Montana

Montana State gets commitment from FBS transfer running back Kaegun Williams

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2022

BOZEMAN — Kaegun Williams, a operating again who beforehand performed at San Diego State, introduced his dedication to Montana State on Sunday.

Instinct, mysticism,
and inside power
are all related
with #7 a
message that you just
ought to have extra religion in your self pic.twitter.com/Z8sGLtQfDn
— Kaegun Williams (@Kaegun_Williams) April 17, 2022

Williams is a 5-foot-9, 195-pound graduate switch who attended Cedar Hill (Texas) Excessive College earlier than signing with SDSU, a Soccer Bowl Subdivision program that performs within the Mountain West. He joins a workforce with a proficient however unsure group of operating backs.

Williams was a three-star recruit out of highschool and the Tenth-ranked all-purpose operating again for the Class of 2017, based on 247 Sports activities. He redshirted at SDSU in 2017 and appeared in 10 video games in every of the next two seasons.

Williams rushed for 40 yards on 11 carries (3.6 yards per carry) in 2018 and for 110 yards on 30 carries (3.7 ypc) in 2019. In 2020, he tallied 257 yards and a landing on 54 carries (4.8 ypc) in seven video games, and he completed this previous season with 283 yards and two TDs on 59 makes an attempt (4.5 ypc). He completed his SDSU profession with 125 receiving yards on 15 catches.

The Aztecs went 12-2 final season, misplaced to Utah State within the Mountain West title sport and beat UTSA within the Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl. That sport was performed at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, the positioning of Soccer Championship Subdivision sport, which MSU reached (and misplaced) final season.

San Diego State operating again Kaegun Williams jumps over Utah State defenders in the course of the Mountain West Convention championship sport on Dec. 4, 2021, in Carson, Calif.

John McCoy, Related Press

Williams is the fifth 2021-22 MSU commit from Texas. The others are offensive lineman Omarrian Aigbedion, defensive lineman Kadren Johnson, defensive again Dru Polidore and operating again Jared White, who’s MSU’s solely different RB on this recruiting class up to now. New defensive coordinator Willie Mack Garza and assistant line of defense coach Nick Jean-Baptiste are additionally from the Lone Star State.

MSU single-season dashing yards file holder Isaiah Ifanse, however he is out for spring camp recovering from an offseason surgical procedure. His backup final season, Elijah Elliott, has missed time with a hamstring damage this spring, per head coach Brent Vigen. Lane Sumner missed a lot of final season with an damage however was efficient when wholesome, and he is carried out effectively this spring. Garrett Coon and DeMareus Hosey have sparsely performed of their MSU careers.

Vigen has burdened the significance of depth, and it is arguably most necessary at operating again. The Bobcats realized this final season, when each Ifanse and run-heavy quarterback Tommy Mellott suffered late-season accidents. They may’ve gotten damage for causes past overuse, however extra carries carries result in increased damage threat. Simpler gamers within the backfield is sweet from a manufacturing standpoint too, after all.

It is not clear when Ifanse might be wholesome, so Williams’ position with the Cats subsequent season could be giant. He wasn’t instantly out there for remark, and MSU cannot discuss recruits till they signal.

Source link

Click to comment

Montana

Public charter schools in Montana set to open, related legislative tweaks possible • Daily Montanan

Published

2 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

Public charter schools in Montana set to open, related legislative tweaks possible • Daily Montanan

The Montana Legislature may consider “minor” changes to statutes related to public charter schools during its 2025 session following a recent court order, said a legislator and chairperson of an education committee.

But 18 schools are slated to open this year, according to the Office of Public Instruction.

Rep. Dave Bedey, R-Hamilton, said Thursday he believes the bill that opened the door for more charters is clear as written.

“At the end of the day, I’m just gratified that schools across the state are going to be able to put these innovative programs into place without delay,” Bedey said.

In the 2023 session, the legislature approved House Bill 549, which eased the way for more charter schools through the public school system. However, a lawsuit filed this spring alleged the Office of Public Instruction was throwing up roadblocks.

Last month, a Lewis and Clark District Court judge disagreed with the Office of Public Instruction’s interpretation that certain prerequisites needed to be met to get the charter schools off the ground, such as a parental petition and approval from county commissioners.

The legal dispute took place as students made plans to attend the new schools, but educators alleged the argument over how to open them meant likely delays.

Last week, the court signed off on an agreement between the plaintiffs, the Montana Quality Education Coalition, and defendants, Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and the Office of Public Instruction, that resolves some of the fight.

In the stipulation, the Montana Quality Education Coalition agreed Arntzen and the OPI had implemented processes that allow the schools to start operating by July 1, 2024, and that they were in compliance with the court’s order for a preliminary injunction last month.

Court order

“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT this Court’s Preliminary Injunction Order, dated April 17, 2024, remains in effect pending an order terminating this Court’s preliminary injunction or until the Montana Legislature has the opportunity during the 2025 session to amend relevant statutory authority regarding the responsibilities of the Board of Public Education, the Office of Public Instruction, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction relative to the authorization of and opening of public charter schools in Montana. The remaining claims for declaratory and permanent injunctive relief are dismissed with prejudice and with each party bearing responsibility for their own attorney’s fees and costs.” — Order from Lewis and Clark District Court

The Montana Quality Education Coalition describes itself as made up of more than 100 school districts and five education organizations and one of the largest education advocacy organizations in Montana.

The agreement the judge approved acknowledges the preliminary injunction from April 17 remains in effect unless the court terminates it or the legislature amends relevant statutes. It also dismisses outstanding claims.

In an email this week, the Office of Public Instruction notes that as of May 13, it had opened 15 of 18 schools enrolling students this year.

“The OPI is working with one school to correct some of the information that was submitted and is waiting on applications from two schools,” the agency said in an email. “One of the approved public charter schools will not open until the fall of 2025.”

Rep. Bedey, chairperson of the interim budget committee on education, said Thursday he doesn’t believe amendments are needed, although small changes are possible.

Rather, he said a plain reading of HB 549 clearly indicates the approval process for schools, the authority of the Board of Public Education, and the duty of the Office of Public Instruction.

All the same, Bedey said the legislature has an opportunity to make “some minor changes” to make the intentions of the bill “crystal clear and remove any ambiguity” given some people had a “contrary reading” of it.

At a committee meeting in March, legislators voted 6-2 to send a letter to Arntzen telling her she was failing students and not meeting her Constitutional duties related to HB 549 and other educational programs legislators had supported.

The Montana Quality Education Coalition filed the lawsuit later the same month.

“It’s regrettable that this issue had to go to the courts for resolution because the meaning of the law was clear,” Bedey said. “It’s regrettable that we were unable to convince the superintendent of that when her lawyer appeared before us in a committee meeting in March.”

Source link

Montana

A small plane crashes in Montana, killing the pilot and a passenger

Published

9 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

A small plane crashes in Montana, killing the pilot and a passenger

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A single-engine airplane crashed in southeastern Montana, killing the pilot and the passenger, the Federal Aviation Administration reported.

The Piper PA-18 crashed near Tillitt Field Airport east of the town of Forsyth at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the FAA said. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.

Rosebud County Sheriff Allen Fulton said they have identified the victims but weren’t releasing their names yet. The crash did not start a fire, he said.

Source link

Montana

Alan Olson: Biden EV mandates not practical for Montana

Published

16 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

ALAN OLSON

Life in Montana takes energy.

Companies and individuals across the state have worked tirelessly over the years to ensure Montanans have the power to go about their lives in the way they want. It is part of what makes Montana the Last Best Place.

However, the Biden-Harris administration’s new EPA mandate threatens that freedom. Under the EPA’s final rule, two-thirds of vehicles sold by U.S. automakers need to be battery-powered or plug-in hybrid by 2032. Fundamentally — Montanans, and the rest of the United States, will eventually be forced to purchase an electric vehicle (EV) for their family car — no matter how expensive it is.

If Montana is to preserve a huge part of its residents’ way of life and prevent the stretching of some communities’ shallow pockets, we need all our policymakers in DC to step up to the plate and oppose this electric vehicle mandate.

As Executive Director of the Montana Petroleum Association, I have seen firsthand how hard our member companies work to provide reliable energy sources to the people of Montana. If the EPA’s mandate takes root, our member companies’ workers will suffer, as oil and gas jobs become fewer and further between.

It will also drastically increase consumer costs as a result of the mandated shifts to expensive and inefficient EV’s, which at this point simply do not support the hauling and long-distance needs of members of the oil and gas industry, or everyday Montana consumers.

Our member companies are actively addressing sustainability and climate issues, recognizing the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and operating with the aim of providing Montanans with critical resources while respecting the importance of our environment — but the bottom line is that Montanans — and Americans — still rely heavily on gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, and shouldn’t be expected to scrimp in other essential areas, like groceries, just to eventually be able to afford an EV.

Kelley Blue Book reports that according to data from Cox Automotive, “the average transaction price for electric cars was $53,469 in July 2023, vs. gas-powered vehicles at $48,334.” The exponentially higher cost of an EV in addition to Montana’s rising cost of living is not insignificant. Car insurance for EVs is also costlier than gas powered vehicles, “on average, insurance for an electric car is $44 per month more expensive.” How can the government implement policies that impact Americans’ job availability and then double down by providing essentially one, expensive option for a cornerstone of their daily lives?

In addition to the financial strain this forced electric transition will have on consumers, it also heightens serious, existing concerns for Montana’s electric grid. Electrification of Montana vehicles will cause an inevitable increase in demand on our state’s limited grid capacity.

I commend Sen. Steve Daines’ and Attorney General Knudsen’s efforts to oppose this mandate, but unfortunately, it may not be enough.

We need Sen. Tester and all of our office holders to stand against this mandate from Washington, D.C. because failing to do so puts Montana consumers, and our energy security, in jeopardy.

Alan Olson is the Executive Director of the Montana Petroleum Association

Source link