WASHINGTON, April 2 -- A coalition of 10 oil and gas industry associations submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management raising concerns about proposed rules governing commingling and production handling, arguing the framework is overly burdensome and inconsistent with congressional direction. Commingling combines oil and gas production from multiple sources into a single stream for measurement and processing, serving valuable purposes such  more ST

LANSING, Michigan, April 2 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release: * * * AG Nessel Leads Bipartisan Coalition Defending Use of Geofence Warrants by Law Enforcement * LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined the State of Iowa in leading a bipartisan multistate coalition of 32 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief (PDF) with the U.S. Supreme Court in Chatrie v. United States. The coalition is urging the Court to uphold the constitutionali more PR

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 2 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: * * * Attorney General Alan Wilson protects taxpayers from funding inmate sex-change surgeries * (COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson joined 23 other states in a friend-of-the-court brief that supports a state's right to regulate medicine for the protection of public health and safety, particularly in correctional institutions. A prisoner in Alaska is demanding to receive  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: * * * BLM seeks initial input for October 2026 sale of oil and gas leases in Montana and Dakotas * BILLINGS, Mont. - The Bureau of Land Management today opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on 20 oil and gas parcels totaling 3,387 acres that may be included in an October 2026 lease sale in Montana and Dakotas. The scoping period ends May 4, 2026.  more PR

REXBURG, Idaho, April 2 -- Brigham Young University Idaho campus issued the following news: * * * BYU-Idaho Collegiate Singers & Vocal Union Tour Announced * Brigham Young University - Idaho Collegiate Singers & Vocal Union are touring to Montana and Alberta, Canada this April! This is the first time these two groups have toured together! The Collegiate Singers and Vocal Union, BYU-Idaho's premiere choir and high-energy a cappella ensemble, are pleased to announce their joint 2026 Tour: "C more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Capital Research Center issued the following InfluenceWatch wrapup by Jonathan Harsh: * * * InfluenceWatch, a project of Capital Research Center, is a comprehensive and ever-evolving compilation of our research into the numerous advocacy groups, foundations, and donors working to influence the public policy process. The website offers transparency into these influencers' funding, motives, and connections while providing insight often neglected by other watchdog group more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10519) on April 1, 2026, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Strategic Nuclear Forces The Department of Defense (DOD) - which is "using a secondary Department of War designation" under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025 - is in the process of modernizing U.S. strategic nuclear forces. This modernization effort includes nu more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Education is now accepting competitive grant applications for fiscal 2026 Parent Information and Training Program. This initiative aims to support regional parent information and training centers that assist individuals with disabilities and their support networks. These centers provide essential resources to help parents, family members, guardians and advocates collaborate with professionals. The goal is to better meet the vocational, rehab more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Education Northwest has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education in response to proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions related to the Comprehensive Centers Program. The nonprofit organization, which has managed a Regional Comprehensive Center (RCC) in the Northwest for more than two decades, highlighted key concerns regarding program recompeting, service delivery design, and proposed budget restrictions. Education Northwest caution more ST

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The FBI issued the following news release: * * * FBI Surges Personnel to Support Operation Not Forgotten 2026, Expanding Investigative Resources Across Indian Country The FBI on April 2 announced a personnel surge in support of Operation Not Forgotten 2026, the latest deployment under Operation Steadfast Promise demonstrating the Bureau's sustained commitment to addressing violent crime and improving public safety in Indian Country. In its fourth year, Operation Not F more PR

HELENA, Montana, April 2 -- Gov. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Gianforte Presents Spirit of Montana Award to Park County Rural Fire Chief * LIVINGSTON, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte today recognized Park County Rural Fire Chief Dann Babcox with the Spirit of Montana award for his 25 years of service, leadership, and dedication to protecting his community. "Service is at the heart of who we are as Montanans," Gov. Gianforte said. "For over 25  more PR

MISSOULA, Montana, April 2 -- The University of Montana posted the following news release: * * * Graduate Student Poet Wins UM's Prestigious Merriam Writing Award * Harman won the Merriam-Frontier Award for her collection of poetry titled "Surface Tension." The award comes with $2,500 and a spring semester reading from the winning manuscript. Her reading is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Poetry Corner of UM's Mansfield Library. "Getting to tell my father's story, my famil more PR

BOISE, Idaho, April 2 -- Idaho Attorney General Raul R. Labrador issued the following news release: * * * Idaho AG Defends 2nd Amendment Against New York Lawsuits * Attorney General Raul Labrador joined a coalition led by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen in defending firearms manufacturers against lawsuits filed by the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, New York. The cities are attempting to hold Smith & Wesson, Glock, Ruger, and Taurus financially liable for crimes committed by third p more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- LifeCenter Northwest, a federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving a vast four-state area including Alaska, Montana, Washington, and parts of northern Idaho, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the CMS-3409-P Proposed Rule on organ procurement organizations' conditions for coverage. LifeCenter Northwest addressed several concerns about the agency's proposals to amend the 2020 Final Rule th more ST

HELENA, Montana, April 3 -- The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued the following news release on April 2, 2026: * * * Draft EA for Yellowstone Co. Junk Vehicle Facility Issued The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) published a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Yellowstone County regarding a proposed junk vehicle county graveyard (JVCG) in Billings, Montana. The proposed JVCG will be in Yellowstone County within a fenced area at 3324 E. King Ave., Billings more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Gov. Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management expressing support for the agency's proposed rule concerning site security, production handling, and the approval process for commingling in oil and gas operations on various federal, Indian, private, and state lands. The letter emphasizes the need for updated regulations to reflect the complexities of modern oil and gas development and to enhance operational efficiency. more ST

BOZEMAN, Montana, April 1 -- Montana State University issued the following news: * * * Montana State engineering class explores operational improvement strategies used in industry Engineering students at Montana State University can now explore the fundamentals of modern manufacturing management in depth through a new graduate-level course, Manufacturing Management Systems. The class introduces operational improvement strategies widely used in industry and examines how they are applied in rea more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2026: * * * One Month Into Iran War, Americans Have Paid $8.4 Billion More for Gas, Now Costs $145 to Fill Pickup Truck New Data Also Includes State-by-State Breakdown of Increased Spending on Gas Since Trump's War Began * One month since President Trump unilaterally started his war against Iran, a new Joint Economic Committee - Minority  more PR

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 3 -- USA Softball issued the following news on April 2, 2026: * * * USA Softball reveals 2026 Women's National Team Athlete Pool USA Softball has announced the list of athletes identified by the Women's National Team Selection Committee (WNTSC) for the U.S. Women's National Team (WNT) Athlete Pool. A total of 36 athletes have been selected for consideration for the 2026 USA Softball WNT, which will compete at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Worl more PR