Montana’s strategic military presence in a shifting global landscape
As global tensions escalate Montana plays a vital role in U.S. national defense through Malmstrom Air Force Base. It oversees 15 missile alert facilities across the state each equipped with underground launch control centers. These facilities form a key part of the nation’s nuclear deterrence strategy. The current Defense Condition level for the U.S. military is DEFCON 3 which indicates heightened readiness. As the U.S. reinforces its global military posture Montana’s contribution both overseas and at home continues to reflect its strategic importance in national security.
Congressman Downing’s Bill to Expand Capital Access for Rural Small Businesses Passes House
Congressman Troy Downing’s bill, H.R. 1190, is his first to pass the House by a voice vote. It aims to include rural small businesses in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s list of eligible entities for capital support, expanding access for minority, women, and disaster-stricken small businesses. The bill now moves to the Senate.
And Congressman Troy Downing says he hopes the U.S. Senate treads lightly when it comes to the Big Beautiful Bill.
Troy Downing
Audio PlayerIf the Senate completes its work on it this week, the bill will go back to the House, which narrowly passed its version of it a few weeks ago.
Montana Physical Therapists Warn of Financial Strain as Medicaid Reimbursement Lags Behind Rising Costs
Costs to provide physical therapy keep going up for providers and Medicaid, which is the form of payment for many Montanans, isn’t keeping up. Today on Voices of Montana Emily Hernden of Plains Physical Therapy said she was disappointed by something Governor Greg Gianforte did, that could put practices out of business if something isn’t done to help them.
Emily Hernden
Audio PlayerSecretary of Labor in Belgrade touring Towhaul as part of President Trumps manufacturing agenda
U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer visited Belgrade’s TowHaul Monday. She explained her purpose was to understand the policies that could help manufacturers and other businesses thrive as well as explain what the Trump administration is doing to meet those goals. Vice President Chris Friedel provided her with a tour of their facility and said he was able to share some of his concerns with the secretary.
Montana Is 2025’s 10th Most Independent State – WalletHub Study
With Independence Day right around the corner today WalletHub released its report on 2025’s Most Independent States. Montana ranks 10th across 39 metrics. The personal-finance website compared the 50 states to determine the most self-sufficient ones measuring how American feel about the government their jobs and personal vices.
USDA To Overturn Roadless Rule
In Montana 58 percent of National Forest System land is restricted from road development making it nearly impossible to be properly managed for fire risk. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced she will reverse the 2001 Roadless Rule. That will allow for fire prevention and responsible timber production by removing administrative prohibitions on road construction.
Senate To Vote This Week On “Big Beautiful Bill Act”
The Senate is expected to vote this week on its version of a spending and tax-cuts bill and currently the “Big Beautiful Bill Act” includes language to sell off up to 3.3 million acres of public federal lands. Montana is the only state in the Rockies that would be off-limits but leaves open the possibility public lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management across the state could open up to residential development.
More Headlines:
Eastern District Congressman Troy Downing’s The Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act passed the House by voice vote Monday. The legislation would require the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation to add rural small businesses to its list of applicable entities. This is his first bill to pass the House and now the Senate will consider it.
According to the Montana Office of Public Instruction’s 2023-2024 report cards Helena students performed higher than the state’s average in the core subjects of math reading and science. Helena and Capital High Schools combined scored above the state average in proficient and advanced levels in all three subjects.
The Gallatin City-County Health Department is currently investigating a confirmed outbreak of a parasitic disease likely linked with consuming turkey sandwiches. So far 22 individuals have tested positive for Crypto associated with the outbreak at Fink’s Delicatessen but based on the health departments’ current findings there is no further risk to the public. Officials say the establishment’s owners and staff have fully cooperated throughout the investigation.
Nine family medicine physicians will complete the Billings-based Montana Family Medicine Residency Friday during a ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton. More than half of this year’s graduates will practice medicine in Montana and three will be joining the faculty and continue to see patients at RiverStone Health and train residents.
The Montana Department of Agriculture is facilitating summer pesticide disposal events during the week of June 30th in Polson Hamilton and Butte. Annual pesticide waste collection events have collected nearly 780,000 pounds of pesticide waste from over 1,800 participants since the program’s inception in 1994.
