Archive: April 2025

Conlon Joins Visit Billings

21 April 2025
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Casey Conlon joined Visit Billings, managed by the Billings Chamber of Commerce, as the new Sports Tourism Director in March.

In his new role, Conlon will lead Visit Billings Sports. He will spearhead efforts to attract and execute high-impact sporting events, collaborating with key stakeholders to enhance Billings’ reputation as a premier sports tourism destination.

Conlon brings a wealth of experience in sports journalism and event management, having overseen day-to-day newsroom operations at KTVQ, managed all sports coverage, and co-hosted Big Sky Football telecasts. He is highly regarded in the Billings community for his dedication and contributions to local journalism.

Conlon holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. He spent many of his 18 years at KTVQ as a sports anchor and reporter before moving over to news management. He won multiple awards, including an Edward R. Murrow Regional honor as well as five Montana Broadcasters E.B. Craney awards. He’s excited to bring his wealth of knowledge of the local sports community into tourism and event management.

Conlon officially joined Visit Billings on March 17, 2025. He has called Billings home for 18 years, marrying his wife Kassidy in 2022. The couple are expecting their first child in 2025. Outside of work, Casey is an avid golfer, but you can usually talk him into anything involving a field or court. He and Kassidy also love hiking and camping in Montana’s beautiful wilderness. He can be reached via email at Casey@VisitBillings.com or by calling 406-839-1284

Billings New Business Licenses – March 2025

21 April 2025
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Gallagher’s, 1142 Parkhill Dr, (406) 321-2929, Gallagher, Jeff, Service  

Bizzyboddesigns, 3520 Cook Ave, (406) 794-2192, Skaggs, Chelsea, Retail Sales  

Big Sky Junk Removal LLC, 1333 Rimrock Rd, (406) 927-2876, Jabalera, Amber, Service 

Bar One Mobile Bartending, 719 Rimrock Rd, (406) 860-7070, Berg/Paxinos, Eric/Thomas, Service  

Choice Aviation LLC, 2390 Overlook Dr, (800) 587-4066, Payne, Caleb, Service  59105

Watts To Bounce, 2918 Lewis Ave, (406) 598-3315, Watts, Jamie, Service  

Joda Tech, 706 Cook Ave, (406) 697-3332, Kramer, Shawn, Service  

Bret Enterprise LLC dba Aflame Fire Protection, 1018 W Custer Ste 16, (406) 422-0835, Rasmussen, Tucker, Service, Helena, Mt 

As You Wish Wedding And Event Planning, 2316 Alderson Ave, (406) 647-9056, Landwehr, Faith,  Service  

Dragonfly Dreamz Home, 4193 Ryan Ave, (406) 671-2122, Wooden Legs-Looks Behind, Darlene,  Service 

Purezone Rentals, 3193 Avenue D, (406) 334-0951, Damjanovich, Ryan, Service 

Stay With Bo, 821 Miles Ave, (406) 647-0239, Lasher, Jeffrey, Real Estate Rental  

Local Services LLC, 2012 Phoebe Dr, (406) 671-9408, Benton, Ryan, Service  

Alfies Construction, 1640 Lakehills Dr, (406) 894-8791, Kroll, Robert, General Contractors  

Grosz Enterprises, 726 Parkhill Dr, (406) 690-5999, Grosz, Karen, General Business  

Squared-Up Tile, 213 S 40th St, (406) 608-7391, Rowe, Robert, Service  

Sacred Touch Cleaning Services LLC, 1027 Wiloma Dr, (406) 561-0601, Bear Don’t Walk, Lucas, Service 

Powerhouse Construction, 4208 Clevenger Ave, (406) 696-2045, Clemons, Ryan, General Contractors  

Organic Living, 151 Lexington Dr, (406) 839-3872, Carson, Robert, Retail Sales 

Ain’t No Blonde’s Chic Boutique, 819 16th St W, (406) 839-8672, Velazquez/Reichle, Jasmine/Marissa, Retail Sales  

My Home 406, 206 N 29th St Ste 12, (406) 696-0797, Wunker, Michelle, Service  

Angry Bison Cigars, 3713 Marathon Dr, (360) 731-4394, Moorman, Scott/Kimberly, Retail Sales  

Dans Electric, 99 Tree Line Lane, (406) 209-0099, Nitsche, Dan, Electrical Contractors, Bozeman, 59718

Cementsworks LLC, 3020 Ronan Dr, (406) 371-5705, Matson, Geoffrey, Service 

Dyamond Esthetics, 71 25th St W Ste 1, (406) 561-9348, Anderson, Tanzana, Service  

Ronda Smith, 115 1/2  Wyoming Ave, (406) 591-5736, Smith, Rhonda, Real Estate Rental ,  59101

Kinetic Fuels LLC, 419 Robertson Rd, (406) 426-4973, Hively, Jarrett W & Ashley D, Service  

HNL LLC, 1725 Cody Dr, (626) 808-8621, Bardakjian, Ohannes, Service  

Walter Properties LLC, 2915 2nd Ave S Unit 206, (406) 366-1453, Walter, Calvin, Real Estate Rental  

Infraservices Group Wireless LLC, 1787 Sentry Pkwy W, Veva-18 Ste 100, (484) 451-8501, Bicknese, Eric, Utilities, Blue Bell, PA, 19422

Xae’s Construction, 1735 Mariposa Ln, (406) 694-9041, Gonzalez, Jr, Luis Armando, General Contractors  

Lee & Co Electrical LLC, 717 Avenue B Unit 1, (406) 591-2182, Lee, Justin, Electrical Contractors  

Abundant Wellness, 3915 Makell Way, (406) 670-4794, McMorris, Rachel, Service  

Kim Wahlberg Interpreting Services, 4230 Long Beach Way Unit 5, (206) 719-1341, Wahlberg, Kimberly, Service  

Moms Without Capes, Michalsky Coaching & Consulting, (406) 601-9175, Michalsky, Onorina,  Service  

Stangland LLC, 2585 Bitterroot Dr, (406) 601-0560, Stanley, Matthew, Service  

Bighorn Auto LLC, 24 Orchard Ln, (406) 200-7546, Schwend, Joseph, Auto Business  

Mason CPA P.C., 3300 Central Ave Ste D, (406) 861-8839, Mason, Derrek, Service  

Smith Rentals, 2516 Orchard Dr, (770) 316-3016, Smith, Justin, Real Estate Rental  

Gallagher’s, 1106 Parkhill Dr, (406) 321-2929, Gallagher, Jeff, Service  

Gallagher’s, 1115 Parkhill Dr, (406) 321-2929, Gallagher, Jeff, Service  

Bearded Bean Coffee Co, 3024 2nd Ave N, (406) 696-7859, Hartman IV, Emanuel, Restaurants  

Upliftt Thrift Store, 1201 Grand Ave, (406) 606-1761, Liftt, Antique & Second Hand Stores  

Schroeder House LLC, 123 Lewis Ave, (406) 690-7012, Mayott, Michael, Real Estate Rental  

Connie & Greg’s AirBNB, 1087 Keno St, (406) 697-0418, Maciel, Connie & Greg, Real Estate Rental  

Gail’s Guest House Suite – AirBNB, 1257 Mossman Dr, (406) 670-8337, Dees, Gail, Real Estate Rental  

Iron Horse Party Rentals, 2223 Old State Rd, (406) 596-0237, Ellis, Robin, Restaurants, Dillon, Mt, 59725

Indo Services LLC, 3108 Avenue E, (406) 281-1347, Diaz, Isaac, General Contractors  

TJ Seven Clean LLC, 1525 Bench Blvd, (406) 696-0523, Warburton, Rachel, Service  

Sunny Dayz Unlimited, 3420 Granger Ave S, (406) 200-2695, Harris, Shameka, Retail Sales  

Carter Construction, 4900 Buffalo Trail, (209) 777-3501, Fisher Carter, Diane, General Contractors, Molt, 59057 

Frae Everyday Goods (29th St), 116 N 29th St, (406) 200-7429, Miller-O’brien, Tiffany, Retail Sales  

Cozy Chic Studio, 106 S 31st St, (406) 850-2728, Nava, Prima, Real Estate Rental  

Dyenamic Rentals LLC, 1988 N 800 E, (406) 697-5118, Dye, Anthony & Ruth, Real Estate Rental, North Logan, UT, 84341

MC’s Housekeeping, 1020 N 22nd St, (406) 281-3220, Campos, Maria, Service   Lashawn Bernhardt, 4167 Vaughn Ln, (406) 860-4831, Bernhardt, Lashawn, Real Estate Rental  

Shi-Town Properties LLC, 6071 Northstead Ave, (406) 544-0096, Cook, Shilo, Real Estate Rental  

Textbook Construction LLC, 2511 Rancho Rd, (406) 670-9323, Michael, Justin, General Contractors  

Rimrock Landscaping, 746 Burlington Ave, (406) 561-3677, Langton, Ricky, Service ,  59101

MJR Conveyors Inc, 905 W I Rd, (406) 702-0536, Queyrel, Amanda/Wendy, Service, Worden,  59088

Ma & Pa Ice Cream, 7716 Lewis Ave, (406) 606-9730, Madole, Tina, Restaurants  

Foryan Ventures LLC, 2915 2nd Ave S #202, (208) 317-4981, Clayton, Jordan, Real Estate Rental  

Diamond Roofing & Solar, 5825 Titan Ave #2, (406) 598-8107, Smith, Kevin, General Contractors 

Platinum Handyman LLC, 359 Stewart Ct S, (406) 371-1564, Pyrzewski, Todd, Service  

Magic City Flooring LLC, 2016 S Greeley Hwy 3c, (307) 352-9951, Wisneski, Chantz, Service, Cheyenne, WY, 82007

Vision Development Group LLC, 6170 Elysian Rd Units 202, (801) 694-6737, Callahan, Joe, Real Estate Rental  

Peterson Elite Installs, 7453 Burlington Ave, (406) 598-7828, Peterson, Jeremy, Service  

Cheryl Meyer, 3112 54th St W, (406) 591-4245, Meyer, Cheryl, Real Estate Rental  

Cow Dog Electric, LLC, 2314 Clubhouse Way, (406) 606-2071, Long, Kevin, Electrical Contractors  

Pro Clean Northwest, 2015 S 56th St W, (406) 591-5596, Ellinghouse, John, Service ,  59106

Montana Urban Hideaway, 407 1/2 S 31st St, (406) 861-1528, Basye, Eric, Real Estate Rental  

Legacy International, 1236 Cordova St, (406) 248-2766, Anderson, Jasmine, Service  

Atlantic Pacific Resource Group, 1236 Cordova St, (406) 248-2766, Anderson, Jasmine, Service  

Zoetic Therapy PLLC, 1220 N Frontage Rd, (406) 697-2026, Wolfe Ochoa, Ricki, Service ,  59101

Panoramic Hills LLC, 642 Sahara Dr, (510) 338-5201, Ginn, Steven, Real Estate Rental  

Last Best Homes LLC, 3212 E Macdonald Dr, (406) 696-2277, McFadyen, Jane, Real Estate Rental  

Pure Touch Cleaning LLC, 1119 Maggie Ln, (406) 860-1362, Smith, Dakota, Service ,  

GBD Construction, 539 Zebra St, (406) 598-6314, Davis, Brad, General Contractors ,  59106

Firemaster, 455 Moore Ln, (406) 245-9666, Mota, Angelo, Service  

Nineteen LLC, 19 Meadow Glen St, (406) 690-2559, Barlow, Tracy, Real Estate Rental ,  

Healing With Faith, 1611 Alderson Ave, (406) 670-9116, Chilcott, Faith, Service 

Brightstone LLC, 2110 Ridgeview Dr, (425) 999-5867, Cary, Meghan, Service  

Straight Edge Renovations, 814 N 25th St, (406) 927-3832, Wagner, Daniel, General Contractors  

A Sober Start-Hardy House, 2023 Fairway Dr, (406) 839-7405, Keith, Kacy, Service  

Granite LLC, 1351 Granite Ave, (406) 672-8649, Young, Robert Donald, Real Estate Rental ,  , 3012 54th St W 

Jessica And James Tapp, 6010 Farmstead Ave Unit 30, (951) 316-3808, Tapp, Jessica & James,  Real Estate Rental  

Cascade Property Management Inc, 217 Avenue D, (406) 662-1120, Mix, Janine, Real Estate Rental  

Winchell Contracting, 28 Double Tree Pl, (406) 698-7147, Winchell, Scott, General Contractors  

Comforts Of Home, 359 Nubias Pl, (406) 690-5635, Pettit, Yvonne, Real Estate Rental

Accurate Ledger Services, 2145 Hyacinth Dr, (406) 272-2553, Hallam, Kevin, Misc ,  59105

Sachithra Arno, 6027 Catherina Ct, (406) 672-5876, Arno, Sachithra, Real Estate Rental  

Magnum Caelum Properties LLC, 517 S 29th St, (406) 670-2557, Hanson, Chandra L, Real Estate Rental  

Razor Enterprises Inc, 2325 Bigflat Rd, (509) 863-7064, Roeser, Aaron, Service, Missoula, 59804

Dude Ventures Property Management LLC, 903 Rimrock Rd, (406) 876-1788, Gregory/Mitchell, James/Pete,  Real Estate Rental  

Four Seasons Property Services, 3514 5th Ave S Unit A, (406) 845-6085, Nelson/Guerrero-Nelson, Shawn/Alyssa, Service  

Jaerae Wellness LLC, 1216 16th St W #32 Office A, (906) 364-5357, Lindquist, Krista, Service  

LKS Construction, 1907 1/2 6th St W, (406) 696-8074, Swift, Logan K, General Contractors  

All Tree Works, 6842 Us Highway 312, (406) 600-9624, Johnson, Taylor, General Contractors  

Sober Start-Heights House, 1348 1/2 Main St, (406) 839-7405, Keith, Kacy, Service ,  59105,

A Sober Start-Kc House, 2547 Eastridge Dr, (406) 839-7405, Keith, Kacy, Service  

A Sober Start-Kenzie House, 3006 Avenue F, (406) 839-7405, Keith, Kacy, Service  

A Sober Start-Mark House, 3025 Gloxinia Dr, (406) 839-7405, Keith, Kacy, Service  

A Sober Start-Ruthie House, 519 Avenue C, (406) 839-7405, Keith, Kacy, Service  

Afordable Contractors, 106 Broadwater Ave, (406) 598-8862, Marino, Michael, General Contractors  

Hawg Heaven, 148 E 2nd N, (307) 272-1470, Acton, Robert, Restaurants, Cowley, WY 

Billings Building Permits April 15, 2025

21 April 2025
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Commercial

TWAS Properties LLC|Cobeck Construction Co LLC, 570 S 24th St W, Com New Other, $2,000,000

American Lutheran Church|Wovek Inc, 5 Lewis Ave, Com Remodel, $445,131

Oliver Building Residential Owners Association/ NCI, 2702 Montana Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $74,000

Skyway Towers |Infraservices Group Wireless LLC, 2220 Mission Way, Com Remodel, $50,000

TWAS Properties LLC,  570 S 24th St W, Com New Other, $40,000

Rimrock Holding LLC|Bettelyoun & Son Construction, 2141 Burnstead Dr, Com Addition Multi-Family, $15,000

Rimrock Holding LLC|Bettelyoun & Son Construction, 2150 Burnstead Dr, Com Addition Multi-Family, $15,000

Rimrock Holding LLC|Bettelyoun & Son Construction, 2040 Burnstead Dr, Com Addition Multi-Family, $15,000

Rimrock Holding LLC|Bettelyoun & Son Construction, 2022 Burnstead Dr, Com Addition Multi-Family, $15,000

First Interstate Bank|Langlas & Assoc. Inc., 5405 Grand Ave, Com New Office/Bank, $2,000,000

Formation |Formation Inc, 4016 Montana Sapphire Dr, Com New Office/Bank, $698,297

KSK Of Billings LLC|Wegner Homes, 5104 Southgate Dr, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $51,578

Evergreen Midtown Condo’s|Tony Derosa Martial Arts Studio, 1313 Grand Ave, Com Remodel, $50,000

Biondich Steven R & Kyle S|Lake Elmo Therapeutic Services, 527 Lake Elmo Dr, Com Remodel, $37,000

Terra West Townhomes| T.O. Jones Construction Inc, 3175 Solar Blvd, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $35,600

Terra West Townhomes| T.O. Jones Construction Inc, 3175 Solar Blvd, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $30,800

Yellowstone Accommodations LLC, 2026 Overland Ave, Com Remodel, $30,000

Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch|Donahue Roofing & Siding LLC, 2050 Overland Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $23,575

Luce Ii William C|Titus Construction, 3705 Montana Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $16,500

Popelka Enterprises LLC, 670 Main St, Albertsons Store 1227, Com Remodel, $7,500.00

Brandon Halsten |Firemaster, 1603 Grand Ave, Com Remodel, $2,590

Grand Avenue Development Inc|Z.O.D. General Contracting & Construction, 1211 Grand Ave, Suite 3,  Com Remodel, $1,750

City Of Billings, 3601 Briarwood Blvd, Demolition Permit Commercial,  $1,000

Residential

William Quirion Interior Remodel, 107 Burlington Ave, Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $10,290

 David Michael & Diane|Carter Construction, 715 N 24th St,  Demolition Permit Residential, $400

Mike Christensen |Michael Christensen Homes, 4709 Ravenwood Dr,  Res New Two Family, $396,632

Stambaugh Ernest C & Rebecca|Freyenhagen Construction Inc, 2930 Arnold Palmer Dr, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $168,000

Sartorie Michael|J & M Development, 1126 Truck Farm Pl, Res New Two Family, $365,160

Sartorie Michael|J & M Development, 1125 Truck Farm Pl, Res New Two Family, $365,160

Felton Associates Inc|Michael Christensen Homes, 1349 Tania Cir, Res New Single Family, $350,000

Infinity Home LLC |Infinity Home LLC 5031 Audubon Way, Res New Single Family, $290,078

Infinity Home LLC |Infinity Home LLC, 5045 Audubon Way, Res New Single Family, $278,370

McCall |McCall Development, 6263 Eva Marie Ln, Res New Single Family, $220,858

McCall |McCall Development, 1814 St Peter Ln, New Single Family, $192,726

Gonitzke Lindsay K|Ban Construction Corp, 935 N 32nd St, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $65,000

Cali Cameron, 622 Bazaar Exchange, Res Addition Single/Duplex/Garage, $50,400

Bill Would Help Fund Big Sky Passenger Rail Line

21 April 2025
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Those advocating to expand passenger rail service in Montana, the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA), hang in limbo as HB 848 is pending in the state legislature, which would create a “Big Sky Rail Account” which would contribute to the estimated $2 billion price tag for a second rail line through southern Montana — the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, which would extend from Seattle to Chicago. (Amtrak’s Empire Builder passes through northern Montana.) 

“It would not be inconceivable,” said BSPRA Chairman Dave Strohmaier, that the cost for the line, “would be upwards of $2 billion for a 2,300-mile long route.”  He said a key component of their strategy is securing support from local governments and municipalities.  BSPRA has garnered pledges of support from numerous cities, including Billings, and counties in Montana, which implies commitments of local funding, in addition to federal funding, and anticipated state funding.

 HB 848 was introduced by state Rep. Denise Baum (D-Billings). It has passed the House and transmitted to the Senate.

Stephen Gardner, Amtrak’s CEO, recently resigned his position. The uncertainty of federal funding and priorities poses additional uncertainties regarding the future of the Big Sky North Coast Corridor.

9th District Customers Skittish

21 April 2025
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By Haley Chinander, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Companies reported in a survey that profits and revenue declined, and some observed that additional economic uncertainty made already price-sensitive customers more skittish. The January survey received 568 responses from business owners across the Ninth District of the Federal Reserve Bank which includes Montana.

Amid this uncertainty, more businesses reported pulling back on hiring but for varying reasons. Many respondents mentioned that heightened labor costs hindered their ability to hire, while others noted that improved labor availability and slower turnover lessened their hiring needs.

Businesses also said that price increases moderated since last year, and their outlook was solidly positive.

Revenue declined for 44 percent of firms compared with the same quarter last year. Profits were also reportedly lower for nearly half of firms.

Expectations for future revenue and profits leaned negative as well, with 36 percent of respondents expecting declines in revenue over the next quarter and 30 percent expecting revenue to increase.

Respondents noted that heightened input and labor costs continued to chip away at their profits. Many also mentioned that their customers or clients were increasingly tightening their belts and unwilling to make large purchases.

“It appears that inflation is really having an effect on people’s spending,” observed the owner of a Minnesota accommodation business. “People generally have less to spend, thus we have seen a decrease in our gross revenue.”

Other respondents mentioned that increased economic uncertainty, especially due to proposed changes in federal policy, was creating concerns about future input costs and demand. “We are anxious about any possible tariffs,” wrote a North Dakota alcohol beverage retailer. “We significantly felt the impacts of the last round of tariffs in 2018 [and] 2019. We tried to stock up in advance of price increases to be competitive.”

Unusual winter weather patterns also continued to impact businesses in different ways. Some retail and accommodation businesses that depend on winter weather saw improved snow coverage and lower temperatures this year. “We are a motel that caters to winter sports enthusiasts, the amount of snow this year … has made a significant increase in business,” commented a respondent in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (U.P.).

Other businesses, even within the same state, weren’t so lucky with snowfall. A resort owner further west in the U.P. reported poorer snow conditions: “We took on this business because past numbers looked good,” but there’s “no winter up here and no winter tourism anymore.”

As heightened costs and economic uncertainty strained firms, hiring slowed to its lowest levels in the last three years. Nearly half of businesses were not hiring, and of those that were, only 18 percent were looking for new full-time workers.

The reasons for this pullback in hiring varied among respondents. Many pointed to declining revenue and difficulties affording wages. “Employees expect better pay. I’m not saying they don’t deserve [it]. Just that we can’t afford it,” wrote the owner of a Twin Cities construction firm.

Notably, most businesses were still reluctant to reduce staff despite declining revenue and heightened costs. Only 8 percent indicated they were actively cutting staff, and a majority expected numbers to simply stay flat in the next six months.

Some business owners mentioned other ways of alleviating labor costs without reducing staff. “We’ve been on reduced hours in our manufacturing area … due to reduced customer orders,” wrote a manufacturer in the U.P.

“We had to cancel health care & other insurance coverage for our staff due to high costs,” added the owner of a Minnesota retail business.

Other firms pulled back on hiring because they had success in becoming fully staffed as labor availability improved. Turnover was reportedly flat for three-fourths of firms, and the share of respondents that said getting new hires was “extremely difficult” was at its lowest levels in two years (see Figure 3).

“We have no turnover; We are seeing a marked increase in qualified applicants for our open positions over one year ago,” observed a North Dakota manufacturing firm owner.

“It seems like we are retaining employees better,” the owner of a South Dakota janitorial firm wrote. “We have improved our training, but I sense there’s less jobs available right now.”

Winter was Hard on Honey Bees

7 April 2025
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From Northern Ag Network

A nationwide survey of beekeepers has revealed catastrophic honey bee colony losses across the United States, with commercial operations reporting an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and February 2025. These alarming losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact U.S. agriculture, particularly crop pollination for almonds, fruits, vegetables, and other essential food sources.

(Montana beekeepers appear to have lost roughly half their honey bees.)

“Early reports of severe colony losses began pouring in last month from beekeepers across the country,” said Danielle Downey, executive director of Project Apis m. “In response, a multi-organizational working group—including Project Apis m., the American Beekeeping Federation, and the American Honey Producers Association — quickly mobilized to launch this survey.”

“Initial survey results of colony losses suggest that commercial beekeepers may have lost in excess of 60% of their bees. The scale of these losses is completely unsustainable,” said Zac Browning, a fourth-generation commercial beekeeper and board chairman of Project Apis m. “Honey bees are the backbone of our food system, pollinating the crops that feed our nation. If we continue to see losses at this rate, we simply won’t be able to sustain current food production. The industry must look inward and outward for solutions to chronic bee health failure.”

Administered by Project Apis m., the survey gathered data from 702 beekeepers, covering colony losses, management practices, and potential contributing factors. It is estimated that survey participants account for over 1.835 million colonies, approximately 68% of the nation’s bees.

These results translate to an estimated 1,123,959 colony losses among respondents, resulting in the following immediate economic losses:

* Direct colony losses: Conservatively estimated at $224.8 million (based on a $200 per colony replacement cost, not including labor, feed or treatments).

* Economic impact: Factoring in lost almond pollination income based on the survey results, which was estimated at $181 per colony in 2023, the lost income exceeds $428 million. The loss rate to US colonies that were not accounted for in the survey is estimated at an additional $206.4 million in losses, which could equal a total estimated economic loss of $634.7 million.

What will they think a million years from now?

7 April 2025
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Pondering what human-made items will look like millions of year from now as our descendants search for “technfossils”, Sci News wondered what wind turbine blades would look like.

They said, “The enormous wind turbine blades . . . are made of materials like fiberglass and epoxy resin and carbon fibers, which are terribly hard to recycle — but easy to fossilize.”

“As wind turbines reach end-of-life and are decommissioned, huge landfills of the 50-m-long-plus blades, sliced into truck-length segments and neatly stacked side by side, are appearing and growing.”

“Some will stay buried for millions of years — and, if finally erosion-revealed and stumbled upon by some curious far-future paleontologist, will be an amazing sight, like a graveyard of gigantic, hollow, sawn-up bones.”

“And right now, we should begin to understand this amazing, if often toxic, legacy that we are leaving for the planet.”

Teacher Freedom Alliance Touts Free-market Alternatives

7 April 2025
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By Tom Joyce,  The Center Square

What’s the free-market alternative to teachers’ unions?

The Freedom Foundation hosted a launch party to promote what it sees as the solution, the Teacher Freedom Alliance (TFA).

The organization reiterated it sees teachers’ unions as the problem – and good teachers as the solution.

“The teachers’ unions have owned our public education system for decades now, and for decades, our kids’ education outcomes have gotten progressively worse,” Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Rithe said during the event. “This is not the fault of you. This is not the fault of the teachers, but it’s the fault of the radical teachers’ unions.”

Rithe said the teachers’ unions want the next generation of students to vote for liberal politicians and claimed they care more about this than educating students.

Areas he said teachers’ unions want promoted in schools include: critical race theory, the Black Lives Matter movement, DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), gender ideology, anti-semitism, socialism and helping children identifying as transgender without their parents’ knowledge.

“Notice what I didn’t say: reading, writing and math,” Withe said. “None of this has anything to do with preparing our kids for the workforce in the next stage of their life.”

Rithe said the TFA aims to break the teachers’ union monopoly and that the Freedom Foundation has helped over 3,000 teachers leave their respective unions in recent years.

The TFA aims to provide teachers with liability coverage, better curricula – including patriotic and pro-capitalist teachings – plus professional development, Rithe said.

The organization also wants to recruit the next generation of educators from colleges nationwide.

Rithe said the TFA supports free market principles in education, like rewarding good teachers with more money and firing bad teachers, regardless of longevity.

He said teachers’ unions oppose these concepts, instead rewarding longevity and punishing newer teachers.

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters also spoke in favor of the initiative at the event.

Walters also touted merit pay, along with teacher signing bonuses.

He noted that teachers’ unions have opposed such policies in Oklahoma, even though they benefit many teachers.

“They tried to kill those signing bonuses we gave,” he said. “They tried to kill the merit pay that gives up to $120,000 per year for a teacher that’s high-quality. And guess what? I’m proud to announce that our teachers’ union membership is at a 30-year low in Oklahoma.”

Walters also said teachers’ unions oppose student discipline measures, even though disruptive students make teachers’ lives more difficult.

The 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees makes union alternatives like this possible nationwide. The court’s ruling determined that public sector employees cannot be forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment, even in states without right-to-work laws.

Tax on Natural Gas Repealed

7 April 2025
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By Thérèse Boudreaux, The Center Square

America’s natural gas industry celebrated after President Donald Trump signed into law a resolution repealing Biden-era fees on methane emissions.

The Waste Emissions Charge, which Republicans say is the equivalent of a natural gas tax, was authorized by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency in November 2024.

The resolution rescinds that regulation under the Congressional Review Act. The CRA legislation gives Congress the authority to repeal regulations issued during the final months of a previous administration.

House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., called the repeal “a victory for the American businesses and families who would have been forced to bear the cost of the Biden-Harris Administration’s natural gas tax.”

“It’s time to restore American energy dominance by harnessing innovation and producing the natural gas needed to support our electric grid,” Guthrie added.

Energy experts who testified before Congress in February said the high energy prices during Joe Biden’s presidency directly resulted from increased environmental regulations on energy production. The regulations slowed down domestic energy production and consequently led to increased costs, they said.

“AXPC thanks President Trump for signing the Congressional Review Act legislation – to undo EPA’s flawed rule to implement the natural gas tax,” AXPC CEO Anne Bradbury stated. “While American energy producers remain laser focused on reducing methane emissions, this punitive rule risked undermining those efforts.”

An analysis by the Congressional Budget Office shows that “Charging for methane emissions leads to an increase in the price of natural gas and a decrease in the quantity of natural gas produced and consumed.”

But environmental groups have argued that the legislation will increase energy costs and disrupt efforts to reduce emissions of a potent greenhouse gas.

Tax Cut Could Really Be Real for Billings

7 April 2025
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City of Billings officials worry that a popular bill that promises property tax cuts for Montana, called the Homestead Rate Cut Bill, could have detrimental impacts on Billings.

HB 231 would reduce property tax rates for many residents but it does so in a manner that would reduce revenue for the City of Billings, which functions under a Charter that limits how many mills it can levy. The levy cap means that the city would not be able to increase its levy, as most other cities can do, to maintain the same level of revenue. The city is at risk of losing up to $7 million in revenue.

In a recent town hall meeting, Senator Sue Vinton, unveiled the conflict, saying that only one other city in the state faces the same dilemma. Should HB 231 pass, the City of Billings may have to consider changing their City Charter. It has a pretty good chance of passing since it has support of Republicans, Democrats and the Governor. 

The conflict of the bill with City Charters was not initially realized and reports are there are amendments being proposed to deal with the conflict.

Vinton’s husband, Mike Vinton, who is serving his first term as a Representative for House District 40, noted that the bill – as with most of the tax cut proposals – does not really cut taxes but shifts them to other entities. HB 231 would lower taxes on homeowners and renters by imposing higher taxes on short-term rentals, second homes, businesses, coal mines and refineries. It’s really not a tax cut for everyone. It is why, Vinton said, he did not vote for it.

Rep. Vinton also noted that there are some issues to be concerned about in regard to what the legislation says constitutes a “second home.” An adjoining lot with a shop on it will be designated as a second home and “hit hard.” While people may think that a “second home” will hit people with secondary recreational properties and out-of-state people, “it is going to hit Montana residents,” he said – another reason he voted against it. “I don’t think it is what citizens want in the way of reducing taxes.”