States and China.  On Thursday, Rice received word from U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ office that his longtime goal is becoming a reality, and China will be lifting their ban on U.S. beef. “The market potential is absolutely an incredible opportunity for the Montana ranching community to showcase some of our high quality beef to the Chinese consumer,” Rice said. A statement from U.S. Senator Steve Daines office Thursday following the announcement

China is moving to lift a long-standing ban on U.S. beef after a mad cow disease scare locked out imports more than a decade ago.  The Obama administration said Thursday that Chinese officials the first have taken the first step to ending the 13-year moratorium, a move that could boost U.S. exports to one of the world’s fastest growing markets for beef. “We look forward to prompt engagement by the relevant authorities for further technical discussions on the specific conditions that will allow trade to resume,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. Vilsack said the decision by China’s Ministry of

U.S. Senator Steve Daines recently announced that $953,954 in funding has been granted to make needed safety improvements at the Amtrak stop in Shelby. “Improving the safety and reliability of Montana’s rail network is critical to connecting people in our communities,” Daines stated. “Folks depend on public transportation and these funds will go a long way towards ensuring that Shelby is able to maintain their Amtrak stop.” This project will upgrade two pedestrian and motor vehicle crossings by extending the existing Amtrak platform and installing fencing, signage, two quadrant gates, and wayside horn advance warning systems to provide safe and