Montana Senate race awash in outside money as Trump returns

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Outside groups and individual donors have poured more than $45 million into Montana's U.S. Senate race as President Donald Trump prepares a third trip to the Big Sky state in his crusade to unseat two-term Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. The contest is on pace to be the most expensive in...

Mining initiative foes accused of taking foreign donations

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Backers of a Montana citizen's initiative that would add new mining regulations say a foreign-owned company is illegally bankrolling an industry campaign against the proposal. In a complaint filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission, sponsors of Initiative 186 alleged...

First-ever child porn suspect on FBI list pleads guilty

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The first-ever child pornography suspect named to the FBI's Most Wanted list cashed out his life savings and was fleeing law enforcement on a bus traveling across Montana last year when another passenger noticed child pornography on his laptop screen. When the bus pulled into Billings,...

West Coast military installations eyed for US fuel exports

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration is considering using West Coast military installations or other federal properties to open the way for more U.S. fossil fuel exports to Asia in the name of national security and despite opposition from coastal states. The proposal was described to The...

The Latest: Governor: Coal export idea is 'harebrained' plan

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Latest on the Trump administration considering the use of military bases or other federal facilities to export fossil fuels (all times local): 1:45 p.m. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee says the Trump administration's idea to use military bases or other federal properties to...

Trump administration eyes military bases, federal facilities for coal, gas exports after states block West Coast ports

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Trump administration eyes military bases, federal facilities for coal, gas exports after states block West Coast ports.

US bans new mining claims on public land near Yellowstone

EMIGRANT, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke approved a 20-year ban on new mining claims in the towering mountains north of Yellowstone National Park on Monday, after two proposed gold mines raised concerns that an area drawing tourists from the around the globe could be spoiled. As Zinke...

Crow leader says federal government, tribe "squander" money

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Crow Indian leaders blamed U.S. officials for "gross mismanagement" of tribal money after investigators said the Montana tribe couldn't account for almost $13 million intended for water system improvements. Crow Chairman Alvin "A.J." Not Afraid said in a Thursday statement that he...

Zinke expected to OK block on mining claims near Yellowstone

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has scheduled a visit next week to Montana, where he's expected to finalize a proposal to block new mining claims on the forested public lands just outside Yellowstone National Park. Zinke, a former Montana congressman, plans to sign documents and...

AP FACT CHECK: Emails show Tester did try to meet Kavanaugh

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Republican Senate candidate Matt Rosendale accuses his Democratic opponent, Sen. Jon Tester, of obstructing the confirmation process of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh by refusing to meet with him before deciding to vote against his nomination. The claim against the two-term...