Business

News from the office of Senator Tester BIG SANDY — Senator  Tester and his bipartisan colleagues are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the control large meatpackers have over the beef processing market violates U.S. antitrust laws and fair competition principles. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, they outlined the ongoing irregularities in cattle prices that have led to major corporate packers making significant profits while independent ranchers experience tightened margins and consumers face higher prices at the grocery store. The U.S. meatpacking industry is significantly consolidated — just four companies ope...

POLSON – More than 40 business community members took a moment out of their work week to share knowledge and learn about resources as they head into a post-COVID-19 pandemic world.  Organizers called the event Polson Bounces Back. The City of Polson and Mission West Community Development Partne...

LAKE COUNTY — The farmers market season picked up in Polson on Friday with a thriving second event as other markets get ready to kick off. The Polson market is held every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Third Avenue West, in front of the Cove Deli.  Linda Sheridan, Polson market spokesperson, r...

News from Dana Grant for Sister Sallie’s Thrift Store  RONAN — It started with a pile of clothes by the office door. Next, the stack included dishes. Other days, one might find a dishwasher or a couch or a sack of mismatched socks. The donations left at SAFE Harbor’s office for ov...

News from NorthWestern Energy MONTANA — NorthWestern Energy will begin refunding its electric customers in Montana $8.1 million as a result of a recent settlement concerning the price of transmitting power over NorthWestern’s system. The Montana Public Service Commission’s final ord...

News from Glacier Bank Glacier Bancorp’s board of directors, at a meeting held on March 31, declared a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share, an increase of $0.01 per share.  The Company has declared 144 consecutive quarterly dividends and has increased the dividend 47 times. The dividend ...

News from SBA The U.S. Small Business Administration is launching a splash page for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal in anticipation of opening applications for the much-anticipated critical economic relief program on Thursday, April 8.  “Help is here for venue operat...

News from the Montana Department of Commerce MONTANA — Filmed on-location in Montana, the true-life crime thriller “Ted K” recently premiered at Berlinale, one of the top film festivals in the world. The film was largely shot in and around Lincoln, Montana, where producers held a lo...

News from Matt Leow, Director of Montana Brewers Association MISSOULA — Breweries across Montana are releasing their own unique take on the same beer, the Last Best Pale Ale. Montana brewers, hops growers and maltsters have teamed up to produce this collaboration beer. It’s a Montana craft b...

News from MNA MONTANA — Erin Leonard, president of the Montana Newspaper Association, and Jeff Martinsen, president of the Montana Newspaper Advertising Service, announced last week the resignation of Executive Director Matt Gibson, effective March 8.  Gibson was hired as executive directo...