Montana
Millions of dollars raised and spent in Montana U.S. Senate race
HELENA — Wednesday was the deadline for federal candidates to submit their year-end fundraising numbers – and, as expected, millions more dollars have poured into the nationally watched race for Montana’s U.S. Senate seat.
The Federal Election Commission’s year-end reports show what campaigns raised and spent in the fourth quarter – October, November and December – giving an updated financial picture coming into 2024.
MTN News
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s campaign reported raising just over $5.5 million during that period – the fourth consecutive quarter that they brought in more than $5 million. They spent nearly $7.3 million over those three months, including more than $3.3 million on paid media and another roughly $2 million on digital media. Even so, the campaign still had more than $11.2 million in cash on hand at the start of January.
MTN News
Among the Republican candidates challenging Tester, Gallatin County businessman and Navy veteran Tim Sheehy’s campaign brought in almost $2.5 million in the fourth quarter, including $450,000 in personal loans from Sheehy. The campaign spent $2.3 million, including around $1.4 million earmarked for media placement and production, and they had just under $1.3 million in the bank at the start of the year. Sheehy has raised a total of $5.3 million since launching his campaign.
MTN News
Former Secretary of State Brad Johnson, who told MTN when he announced his campaign that he expected to be significantly outspent in the GOP primary, brought in just over $22,000 during the quarter, including $15,000 of his own money. He spent more than $20,000 over the period.
MTN News
The potential Republican candidate who hasn’t officially announced a run for Senate is U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, who has hinted he may jump into the race. Rosendale’s campaign committee raised only about $98,000 during the last quarter, and it spent just under $166,000 – though they had more than $1.6 million in cash on hand at the end of 2023. They brought in a total of just over $1 million throughout the year.
The spending isn’t only coming from the candidates themselves. Millions more in independent expenditures were also reported this quarter in the Senate race – one of the top races nationwide in 2024.
A group called Last Best Place PAC has been consistently running ads attacking Sheehy. According to their FEC report, they brought in and spent just over $2.1 million during the fourth quarter – all of it from Majority Forward, a group linked with Senate Majority PAC, a nationwide super PAC supporting Democratic Senate candidates. In a HuffPost article, Senate Majority PAC confirmed it was behind the ad spending, which the article said has grown to nearly $5.8 million.
Sheehy’s campaign said in a statement that this showed national Democrats were interfering in the GOP primary, and that they were going after Sheehy because he was the strongest candidate to take on Tester.
“The career politicians back in DC are terrified of conservative outsider Tim Sheehy because he’s going to stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump to drain the swamp, save our country, and put America and Montana First!” a campaign spokesperson said.
Sheehy has also received super PAC support. A group called More Jobs, Less Government has paid for ads backing him, including more than $1 million in the last quarter. Their expenditures included digital ads, radio ads, direct mail and text messaging and emails.
Meanwhile, national media has reported more outside groups are already buying ad time for the general election. Politico reported Senate Majority PAC has made an initial reservation of $27 million in Montana to support Tester, while NBC News says Republican-aligned super PACs Senate Leadership Fund and American Crossroads are spending almost $50 million on fall ad time.
The next federal campaign finance reports will cover the first quarter, from January to March. By that time, we’ll have a full picture of which candidates are in the Senate and congressional races.
MISSOULA — Almost a year after the closure of Roseburg Forest Products’ Missoula plant, a new venture will now occupy the space.
Utilizing 47 acres, Story House Montana will be a film and television production campus.
“The opportunity is to make anything and everything,” Story House president and CCO James Brown III said.
Studio at Story House, a major movie-making campus, opened Friday.
“We wouldn’t have to tear down these amazing buildings. We could renovate them and convert them into film sound stages,” Brown III shared. “You could shoot anything from a Marvel film to a small independent film, right? We have enough space, we have the crew, we have the talent.”
While 150 workers lost their jobs in Roseburg’s closure, Story House wants to retain and retrain them.
“Film production crew is blue-collar work. It’s electricians, it’s carpenters, it’s builders, it’s painters. I think it just gives an opportunity to learn new skills while also just elevating and fostering skills that they already have,” Brown III said.
The company, which has made another storytelling hub in Sheridan, WY, hopes to create new opportunities in the Garden City.
“When it’s all said and done and we’re up and fully operational, we can make up to 430 jobs,” Brown III said.
Story House says they want to be intentional and work with the community; that includes looking at Missoulian’s needs.
“We are also a real estate-backed company, so we are looking at the housing opportunities and the housing needs. Creating more jobs also creates the need for more housing and we’re well aware of that and really excited to take that on,” Brown III said.
The grand opening offered a first look into a space that will become anything and everything and we’ll keep you updated on the progress.
BILLINGS — A new tortilla shop is bringing the warmth of Mexico to Billings and holds cultural significance for the owners.
Watch the video below:
New tortilleria rolls out in Billings, brings a fresh taste of Mexico to Montana
Colima Tortilleria, located at 2212 Grant Road, sells fresh corn and flour tortillas by the pound each morning. They are made with a large tortilla-making machine shipped directly from Mexico, which pushes out 2,800 tortillas an hour.
“People say they feel excited when they come here and see the machine and say, like, ‘Wow, that’s a really fresh tortilla,’” said owner Rubi Murillo.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
The process begins each day at 9 a.m. before the doors open at 11 a.m. to prepare the masa, or dough, and run the oven-like machine. Though they currently rotate between corn and flour tortillas daily, the plan is to eventually offer both all day. Customers can also enjoy tacos and snacks made with the tortillas on-site. Corn tortillas are made in a six-inch and four-inch size for tacos, while flour tortillas come in 6, 10, and 12-inch sizes. Most days, they sell out before closing.
The venture is new for Murillo, who said she did not learn to make tortillas until the equipment arrived.
“We start making the masa and we start making a process (…) to make the quality tortillas,” said Murillo. “It’s hard work because you have to use the machine, you have to check the temperature (to) make the tortillas, because it’s not the same when you make corn or flour.”
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
The tortilleria, which opened its doors at the end of April, is the latest venture for Murillo and her husband, Miguel, who are known for their other businesses: Fiesta Mexicana, Camachos Tacos, and Colima de Mis Amores, a Mexican store and bakery just next door to the tortilleria. The store sells various snacks, meals, clothing, and other goods not commonly found in the U.S.
“At the beginning, when I started to open the store, is because I (missed) home,” said Murillo.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
Murillo wanted to open the tortilleria to bring an authentic and fresh taste to Billings, and the plan came to fruition sooner than expected.
“I haven’t seen these tortillerias here in Billings, so I was thinking, ‘Why not bring the machine?’” said Murillo. “It’s not the same when you go to the store and buy frozen tortillas.”
The business has also helped fill a gap in their hearts, serving as a reminder of home. Murillo, who moved from Colima, Mexico, to the U.S. 10 years ago, remembers her own childhood trips to the local tortilleria.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
“In Mexico, every day you go to buy tortillas from the tortilleria, come back to home and start eating like the dishes that you have with the fresh tortillas,” said Murillo. “That brings me memories when I was at home and my mom sent me, ‘Go for the tortillas! Bring the tortillas back!’”
Her mother, Natalia Ramirez, moved to the U.S. just last year and now works alongside her daughter in the kitchen.
“In Mexico, there’s a lot of tortillerias, but here is the only one. It’s a novelty here because people can take them warm, freshly made,” Ramirez said in Spanish.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
The tortilleria represents a dream fulfilled that ties two cultures together for Ramirez and her daughter. Helping launch the venture has been deeply emotional for her.
“I’m very proud of her,” said Ramirez. “Because she is a very hard-working person, very smart, has a lot of vision for business. She has always been a fighter.”
For the mother-daughter duo, these tortillas are a connection to home and a way to share the richness of Mexican culture with their Montana community.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
“Right now, it’s up and down in a lot of businesses, so I’m really appreciative because it’s been good,” said Murillo.
Colima Tortilleria is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
MISSOULA — Here’s a look at Western Montana’s top news stories for Thursday.
A South African family labeled as refugees by the U.S. Department of State arrived in Missoula on Monday, aided by the International Rescue Committee and Soft Landing Missoula. The family’s arrival follows an expedited immigration process stemming from an executive order that claims Afrikaners face violence and property seizures in South Africa. (Read the full story)
Therma Wood Technologies in Polson offers an eco-friendly heat and pressure process to treat wood, eliminating harmful chemicals while enhancing durability. This method provides treated wood with a lifespan of about 20 years, significantly exceeding the typical seven to eight years of chemically-treated wood. (Read the full story)
Polson wood treatment company provides eco-friendly option
Flathead High School students showcased their heavy equipment skills on Wednesday through a hands-on program in partnership with the Montana Contractors Association. The Build Montana Initiative allows students to gain practical experience operating machinery, preparing them for future careers in construction while reinforcing the importance of a skilled workforce in Kalispell. (Read the full story)
Kalispell students showcase heavy machinery skills
Armstrong spotlights jobs, education and youth health in visit
Lady Vols defeat Ohio State softball in Knoxville Regional
OU Softball: Oklahoma Takes Down Cal, Advances to Sunday’s Regional Final
Live updates: No. 16 seed Oregon softball vs. Stanford in Eugene Regional
Pennsylvania State Police mark 50 years since Delaware County teen Wendy Eaton went missing
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