Author: Press Room

Opposition Mounts to Strict EPA Emissions Standards

18 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

By Kevin Bessler, The Center Square

Saying it’s too much, too soon, numerous groups are denouncing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recently announced emission standards, with the Illinois Corn Growers Association being one of them.

On March 20, 2024, EPA announced a final rule, Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles, that sets new, more protective standards to further reduce harmful air pollutant emissions from light-duty and medium-duty vehicles starting with model year 2027.  

The EPA said the new rules, which are less strict than what the agency proposed last year, will avert 7 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The standards announced today are a step forward for cleaner air and lower costs for drivers,” said Peter Huether, senior research associate with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. “They will lead to the cleanest vehicles to date and help us meet the president’s climate pledges.” 

As EVs sit on car dealer lots, some companies are scaling back their electric offerings, including Ford and GM.

A new poll by The Center Square Voters’ Voice shows that nearly two-thirds of voters say the government is pushing EVs too hard because there is insufficient demand. 

Garrett Hawkins, vice president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, said the rush by the government to convert to battery EVs would be devastating for the Illinois farming community.

“With this policy, we could have a 50% decrease in the price of corn, and with that you would have rural America and farmers not doing as well,” said Hawkins. “It’s going to be a direct hit to the Midwest.”.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his goal is to have 1 million EVs on Illinois roadways by the year 2030. State officials said there will need to be around 36,000 charging ports to support that number. 

Critics also point to the high cost of electric vehicles. The Rivian R1T EV pickup truck, manufactured in Normal, starts at $73,000.

“It is disappointing that the Biden Administration continues to be actively working against its stated goal of ‘equipping the American middle class to succeed,’” said David Holt, president of Consumer Energy Alliance. “While electric vehicles clearly have a role in our vehicle mix, the middle class cannot succeed with the EPA forcing an unworkable, expensive EV quota on working class families.” 

NFIB Questions Feds Increase Minimum Wage

18 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

NFIB (National Federation of Independent Businesses) filed an amicus brief in the case State of Texas v. President Joseph R. Biden at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. This case questions whether the President and Department of Labor (DOL) have authority to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors. NFIB’s brief argues that the lower court correctly decided that the DOL rule, Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors, exceeded the statutory authority delegated by Congress.

“At a time when small businesses are battling historic inflation and labor shortages, this decision will have economic consequences for many small business contractors,” said Beth Milito, Executive Director of NFIB’s Small Business Legal Center. “Small business owners already strive to provide their employees with the highest wages and benefits they can afford. Mandating further increases to their operating costs will only make it harder for them to do so.”

NFIB’s brief argues two main points: 1) the Procurement Act is a limited Congressional delegation of legislative authority, and 2) the court must subject the rule to meaningful judicial review. NFIB filed the amicus brief with the Pacific Legal Foundation.

The NFIB Small Business Legal Center protects the rights of small business owners in the nation’s courts. NFIB is currently active in more than 40 cases in federal and state courts across the country and in the U.S. Supreme Court.

New Businesses March 2024

18 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

Sky Creek Ventures Llc, 6715 Cove Creek Dr, (503) 931-0761, Elgas, David And Jamie , Real Estate Rental, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Emm Topnotch Construction Llc, 20 Allen Creek Ln, (406) 922-7266, Morales, Elda , General Contractors, Columbus, Mt, 59019

 Lower Llc/Ulhl, 2646 Grand Ave Ste 2, (406) 294-2660, Bauer  Tristi , Bank/Loan Agencies, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Scotty And I… Schneider Enterprises, 2609 4th Ave S, (406) 702-0984, Schuchard/Schneider, Jennifer/Scott – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Franco Siding & Remodeling Llc, 7841 Alderson Ave, (732) 799-8317, Franco, Maira – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Resilient Nails Llc, 2910 Grand Ave, (406) 633-5578, Hernandez/Nava, Sierra/Randall – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Artisancto Productions Llc, 342 Sioux Ln, (406) 861-0315, Verdell, Duhart , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Powerwash 406, 2424 1st Ave S, (406) 694-5757, Marks, Rachell – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Smoothie Lab, 212 N 29th St, (406) 465-6733, Jones, Zoe , Restaurants, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Ineedfitness, 2518 Custer Ave, (406) 647-5082, Lachenmaier, Megan – I, Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Billings Wing Company, Llc, 411 S 24th St W, (406) 294-9464, Goube, Steven – , Restaurants, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Dakava House Downtown, 224 N 29th St, (406) 371-5258, Grundhauser, William , Restaurants, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Cottonwood Construction, 2804 Hoover Ave, (406) 690-1660, Wright, Trevor – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Rare Motor Cars, 8270 Pond Rd, (406) 661-3988, Diament, Richard – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Wayne’s Handyman Service, 1606 Ash St  Ballantine #11, (406) 647-8001, Yates, William – , Service, Ballantine, Mt, 59006

 Decorative Concrete Artisans, 7003 Northwind Drive, (406) 876-0978, Devlin, Dustin – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Get Clean Llc, 1301 Alder Ave, (406) 794-2941, Stewart, Nicholas – , Service, Laurel, Mt, 59044

 Featherstone Llc, 2525 Minnesota Ave, (484) 888-2050, Lorenz, Paula – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Shaundel Krumheuer Dba 504 Square Feet, 1314 4th Ave N, (406) 647-0153, Krumheuer, Shaundel , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Ultra406 Enterprises Inc, 1208 N Frontage Rd #17, (406) 690-9634, Steffes, Justin L – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Mt Balloon Designs Llc, 1834 Bridge Stone St, (406) 690-1916, Derrick, Nicole , Service, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Doggy Duties, 2230 Fairway Dr, (406) 208-4814, Southard, Kevin & Cipriana , Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Tck Hospitality Llc, 19580 West Indian School Rd Ste105-107, (605) 519-0901, Karli, Tim – , General Contractors, Buckeye, Az, 85396

 Victor’s Tree Service, 1408 West Ramshorn, (406) 855-7841, Perez, Victorino – , Service, Laurel, Mt, 59044

 Balance Minds Bookkeeping, 1134 Central Ave, (406) 694-5850, Stoner, Jada-Rose – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Home Ready Services, Llc, 138 Northern Avenue Apt A, (406) 208-6864, Harper, Lorita , Service, Huntley, Mt, 59037

 Billings Auto Detail, 317 S 26th St, (406) 206-3756, Poppler, Austin – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Mvd Express, 3470 Gabel Rd Ste 1, (505) 304-1165, Fusco, Rick , Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Treasures Rediscovered Llc, 8958 Belmar Court, (978) 728-9464, Blackburn, Chad – , Service, Saint Louis, Mo, 63126

 Knightshadow Properties Llc, 6133 Farmstead Ave, (406) 671-3711, Knight, Dan – , Real Estate Rental, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Heirloom Estate Services, 3215 Redwood Ln, (406) 697-3822, Hutchinson, Mary – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Phoenix Freight Services Inc, 439 S Lakeview Dr, (406) 781-4453, Faldzinski, Anthony – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Laces’ Luxuries, 7010 Shepherd Rd, (406) 629-0159, Robinson, Lacey – , Service, Shepherd, Mt, 59079

 Meschnark Cleaning Services Llc, 3040 Central Ave D108, (702) 232-3390, Meschnark, Brit – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Billings Best Comedy, 627 N 14th St, (406) 598-4343, Miller, Heather – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Al’s Crochet Critters, 424 Custer Ave, (509) 281-0341, Campbell, Alaura – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Sara Lynn Asap, Llc, 1106 Primrose Dr, (406) 670-8990, Baischi, Lynnette – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Starbucks Coffee #71295, 3049 Meadow View Dr, (206) 594-7273, Starbucks Corporation, , Restaurants, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Wild Gal Wardrobe, 410 E Alkali Creek Rd, (406) 927-5576, Wildman, Kaitlyn , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Hilmes Motorworx Llc, 2027 George St, (775) 299-8081, Hilmes, Dillon , Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Black Hills Federal Credit Union , 4002 Montana Sapphire Dr, (404) 431-1204, Taylor, Tyson , Bank/Loan Agencies, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Julie Rocks & Gems, 321 Broadwater Ave, (406) 839-5768, Kraenzel, Julie , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Presence By Evot, 5852 Autumnwood Dr, (406) 855-0101, Oblander, Tove – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Magic City Roll Offs Llc, 100 Lakewood Ln, (209) 981-8205, Aynaga, Brandon – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59105

 B&S Dirt Worx Llc, 1514 Rancho Vista Ave, (406) 230-0171, Maetzold, Samuel J – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Maid For It Cleaning, 26 Hartland St N, (406) 601-0964, Modine, Kacee , Service, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Jesse Harris Photography, 427 Hallowell Ln, (406) 384-8549, Myers, Jesse – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Marble Coffee Co- Roastery, 3485 A J Way # 110, (406) 371-6529, Marble, Jen/Jason – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Don The Plumber, 1625 Front St, (406) 672-1587, Summens, Don , Plumbing Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Handy Home Services, Out Of City, (406) 640-8846, Skender, Jeremiah – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59101

 The Sippin’ Waggin’, 1303 Concord Dr, (406) 371-2249, Boucher/Benson, Leigh/Evelyn , Restaurants, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Mastec Network Solutions Llc, 1825 Ponce De Leon Blvd #543, (949) 637-9674, Ruehle Kathi , General Contractors, Coral Gables, Fl, 3134

 Christy’s Treats, 315 S 2nd Street, (406) 425-4479, Coulimore, Christine – , Service, Bridger, Mt, 59014

 Mch Construction Montana Llc, 46 Cedar Pointe Loop, (406) 702-0219, Alkire, Hazen , General Contractors, Columbia Falls, Mt, 59912

 On Top Construction, 13 Lapin St, (406) 702-5268, Helms, Jessie – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Beauty And Balance Wellness Studio Llc, 1140 16th St W Ste 15, (406) 591-5182, Bernstein, Dawn , Cosmetology, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Omelio Constructions, 302 Jackson St Trailer #23, (406) 444-3665, Ramirez, Omelio – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Revington Properties, 930 Ginger Ave, (615) 330-8228, Cole, Morgan – , Real Estate Rental, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Black’s Portable Buildings, 2376 Main St, (406) 591-1961, Black, Karen – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Mark Ryan Arts, 483 S 44th St W, (406) 839-6835, Ager, Mark – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59106

 White River Janitorial & Security, Hwy 212 Mile North, (406) 591-0315, Risingsun Jr, Irvin – , Service, Busby, Mt, 59016

 Superior Tire, 1707 St Johns Ave, (406) 690-4630, Huskey, Dayton – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Two Buffalos Construction, 327 Jemstone Drive, (406) 371-6635, Moreno, Annie – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Alpine Chic Boutique, 1514 Prairie Meadow Ln, (406) 951-1317, Klein, Hailey – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Terry Watley Dry Wall And Paint, 2101 11th Ave N, (406) 647-9420, Watley, Terry – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Tire Despose-All, 4230 Carlton Ave Sw, (406) 672-0950, Nease, Joshua , Service, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Sunrise Collectibles, 536 Avenue C, (406) 696-0754, Perez, Tajin , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59102

 One Of A Kind Handyman Llc, Out Of City, (406) 794-8475, Flattum, Lili – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Williams Photo Company, 429 N 33rd St Apt 610, (406) 670-7859, Williams, Rylee – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Electronic Toys, 300 S 24th St W, (347) 702-0504, Salem, Gasser – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59102

 North Fleet Services Llc, 2191 Overlook Dr, (509) 429-8379, Stalder, Bert & Kristi , Service, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Mcp Development Inc, 3501 Sw Fairlawn Rd Ste 70, (785) 273-3880, Tolin Patrick – , General Contractors, Topeka, Ks, 66614

 Chloes Nails Llc, 1423 38th St W, (307) 461-3226, Wilson, Chloe – , Cosmetology, Billings, Mt, 59102

 Arnold Machinery Company, 8406 Rainy Lake Rd, (406) 927-5271, Pugmire, Jon – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Burger King #2195, 790 King Park Dr, (406) 656-6711, Stanfield,  Colin – , Restaurants, Billings, Mt, 59102

 R & J Concrete Llc, 2616 Old Hardin Rd #14, (406) 647-6914, Overhuls/Ahern, Rusty/Jonathan , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59101

 Big Sky Carpet & More, 1938 Saint Andrews Dr, (971) 400-4925, Mclaughlin, Justin – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Roofix Technologies Llc, 5 W Mendenhall St #202, (855) 614-0653, Miller, Byron – , Roofing Contractors, Bozeman, Mt, 59715

 Blue April Llc, 343 Quaking Aspen Ln, (406) 670-2225, Sheppard, Shawn – , Service, Billings, Mt, 59105

 Bigsky 406 Enterprises, 661 Light Stream Ln, (406) 601-2134, Page, Jeremy & Marion – , Retail Sales, Billings, Mt, 59106

 Hamilton Property & Construction, 2122 Bitterroot Dr, (406) 671-7100, Hamilton, Christopher – , General Contractors, Billings, Mt, 59105

New Business Licenses February 2024

18 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

Mc Properties LLC, 2205 Myrtle Dr, (406) 698-3675, Propp, Karin, Service, Billings, 59102

D Nez Studio Salon, 2906 1st Ave N, (406) 839-3595, Nez, Duane, Retail Sales, Billings, 59101

Magic City Commercial Cleaning, 484 Greenspring Pl, (406) 647-3607, Kephart, Erik  Billings, 59102

Platinum Exterior Solutions LLC, 2039 Pryor Ln, (406) 690-3434, Hall-Shipley, Vincent, General Contractors, Billings, 59102

Heights Inn Mobile Court, 496 Riley Dr, (406) 252-4581, McCune, Jeremy, Billings, 59105

Billings Vacation Rentals LLC, 1206 Cordova St, (406) 670-9790, Clancy-Loveridge, Megan,Service,Billings, 59102

Beartooth Sewing, 1441 15th St W,  , Weigel-Vernard/Weigel, Timber/Weigel,Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

One Sock Lizzy, 615 Avenue D, (812) 340-5039, Sloffer, Elizabeth Marie Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

The Pamper Cottage LLC, 1831 Main St Ste 1, (406) 500-1556, Egelans/Nelson, Jamie/Chantel,Service, Billings, 59105

Liz Enslow Counseling, 930 Jackson St, (406) 690-5937, Enslow, Service, Billings, 59101

Milk River Ag, 40350 Us Hwy 2, (406) 399-1113, Jensen (Member), Ryan, Retail Sales, Chinook, 59523

Micah Olds Construction, 2406 Brentwood Ln, (406) 224-2225, Olds, Micah, General Contractors, Billings, 59102

Bar 10 LLC, 1236 South Hay Creek Rd, (406) 224-2945, Barlow, William, General Contractors, Pryor, 59066

Evergreen Services, 3201 Leeann Blvd, (812) 704-3456, Elkin, Bethany, Service, Billings, 59102

Heishman Custom Engravers, 3867 Avenue C, (406) 860-4400, Heishman, Steven, Service, Billings, 59102

Redmex Billings LLC, 4110 Bennett Ave, (307) 251-2779, Solorzano, Alex,  Restaurants, Billings, 59105

Dan Sullivan, 1802 Alderson Ave, (406)671-5038, Sullivan, Dan – Dan Sullivan, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59102

Price Unlimited, 416 Gay Pl, (406) 717-9778, Price/Fry, Adam/Jill – Price Unlimited, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

NHJ Properties, 1103 Cook Ave, (406) 579-4903, Pancheau, Hannas, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59102

American Cornhole League Montana, 2901 Beech Ave, (406) 839-0723, McDuffie, Melvin, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Liberty Title & Land Company, 1575 Shiloh Rd Ste F, (406) 204-7020, Wells/Dawson, Steve/Mark, Service, Billings, 59106

Mountain Peak Counseling & Consulting, 2048 Overland Ave Suite 102a, (406) 298-0979, Jansma, Phyllis, service, Billings, 59102

Destefano Consulting LLC, 1780 Shiloh Rd Ste B, (307) 299-9431, Destafano, Quinn,  Service, Billings, 59106

Switzer Land Holding LLC, 2147 Poly Dr, (406) 656-4288, Switzer, Karen, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59102

Solid Ground Rentals LLC, 241-259 Westchester Sq S, (406) 656-4288, Switzer, Karen, Service, Billings, 59105

Baileys Frozen Novelties, 133 Clark Ave, (406) 860-7034, Beals, Christi, Restaurants, Billings, 59101

B&B Equities LLC, 8428 Stillwater Dr, (541) 232-0401, Burns, Coby, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59106

7f Services LLC, 6620 12 Mile Rd, (406) 647-9424, Finch, Lindsey, General Contractors, Shepherd, 59079

Concordance Health Care Solutions, 1535 Industrial Ave, (406) 371-2052, Cheek, Brianna, Wholesale, Billings, 59101

Zac Birdinground Construction, 1223 Cortez Ave, (406) 861-5187, Birdinground, Zac,  General Contractors, Billings, 59105

A & Z Construction LLC, 1777 Birdie Ln, (406) 850-4424, Leep/Norris, Austin/Zach, General Contractors, Billings, 59106

Picture Perfect Landscaping And Sprinklers LLC, 3101 Buttercup Dr, (406) 839-0641, Sheridan, Patrick, Service, Billings, 59102

Just Vapes, 1313 Grand Ave 8b, Brockman, Cathie, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

West End Farmers Market, 3201 Hesper Rd #5, (406) 702-0283, Leberger, Marc, Service, Billings, 59102

Angel-Up Remodeling Construction, 3810 Bestrom Cir, (406) 860-2245, Moreno-Sandoval, Pedro Angel, General Contractors, Billings, 59101

Giftedbird Massage, 2215 Broadwater Ave, (406) 691-9000, Raffaell, Tina, Solo Practitioner, Billings, 59102

Cleaner Office LLC, 3820 Avenue C, (406) 839-3904, Adams, Cheyann, Service, Billings, 59102

Bruguier Design & Construction LLC, 972 Senora Ave, (541) 419-1737, Bruguier, Julene, General Contractors, Billings, 59105

Elite Property Solutions LLC, 331 Howard Ave, (406) 860-9179, Wilson, Dawn,  Service, Billings, 59101

Fine Line- Residential Home Improvement, 1204 Fairvale Dr, (406) 606-9754, Stauffer, Direlle, Service, Billings, 59101

Grime Scene Unit LLC, 435 19th St W, (406) 608-7373, Jenkins, Andrea, Service, Billings, 59102

Morning Star Cleaning, 670 Revolution Ave, (406) 539-5727, Fishel, Marlen, Service, Billings, 59105

NCI Group Inc Dba Fortify Building Solutions, 7570 Entryway Dr, (406) 970-2039, Ruvalcaba, Edith,  Manufacturing, Billings, 59106

Beartooth Mountain Creative, 1709 Sagebrush Rd, (858) 952-8949, Kelso, Alethea , Service, Billings, 59105

All In The Details LLC, 487 S 44th St W Apt 5-309, (406) 850-1639, Pearl, Edward A,  Service, Billings, 59106

Dumpster Direct LLC, 8930 Longmeadow Dr, (307) 267-1722, Entrekin/McClure, Josh/Dylan, Service, Billings, 59106

Kiss From A Nose Dog Bakery, 1125 Custer Ave #5, (406) 894-9926, Alvarez, Debbie,  Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Billings Mediation Center, 100 N 27th St Ste 255-A, (406) 672-4570, Mclean, Temple,  Service, Billings, 59101

Full Throttle Auto & Cycle Sales Inc, 2506 Phyllis Ln, (406) 259-1347, Mitchell, Cord  Auto Business, Billings, 59102

Crisp & Green, 1595 Grand Ave #240,  , Gisi, Phil,  Restaurants, Billings, 59102

Atlas Retail Services, 5176 Waring Road 46, (760) 420-1276, Bloor, Craig, General Contractors, San Diego, 92120

Health Haven Vending LLC, 2451 Bonito Loop, (406) 318-9633, Dewiter, Douglas,  Retail Sales, Billings, 59105

Healing Minds, 944 Avenue B, (406) 696-5260, Lewis, Breanne, Service, Billings, 59102

P1n3-Tech Solutions, 1601 Lynn Ave, (406) 927-3310, Newman, James, Service, Billings, 59102

The Tin Tavern LLC, 40 Jefferson St, (406) 850-5058, Child, Amber, Service, Billings, 59101

Treasure State Improvements, 2611 7th Ave N, (307) 262-1441, Gray, James, General Contractors, Billings, 59101

Lindaland Embroidery LLC, 8455 Black Marlin Dr, (406) 860-7483, Werbelow, Linda,  Service, Billings, 59106

Raymond Handling Concept Corp (General Construction, 41400 Boyce Rd, (562) 745-7500, Lopez, Sonny, Corp (General Construction, General Contractors, Fremont, 94538

Blick’s Body & Paint, 6552 South Frontage Road #4, (406) 647-4858, Blickley, John,  Auto Business, Billings, 59101

Fifth Click, 626 S 38th St W Unit 1, (406) 200-2493, Sullivan, Andrew, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Sunshine Massage, 511 N 30th St, (406) 503-2561, Jia, Sujuan, Solo Practitioner, Billings, 59101

Ks Chuckwagon, 152 Whitebird Crk Rd, (406) 780-1540, Kornick, Kyle & Sarah,  Restaurants, Columbus, 59019

Sc Salz LLC, 3835 Avenue C, (406) 672-6699, Salz, Claire, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Yellowstone Investigative Services LLC, 1125 Kootenai Ave, (406) 698-2097, Wallis, Vincent, Private Investigators, Billings, 59105

Precision Warehouse Design LLC, 1408 S Main St #319, (972) 251-0999, Dewall Marc, , Service, Carrollton, 75006

Sapper Tile, 911 Washington St, (406) 208-1791, Johnson, Matt, General Contractors, Billings, 59101

Elite Health And Wellness, 1532 Sage Dr, (406) 855-7126, Shvets, Alyona, Service, Billings, 59105

Finpro Solutions LLC, 1239 Harvard Ave, (406) 861-8546, Gillen, Lyman, Service, Billings, 59102

Midwest Shooting Center, 1020 Central Ave Ste 4, (406) 239-9320, Mcquillan, Thomas ,Retail Sales, Billings, 59101

La Cocina Filipina, 2260 St Johns Ave, (406) 861-7453, Vicente, Lain, Restaurants, Billings, 59102

Laura Rumba (Libra Ventures), 1636 Touch Stone St, (406) 750-7818, Rumba, Laura , Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59106

Contra Enterprises LLC, 2012 Storehouse Rd, (307) 258-5964, Dvarishkis, Christianna, Real Estate Rental, Shepherd, 59079

Stevens Equipment Supply LLC, 220 S 8th St W, (406) 206-7029, Levra (Vp), Karen,  Wholesale, Billings, 59101

Kaur LLC-Bullwackers, 1517 Broadwater Ave, (406) 248-9855, Kaur, Amandeep,  Billings, 59102

Antoinette’s Cajun Cuisine, 410 Pennsylvania Ave, (406) 200-1919, Lowery, Antoinette,  Restaurants, Laurel, 59044

Rebecca Baumgardner Psycotherapy LLC, 208 N Broadway Ste 313, (406) 894-0179, Baumgardner, Rebecca, Service, Billings, 59101

H & T Arms: Custom Works Of Montana, 2142 Harnish Blvd, (910) 835-7036, Hanson, Chandler, Service, Billings, 59106

Mountain Movement Rehab And Training, LLC, 4109 Palm Beach Way, (727) 686-0702, Lukas, Cara,  Service, Billings, 59106

Music Teacher & Class’ Performance Gives Gift

18 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

by Jose Bustos

What A Wonderful World. 

On January 26, 2024, my wife, Zee and I were gifted with a resplendent invitation to Will James Middle School 8th Grade music class sessions conducted by Erin Grummett.  Delightful is saying it lightly. And, as one who is long on words, I find myself short for words that gives justice to this most gratifying and captivating performance by a most talented 8th grade music class.  A class most accomplished in band wind instruments and percussion.  A masterly rendition of songs we listened to, gives credence to the person responsible for these exceptional musicians, Erin Grummett, a gifted music instructor.  We witnessed a virtuoso conducting her class of 43 8th grade musicians. 

Mrs. Grummett’s class performed George Weiss and Bob Thiele’s composition of “What A Wonderful World,” with a touch that seemed as though all her musicians were recording it for the world to listen to, yet there was an audience of only two, my wife and myself.  That song was recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1967, and of course now has become what is called in the music entertainment world as a “standard.”  Another song they performed for us was “Get Back,” written by one of the world’s most prolific and popular song writing teams of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, (my guys), The Beatles.

Most heart wrenching though was a Military medley embracing all the uniformed services.  Knowing that I had spent many years in the Air Force and Army, Mrs. Grummett chose this medley.  As we are a military family, our daughter a sailor, and son a Marine — both Mrs. Bustos and myself poured forth with emotional, heart-felt tears, our gratitude overflowing.  

Erin Grummett received her initial music degree, Bachelor of Music Education at University of Montana at Missoula and then credentialed with her Masters in Conducting from the American Bands College at Southern Oregon University in 2009.  She and her husband, Bryan Grummett, complement each other in their professions, as both are music educators, and were both hired by the School District 2 on the same day in 1995.  Bryan Grummett teaches music at Lewis & Clark Middle School, and has actually taught at this school since 1995.  Erin will be approaching her 30th year with Billings Public Schools and her 15th year at Will James in April of this year.

I found Erin Grummett to be a fascinating individual, most pleasant and ever smiling, humble, yet so very talented. She is proficient in 12 different wind instruments, but favors and specializes with the saxophone, as that instrument was the one she first played in primary and junior high school and was “instrumental” in helping her fall in love with music and the aspiration to eventually teach music.  Her mother told her that she could play anything she wanted except for the drums and the oboe, thus her decision to choose the saxophone.

Erin Grummett is also gifted with the discernment of evaluating a student’s interest, i.e., the ability to tell if a student should be assigned to her class and, or most importantly, the ability to define which instrument may be most appropriate for a student, or is it really one that fits with that child’s personality? 

And now for the diamonds of Will James, the Music Class.  I interviewed Grace Waller, Isla Hardin, Allie Treese, Ava Prescott, Lincoln Pearson, Paige Loberg, Sloan Shulund and Wynstin Olson.  One of the first of things that kindled my interest in these most talented musicians, is the distinctive first names, they are so unique and simply attest to the exclusive, vogue culture of America.  These names I find, are students simply stating, “I am different, I am unique there is no other like me, see me, see my talent.”  Obviously when they were born, mom and dad knew this child would be gifted, outgoing and with a drive for their own future independence. 

Many of these students shared with me their visions for their lives after high school and college.  One of Erin’s students will be working with his very successful dad in the construction industry.  Another will pursue medicine.  Some of the other musicians simply want to attend college in a discipline they have not yet decided on.  All the students, these gifted musicians I interviewed, had additional current interests, such as helping out fellow classmates with life skills, library assistance, ballet, and a greenhouse environment class.  This latter was most interesting, as the students that attend this class learn about growing various types of produce and decorative flowers that are then marketed at a spring sale on May 11, 2024 at Ben Steele Middle School.

I asked each student what brought them to their love for music, and what keeps their interest in this God-given talent, and of course each had their own story to tell.  The one thing that they all seemed to share, is that they enjoy a cohesion they can’t find in any other class.  Each felt they play a small, but most significant part of their own classy school music “family.” Practicing (studying) their instrument is homework, it has to be done, but when in class playing any song, this environment for each student is their group unity, their individual reward.

We look whole heartedly towards attending one of their concerts.

Poll: Majority of Likely Voters Do Not Trust News Media

18 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

By Casey Harper, The Center Square

Americans do not trust several major U.S. institutions, particularly the national news media.

The Center Square Voters’ Voice poll found that 43% of Americans say the media is trustworthy, compared with 54% who said it is not trustworthy.

Younger people were more likely to trust the media, with 47% of those ages 18-34 saying they trust it and 46% saying the opposite.

The numbers steadily worsen as likely voters get older, with 41% of likely voters 65-years-old and older saying they trust the media, compared to 57% who do not.

With the presidential election coming in November, the poll also asked voters how confident they feel about the following statement: “The media will report on the issues that matter most to you.” Only 42% said they were confident that was the case, while 54% said they were not confident.

When asked whether the “media will cover all candidates fairly,” only 31% were confident the media would do so while 65% were not confident.

Only 36% of likely voters were confident the “media will provide enough context for voters to understand their choices” while 60% were not.

Democrats were far more likely to trust the national news media, 63%-33%. Only 24% of Republicans said they trust the media while 73% do not. Independents agreed, 35%-59%, on the same question.

Republicans have been more skeptical of the media for years, but former President Donald Trump famously called the media “the enemy of the people” and “fake news,” making the relationship between Republicans and the media far more adversarial.

The mainstream media has taken fire for their coverage of Trump, for dismissing the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian interference when time has proven the story as mostly true, and pushing the now largely debunked Trump-Russian collusion narrative, and more.

As for other U.S. institutions, notably, the poll found that Democratic voters do not trust the U.S. Supreme Court whereas Republicans do, and Independents are split. Overall, 56% of likely voters trust the court, while 40% do not.

The U.S. presidency saw a similar rating, but Congress fared much worse. The survey found that only 41% of likely voters trust the U.S. House of Representatives, compared to 54% who do not.

The U.S. Senate fared a bit better with 46% trusting and 50% not trusting.

American likely voters trust their state legislatures 59%-36%, according to the poll.

Latest Report Card Gave State Its Poorest  Grade

18 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

Last month, WalletHub, a personal finance company, ranked Montana 36th in its Most & Least Innovative States (2024) report. But how business friendly is the state in other categories?

A look at other media and think-tank producers of similar studies shows Montana faring slightly better, and in one, fantastic. So, what does it mean? “These surveys are fine to a point,” said Ronda Wiggers, Montana state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “But you have to factor the criteria used and other considerations before drawing any conclusions. Still, they do provide some considerations for state policymakers to discuss.”

Below is a sample of where Montana ranks in other reports:

* 5–Tax Foundation’s 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index

* 13–Forbes Best States to Start a Small Business (2024)

* B–Truth in Accounting’s Financial State of the States 2023

* 22–Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom Index

* 25–US News’ Best States 2023

* 33–American Legislative Exchange Council’s Rich States Poor States

* 35–CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business

* 36–Wallet Hub Most & Least Innovative States (2024)

NFIB does not rank states. Instead, it ranks environments and conditions for small businesses as a whole across the nation. Its most prestigious report, called the gold standard measurement of the Main Street economy, is the monthly Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) report, also known as the Optimism Index.

“The SBET is one of the few archival data sets on small businesses, particularly when research questions address business operations rather than opinions,” according to this one-page history of SBET. “Today, it’s the largest, longest-running data set on small business economic conditions available.”

The April SBET Report

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased by 0.9 of a point in March to 88.5, the lowest level since December 2012. This is the 27th consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98. The net percent of owners raising average selling prices rose seven points from February to a net 28% percent seasonally adjusted.

“Small business optimism has reached the lowest level since 2012 as owners continue to manage numerous economic headwinds,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Inflation has once again been reported as the top business problem on Main Street and the labor market has only eased slightly.”

Key findings include:

* The net percent of owners who expect real sales to be higher decreased eight points from February to a net negative 18% (seasonally adjusted).

* Twenty-five percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business (higher input and labor costs), up two points from February.

* Owners’ plans to fill open positions continue to slow, with a seasonally adjusted net 11% planning to create new jobs in the next three months, down one point from February and the lowest level since May 2020.

* Seasonally adjusted, a net 38% reported raising compensation, up three points from February’s lowest reading since May 2021.

As reported in NFIB’s monthly jobs report, 37% (seasonally adjusted) of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period. A net 21% (seasonally adjusted) plan to raise compensation in the next three months, up two points from February. The percent of small business owners reporting labor quality as their top small business operating problem rose two points from February to 18%. Labor cost reported as the single most important problem for business owners decreased by one point to 10%, only three points below the highest reading of 13% reached in December 2021.

Fifty-six percent of owners reported capital outlays in the last six months, up two points from February. Of those making expenditures, 38% reported spending on new equipment, 24% acquired vehicles, and 17% improved or expanded facilities. Ten percent of owners spent money on new fixtures and furniture and 5% acquired new buildings or land for expansion. Twenty percent (seasonally adjusted) plan capital outlays in the next few months.

A net negative 10% of all owners (seasonally adjusted) reported higher nominal sales in the past three months, up three points from February. The net percent of owners expecting higher real sales volumes declined eight points to a net negative 18% (seasonally adjusted).

The net percent of owners reporting inventory gains fell six points to a net negative 7%. Not seasonally adjusted, 12% reported increases in stocks (down one point) and 22% reported reductions (unchanged). A net negative 5% (seasonally adjusted) of owners viewed current inventory stocks as “too low” in March, down one point from February. A net negative 7% (seasonally adjusted) of owners plan inventory investment in the coming months, unchanged from February.

The net percent of owners raising average selling prices rose seven points from February to a net 28% seasonally adjusted. Twenty-five percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, up two points from last month.

Unadjusted, 13% reported lower average selling prices and 43% reported higher average prices. Price hikes were the most frequent in finance (61% higher, 10% lower), retail (54% higher, 6% lower), construction (51% higher, 4% lower), wholesale (50% higher, 17% lower), and transportation (44% higher, 0% lower). Seasonally adjusted, a net 33% plan price hikes in March.

The frequency of reports of positive profit trends was a net negative 29% (seasonally adjusted), up two points from February, but still a very poor reading. Among owners reporting lower profits, 29% blamed weaker sales, 17% blamed the rise in the cost of materials, 13% cited usual seasonal change, and 12% cited price change. For owners reporting higher profits, 53% credited sales volumes, 23% cited usual seasonal change, and 12% cited higher selling prices.

Two percent of owners reported that all their borrowing needs were not satisfied. Twenty-seven percent reported all credit needs met and 59% said they were not interested in a loan.

A net 8% reported their last loan was harder to get than in previous attempts. Four percent of owners reported that financing was their top business problem. A net 17% of owners reported paying a higher rate on their most recent loan, up one point from February.

The NFIB Research Center has collected Small Business Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since the fourth quarter of 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. Survey respondents are randomly drawn from NFIB’s membership.

Judge Strikes Down Emissions Rule

18 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

A federal judge in Kentucky struck down a Biden administration rule that required states to measure and report the greenhouse gas emissions from any vehicles traveling on the national highway system, according to a report in Epoch Times.

“With this victory in court, we’re slamming the brakes on the Biden Administration’s politics that make no sense,” said Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, who led a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in suing the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) over the rule that sought to force states to cut carbon dioxide emissions on their roads.

Multiple states that sued over the rule argued that it could dampen job creation and eliminate future economic development.

Judge Benjamin Beaton of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky blocked the FHWA rule on April 1, calling it “invalid” and “a statutorily unsupported and substantively capricious exercise of the [FHWA] Administrator’s rulemaking authority.”

Montana Highlights April 15, 2024

17 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

A new rest area off of Interstate 90 opened recently, one year after it was originally suppose to open. The Headwaters Rest Area in Three Forks is near U.S. Highway 287 and the Bridger Brewing Facility. It was built by a local developer, who constructed the new rest stop facility in exchange for acquiring the old rest area property off of North 19th Avenue in Bozeman.

Recently two sections of road in Yellowstone National Park have opened to non-motorized vehicles. Since last week 49 miles of U.S. Highway 89 have been available for cyclists, providing paved recreational opportunities from the West Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs with travel thru Madison and Norris Junctions.

The operators of the Séliš Ksanka QÍispé Dam got the go-ahead in last month to keep more water in Flathead Lake this spring. This is an effort to avoid a repeat of last summer’s low water levels. Energy Keepers, Inc., the company that oversees the dam on the south end of Flathead Lake, had previously petitioned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deviate from the lake’s Flood Risk Management Plan. While the lake is usually lowered to make room for spring runoff, the Corps determined that the risk of flooding is minimal, according to Energy Keepers.

Glacier National Park officials expect construction on the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Upper McDonald Creek Bridge to end this year. Other projects, like water infrastructure and road improvements in the Swiftcurrent developed area will be beginning. New construction projects slated for 2024 include the installation of fiber optic lines, the rehabilitation of roads near park headquarters and a dust mitigation treatment in Many Glacier. Park officials One of the largest upcoming projects includes the construction on the Swiftcurrent Water Distribution System and road rehabilitation, which will begin after the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Many Glacier Hotel and Many Glacier Campground close for the 2024 season.

Dozens of people showed up to a Bozeman city commission meeting recently to push the city to stop a development proposed for the city’s midtown area. The “Guthrie” building is proposed for the corner of North 5th Avenue and Villard Street. Developers HomeBase Partners are proposing to build a five-story, 111-unit building that will include half of the units as affordable housing. The units will be a mix of one-bedroom and studio apartments, and the half affordable units will be restricted to 80% of area median income, which in 2023 numbers is an income of $67,350 for a two-person household.

The escalation of extreme wildfires has prompted a critical examination of wildfire management strategies. A new study from the University of Montana reveals how fire suppression ensures that wildfires will burn under extreme conditions at high severity, exacerbating the impacts of climate change and fuel accumulation. The study used computer simulations to show that attempting to suppress all wildfires results in fires burning with more severe ecological impacts.

Starting in November, anglers will be able to fish year-round in stretches of two rivers close to the Yellowstone National Park gates in both West Yellowstone and Gardiner.Fishing access is only currently allowed in all areas of the park from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend – May 25 this year – through Oct. 31 each year. Under the new regulations, anglers will be able to fish the Madison River from the Montana-Wyoming border to the park boundary near Yellowstone’s west entrance in West Yellowstone, as well as on the Gardner River from Osprey Falls downstream to where the river meets the Yellowstone River near Gardiner. Beginning in 2025, an annual fishing permit for the park will be valid Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. The rest of the park will still only allow fishing from Saturday of Memorial Day weekend 25 through Oct. 31.

Last month, the Lake County commissioners petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about “a real and dangerous public safety threat” due to the “dangerously low level of Flathead lake during western Montana’s wildfire season.” The commissioners blamed Energy Keepers Inc., which operates the Seliš Ksanka Qispe (SKQ) Dam at the foot of Flathead Lake. Energy Keepers responded  that “quite simply, the county’s petition is nothing more than an effort to ensure a constant summer lake level to benefit a small group of lakefront dock owners.

As part of a nationwide program, MAP Brewing of Bozeman has partnered with the Gallatin Watershed Council to create the Earth to Beer Hoppy Blonde Ale. Earth to Beer seeks to inspire breweries to support environmentally conscious producers and suppliers, build relationships between breweries and local environmental nonprofits and financially support the nonprofits.

Watts and Kennedy Farmers Union Insurance of Miles City has moved its office location to 2610 Main Street. Watts and Kennedy had been in their previous location for nearly 30 years, purchasing the building in 1997.

Montana State University plans to break ground soon on a new building for its computer science programs. The university will fund the construction of Gianforte Hall using a $50 million donation from the Gianforte Family Foundation. Gov. Greg Gianforte will be at the ceremony from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on April 17. The event will be on the planned site for the new building next to Norm Asbjornson Hall and the campus parking garage.

Dave Pike purchased the Tupelo Grille in Whitefish last fall from Pat Carloss. The restaurant then closed for renovations. The newly remodeled business opened in mid-February. The kitchen was the focus of the renovation, but the work extended into the restaurant. The menu remains virtually the same.

Amazon opened is first logistics facility in Montana, at a ceremonial ribbon-cutting with Gov. Greg Gianforte and Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier. The 71,000-square-foot building is northeast of the Wye, where U.S. Highway 93 splits off of Interstate 90 enroute to Kalispell. Amazon has hired about 100 employees, not counting delivery drivers who work for independent contractors. It will process and between 6,500 and 7,000 packages a day with capacity to expand.

A new Chipotle restaurant will open on the west side of Bozeman, at the intersection of Cottonwood Road and Oak Street at the Northwest Crossing Development. It will feature a new concept called  “Chipotlane”—which allows people to order their food through the app and pick it up at the restaurant.

Job Market Not So Great for Native-born

17 April 2024
Press Room
No comments

While the labor markets seems to be returning to 2019 – 2020 levels, a closer look reveals that it isn’t all that great for native-born Americans. For many of them it has been declining for the past four years because of job losses to illegal immigrants, according to Epoch Times. Illegal immigrant numbers are obscuring actual conditions.

Since 2020, the number of illegal immigrants working in the US have increased 3.4 million, according to stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), while the number of US born workers declined by 78,000.

The number of illegal immigrants capturing the jobs has been more than double legal immigrants, according to the Brookings Institute. Although the Center for Immigration Studies suggests that that number is probably off considerably because it is hard to know how many illegal immigrants have entered the country and found work. They estimate that half the job gains have gone to illegal immigrants.

Economist Steve Moore proclaimed that the US actually “desperately needs” more legal immigrants, who possess high skill levels or special talents, but illegal immigrants tend to be less educated and do not bring such skills.

An article in Epoch Times reports that while the BLS includes illegal immigrants in their statistics, they identify them as “undocumented workers” and they deliberately mix their total with the total number of legal immigrants so as not to publicly disclose the number of illegals. Were the numbers available, the Center for Immigration Studies director, Steven Camarota said he believes it would reveal that half the job growth has gone to illegal immigrants.

In March 2024 there were a total of 31 million immigrant workers, making up about 20 percent of the US labor force, of which the Center for Immigration Studies estimated 9 million were illegal immigrants. That number increased 2.4 million in 2023 according to The Congressional Budget Office.

The Center has been concerned with a decline in the labor force participation of U.S.-born working-age men from the 1960s to the present. The decline is more pronounced among the less educated and it is linked to many social problems, including overdose deaths and crime.

Epoch Times reports that employed illegal immigrants include individuals who have been apprehended and released into the country, individuals who have managed to evade the Border Patrol, officially known as “gotaways,” and individuals who have overstayed their visas.

The Heritage Foundation points out that because of the illegal immigrants’ impact on the job market American workers also earn less than they would otherwise.