Montana

Owner of Montana's largest newspaper settles suit for giving personal information to Facebook

Published

9 months ago

March 24, 2025

Owner of Montana's largest newspaper settles suit for giving personal information to Facebook

BILLINGS – More than 1.5 million subscribers, comprising many Montana residents, could be part of a class-action settlement by the state’s largest newspaper company, Lee Enterprises, for sending personally-identifying information to the parent company of Facebook in order to target content, including advertising.

According to a settlement reached in a federal court in Iowa, where Lee Enterprises is headquartered, the company will pay $9.5 million for releasing personal information to Meta without customers’ consent.

Lee owns five daily newspapers in Montana, including The Billings Gazette and Missoulian, among its 85 daily newspapers across the country.

In addition to the class-action lawsuit settlement, Lee has also reported that it will likely be financially impacted due to a recent cybersecurity ransomware attack, reports the Daily Montanan. Also, a private investor who has recently been critical of the management team after it projected profits, but instead saw a loss of $17 million,says he wants to purchase the company.

Facebook settlement

As part of the court filing, the company says it doesn’t agree with all the conclusions, but is settling the class-action lawsuit, which could reach more than 1.5 million current or past subscribers. According to its most recent 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as of Sept. 29, 2024, Lee reported that had a combined 1.1 million print and digital subscribers.

It also reported that 51% of its revenue comes from digital advertising in February 2025.

The court filings say that Lee voluntarily installed an invisible online tracker from Meta/Facebook that allowed the disclosure of a “Facebook Identification Number” to the social media giant. That, the group of plaintiffs said, violated federal law that guarantees privacy protection. The goal of the software, according to the lawsuit, was to build profiles of the Lee subscribers or content users “with the hope of improving the effectiveness of advertising targeting those users.”

If the deal is approved by the court, former and current subscribers who were affected would be sent a class-action settlement notice and be eligible for a portion of the amount, which will be estimated to be around $5.7 million for the approximately 1.5 million people — or around $3.80 per person. For subscribers or customers with an invalid email address, postcards may be sent.

In court documents, Lee and a group of plaintiffs agreed to settle the dispute, saying that a protracted lawsuit could take years and millions to resolve. Furthermore, Lee maintains that it did nothing wrong, although other companies who used such tracking tools have been found liable for using the same technology that discloses personal information.

Ransomware attack

It is not the only piece of bad financial news for the newspaper company based in Davenport, Iowa. In SEC filings earlier this month, it announced that a ransomware attack on the company that shut down some printing and electronic edition publications, as well as threatened to release sensitive financial information, was likely to have a material impact on the company’s bottom line.

On March 6, Lee confirmed the attack, which began on Feb. 3. Hackers encrypted many of the “critical applications” the company used while “exfiltrating” or taking financial data. Lee said that many of the company’s functions have been restored, but that the business processes of the company have been delayed.

“Additionally, certain back-office functions remain delayed including billing our clients, collections, and payments to vendors. We anticipate the business processes to be fully restored in the coming weeks,” the company said.

Lee confirmed it had cybersecurity insurance, and also that its sole lender, Berkshire-Hathaway Finance, had waived an interest payment as well as lease payments, which the newspaper company said added $3.7 million of additional capital.

As of Friday, many of the Lee publications still had notices on their websites that warned customers of problems, delays or interruptions.

New owner?

Even as courts and cyberattacks were occupying headlines about Lee, on Thursday, the chain of newspapers also reported that a billionaire investor who had recently purchased a chunk of the publicly traded stock had submitted a letter to the company’s board of directors wanting to purchase the company outright.

Hoffmann Companies, which owns a diverse number of companies including dairies, investment properties and manufacturing facilities, says it wants to buy Lee Enterprises. The same company has recently purchased an interest in the Dallas Morning News, as well as purchasing former Lee-owned newspapers in California, including the Napa Register. In a letter to Lee’s board, David Hoffmann said that other hedge-fund investors have not been concerned with the journalism of the company, rather just squeezing profits from the newspapers.

“We believe this commitment represents a sharp contrast to other potential acquirors such as non-local hedge funds and investment firms primarily concerned with increasing profits over jobs, local concerns, and the power of quality journalism,” the letter said. The letter and a news story about the offer was published on Lee newspaper websites on Thursday.

Hoffmann is already Lee’s second-largest shareholder. Lee currently has nearly $450 million in debt, largely from the acquisitions of other newspapers that has more than doubled the company’s reach. In its most recent earnings report, Lee’s profits were down year-over-year, but it did note that digital revenue has now eclipsed print revenue, a sign that the Hoffmann interest letter noted.

After news of the potential deal broke, Lee stock shot up nearly $1 per share and as of Friday, the value of Lee stock hovered around $10.66 a share, a 6% increase in value.

Editor’s note: The reporter of this story was formerly a Lee employee from 2004 to 2020.

Billings Gazette selling downtown building

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Montana

‘No quit’: Montana, dealing with emotions of semifinal loss, goes back to drawing board

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

‘No quit’: Montana, dealing with emotions of semifinal loss, goes back to drawing board

MISSOULA — It was an emotional scene at Bobcat Stadium for the Montana Grizzlies at the conclusion of Saturday’s playoff game as Montana finishes the season 13-2. Those two losses came against the same program as the Grizzlies got on the doorstep of the national championship game, but fell just short.

“I’m just extremely grateful,” UM wide receiver Michael Wortham said after the Grizzlies’ 48-23 semifinal loss to rival Montana State. “Sucks that it’s the last game, but thankful for these guys and the opportunity they gave me. There was never no quit, you know? We battled through a lot of things behind closed doors.

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‘No quit’: Montana, dealing with emotions of semifinal loss, goes back to drawing board

“This team is amazing. I just hope we’re remembered for how hard we worked and how hard we came out there each and every day to play against whoever.”

The Bobcats were too much to overcome for the Griz on Saturday as they beat them twice this season.

Photos: Montana State beats Montana in historic playoff meeting

The rivalry’s heightened importance in the regular and now postseason has risen because of where both programs stand in both the Big Sky Conference and FCS landscape.

“(Montana State has) done a really good job,” UM head coach Bobby Hauck said. “And the bar was set in this conference by us, and there’s been a desperate urgency at this place to catch up, and certainly they have.

“I talk to Leon (Costello), talk to Brent (Vigen), and everybody’s looking at the two of us. And we have good football programs. We have good players. We have good coaches. It’s highly competitive, whether it’s recruiting or on the field.”

That competition culminated into the largest meeting ever between the two.

“Competition’s good. That’s why you do this,” Hauck said. “And it’s highly and wildly competitive. And my impression, the wrong team won today, but that’s 50% of the state, not the other 50.”

Emotions surrounding these programs colliding are always high, and in sports one team has to lose.

This time it was Montana, as their season concludes one game short of where they’d like.

“It’s been the best time of my life,” UM safety TJ Rausch said. “I love these guys. I love my coaches. I’ve had more fun this year than I’ve ever had playing football. And I can’t thank our coaches and my teammates enough for that.”

“I’m proud of our team. I’m proud of my guys. We have quality, class, young men in our program,” Hauck added. “They play football the right way. Our coaches coach them the right way. And I’m as proud to be a head football coach as I’ve ever been today.”

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Miley Cyrus on Marking 20th ‘Hannah Montana’ Anniversary: ‘I Want the Fans to Really Feel Seen’

Published

15 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Miley Cyrus on Marking 20th ‘Hannah Montana’ Anniversary: ‘I Want the Fans to Really Feel Seen’

Miley Cyrus has detailed how she came to write “Dream as One,” her Golden Globe-nominated ballad that appears during the end credits of her Disney “legend-in-law” James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, which opened this weekend. She also hinted at how she plans to mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of her own Disney show’s Hannah Montana.

In a new interview with Variety conducted following the world premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash in Los Angeles, Cyrus shared the story of how her song “Dream as One” ended up in Cameron’s film. She said that while she was backstage last summer at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, the director was ahead of her in line, along with Jamie Lee Curtis and Harrison Ford.

First, Curtis tapped Cyrus for the end credits to The Last Showgirl, which led to the Golden Globe-nominated “Beautiful That Way.” Then, Cyrus — a fan of the Avatar franchise — took a chance for a bucket-list opportunity and asked Cameron about how things were going on Fire and Ice. Turned out, Cameron had already discussed Cyrus with Avatar composer Simon Franglen and the idea of them working together.

Cameron came up with the song’s name, reflecting the film’s finale. Cyrus and collaborators Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt took it from there. “Coming in at the end was actually really helpful, because, when you’ve worked on something for like 20 years, you get so close to it that it’s hard to see it from that outside perspective,” Cyrus said. “I’m just writing it like someone who loves Avatar.”

As for what her plans are for marking the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana in spring 2026, she told the outlet she hopes to bring an element from Avatar into her approach to the occasion as she considers how she might commemorate it.

“Something that they always say in Avatar is ‘I see you’ — and that’s something really important that I want the fans to feel during the ‘Hannah-versary,’” Cyrus said. “Someone called it the ‘Hannah’ anniversary the other day, and I was like ‘No, no, no, it’s the ‘Hannah-versary,’” she said, adding, “I want the fans to really feel seen. They know that I appreciate them, but I also see like their growth. Because I have these moments all the time where people celebrate my evolution, but I see theirs as much as they see mine.”

When asked whether a celebration might involve in-person events or a concert tour, she teased, “TBD. That’s still in the works.” She added, “Everything takes time. I want to make something that’s meaningful, thoughtful, and really satisfying for the fans.”

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Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 20, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 20, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

04-05-28-52-69, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

08-21-30-41-47, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

09-12-34-45-50, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

03-06-12-30, Bonus: 11

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

05-08-19-23-43, Powerball: 06

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

02-21-25-40-41

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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