The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

Steven Wright

2025 Montana Legislature and Politics

• A Note from Mayor Davis:  Building a Better Missoula

  What Are We Doing About It?

• The Alliance for Early Childhood Education Success shares policy wins from all 50 states – How is your state doing?

  The Alliance asked its grantees to share legislative highlights, the report says, “and the results show wins in states of all different sizes, regions, and political landscapes—showcasing the effectiveness of tailoring advocacy to conditions on the ground and nurturing powerful coalitions.”

• Montana Congressman Troy Downing introduces bill to abolish Federal Insurance Office

  Proposed legislation is getting strong support from the insurance industry

Montana’s Headwaters Tech Hub

• Methane Detection Leader Bridger Photonics Achieves Record Growth, Taps New CEO to Continue Scaling

  To support this growth, the company announced that founder and current CEO, Pete Roos, will assume the role of Chief Innovation Officer, while bringing on seasoned executive Ben Little as its new CEO.

• Bozeman, Montana’s Bridger Photonics’ Aerial Methane Detection Technology Approved by EPA for Regulatory Use

  Oil and gas operators looking to reduce fugitive methane emissions and meet regulatory requirements for emissions scans will be able to use the technology to detect and locate emissions.

• Shadow Ridge Analytics Announces Newest Resource for Montana’s Critical Materials Economy

  Pioneer Materials will serve as a startup studio and accelerator for critical and advanced materials innovations driven by the emerging advancements from Montana Technological University, Montana State University, and the Montana-based private sector.

Come Home Montana

• Bridging the gap: Bozeman’s first Spanish-language magazine Voz Latina aims to connect growing Latino community

  Queremos ser portadores de buenas noticias, ofreciendo una nueva plataforma para quienes quieren expandir su voz y su mensaje, y juntos congratularnos de los buenos momentos, de los días de fiesta y del descanso bien logrado después de una jornada de arduo trabajo, por ello, también daremos espacio a los eventos sociales, donde el gozo y la alegría van siempre de protagonistas.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Bureau of Business and Economic Research roadshow focuses on AI in Montana businesses

  The Bureau of Business and Economic Research, through the University of Montana, travels around the Treasure State, breaking down the trends they see.

• Western Rural Development Center Grant RFP & Upcoming NET network meeting Feb. 4

  We are excited to announce that the National Extension Tourism (NET) network strives to widen collaboration around agritourism and outdoor recreation in the Western Region. In collaboration with the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC), they are organizing a working group session on Tuesday 4th February at 1pm (MST) on Zoom:

• 2025 Midwest Matchmaker – 2/18 – Online

  The event is open to all businesses – whether you’re new to government contracting or an experienced vendor, this is a chance to expand your network and grow your business.

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

• Dorsey – Launching Agentic AI in an Uncertain U.S. Regulatory Landscape

  Are you ready to begin adding AI Agents to your human teams? You will soon be getting requests to do so. While business teams will be wowed by what AI Agents and their subagents can do, the artificial intelligence regulatory environment is increasingly uncertain, and we advise caution.

• How Trump Policy Shifts Will Affect Employers’ Relationship With Their Employees

  Aaron Goldstein, Matthew Durham, and Nisha Verma will provide an overview of these fast moving developments and practical advice as to how employers can manage their business and workforce productively during these turbulent times.

The Telecommuting and Gig Workforce in Montana

• Will Americans Ever Lose Their Taste for Telework?

  Over time, demographers expect millions of teleworkers to permanently relocate to homes further from central cities, a shift that stands to unleash its own cascade of impacts.

Montana Business

• Is “promoted outwards” the new term for fired?

  Bernard Arnault, world’s richest non-American, drops absurd new term for tech layoffs

• An electric tractor for cleaner farming

  The zero-emission vehicles are 75 per cent cheaper to operate than diesel-powered alternatives

• Proposed HIPAA Amendments Will Close Healthcare Security Gaps

  Changes to the healthcare privacy regulation, including technical controls for network segmentation, multifactor authentication, and encryption, would strengthen cybersecurity protections for electronic health information and address evolving threats against healthcare entities.

Housing

• Rural Housing Learning Opportunity – Thur Feb 6 – Online

  Who should attend?
  Please share with volunteer groups working on housing, local government officials, business owners, schools, hospitals, economic groups or any other concerned citizens so they know about it to join in.

21st Century Education Initiative – “You Should Care…”

• Trump’s executive order aims to restrict education related to race, gender, politics

  The order calls for a plan to fund cuts to schools that offer such curricula.

• Billings educators instructed to follow the law, protect students if ICE comes to schools

  Superintendent Erwin Garcia sent an email districtwide to educators stating that the school must allow judicial-warrant-carrying ICE agents in buildings, but educators must also protect the rights of students.

Government News & Events

• New ChatGPT Gov Enables Use of Non-Publicly Available Data

  ChatGPT Gov is the latest artificial intelligence tool from OpenAI, geared toward expanded use by government agencies, and offering another way to access advanced machine learning models.

Montana Media Coalition

• SAMUEL JAXIN ENEMY-HUNTER invites you to join him for a special virtual screening event of TWO EYES to benefit the Montana Media Coalition. AVAILABLE TO STREAM FROM: JAN 27 – FEB 09

  The filmmaking team behind TWO EYES is forging a bold new path of distribution by partnering with individuals and organizations worldwide to create special-event screenings that bring the award-winning film directly to audiences while embracing the spirit of altruistic activism to raise much needed funds for organizations and non-profits.

City Club Missoula

• City Club Missoula Presents: Insurance in the State of Montana: An Overview of the Current Landscape with David Sanders Day: Monday, February 10th 2025

  Join us at City Club Missoula for a discussion with David Sanders, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI). Commissioner Sanders will describe the role of the State Insurance Commission, the changing landscape of insurance, insurance fraud, and the impact of the California wildfires. Other panelists are TBD.

Hellgate Venture Network

• Hellgate Venture Network with Ross Peterson of Little Dumps – 2/20 – Missoula

  You too ca be a Hellraiser!!!!!

Careers

• How emotional intelligence can help us reinvent ourselves at work

  Workers are under more pressure to adapt to new technologies and demands. Emotional intelligence is going to become even more critical to success, argues this expert.

Transportation

• Elon Musk reveals timeline for driverless cars, humanoid robots – deja vu all over again…

  Musk said the company plans to launch thousands of driverless vehicles as a robotaxi service throughout the city where its headquarters is located. Similarly to Airbnb, Musk said owners will have the option to add their Tesla vehicle to the robotaxi fleet when they are out of town by 2026.

• Everything You Need to Know About Keeping Pedestrians and Bicyclists Safe In Your State, in One Document

  Every state legally has to complete a report that shows exactly how it plans to get safer for people on foot and bike — but some do it better than others. A new report breaks down how they could all step up their game.

Cool Stuff That’s Coming

• Manorga Solar Parking Canopies To Be Distributed By BayWare

  The past week, BayWare Solar Systems became the first distributor of ManOrga Solar products, a French maker of parking canopies. These technologies turn parking lots into true energy centers by combining solar generation and electric mobility.

Energy and Climate Change

• “Mystery” Cold Climate Heat Pump To Be Unveiled Soon

  Terravis emphasizes that its cold climate heat pump is an all-weather device that delivers AC efficiently during periods of extreme heat as well as delivering heat during extreme cold.

VR/AR, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence and The Internet of Things

• How AI Exclusion Impacts Humankind

  AI can exacerbate digital poverty and other inequities if leaders don’t build more inclusive systems, writes visiting scholar Cornelia Walther.

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