Montana

Alme confirmed by U.S. Senate as U.S. Attorney for Montana | Explore Big Sky

Published

5 hours ago

October 15, 2025

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Alme confirmed by U.S. Senate as U.S. Attorney for Montana | Explore Big Sky

Confirmation follows long, bitter fight over Trump nominees in D.C.

By Jordan Hansen DAILY MONTANAN

Kurt Alme was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, following a bitter, partisan fight in Washington, D.C.

Alme, a former U.S. Attorney for Montana during President Donald Trump’s first administration, was confirmed in a 51-47 vote. Democrats and Republicans have fought for more than a decade about confirmation votes and the filibuster barrier of a 60-vote threshold to approve presidential appointments.

Kurt Alme. PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Democrats blocked many of President Donald Trump’s appointments, but Republicans changed the rules in the Senate this fall to speed up the nomination process. Both parties have mounted similar rule changes to push through nominations during the last 10 years, the AP reported.

Trump took to social media this summer to criticize Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who is the Senate Judiciary chairman and oversees that process. Grassley has been on the committee since 1981.

Trump took aim at a so called “blue slip” process, which allows home-state senators to approve or block some nominees.

In late September, Republicans in the U.S. Senate moved to confirm 48 positions. Earlier this week, they moved through 107 more, which included Alme.

“For nine months, Senate Democrats engaged in historic obstruction of law enforcement, placing an unprecedented hold on all 93 U.S. Attorney nominees,” Grassley said in a statement. “Even as our nation reeled from horrific mass shootings, attacks on federal facilities and a devastating political assassination, Democrats have continued to deny American communities their top federal law enforcement officials.”

Alme is the former head of the Montana Department of Revenue and was also in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana between 2003 and 2010. A Great Falls native, Alme grew up in Dillon, Victor and Helena, graduating from Miles City. He holds degrees from the University of Colorado and Harvard University.

His appointment and confirmation received heavy praise across the state.

“Kurt has already done an incredible job in his interim capacity and we are thrilled to see his final confirmation by the U.S. Senate,” Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy said in a joint press release. “Kurt will crack down on drug trafficking and crime, protect our indigenous communities, and uphold the rule of law, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact that he will have on our great state.”

The Montana County Attorneys Association and the Montana Sheriff’s and Peace Officers Association both praised the appointment. Several organizations and people — including the Montana Nonprofit Association, Director of Montana Department of Corrections Brian Gootkin and former Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst — sent letters in support of Alme to Daines and Sheehy.

His appointment received bipartisan support as well, including from Rep. Shelly Fyant, an Arlee Democrat who used to lead the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council.

“I saw the work the U.S. Attorney’s Office did focusing on reducing methamphetamine and opioid related overdoses and violent crimes, which not only plague the Flathead Indian Reservation, but reservations throughout Montana and the Nation,” Fyant wrote in a letter to Daines and Sheehy. “Mr. Alme’s hands-on approach was greatly appreciated as he frequently visited Montana reservations and met directly with Tribal leaders about specific drug abuse and trafficking, public safety and Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) issues.”

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Montana

Montana Constitution Roadshow making a stop in Three Forks

Published

17 hours ago

October 14, 2025

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Montana Constitution Roadshow making a stop in Three Forks

The Montana Constitution Roadshow is headed to Three Forks.

The Three Forks Historical Society is hosting Upper Seven Law, a non-partisan, non-profit public interest law firm, for a free program at the United Methodist Church on Thursday, October 23, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

According to Pat Townsend of the historical society, some members have already attended the program, finding it both fun and informative. Townsend said it is also for local students interested in history.

“Because it is so important to make information about the constitution and our system of laws available to everyone-and be…

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Montana

Missoula and Western Montana neighbors: Obituaries for October 14

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1 day ago

October 14, 2025

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Missoula and Western Montana neighbors: Obituaries for October 14

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Montana

Montana State sweeps Big Sky Conference volleyball honors

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2025

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Montana State sweeps Big Sky Conference volleyball honors

BOZEMAN — Fresh off its fifth consecutive victory over its in-state rival, the Montana State volleyball program reaped the rewards of its effort as senior outside hitter Madilyn Siebler and senior libero Lauren Lindseth were named Big Sky Conference offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

Siebler, a native of Omaha, Neb., recorded a career-high 21 kills as the Bobcats dispatched Montana 25-19, 23-25, 25-17, 17-25, 15-10 on Saturday night in front of a UM record crowd of 3,001 in Dahlberg Arena.

Lindseth, a graduate of CMR High School in Great Falls, registered a team-high 27 digs, while dishing out seven assists and adding one service ace in the victory.

“Madilyn and Lauren came and established early who we were going to be in the rivalry match,” said MSU head coach Matt Houk. “They set the tone for our group and stayed steady throughout the match. It was a great way to finish their last opportunity to play in Missoula.”

Siebler opened the match with six kills in the first set. Over the course of the first three sets, she totaled 15 kills, while hitting .378 from the field. For the match, Siebler averaged 4.2 kills per set. In addition, she recorded a season-high 15 digs and added a block assist.

Lindseth, who captured the league’s defensive honor for the third time and for the second straight week, averaged 5.40 digs per set. She opened the contest with eight saves in the opening set. Lindseth also got the job done in serve-receive, being targeted by the Grizzlies thirty-five times (the most on either team) without committing an error.

Montana State has won three consecutive matches and five of its last six outings to move atop the Big Sky Conference standings at 4-1 along with Weber State.

The Bobcats play at Portland State, Thursday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. (MT) in Viking Pavilion. PSU defeated MSU 3-0 in Bozeman on Sept. 27, the lone blemish on its Big Sky slate.

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