Montana
Why is Daines giving away public lands, local revenue and private property protections? • Daily Montanan
I am a landowner in the Bull Mountains north of Billings. My property sits next to Montana’s only underground coal mine, operated by Signal Peak Energy. Like my neighbors, I live here because I love the open space, rugged sandstone cliffs, abundant wildlife, and easy access to public lands. Many of my neighbors raise cattle, and I appreciate the longtime ranching history that is part of our culture.
When coal was first developed in this region, locals were promised that ranching and coal mining could co-exist. That promise has not been kept, harming landowners and leaving mine workers in a vulnerable spot. Most landowners know folks who earn an honest living at the mine. We respect their hard work, and we get along well. Unfortunately, Signal Peak’s wealthy executives and out-of-state owners have a history of criminal activity and irresponsible behavior that has harmed the clean water, wildlife, and working landscapes that ranchers and landowners rely on. Their recklessness also threatens the job security of mine workers who never know what damage could be done by their bosses’ next scandal.
Signal Peak is currently on probation with the U.S. Department of Justice after criminal convictions for environmental and safety violations. The federal investigation into Signal Peak and its associates also led to convictions for bank fraud, cocaine trafficking, firearm violations, tax evasion, and money laundering. Despite these criminal violations, Signal Peak owners are still trying to sidestep federal law that requires a proper analysis of how mining activity will further impact the land and limited water resources that have already suffered damage and degradation from mining.
Sadly, Sen. Steve Daines, who has received well over a million dollars in campaign contributions from extractive industries, is bending over backwards to help Signal Peak owners evade these federal laws. Sen. Daines introduced a complicated bill, S.4444, that would transfer federally-owned Bull Mountain coal and almost 1,000 acres of our public lands to a wealthy family (the Hope Family Trust) in exchange for coal owned by the Hope Family Trust on the Crow Reservation. Daines purports that the Crow Tribe would share revenue from the Bull Mountain coal with the Hope Family when it’s mined, but folks from the Crow community have gone on record opposing the bill. They contend the revenue sharing claims are deeply misleading and say it would be a “grave injustice to allow this bill to pass.”
The motivation is clear.
Daines’ wants to shift our publicly-owned coal into wealthy private hands so that his corporate cronies can evade federal oversight. If our publicly-owned coal is traded away, protections for local land and water are swept aside at the same time. This means landowners like me and my ranching neighbors who have already experienced property damage from mining activity are hung out to dry. And we’re not the only losers in this scheme. Montana taxpayers would also take a seven-figure hit annually.
The Montana Department of Revenue estimates that “the State will lose approximately $1.2 million in revenue per year between 2024 and 2028” due to lost mineral royalties. That means less money for our schools, emergency responders, and roads.
And, the roughly 1,000 acres of public land Daines’ bill gives to a wealthy family includes some of the only access points in the Bulls where Musselshell and Yellowstone County residents hunt turkey, deer, and elk.
This bill is why people are so frustrated with politics. It’s more of the same. Corporations and wealthy private interests get richer while everyday Montanans fall further behind. In this case, we lose public lands, local revenue, and private property protections.
We only ask Signal Peak to follow the law and manage their mining responsibly. We all lose when politicians use backroom deals to shortcut the law.
Tom Baratta is the chairman of the Bull Mountain Land Alliance, a grassroots conservation and family agricultural organization.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 10, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 10 drawing
06-22-28-31, Bonus: 08
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 10 drawing
01-03-20-35-46, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life 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.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
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.
The Socorro Independent School District honored and celebrated its top two educators at the 2026 Teacher of the Year Gala on Friday, May 8 at the El Paso Convention Center.
Cristina Garcia, a fifth-grade teacher at Mission Ridge Elementary School, was recognized as the 2026 SISD Elementary Teacher of the Year. Javier Esparza, an audio and video broadcast teacher at Socorro High School, was named the 2026 SISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.
https://www.ktsm.com/news/socorro-isd-honors-top-2-teachers-at-gala-celebration/
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A proposed high-voltage transmission project in far East El Paso is raising concerns among residents in the Montana Vista area, as developers work to determine a potential route that could impact private property.
The project, known as Pecos West, is being developed by Grid United and would create a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line connecting El Paso to southeastern New Mexico.
According to the company, the goal is to link major parts of the U.S. electric grid, specifically the Western and Eastern interconnections, allowing electricity to move in both directions between regions. Developers say the project could strengthen energy reliability, expand access to power markets, and help prevent outages during extreme weather.
Grid United also describes Pecos West as a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investment that could bring jobs, tax revenue, and long-term economic benefits to communities along the route.
However, for residents in Montana Vista, the immediate concern is not the long-term benefits, but what the project could mean for their land.
At a community meeting Saturday morning, several residents were able to voice their concern, telling KFOX14/CBS4 they feel they have not received enough information about the project’s path or timeline, especially as discussions about a preliminary route continue.
“We haven’t got anything from you,” said Armando Rodriguez, president of the Montana Vista Landowners. “Not one quote.”
Others echoed concerns about communication, calling on the company to directly notify homeowners who may be affected.
“You need to go to these houses, give people information, and say this could affect you,” one resident said.
Grid United says the project is still in the planning and development phase, and no final route has been approved.
The company says construction would only begin after securing regulatory approvals and negotiating land agreements with property owners.
Company representatives also emphasized that landowner participation is voluntary.
“Pecos does not have eminent domain,” said Alexis Marquez, community relations manager for the project. “If a landowner does not want it on their property, we would look at alternate routes.”
Developers say outreach will continue as planning progresses, but residents are asking for more direct communication now, especially those who believe they could be directly impacted.
The project is not expected to be completed anytime soon, with Grid United estimating that Pecos West could become operational in the mid-2030s if approved.
For now, the conversation in Montana Vista reflects a familiar tension seen in large infrastructure project, balancing long-term regional benefits with local concerns about transparency, property, and community impact.
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