July 15: Congressman Pat Williams Celebration of Life in Missoula & Live Stream
The Celebration is next Tuesday, July 15, at 4:00pm at the University of Montana Dennison Theater, followed by a reception with food, drinks, and live music from the Big Sky Mudflaps, at 5:30pm in the College of Education ALi Auditorium.
Tech billionaires are making a risky bet with humanity’s future – ‘Mountainhead’ could be real
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it,” the famed computer scientist Alan Kay once said. Uttered more out of exasperation than as inspiration, his remark has nevertheless attained gospel-like status among Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, in particular a handful of tech billionaires who fancy themselves the chief architects of humanity’s future. Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and others may have slightly different goals and ambitions in the near term, but their grand visions for the next decade and beyond are remarkably similar.
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Dorsey – Labor and Employment 2025 Symposium Thursday, August 21, 2025 In-Person or Webinar
Dorsey’s Labor & Employment Group will conduct its 15th annual Symposium, focusing its sessions on the challenges facing in-house employment counsel and human resource professionals, with particular emphasis on recent legislative and regulatory developments.
Federal cuts could remove 90% of Montana tribal college budget
According to Peregoy, the act states that the Crow Tribe could exchange its land for bolstering education for the Crow people.
Feds pull $24M East Missoula highway grant
“I’m thrilled we delivered the largest tax cut in American history and tax certainty for families and small businesses, as well as funding for the border and for our great military, and I cannot wait to see the president sign this bill into law,” Senator Steve Daines
PUBLIC HEARING: Community Development Block Grant Program Housing Rehabilitation and Development Application Guidelines – 7/17 – Online
The CDBG Program is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development pass-through grant program that provides funding to communities for planning, public and community facilities and the preservation of affordable homes for Montanans. Updates to the application guidelines are intended to streamline the process for communities to apply for CDBG funds to support affordable housing efforts.
Missoula schools stand to lose $2.2 million in federal funds that were approved and should have been send to us July 1.
We all have a role to play in supporting our children’s growth and success. Join the effort to voice your concerns and push back against these harmful cuts—let’s work together to protect the future of education in our community!
Idaho preps to roll out artificial intelligence in state government
By August, Gonzalez said Idaho state government agencies can start using publicly available tools like ChatGPT or Gemini in public facing chatbots, which have been largely blocked.
Big Sky Economic Development
Big Sky EDA- Building Businesses and Creating Jobs in the Greater Billings, Montana area
Registration is Now Open for the 2025 Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Annual Conference! – 9-8/10 – Livingston, Montana
This year’s theme, “Turning Our Stories into Action,” reflects our shared commitment to advancing the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, a bold effort to bring high-performance passenger rail back to the Greater Northwest.
You can learn why Bayesian modeling us so important.
Designed for engineers, analysts, and scientists, this course emphasizes practical use over academic formality, helping you unlock the power of Bayesian methods in your work.
Montana state auditor issues moratorium on wildfire-related insurance cancellations
“I have the authority as the commissioner of insurance to remind insurance companies that they cannot just cancel policies based on perceived wildfire risk alone or to target particular areas. It has to be justified,” Brown said.
‘Puts Montana on the map’: University of Montana to offer new entertainment management major
As the entertainment industry grows, UM is “committed to preparing highly skilled, well-trained and workforce-ready graduates to meet the evolving demands of this dynamic sector,” said Suzanne Tilleman, dean of UM’s College of Business, in a statement.
BEWARE – Hertz and Other Agencies Are Using AI to Scan Your Rental Car for Damage, and It Might Cost You
A report from The Drive said that a reader who experienced the system was asked to pay $190 in processing and administrative fees to repair a roughly one-inch scrape on a wheel.
Big Sky Commerce
Big Sky Commerce is an integrated provider of merchant credit card transaction processing services, check processing services, Internet payment gateways, related software application products and value-added services.
Want to see what happens when someone becomes an AI billionaire ? Watch “Mountainhead” on HULU and be very very afraid.
A wry smackdown of four insanely rich bros hanging out at a gaudy estate in the Utah mountains, the movie generates a decent amount of laughs, but it’s best when Armstrong puts satire aside for rage, seething at the tech kingpins destroying our society to increase their profits. If Succession was a bitingly hilarious drama, Mountainhead is an ostensible comedy in which the laughs get caught in your throat.
Western Governor’s Association – Building Resilient and Affordable New Developments in the West
The 2025 WGA Chair initiative of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Building Resilient and Affordable New Developments in the West (BRAND West), will focus on expanding access to housing in western states. The initiative will examine strategies to address housing availability and affordability and promote smart and sustainable development in communities throughout the West.
Robotaxi 3-Way Match Shaping Up Between Zoox, Waymo, And The MechaHitler GrokMobile
If You Need A Robotaxi, Who You Gonna Call?
A New Angle Podcast – Paul Reichert of Prospera on supporting small businesses in southwest Montana
If Paul had a magic wand, what would he change to make operating and/or owning a small business in Montana easier?
ReWild Ranch in Alberton, Montana Combines Agriculture and Tourism to Provide a Unique Montana Experience
This summer, they are opening up an “eco-lodge” to host up to 12 people. Jill Demers is a nutrition therapist and plans to host classes and, eventually, community events.
Federal funding freeze threatens adult education programs in Missoula
The Lifelong Learning Center has programs that offer education for adults and adolescents alike.
Big Sky Commerce
Big Sky Commerce is an integrated provider of merchant credit card transaction processing services, check processing services, Internet payment gateways, related software application products and value-added services.
Waymo Teen Accounts Offer Peace of Mind for Phoenix Families
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.
VA discoveries for treating lethal glioblastomas ready for development partner
The VA is now looking for commercial partners to advance three recent discoveries into new therapies for veterans and civilians.
Petition to Save the Adventure Cycling Association Headquarters in Missoula, Montana
On June 23, 2025, the Board of Directors of the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) took the unprecedented step of listing the organization’s headquarters at 150 E. Pine Street in Missoula, Montana for sale—without any notice or consultation with Adventure Cycling members and supporters.
Prospera Business Network – Where ideas and opportunities connect.
Prospera helps businesses and communities find their pathway to success, acting as the navigator, problem solver and catalyst for a strong Montana economy.
Montana State University Technology transfer helps maximize impact of Montana plant cultivars
Thanks to two unique licensing agreements, new camelina cultivars developed at Montana State University will have the opportunity to make maximum societal and commercial impact.
Crafting Winning SBIR/STTR Technical Proposals with Jim Greenwood July 16! Register today.
Join us and Jim Greenwood for this half-day intensive workshop on crafting a compelling Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal narrative. Whether you’re applying to NIH, NSF, or other granting agencies, your project story is what sets you apart. We’ll break down each part of the narrative—from identifying the problem to defining your solution and laying out a clear, feasible plan. Walk away with the tools and confidence to write a strong, focused proposal that gets noticed by reviewers!
Prospera Business Network – Where ideas and opportunities connect.
Prospera helps businesses and communities find their pathway to success, acting as the navigator, problem solver and catalyst for a strong Montana economy.
Kalispell, Montana Council begins search for new city manager
Kalispell City Council is expected to start the process of replacing outgoing City Manager Doug Russell on Monday. Russell was named city manager of Lakewood, Washington last month. He is expected to step into his…
Uncertainty is a part of our lives; why not account for it? Statistical (Bayesian) modeling for the real world.
That’s where Bayesian statistics steps in. In our latest deep-dive, we explore how Bayesian methods — powered by PyMC — are quietly transforming the way we model financial risk, price options, and understand markets.
Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative
The Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative is a multidimensional program with seasoned stakeholders from the private sector, university, economic development, trade associations and others who already have boots on the ground providing technical assistance as well…
GFDA Top Ten for 7-6-25
The new German high tech manufacturing company in Lewistown, Vacom, is celebrating its first year in Montana; read more in the Lewistown News Argus.