BILLINGS, Mont. — A Billings man has been charged with felony criminal insurance fraud after state investigators alleged he filed a false claim involving several lawnmowers he reported stolen. Adam… Read More
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Federal Jury Convicts Clinic Owner in TRICARE Fraud and Kickback Scheme
FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal jury convicted Texas mental health clinic owner Kevin D. Curry, 64, of Frisco, in a scheme prosecutors said generated more than $26 million in… Read More
White House App Tops Apple News Rankings
WASHINGTON — The official White House mobile app rose to the top of Apple’s News category this week and moved into the App Store’s overall Top 20, as the Trump… Read More
Montanans May Be Eligible for Payments From $96.5 Million Generic Drug Settlement
HELENA, Mont. — Montanans who purchased certain generic prescription drugs between 2009 and 2019 may be eligible for compensation from a series of settlements totaling about $96.5 million over allegations… Read More
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FinCEN Issues Alert on Financial Crimes Linked to Illegal Workers
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory urging financial institutions to be vigilant against fraud schemes involving the unlawful employment of illegal aliens, warning… Read More
Janicki Industries Selects Great Falls for $800 Million Manufacturing Campus
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Gov. Greg Gianforte announced that Janicki Industries selected Great Falls as the site of an $800 million manufacturing campus expected to create more than 1,000 jobs… Read More
Internet Crimes Against Children Prevention Month Spotlights Surge in Online Exploitation
HELENA, Mont. — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation called on Montanans to take steps to protect children from online predators during… Read More
Florida sues OpenAI
Florida became the first state this week to sue OpenAI. The civil complaint against OpenAI and Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman accuses the company of deceptive practices and harms to… Read More
Sheehy Calls for Accountability After DOJ Charges Rocky Mountain Lab Scientists With Smuggling Monkeypox
HAMILTON, Mont. — The Department of Justice charged two researchers from the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox into the United States and making false statements… Read More
Analysis Confirms Tax Cuts Flowed Mostly to Working Class Americans
WASHINGTON — A new analysis from the U.S. Treasury Department found that American families and workers claimed $82 billion in individual relief from the Working Families Tax Cuts, with the… Read More
Trump Expands At-Will Employment to 8,000 Federal Positions
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order reclassifying approximately 8,000 policy-influencing federal positions into a new category called Schedule Policy/Career, making it significantly easier for agencies to remove… Read More
U.S. Navy Christens USNS Thurgood Marshall in San Diego Ceremony
SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Navy christened its newest John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, USNS Thurgood Marshall, during a ceremony Saturday morning at the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding… Read More
Boilermakers Union Leaders Convicted of Racketeering and Embezzling Millions
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A federal jury convicted four current and former leaders of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers on racketeering, embezzlement, and fraud charges, finding that they stole millions… Read More
Hundreds of women learn interpersonal, financial skills at Montana State Women’s Leadership Conference
BOZEMAN — Scores of business professionals with an interest in women’s leadership congregated in Montana State University’s Strand Union Building for the annual women’s leadership conference on Tuesday. Hosted by the Jake Jabs College… Read More
Three New Mexico Men Charged With Human Smuggling and Witness Murder Conspiracy
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging three New Mexico men with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, with two of the defendants also facing charges… Read More
Montana Leads Multi-State Challenge to California Physician DEI Requirement
HELENA, Mont. — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen led a 14-state coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday, asking the justices to… Read More
Ninth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Climate Case
HELENA, Mont. — The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal district court’s dismissal of Lighthiser v. Trump, a climate-related lawsuit that Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen had intervened… Read More
Senate Confirms Katie Lane as Montana’s Newest Federal District Judge
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate confirmed Katie Lane to a lifetime appointment as a federal district court judge for the District of Montana on Tuesday in a 52-46 party-line vote,… Read More
Montana Department of Labor Launches Online Wage Claim Portal
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Department of Labor and Industry unveiled a new online Wage and Hour Portal designed to give workers a faster way to report wage concerns and… Read More
Almost 25,000 immigration arrests made in Florida
(The Center Square) – Since Florida launched its immigration enforcement effort, Operation Tidal Wave, in February, nearly 25,000 arrests have been made statewide. “Florida will continue to use every available… Read More
Montana Wins Federal Funding to Expand Behavioral Health Care
HELENA, Mont. — The Trump administration selected Montana as one of ten states to receive federal funding to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, the Montana… Read More
Proposed $250 bill could be a boon for drug cartels, experts warn
(The Center Square) – A proposal to create the largest U.S. currency denomination in more than 50 years could unintentionally benefit drug cartels, money launderers and tax cheats, according to… Read More
Warsh Takes the Wheel at the Fed
WASHINGTON — Kevin Warsh begins his first full week as chairman of the Federal Reserve today with markets watching closely for early signals on monetary policy direction as stubbornly high… Read More
TD Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to $3.4 Million Fraud
NEW YORK — A former TD Bank employee pleaded guilty to exploiting his insider access to steal confidential customer information and bribe an employee at a second financial institution to… Read More
Pentagon Awards $9.7 Billion Microsoft Software Agreement to Dell Federal Systems
WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense announced the award of a five-year, $9.7 billion enterprise software agreement to Dell Federal Systems of Round Rock, Texas, covering Microsoft productivity, cloud, and… Read More
Trump Orders Review of Childhood Vaccine Schedule
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order directing federal health officials to review and potentially update the United States’ childhood vaccine schedule to better align with practices in… Read More
Federal judge strikes down New Hampshire ‘proof of citizenship’ law
(The Center Square) — A federal judge has overturned a New Hampshire law that required unregistered voters to provide proof of citizenship to cast ballots in state elections. The ruling… Read More
Billings Votes to Create Independent Airport Authority After Nearly a Century of City Control
BILLINGS, Mont. — The Billings City Council voted to establish an independent governmental authority to oversee Billings Logan International Airport, ending nearly a century of direct municipal control over one… Read More
Speakers object to transgender athletes in girls sports
(The Center Square) – As state track and field championships commenced Friday at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Calif., protesters set up across the street to take aim at transgender… Read More
Gianforte Highlights Rural Business, Energy, and Agriculture on 56 County Tour
HELENA, Mont. — Gov. Greg Gianforte continued his annual 56 County Tour this week, visiting small businesses, energy facilities, agricultural operations, and infrastructure projects across six counties along Montana’s Hi-Line… Read More
South Dakota Arts Council Awards America 250 Community Arts Grants
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Arts Council awarded six grants of $5,000 each to support community-based arts and cultural initiatives celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, the… Read More
Treasury Targets Hizballah-Aligned Officials Obstructing Peace and Disarmament
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated nine individuals in Lebanon this week for obstructing the peace process and impeding the disarmament of Hizballah, targeting… Read More
Knudsen Joins Vice President Vance at White House Anti-Fraud Roundtable
WASHINGTON — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined Vice President JD Vance, the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and attorneys general from 15 other states at an anti-fraud… Read More
Commerce Department Initiates Formal Review of California Coastal Management Program
WASHINGTON — The Commerce Department announced this week that it has directed federal regulators to conduct a full review of California’s coastal management program, citing repeated concerns about the state’s… Read More
Texas sues Discord, arguing online messaging platform endangered children, misled users
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing online messaging platform Discord, accusing the tech company of exposing children to predators using the service and deceiving users about the safety of… Read More
Two Chinese Nationals Charged with Laundering Funds for Sinaloa Cartel
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging two Chinese nationals with conspiracy to commit money laundering on behalf of two of the world’s most powerful drug cartels,… Read More
Wyoming Wins Approval for Rural Health Transformation Program
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming received final federal approval of its Year 1 application for $205 million in funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year initiative designed to expand… Read More
NASA reorganizes to accelerate Moon Base, lunar programs
(The Center Square) – NASA announced a reorganization of the agency Friday, restructuring key mission directorates to accelerate its lunar exploration program even as Congress and the White House remain… Read More
Regions Bank to Pay $4.9 Million to Resolve Civil Liability Over Ineligible PPP Loan Forgiveness
WASHINGTON — Regions Bank has agreed to pay the federal government nearly $4.9 million to settle allegations that it improperly approved forgiveness of a Paycheck Protection Program loan that was… Read More
Army Corps Clears Dakota Access Pipeline
BISMARCK, N.D. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has signed the Record of Decision for the Dakota Access Pipeline Final Environmental Impact Statement, reinstating the easement that allows the… Read More
Montana State students take honors at Model UN competitions
BOZEMAN – Nineteen students from Montana State University participated in the 75th Model United Nations of the Far West competition in San Francisco April 17-21. Model UN is a simulation… Read More
Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in Charges Against 15 Defendants
MINNEAPOLIS — The Justice Department announced criminal charges against 15 defendants in connection with a sweeping Minnesota health care fraud enforcement action, alleging participation in schemes involving more than $90… Read More
Warsh Sworn In as Federal Reserve Chair
WASHINGTON — Kevin Warsh was sworn in as chairman of the Federal Reserve on Friday, taking command of the nation’s central bank at a moment of elevated inflation, volatile energy… Read More
Zinke Celebrates Relaunch of Program Honoring Fallen Service Members
WASHINGTON — Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke marked the official relaunch of the American Battle Monuments Commission flower program this week, restoring the ability of families and all Americans to… Read More
NextEra Energy Proposes Battery Storage Facility Near Billings
BILLINGS, Mont. — A Texas-based energy company has introduced preliminary plans for a large-scale battery storage facility in Yellowstone County, adding to a growing list of major energy and infrastructure… Read More
USDA DESIGNATES 10 MONTANA COUNTIES AS PRIMARY DROUGHT DISASTER AREAS
HELENA, Mont. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 10 Montana counties as primary natural disaster areas following severe drought conditions during the current growing season, opening the door… Read More
Gabbard announces resignation, cites personal reasons
(The Center Square) – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation Friday afternoon, citing personal reasons. The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii will remain at her post until… Read More
MONTANA FOSTER CARE ROLLS CUT IN HALF UNDER GIANFORTE
KALISPELL, Mont. — Gov. Greg Gianforte announced this week that the number of Montana children in foster care has fallen by nearly half since he took office, citing a multi-pronged… Read More
Nonprofit Brings Intelligence Community Expertise to the Fight Against Human Trafficking
As law enforcement agencies across the country mark National Police Week, a nonprofit staffed by veterans of the intelligence community and special operations forces is working to close one of… Read More
Knudsen asks SEC to strictly scrutinize OpenAI’s IPO filings to protect investors
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of ten state attorneys general in calling on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct a rigorous review of any… Read More
Pentagon Pumps $191 Million Into Rocket Motor Supply Chain
The Department of War has awarded $27.3 million to Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company, bringing its total investment in the solid rocket motor supply chain to $191 million since December… Read More
Montana Climbs to 8th in National Fiscal Health Rankings
Montana has vaulted from 22nd to 8th in national fiscal health rankings over the past four years, according to a new report from Truth in Accounting, a nonpartisan think tank… Read More