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The U.S. Department of Defense already spends $200 million on services from Montana private contractors, Sen. Steve Daines said Wednesday. But, there are more opportunities for Montana businesses than are being realized, he said during a Billings workshop on government contract work. The event, organized by Big Sky Economic Development of Billings, drew several federal government agencies, as well as defense contractors Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing.  “I understand what it takes to have to sell our products because if you aren’t selling something, you aren’t doing anything. You’ve got to be making something happen every day,” Daines

Montana’s Republican Senator Steve Daines is strengthening his response to the Trump Administration’s planned closure of the Job Corps’ Civilian Conservation Center in Anaconda. On Friday Daines and fellow Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte sent the U.S. Department of Labor a letter saying that while they appreciate the Labor Department’s effort to better align the Anaconda facility’s organizational structure with the department’s mission, they have concerns about it’s closure. The pair urged Labor to, “Maintain [the facility’s] operating status or provide suitable and equivalent alternatives,” for the students it serves. Tuesday, Daines said, “There’s not a good rationale. Sometimes they use

The U.S. Forest Service has deployed land mobile radios on the fireline since the Vietnam War, and the equipment hasn’t changed much over the years. But Colin Watts, assistant director for land mobile radio at the Missoula Technology and Development Center, said the future is about to change. “The future is digital and the future is data,” Watts said. “Real-time telemetry and data management is going to be a growing concern. The ability to extend that data envelope into the forest where we operate is key to us in the future.” Watts and other experts in firefighting technology led Sen.

MISSOULA – FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr visited Missoula Tuesday as part of his week-long trip through Montana and Wyoming where he’s hearing from rural areas about internet and cell service connectivity issues. Carr was joined by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) at the Montana Children’s Specialist, where they discussed the benefits and roadblocks of telehealth where patients can visit a doctor remotely. Doctors and patients video chat, and can have a full appointment from miles away. “This can save lives literally, by closing that gap,” Sen. Daines said. There are only six major hospitals in Montana; Kalispell Regional Medical Center and the Billings

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines visited the Montanore offices in Libby Friday to discuss the progress of the mine project with members of local government and the community. Along with Daines, State Sen. Mike Cuffe, District 1, and State Rep. Steve Gunderson, District 1, were also in attendance, alongside county government and school officials, as well as members of the community associated with various organizations and boards. Doug Stiles, manager of Montana Operations for Hecla Mining, gave a short update on progress with the Montanore and Rock Creek mine projects. Hecla is working with the U.S. Forest Service to update their

KALISPELL, Mont. — Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember Americans who died in active duty in the military, but one group in the Flathead does that year-round. Residents of the Lighthouse Christian Home participate in the Shining Honor Project, which gives jobs to developmentally challenged adults. Their job is to keep veterans’ gravesites clean and tidy at Glacier Memorial Gardens and Whitefish City Cemetery. “It’s a great way to get Memorial Day headstones ready for this important day,” U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) said. “It’s a day of remembrance, and to have these Montanans who have developmental challenge

BILLINGS- Agriculture and business are the reasons the U.S. Customs and Border Protection decided to not cut hours at ports entries on Montana’s northern border, U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte and Sen. Steve Daines announced jointly Friday. In February, the CBP announced it was decreasing hours that ports would be open. However, after meetings with U.S. citizens living along the border, the agency will hold pat with its original schedule, according to a news release from Daines and Gianforte, both Montana Republicans. The Port of Raymond will be open 24 hours. Ports in Morgan, Opheim and Scobey will be open from 9