WASHINGTON, April 17 -- A coalition of 16 environmental and health organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning premanufacture notices (PMNs) for certain new chemicals, specifically four perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and four chemicals derived from the processing of plastic waste. The letter argues that approving these new chemicals would exacerbate environmental problems and violate the Toxic Substances C  more

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Nebraska, April 18 -- The U.S. Strategic Command issued the following news: * * * 341 MXG conducts first operational mission with Payload Transporter Replacement By John Turner 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. - A Payload Transporter Replacement (PTR) vehicle assigned to the 341st Missile Wing completed a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) maintenance task April 8, 2026, marking the first operational use of Air Forc  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- A coalition of 365 former attorneys who served at the U.S. Department of Justice has submitted a public comment letter expressing strong opposition to a proposed rulemaking concerning the review of state bar complaints and allegations against DOJ attorneys, aiming to give the Attorney General discretionary authority to review and potentially delay or displace state bar disciplinary investigations into DOJ lawyers. The former DOJ attorneys argue that this proposal is both   more

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 17 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: * * * Attorney General Alan Wilson fights against the rise of the administrative state * (COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson is joining a 21-state friend-of-the-court brief pushing back against burdensome regulations on national markets and the rise of the administrative state. The brief was filed in support of a challenge to a 2020 federal statute requiring the U.S. Envi  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Bridgercare, Bozeman, Montana, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration opposing the implementation of a 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. The organization detailed concerns that the rebate-based system would impose substantial financial, administrative, and operational burdens that threaten sustainability and patient care access. The letter explains that under the current upfront discount model, 340B participation remains  more

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 17 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island posted the following news: * * * Court Blocks Administration's Latest Restrictions on Grants to Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault * Rhode Island Federal Judge Melissa R. DuBose has today issued an order preliminarily blocking the Trump-Vance administration's latest effort to implement unlawful restrictions on grants that support survivors of domestic violence, sexual  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * Daines, Hassan Introduce Bill to Codify First Lady Melania Trump's Foster Care Initiative, Expand Education and Employment Opportunities for Foster Youth U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today introduced the "Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act," bipartisan legislation to expand education and workforce pathways for youth transitioning out of the foster  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * Daines, Sheehy, Downing Send Letter to USPS Urging the Reopening of the Baker Post Office * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), along with Congressman Troy Downing (MT-02), sent a letter to the United States Postal Service (USPS) expressing concerns with the closure of the Baker Post Office, urging the agency to reopen and improve service for constituen  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release on April 17, 2026: * * * Court Blocks Administration's Latest Restrictions on Grants to Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Will Protect Violence Prevention Funding Nationwide * Providence, R.I. - A judge on the U.S. District Court for the Distric  more

BOZEMAN, Montana, April 17 -- Montana State University issued the following news: * * * Environmental historian named Wallace Stegner endowed chair at Montana State * BOZEMAN - Author and environmental historian Joshua Howe will become the new Wallace Stegner Endowed Chair in Western American Studies at Montana State University in August. The author of books on the history of climate change science and exposure of soldiers in battle to toxic chemicals, Howe is the second professor appointe  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 119-581) on the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act (H.R. 2252). The report was advanced by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, on April 2, 2026. Here are excerpts: * * * PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION The purpose of H.R. 2252 is to authorize the relinquishment and in lieu selection of land and minerals in the State of North Dakota, to restore land and minerals to Indian Tribes within the State of North Dakot  more

ITHACA, New York, April 17 -- The Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences posted the following news: * * * Kate Stephens '26: Advocating for ag research, extension and teaching in DC * * Agriculture * Communication * Global Development Kate Stephens '26, a CALS senior from north-central Montana studying global development and communication, was selected as a student delegate for the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) conference held  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 17 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news: * * * Lawrence's research proves crucial in safeguarding Nebraska sugar beet sector * Palmer amaranth, a fast-growing "superweed," is notorious for the destructive threat it poses to sugar beet production. The plant produces enormous quantities of seeds, spreads easily and has developed resistance to most herbicides. Once the weed asserts itself in a field, the yield losses are often staggering. Until rece  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news: * * * Montana National Guard returns World War II Soldier home, honoring nation's promise * BUTTE, Mont. (AFNS) - After more than 80 years, a Montana Soldier returned home. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Airmen from the 120th Airlift Wing conducted a solemn C-130H transport mission April 15, bringing the remains of U.S. Army Pvt. Harry David Bordner back to Montana, where he will be laid to rest in his hometown of Bu  more

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Marshall Joins Letter Backing American Ag Under USMCA * Washington - This week, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined a bipartisan letter led by Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, emphasizing their support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ahead of the Agreement's six-year joint revi  more

MISSOULA, Montana, April 17 -- The University of Montana posted the following news release: * * * UM to Launch New Montana Healthy Communities Dashboard * MISSOULA - Historically, researchers looking to find Montana data for their projects or grant proposals had to hunt it down, often by contacting the University of Montana's School of Public and Community Health. Health data, like asthma or cardiovascular hospitalizations, is typically in a separate location from environmental or socioecon  more