12.5 million visitors spent $5.45 billion in Montana last year according to the University of Montana’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research. One unique aspect about 2024 was the high visitation in the late summer and early fall when the region saw mild temperatures and clear skies. Businesses enjoyed revenue generated by a stro...
After years of being pushed back and put on hold Real IDs will be a reality for those planning to travel by plane starting May 7th 2025. According to the Department of Homeland Security one will be necessary to fly domestically unless you have a passport or enhanced license. A Real ID will also be needed to access federal facilities. They were...
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the national TikTok divest-or-ban legislation passed by Congress earlier this year. The high court is set to hold oral arguments on it January 10th. Federal judge Donald Molloy has temporarily...
A significant winter storm through the weekend could drop a foot or two of snow in the mountains of western Montana delivering deep fresh powder at the height of the holidays but also increasing the risk of large deadly avalanches. Mountain snowfall is predicted to be nearly constant through at least Sunday evening and likely continuing into n...
A proposed Federal Wildfire Relief Fund would ensure all communities have access to insurance and reliable affordable electricity regardless of the wildfire risks in their region. It would also ensure the federal government aligns with state plans acknowledging that local governments are best equipped to manage wildfire mitigation strategies. ...
Montana recently received an infrastructure report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the state’s school infrastructure earned a “D” grade. The average age of school facilities in Montana is 53 years old with more than 2/3 of the schools built before 1970. Few facilities have plans on updating and maintaining this infr...
Montana’s cannabis industry sales are expected to exceed $1 billion just three years after legalization. Monthly sales average around $25 million indicating the billion-dollar mark will likely be hit early next year. From January to November this year customers spent nearly $300 million on marijuana products bringing the total since legalizati...
The cost of housing a prisoner varies from state to state due to factors like utility costs and officer salaries. In Montana it costs 64,000 a year. The Treasure State ranks 27th in the nation with an incarceration rate of 758 per 100,000 residents. The statistics for the cost comes from Visual Capitalist while the incarceration rate comes fro...
American Pacific Mining Corporation has announced significant assay results from its 2024 field program at the Madison Copper-Gold Project. American Pacific reports gold grades reached as high as 80.6 grams per ton alongside notable copper and silver findings reinforcing the project’s potential. The company is currently in the permitting pro...
In 2023 the Montana Legislature approved House Bill 819 investing into a series of measures to address the need for affordable housing. $50 million will be distributed by counties through “community reinvestment organizations” to buy down up to 30% of the purchase price on a home for eligible families. If a county wants to participate in the ...
