Category: Business
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Ford Continues Losses on EVs
In the first quarter of 2022, when the company announced it would spend some $50 billion on electric vehicles, Ford’s stock sold for more than $20. Today, Ford’s shares are trading for less than $11, according to Robert Bryce in substack.com. The bad news for Ford Motor Company’s shareholders is that the company continues to…
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Stronger Wood Developed
A new self-densifying technique for creating super-strong wood could bring about a new stronger building material. Individual wood fibers are made up mainly of cellulose, along with a binder material known as lignin. This mixture forms the wall of what is essentially a long hollow tube – the fiber – which runs lengthwise within the…
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Japanese Scientists Invent New Safer Plastic
Scientists at RIKEN in Japan have developed a new type of plastic that’s just as stable in everyday use “as the regular stuff” but dissolves quickly in saltwater, leaving behind safe compounds. It takes decades before plastic fully breaks down. And when it does, it forms microplastic pieces that are turning up in all corners…
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Winter was Hard on Honey Bees
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…
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Tariffs Hit Montana, Mixed Impacts on County, Crude Oil, Ag, Cars & Beer
By Evelyn Pyburn President Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China could have significant impacts on Montana. In fact, Montana could be the most impacted state in the nation because the state is the most dependent upon imports. Montana tops a list of eight states that will see at least two-thirds of their imports impacted,…
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Six Local Businesses Invest $175 million in Yellowstone County
Six businesses in Yellowstone County received two different forms of tax abatement on new investments from Yellowstone County Commissioners. Total investments made in the county’s economy by the six companies totaled $175,702,197. Applying for the tax rebates to cover recent new investment in their businesses are Phillips 66, CHS, Inc., and Coca-Cola Bottling Company High…
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Energy Transitioning Hits “…brick wall of reality”
Energy prices are rising due to US tariffs on Chinese solar panels, a tripling of insurance premiums in MISO, ERCOT, and SPP due to weather events, supply/demand gaps due to permitting delays, higher interest rates, and increased corporate demand for green power. Keep in mind, that power purchase agreements almost always show the subsidized cost…
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US Does Have Rare Earths
That rare earth minerals are being found in the United States, which has to import most of its rare earth minerals from China, is exciting news. As reports begin to emerge about rare earth minerals discoveries in the US – such as that in Ravalli County, Montana – a question emerges about why the discoveries…
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Amazon Opens Delivery Station
Local city and county officials, state legislators and other local dignitaries turned out in full force in Billings last week to celebrate the opening of Amazon’s new $23 million delivery station at 6767 Tun Tavern Road. The 40,000 square foot facility is Amazon’s second location in Montana marking a total investment of $110 million in…
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In Seeking Fun, Billings Couple Founded Montana Wake
By Evelyn Pyburn Starting a boat business in Montana may not seem like an inherently good idea at first glance, but then maybe you aren’t as passionate about water sports as are Nate and Lindsey Romain, and maybe you haven’t recognized that there is generally a lack of sales and service support in Montana for…