In The News

Last year, Ravalli County’s state legislative delegation got an earful from people concerned about low-quality Internet services in the Bitterroot Valley. Local businessmen and the county’s economic development coordinator told the politicians that a lack of Internet access and high costs were creating challenges for local entrepreneurs. The delegation tasked Sen. Fred Thomas, R-Stevensville, and Rep. Ed Greef, R-Florence, to find out why. “We’ve come a long way in learning about Internet in Ravalli County since then,” Thomas said. “We found out that we have phenomenal service right here with our own local providers.” On Wednesday, Thomas, representatives from two

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes is receiving a $300,000 grant to upgrade public transit services. Montana U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced a total of more than $700,000 in transit funding for three Montana Tribes on Wednesday. CSKT gets $300,000, the Fort Belknap Indian Community will receive $220,000 while the Crow Tribe has been granted $193,731. Jim Skinner with the Montana Department of Transportation says Flathead hasn’t seen this type of funding in over a decade. He also believes that the federal money will support 11,000 jobs across the state. “It’s going to provide stability for our program. It’ll allow us to make a

Today Sen. Steve Daines spoke out about American energy independence as a key role in winning the war on terrorism. Daines said in addition, we also need to strengthen American security both at home and abroad. “Our national security, protecting our families from terrible acts of terrorism, I can tell you is on the mind of Montanans’ minds every day as I travel around the state,” Daines said. “It’s telling us today how important American energy independence and security is to our safety and prosperity, as well as the entire worlds.” Daines said removing oil as the primary source of

Guns, pot, Obamacare, the governor and all of Montana’s Congressional delegation. Those were some of the topics covered by the Montana State University Billings’ 29th Montana Poll, which was released Monday.  Nearly two-thirds of Montanans surveyed said gun laws are about right. Seventeen percent said gun laws were not strict enough, while 13 percent felt they were too strict. Liberals and Democrats were significantly more likely than conservatives and independents to answer that gun laws should be stricter. Older respondents polled were found to be significantly less likely to support stricter gun laws in Montana. The poll, conducted by students

Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sen. Steve Daines collectively nominate 28 Montana high school students to attend America’s military service academies. Four students were nominated in our area. Ethan Peterson and Ryan Morgan were nominated from Big Timber. Maren Kirkland from Billings and Ryland Stampfel from Absarokee were also on the list. In order to be accepted to one of the nation’s five service academies, high school applicants are required to earn nominations from their congressional delegation. Nominees were selected after an extensive interview process conducted by each congressman. In addition to the nomination, applicants must also have an exemplary academic

Senator Steve Daines announced that he will be spearheading Montana Energy 2016 in Billings this upcoming spring. The summit, sponsored by Daines, the Montana Contractors’ Association, the Montana Coal Council, the Montana Petroleum Association, the Montana Chamber Foundation and KLJ, will take place in Billings, Montana on March 30 and 31, 2016. “Montana holds a vital role in securing our nation’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and it’s vital that we work together to ensure our state remains an energy leader for years to come,” Daines stated. “Montana Energy 2016 will bring together key stakeholders to help increase innovation and move Montana’s

Senator Steve Daines commended last week’s passage of a long-term highway bill that is providing support for several Montana infrastructure projects. Daines emphasized the importance of this bill, particularly for Missoula. “Some of the projects that will be funded by this bill include the reconstruction and maintenance on I-90, on U.S. 93, on U.S. 12 and Montana 200,” Daines said. “It will provide for the reconstruction on the Orange Street interchange as well as the Van Buren interchange. It will include the reconstruction on Russell Street, the reconstruction on U.S. 93 in Ronan and the reconstruction on S 203 north of Stevensville.” Daines

Montana’s only 24-hour port of entry with Saskatchewan plans to cut its overnight hours, but politicians are urging officials to reconsider. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced in November that operations at the Raymond border station would not be continuously open by late December. The new hours will be 8 a.m. to midnight, according to a release from U.S. Customs, reducing the operation by eight hours. Under the plan, the next nearest 24-hour entry point would be at Portal, N.D., which is 111 miles from Raymond. The closest 24-hour crossing in Montana would be at Sweetgrass, which is more than

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota U.S. Sen. John Hoeven and Montana U.S. Sen. Steve Daines have placed a friendly wager on the outcome of Saturday’s playoff football game between North Dakota State and Montana. Hoeven is betting North Dakota-made Dakota Growers pasta, and Daines is putting Montana-made Moose Drool beer on the line. NDSU is the four-time defending Football Championship Subdivision champions. The Bison host Montana in an FCS second-round game Saturday afternoon at the Fargodome. The game is a rematch of the season opener, won by the Grizzlies 38-35 in Missoula.