Montana

Japanese consul general visits business class at Montana State University

Published

10 months ago

May 4, 2025

Japanese consul general visits business class at Montana State University

BOZEMAN — Students in the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship learned more about the relationship between Montana and Japan when a Japanese consul general visited Montana State University’s campus.

Makoto Iyori has been the Seattle-based consul general for Japan since 2023. Similar to a diplomat, a consul general resides in a foreign country and promotes commercial and diplomatic relations with their home country.

Iyori traveled to Montana and spoke to a group of about 75 students in an Introduction to International Business class taught by instructor Thomas Lechner.

Lechner met the consul general in January at a Helena event celebrating Montana’s relationship with Japan. He has been deeply connected with Japan since visiting the country with the National FFA Organization in 1985. Lechner spent 15 years in Japan and six living in Montana’s sister state, Kumamoto.

“I am doing my best to present students with as many international perspectives as possible in hopes of igniting their curiosity to explore the world,” Lechner said.

In the international business class, Iyori delivered remarks about Japan’s relationship with Montana and then answered a handful of questions from students.

The U.S. and Japan have been important allies since the end of World War II, Iyori said. Both nations understand the importance of investing in technology and computing, and the relationship especially thrives in times of economic security, he said, adding that Japanese companies have created over a million jobs in the U.S. and want to continue increasing partnerships.

Montana exports important goods to Japan, specifically coal, wheat and beef, Iyori said, adding that Japan in general has a huge market for American beef.

He also highlighted another Japanese-Montana connection: Mike Mansfield, a former U.S. senator from Montana, was the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to Japan from 1977 to 1988. Mansfield was known for his deep understanding of Japanese-American relations. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon his retirement and endowed the Mansfield Chair at the University of Montana to strengthen the study of Japanese language and culture. Lechner recalled meeting Mansfield in 1985.

Students asked questions covering a wide range of topics, including the Japanese market for bison meat, tariffs, the impact of Formula 1 racing on Japanese tourism, and advice for students planning to study abroad in Tokyo next semester.

After visiting Lechner’s class, Iyori met with dean of the business college, Brian Gillespie, and several members of the Office of International Programs to strengthen the relationship between Japan and MSU. He also toured the Bozeman-based business Montana Photonics and visited other companies in Billings.

The class visit is in line with the goals of the business college, as Jabs has worked hard to expand its international course offerings and global footprint for students, Gillespie said.

“Welcoming Consul General Iyori to campus was a great honor for Montana State University as we forge a continued partnership with Japan,” Gillespie said. “Our collaboration will open the door for students to explore the world and receive an education in line with international partnerships and global ideas. We look forward to strengthening these bonds with Iyori and the nation of Japan for years to come.”

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Montana

Evacuation orders issued as 5,000-acre wildfire burns near Roundup, Montana

Published

10 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Evacuation orders issued as 5,000-acre wildfire burns near Roundup, Montana

ROUNDUP, Mont. —
The Rehder Creek Fire is burning 16 miles southeast of Roundup has grown to about 5,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders for residents in the Bruner Mountain Area/Subdivision.

The fire started Feb. 26, the cause is unknown and containment was at 0%.

Evacuation orders are in effect for all residents in the Bruner Mountain Area/Subdivision. The Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating the evacuation orders, and 911 reverse calls have been sent out to advise people in the area.

A shelter is opening at the Roundup Community Center. Residents were told to contact Musselshell County DES for further information.

Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority. The public is asked to avoid the Fattig Creek and Rehder Road area so emergency personnel can safely and effectively perform their work.

Fire resources assigned to the incident include 40 total personnel, 11 engines, one Type 2 helicopter, three tenders and two dozers.

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Montana

February 26 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

Published

22 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

February 26 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

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Montana

Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) – joined by Representative Pramila Jayapal, the Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, and 22 other Members of Congress – sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons calling for the immediate closure of Camp East Montana in El Paso. They cite urgent humanitarian concerns following multiple deaths in custody, documented unsafe conditions, and serious deficiencies in medical care.

This marks the fourth letter Congresswoman Escobar has sent to DHS and ICE leadership. The previous three letters have gone unanswered.

The letter can be found in its entirety below and here.

“Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:

We are urgently calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or the Department) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to shut down Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas.

Camp East Montana has been operational for six months, and at least three people have died at the site since December 2025: Francisco Gaspar-Andres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, and Victor Manuel Diaz. The El Paso County Medical Examiner has officially ruled Lunas Campos’ death a homicide, citing “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.”

Camp East Montana was constructed in a matter of weeks and opened before construction was complete and it does not have enough federal staff on-site to provide adequate oversight. Over the last several months, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, in whose district this facility is located, has sent multiple letters to DHS and ICE regarding concerns about the conditions at Camp East Montana, and has received no responses.

According to detainees, there have been constant and consistent problems at the facility since it opened, beginning with the facility’s poor construction and poor ambient temperature control. Upon opening, the drinking water at Camp East Montana tasted foul and made some detainees sick. Detainees continue to be served inadequate meals, including food that is rotten or frozen; last fall, the facility was also consistently failing to make dietary accommodations for detainees. Detainees have shared that they have sporadic access to outside spaces and recreational areas, and that their dormitory pods are cleaned only once every eight days, despite pods housing up to 72 people at a time. Laundry services are not consistent, and people are washing their clothes in the facility showers. Additionally, the facility experiences flooding and sewage backups when it rains, leading to stagnant water.

One of the biggest concerns with the Camp East Montana facility is the inadequate medical care being provided to detainees. Our offices have heard that only the most ill detainees are referred to the medical unit and that there are inconsistencies as to how soon after arriving detainees are able to undergo initial medical screenings. Detainees with chronic health issues who rely on regimented medications for their health have had difficulty accessing necessary medications, including blood pressure medication and insulin.

At least one of the deaths that occurred in ICE custody, the death of Francisco Gaspar-Andres, appears to partially be the result of poor medical care by staff at the facility. According to ICE’s own account, Gaspar-Andres sought medical attention from facility staff for increasingly serious symptoms, but was only transferred to an area hospital once his condition had severely deteriorated.

In addition to our concerns about poor medical care, we are also aware that detainees have experienced irregular access to their legal counsel, including instances of detainees having only two minutes allotted per phone call every 8 days, which is contrary to ICE’s Detention Standards on access to counsel, and that the belatedly created law library lacks adequate resources for the amount of people currently held at the facility. In January 2026, ICE announced the on-site death of Geraldo Lunas Campos “after experiencing medical distress.” ICE opened an investigation into the death, but did not provide a cause of death. However, The Washington Post later reported that another man detained at Camp East Montana had witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos when he refused to enter a segregated housing unit. Weeks later, the El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled that Lunas Campos had experienced “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression” and ruled his death a homicide.

Lunas Campos is the first detainee to die at Camp East Montana as a result of a use-of-force incident, but we are strongly concerned that he will not be the last if ICE is allowed to continue operating Camp East Montana.

ICE was given $45 billion in taxpayer dollars in the reconciliation bill, $1.2 billion of which were awarded to Acquisition Logistics, LLC, a company with no previous experience managing immigration detention facilities, to build and oversee Camp East Montana. However, in the wake of three deaths in custody so far, continued concerns about conditions at the facility, and ICE’s apparent disinterest in responding to oversight letters from Congress, we do not believe Camp East Montana is being run professionally or responsibly.

Camp East Montana must be shut down. For the safety of everyone at the facility, for an end to abuses to detainees, and for fiscal responsibility to the American people, the site cannot continue to operate. We are calling on DHS and ICE to move to immediately close operations at Camp East Montana.

We look forward to hearing from the Department promptly on this matter.

The other co-signers include Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Nanette Barragán, Yvette Clarke, Lloyd Doggett, Maxwell Frost, Jesús “Chuy” García, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Henry Johnson, Stephen Lynch, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delia Ramirez, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Darren Soto, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Lauren Underwood, Gabe Vasquez, and Nydia Velázquez.

Issues: Immigration

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