MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Technological University has signed a memorandum of understanding with Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, the operator of Idaho National Laboratory, to expand collaboration in nuclear energy and critical materials research.

The partnership creates a framework for joint research, workforce development and academic collaboration focused on areas including critical minerals, mineral processing, mine waste recovery and nuclear energy education.

The three-year agreement will provide opportunities for faculty exchanges, joint workshops and expanded internships and graduate research experiences for students.

University officials said the agreement will support Montana Tech’s planned undergraduate certificate and graduate degree programs in nuclear energy and energy engineering, which were approved by the Montana Board of Regents earlier this year.

Full release:

Montana Technological University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, the managing and operating contractor of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), to expand collaboration in critical materials and nuclear energy research.

“Our longstanding partnership with the Idaho National Lab has helped Montana Tech faculty and students advance their research in meaningful ways,” Montana Tech Chancellor Johnny MacLean said. “This new MOU represents an important next step as we more intentionally align our efforts with national priorities. It’s a wonderful example of how Montana Tech is once again rising to meet America’s needs in partnership with government and industry.”

The partnership establishes a framework for joint research, workforce development, and academic collaboration between Montana Tech and one of the nation’s leading energy laboratories.

Montana Tech and INL will pursue collaborative efforts in critical minerals and materials, including extraction technologies, mineral processing, and innovative methods for recovering valuable elements from mine waste and tailings. Additional areas of focus include economic geology, materials characterization, and site remediation and restoration.

“Combining Montana Tech’s exceptional applied hands-on expertise in critical materials and mining research with INL’s capabilities, allows us to accomplish things neither institution could achieve alone,” said Robert Podgorney, a subsurface science directorate fellow at INL. “Through joint research, faculty exchanges and internship opportunities, we’re extending the bench on some of the most consequential challenges facing our nation’s critical materials supply chain.”

The MOU also emphasizes expanding collaboration in nuclear energy, including developing educational pathways, enhancing curriculum and engaging with experts in emerging nuclear technologies.

The three-year agreement includes opportunities for faculty and staff exchanges, joint workshops and expanded industry engagement. Students will benefit from increased internship opportunities and access to graduate research experiences in collaboration with INL scientists and engineers.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward in advancing applied research at Montana Tech,” Vice Chancellor of Research and Dean of the Graduate School Katie Hailer said. “By aligning our strengths in critical materials and resource development with the world-class capabilities at the Idaho National Laboratory, we are creating new opportunities to move research from the laboratory toward real-world application. This collaboration will accelerate technologies in critical materials recovery while providing our students and faculty with direct access to one of the nation’s premier energy research environments.”

The agreement will play a critical role in Montana Tech’s establishment of an undergraduate certificate in nuclear energy, a Master of Science in Nuclear Energy, and a Ph.D. in Energy Engineering and Science with three specializations: Power Systems and Technologies; Energy Conversion and Application; and Petroleum and Subsurface Engineering. In March 2026, the Montana Board of Regents approved Montana Tech’s plans to launch the programs.

As it celebrates its 125th year, Montana Tech continues to expand its focus on energy systems and critical materials aligning with national priorities and industry needs. This partnership further supports the university’s purpose to rise to meet America’s emerging needs by preparing the next generation of STEM leaders.

Pocatello, ID (CBS2) — A late-night attempted traffic stop near Pocatello led to a vehicle pursuit and the seizure of multiple pounds of narcotics, according to the Idaho State Police Domestic Highway Enforcement team.

Just before 12 a.m. on May 18, a DHE trooper patrolling Interstate 86 saw a sedan with California license plates turn northbound onto Interstate 15 without signaling. When the trooper tried to stop the car near milepost 74 in Bannock County, the driver did not yield, and a pursuit began.

Police said the pursuit went through a construction zone where traffic was diverted onto the southbound U.S. Highway 91. During the chase, the sedan used the right shoulder to pass several semi-trucks, struck a construction sign, and ignored directions from a construction flagging crew.

The vehicle continued toward the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, where the Fort Hall Police Department deployed spike strips, stopping the car. The driver, a 40-year-old man from Fargo, North Dakota, was arrested without further incident.

Troopers searched the vehicle and found about one pound of fentanyl powder, two pounds of methamphetamine, more than two pounds of cocaine, and one-half pound of marijuana.

The driver was booked into the Bingham County Jail on probable cause for trafficking fentanyl, trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine, felony possession of marijuana, and felony eluding.

“This seizure highlights the value of having a dedicated team focused on disrupting drug trafficking across Idaho,” Lt. Ryan Hoxie said. “Through support of Gov. Little’s Esto Perpetua initiative, DHE proactively targets the criminal organizations bringing dangerous narcotics into our state. These drugs continue to devastate Idaho families and communities, and our troopers work every day to identify traffickers, stop illegal drugs from reaching our communities, and arrest offenders.”

ISP said its Domestic Highway Enforcement team is part of Gov. Brad Little’s Esto Perpetua initiative and is a multijurisdictional narcotics task force made up of 14 troopers, including seven canine handlers, stationed throughout Idaho. The agency said the team combats emerging criminal trends using advanced interdiction techniques, intelligence-driven enforcement, and partnerships with local prosecutors and allied agencies.

The team is supported through the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program and also works through an Office of National Drug Control Policy-sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding for multiagency drug enforcement initiatives, ISP said.