NorthWestern Energy inks power agreement with proposed AI data center in Yellowstone County
NorthWestern Energy has signed a letter of intent to supply as much as 1,000 megawatts of electricity by the year 2030 to what would be the largest data center in Montana in Yellowstone County by Texas-based Quantica Infrastructure. The total load for all customers in Montana right now is about 750 megawatts and one-gigawatt request could power 800,000 homes for a year. in the last six months data center companies in Montana have announced plans to use a combined 2,000 megawatts of power by 2030.
Her Campaign Founder is Walking 580 Miles from Billings to Denver to Raise Funds for Women’s Anti-Trafficking Programs
Britney Higgs is the founder and CEO of the HER Campaign founded in 2016 with the goal of helping girls and women get out of and be protected from sex trafficking. The “Her Campaign” has two “Safe Houses” one in Billings the other Denver, which she is now walking too from Billings with her goat Freedom to raise money for the Montana facility and programs. Today Voices of Montana caught up with her on the back highway between Laramie and Fort Collins. She had already walked 430 of the 580 miles on her journey.
Britney Higgs
Tag: The goal is to raise $1,000 dollars for every mile of the 580-mile journey. To donate visit: her campaign dot org/walk for her.
Montana DCI Investigates Anaconda Bar Shooting; Suspect Michael Brown At Large
The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the probe into a shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda this morning around 10:30. Four people were killed, and authorities are searching for suspect Michael Brown, 45, who is believed armed. Brown was last seen driving a 2007 white Ford F-150 with Montana plates DTY493, west of Anaconda near Stumptown Road. As of 2:30 PM Brown was still at large.
Montana’s only Forest Service office to close amid USDA reorganization
Montana’s Region 1 Northern Regional Office of the U.S. Forest Service is set to close as part of a reorganization by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The office in Fort Missoula is the only one in the Treasure State and will be phased out over the next year. Of the 10 regional offices across the country only a reduced office in Alaska will remain open.
Ads hit Montana attorney general over coal lawsuit
Attorney General Austin Knudsen is suing asset management firms State Street BlackRock and Vanguard criticizing them for operating under a policy known as ESG or environmental social and governance standard that can discourage investment in fossil fuel industries. The nonprofit 60 Plus Association which bills itself as an advocate for seniors has recently been circulating ads saying the lawsuit will drive up energy costs for seniors.
BNSF And CSX Exploring Merger Options
The Union Pacific Railroad is proposing to buy smaller rival Norfolk Southern for $85 billion which would create the country’s first coast-to-coast freight rail operator. Reuters has reported competitors BNSF and CSX are exploring merger options. Burlington Northern owns and operates a large network of tracks in Montana and plays a significant role in the state’s transportation system connecting Montana with the rest of the country and facilitating the movement of goods.
Montana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Argues for Consideration of Statewide Sales Tax
According to Todd O’Hair the president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce it’s time for a serious conversation about implementing a sales tax in the state of Montana. O’Hair made the comments Thursday at the Bureau of Business and Economic Research’s 2025 Mid-year Economic Update at the Kalispell Hilton Garden Inn.
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State Senator Wendy McKamey of Great Falls recovering at a rehabilitation facility after she suffered a stroke roughly two weeks ago. The 78-year-old moderate Republican who represents roughly 22,000 people has served in the Legislature since 2015. Thursday morning she had started to regain her ability to speak.
Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent Matt Jensen’s contract has been extended for three years and includes a 2% annual pay increase along with a 2.11% cost of living adjustment starting next July 1st. The contract which goes through June 30th 2028 provides a base salary of $187,398 and now includes a personal leave increase from 12 to 15 days.
The federal government has rescinded $74.9 million for a series of projects meant to improve Highway 93 between St. Ignatius and Ronan. They included safety improvements to the roadway the addition of pedestrian trails and more effective wildlife crossing locations in the Post Creek Allentown and Ninepipes areas.
Katharine Berkoff is now a world champion swimmer. The Missoula native claimed her first individual gold medal by winning the women’s 50-meter backstroke at the World Aquatics Championships Thursday in Singapore. She also won a bronze in the 100 back earlier in the week.
The Montana Jewish Project has received a historic window with a wood frame resembling the Star of David one of three that were once part of East Helena ASARCO lead smelting plant. They were donated by Jewish mining magnate Meyer Guggenheim to the state of Montana almost 100 years ago. The facility suspended operations in 2001 and was demolished in 2008 after being declared a Superfund contamination cleanup site.
