BOZEMAN – Aurora, a leader in self-driving vehicle technology, announced today that it will build a 78,000-square-foot facility in Bozeman at the Montana State University Innovation Campus.

The modern, two-story facility will include research and development laboratories, a world-class manufacturing space and clean room facility, and more. In collaboration with MSU, Aurora also plans to open a new, state-of-the-art lidar test range.

Lidar is short for light detection and ranging, a sensing method that sends pulses of laser light to determine the presence, shape and distance of objects, often in great detail.

In a press announcement, the company said the facility is part of its continuing investment in prototyping and testing purpose-built lidar technology.

“Through our new facility, we are deepening our commitment to the region’s rich history and leadership in photonics,” the company said. “We are also excited to create opportunities for the next generation of photonics experts interested in cutting-edge autonomy applications. Our new facility will be located on Montana State University’s Innovation Campus, building upon and strengthening our relationship with the school that has produced industry-leading photonics engineers and innovations for more than 30 years.”

“Aurora’s decision to open one of its major facilities on the Innovation Campus is a testament to the value Montana State University brings to the table as the state’s largest research enterprise," said Jason Carter, vice president of research, economic development and graduate education at MSU. "We have decades of experience in optics and photonics, and most importantly, we have graduates who are eager to work in cutting-edge industries like self-driving.”

With more than 50 years of combined experience, MSU’s Optical Technology Center, or OpTeC, and its Spectrum Lab have been a national leaders in lidar and other laser optics research and have helped foster one of the nation’s highest concentrations of laser-optics companies in Bozeman.

Founded in 2017, Aurora has offices in seven cities, including Bozeman. In 2019, it purchased Bozeman-based Blackmore, a company known for its work on frequency modulated continuous wave lidar. Several of Blackmore’s founders conducted research at MSU before establishing the company. A year later, Aurora unveiled its FirstLight lidar technology, which improves long-distance sensing and highway driving capabilities for Aurora Driver, the company’s suite of sensors and computers for self-driving vehicles.

“With our business-friendly environment, unmatched quality of life, and hardworking and talented workforce, Montana is emerging as a national hub for innovators like Aurora,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said. “We’re thrilled by Aurora’s investment in Montana through its new state-of-the-art facility and look forward to the opportunities their investment will bring hardworking Montanans.”

“Great news to have Aurora expanding here in Bozeman and creating new jobs for hardworking Montanans,” said U.S. Sen. Steve Daines. “Bozeman is a hot bed for visionary innovation and next-generation technology. I appreciate Aurora’s enduring commitment to invest in our great state and people.”

“The city of Bozeman’s long time support of the photonics sector and our partners at Montana State University, Gallatin College, and the Montana Photonics Industry Alliance attract innovative companies to Gallatin Valley and grow Montana’s economy,” said Brit Fontenot, city of Bozeman economic development director. “Aurora’s expansion in Bozeman will strengthen the industry in the region and will create meaningful career opportunities for over 800 employees who work in the photonics industry. We look forward to partnering with Aurora as they build the future of autonomous vehicles right here in Bozeman.”

Montana State University’s Innovation Campus is being developed by Charter Realty & Development as the master developer of the 42-acre project in partnership with the Montana State University Alumni Foundation and its subsidiary, the MSU Innovation Campus. Once complete, the campus will house more than half a million square feet of technology and office space.

Road trips are a lot of fun and they are a great way to get to know the place you’re visiting. When you’re driving on your own, you get a chance to explore the country without having to worry about itineraries and schedules.

It also allows the driver to go off the familiar path and experience the country as the locals do. If you want to have such a trip, you should take the time to prepare and anticipate the problems that you may need to deal with, while abroad. That way you can relax and enjoy your visit.

Prepare The Car

Before going on the road in the first place, you should prepare the car. That way you know that things won’t go wrong while you’re in the middle of nowhere and in a country you’re not familiar with. It’s best to start with tires, fluid levels, and breaks since they tend to wear out as they are used.

A car battery, lights, and other tech features should also be examined before going on a trip. It’s useful to make sure your emergency kit is ready and stocked and that you know how to use all the items contained in it. It takes about a week to do all this so make sure you start ahead of time.

A Permit for Driving Abroad

In order to drive abroad, you’re going to need an international driving permit issued by IDA (International Drivers Association). It’s a document allowing you to rent a vehicle and drive it for a year when in a foreign country. The permit is only valid if you have a national license with you as well, and it too needs to be valid.

A driver also needs to have an ID document on their person the whole time. Driving permits aren’t considered to be such documents and you’re going to need a photo ID such as a passport with you. None of this paperwork covers car insurance, which is another document you’re going to need to provide if stopped while abroad.

Set Up a Budget

It’s important to set up a budget to cover the cost of the trip itself. This doesn’t include the cost of the activities you plan for the visit, which is a separate item. The budget should cover renting the car, getting an insurance policy for it, and gas expenses.

It’s also useful to take into account other, smaller expenses that are also essential for driving in a foreign country. This can include the cost of snacks and water to get you covered if you’re away from a major city, as well as toll charges if any apply.

Time Your Drive Well

Having your own car means you can time your drive as you want to. It’s best to avoid driving at night if you’re not familiar with the area and if you’re not well-rested. An average drive shouldn’t take longer than 2 hours, after which you should take a 20-minute rest.

Try not to drive more than 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on how experienced you are at the wheel and where you’re going. These may seem like a lot of restrictions to put on yourself when you control the itinerary but they are mostly about safety.

Snacks and Refreshments

Make sure you’ve prepared snacks and refreshments before the trip. Use the stops and breaks to restock on these and try to have at least one meal for every person in the car, at all times. Some drivers overlook these since they plan to while making stops and taking a break from driving.
Still, it’s a good backup to have in case something goes wrong and you get stuck far away from a city. There are no rules – pack and eat what you love, just make sure you always have water.

A Playlist

Long drives can be somewhat boring. This isn’t a problem on its own, but it can also affect how focused you are on the road and therefore how safe you are. It’s therefore useful to have a playlist for the ride to keep you occupied and maintain your energy levels. Singalongs are also a good way to keep the kids engaged during the drive.

The playlist can also include podcasts, just keep in mind that listening to conversations can be more distracting than listening to music. If you’re a new driver this may be overwhelming, especially if you’re driving through a big city with a lot of traffic.

DILLON – An Idaho man was sentenced Tuesday in Beaverhead County District Court following a long-term investigation into a case involving the trafficking and commercialization of wildlife parts in Montana.

Yan Fong of Pocatello was sentenced to 10 years with the Montana Department of Corrections with all but 100 days suspended and was ordered to pay a fine of $25,000, as well as court fees. He also lost his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges in Montana and 46 other states for six years.

In 2017 and 2018, Fong unlawfully purchased 11 black bear gall bladders, four black bears, 24 black bear paws, three mountain lions, two mule deer, one elk and seven bobcats in Montana and transported them back to Idaho.

Fong was charged with one felony count of unlawful sale of a game fish, bird, game animal or furbearing animal; and one felony count of unlawful possession, shipment or transport of a game fish, bird, game animal or furbearing animal.

Fong is also facing pending charges for similar conduct in California and Idaho.

Montana game wardens rely on tips from people who observe crimes against wildlife. Anyone with possible information about these crimes is encouraged to visit go.usa.gov/xJTzB to provide details or call the FWP violation reporting hot line at 1-800-TIP-MONT. Callers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

If you're looking to make a major purchase without the high-interest rate, it's time for a credit score boost. A good credit score opens the door to low-interest lending, better auto loans, and more. A quick way to get this boost is with a credit card. Credit cards improve your credit score in a multitude of ways. Read on to find out how.  

Credit Cards Help You Establish Credit History 

All three credit bureaus gather information about your spending habits and creditworthiness to establish a credit score. A credit card offers you the ability to establish this history. When you pay on time, you're rewarded with an increase in points on your credit score. When you don't pay on time, you lose points. No one knows the exact formula credit bureaus use to calculate a score. What is known is that the following items are considered in creating that score:

• Payment history
• Utilization
• The ratio of payment history to the number of open accounts
• Used credit vs. available credit
• Type of credit usedHard inquiries (Anytime you apply for a credit card using your full social security number, that company requests information from the credit bureaus to verify your application and check your score – this is a hard inquiry.)

Low Credit Utilization is Rewarded with Credit Score Increases 

The fastest way to establish a good credit score is to show good utilization. Credit utilization is the amount of credit used from your credit limit. There are two utilization factors on your credit report, and both factor into your score. One is the ratio of overall credit spent from your total available credit limit. 

The second is the utilization ratio of the credit spent from one single credit card.

Spending too much of your credit (more than 30%) displays risky spending behavior. Banks and finance companies consider this information when deciding to lend to you. It also affects how much they'll lend. Consistently low credit utilization is rewarded with frequent score increases. The opposite is true for consistently high credit utilization. 

Inheriting Good Credit Provides a Score Boost

Yes. You CAN inherit a good credit score. Major credit card companies and some store cards offer an Authorized User option to their clients. This allows them to add an individual to their account. If someone adds you as an Authorized User, you will receive your own separate credit card with either the same credit limit or an adjusted one. 

So how does this increase your credit score?

You inherit the account holder's payment history, credit age, and credit limit. Someone with a $10,000 credit limit and a stellar payment history over ten years can add significant points to your score. However, a person with poor payment history or a young account could cause your score to sink. The key is ensuring the person adding you hasn't missed a single payment. 

By now, you may be wondering if an account holder can add you to more than one account? The answer is yes. Not only can you be added to more than one account, but you could also be added to more than one person's account as an Authorized User. This is a great way to establish a credit history if your score is too low to qualify for a starter credit card. 

On-Time Payments Boost Your Credit Score

One major factor in boosting your credit score is paying your credit card on time – but there is a caveat. If you pay your card to a $0 balance before your credit card company creates your monthly statement, it will report zero utilization to each of the three major credit bureaus. This results in a stale score (aka one that doesn't move much). 

The key is to keep your utilization above zero but under 10% and pay this amount once your statement arrives. 

Note: Although 1% to 10% is the best credit card utilization ratio, anything under 30% is ideal. 

Good Payment History Yields More Card Offers

According to Experian, adding an additional credit card can boost your score by reducing your utilization. However, they warn that you may notice an immediate decrease in your score after applying for a card. The older your credit history is, the better your score. When you apply for a new card, it reduces the age of your credit overall. Therefore, the score slightly decreases when you apply for the new card. But not to worry, this decrease is temporary and will rebound with good payment history and consistently low utilization.  

Credit Cards Build Business Credit Too

Some major lenders offer credit cards for business owners. These cards have much higher credit limits than personal credit cards. If your business is new or lacks revolving accounts, a business credit card is just what you need to help establish history. However, this process could take a few months. If you're in a pinch and you have a stack of unpaid invoices, invoice factoring from a factoring company could help.  

An invoice factoring company purchases your business's invoices – allowing you to make emergency purchases or payments without waiting for your customers to pay up. In some cases, waiting could affect your ability to pay back personal and business credit cards, ultimately tanking both scores. If your business is struggling financially, look into invoice factoring as a solution to keep your credit card payments on track.

Conclusion

As you can see, credit cards – when used responsibly – boost your credit score from many different angles. As long as you maintain a low balance, pay on time, and maintain an increasing age, you'll enjoy the benefits of a low-interest lifestyle. The critical thing to remember here is that late payments tank your score, so ensure all payments are received on time.

If you own a business, this could prove difficult – especially if your customers' invoices are outstanding. Invoice factoring from a reputable factoring company is always an option to avoid late credit card payments.  

What credit score are you aiming for? Would you use a credit card to build your credit score? Leave your comments below — we would love to see what you think.

Kei Braun, an 8th-grade student at Chief Joseph Middle School, Bozeman, Montana, has recently been selected to perform with the National Middle School Honor Band at Carnegie Hall, New York, on June 18, 2022.

Braun will play the alto saxophone during this prestigious 5-day program culminating with the Carnegie Hall performance and states, “It is an incredible opportunity to play on such a world-renowned stage. I am humbled by my teacher’s support and my friends and family assisting me.”

The Carnegie Hall concert on June 18, 2022, includes students from 39 states and Canada. Braun was selected through a rigorous process of teacher recommendation, written essays, and performing audition and is the only student chosen from Bozeman, and as far as is known the only student from Montana.

Mrs. Michel Sticka, Band Director at Chief Joseph Middle School, commented: "I could not be more proud of Kei's accomplishments. He is such a tremendous musician and has worked so hard to receive this opportunity. Kei will be a strong and positive representative of our Band program, our school district, and the entire state of Montana."

Braun’s family has been holding a variety of fundraising activities to help pay for the estimated $5,000 cost to participate including family support, a GoFundMe campaign “Help Kei to Carnegie Hall”, a Bozeman Friends of Music scholarship, a National Honor Band scholarship, and holding a hand-made fudge fundraiser.

College is a good springboard for your future career as you can gain fundamental knowledge and motivation for further action. In addition, the educational process will help you adapt to new challenges and become stronger. But you should choose a good major to interest most employers. For some young people, such a mission will become quite difficult. But don't worry: here are ten relevant college majors that will be important for decades to come.

1. Computer Science

And here is one of the most popular majors, which involves learning programming languages, administering information systems, and databases, and creating digital products. You have to explore the world of digital technology and become part of innovation. But get ready for the fact that your path will be long and thorny. You may even need academic assistance to handle some of the assignments. Luckily, you can always find a writing service and delegate tricky papers. But first, read at least one essaypro.com review to know more about such companies.

2. Information Technology

Get ready to learn information that will help you manage digital products, create new information services, administer web portals, and create media strategies. You won't have to spend much time looking for your first job with such a major. Moreover, employers will certainly offer you a job if you are a talented student.

3. Cybersecurity

The number of websites, information portals, shops, and blogs grows every year. Many companies develop multi-level web solutions to attract new users. But the problem is that hackers regularly try to steal data or damage the network infrastructure of many digital projects. As a cybersecurity specialist, you have to look for backdoors, analyze vulnerabilities and develop web protection packages for websites and databases. Such work will bring you confidence in the future and a good annual income.

4. Nursing

At least until humanity finds a way to implant consciousness into microchips, people need nurses. That is why such a major will allow you to build a successful career caring for people in the hospital. By the way, many American and British nurses earn the same as internists or even surgeons (depending on the state). Surely you will be happy with the prospect of starting a career and not worry about finding a job.

5. Pharmacology

Have you ever thought about becoming part of the pharmaceutical industry? For example, you can participate in the search for new drugs or create antidotes. Pharmacology will be important to humanity for centuries, given the mutation rate of many modern viruses. In addition, you can count on a good annual income, especially if you work in America or Europe.

6. Construction Management

Have you ever dreamed of designing buildings or directing the construction process? Perhaps the Construction Management major is what you need. Get ready to lead a team of designers and build houses that will become a national treasure! But first, you have to go through a long and difficult educational process. You may even need to seek outside help if you can't handle the tricky papers. Luckily, you can always count on writing services like proessays.net. Such companies will help you not to stumble on the way to your dream.

7. Human Resources

The basis of any company is always professional employees. Unfortunately, the search for talented people takes a lot of time. As an HR expert, you will be able to help corporations find young blood and those who are ready to change any industry. Typically, HR professionals can resolve company conflicts and find compromises to improve the microclimate. Such skills will allow you to make good money for decades!

8. Biomedical Engineering

The field of biomedicine is very promising as humanity strives for augmentation and an increase in life expectancy. As a future expert, you will be able to work in bio labs, explore new technologies and implement innovative solutions to overcome any problems of humankind. Bioengineering will be a hot topic in the next century, so you have time to choose this major!

9. Chemical Engineering

Get ready to participate in developing innovative cyber fibers, creating chemical substances for industrial enterprises, and new approaches to the synthesis of resources. This major is critical for any country, so that you will be extremely in demand right after graduation. So you should choose Chemical Engineering, especially if you love chemistry and experiments.

10. Business

As long as the society maintains commodity-money relations, the Business major will be relevant worldwide. Imagine that you learn the skills of negotiating, managing companies, and promotional campaigns. As a future business expert, you will be able to organize a startup or manage a business to maximize profits.

Final Words

All ten of the majors described above are promising and beneficial for young people. But you should concentrate on your skills, dispositions, and interests. Think about what area interests you the most. Sometimes the level of annual income is a secondary factor. In any case, all of the above options will be relevant for many decades.

BOZEMAN — Montana State University’s College of Agriculture is seeking nominations for the Outstanding Agricultural Leader award, which will be presented during the annual Celebrate Agriculture Weekend Oct. 21-22 at MSU.

The award recognizes individuals, families or businesses that have gone above and beyond for the Montana agricultural industry in the realms of public service, advocacy, production or business. Awardees will be honored during the Celebrate Ag breakfast event Oct. 22 ahead of the Bobcat home football game against Weber State.

“Celebrate Ag is a special time for our college and our Montana community. We are excited to welcome our stakeholders, supporters and alumni to campus and honor a new recipient of the Outstanding Agricultural Leader award,” said MSU Vice President of Agriculture and College of Agriculture Dean Sreekala Bajwa.

Last year’s award recipient was Dave Kelsey of Molt, who has operated his dryland farm for more than 40 years, growing small grains and raising cattle. An MSU graduate, he has served as an agriculture teacher and spent decades promoting agricultural education at all levels, while volunteering in his community and lobbying for agricultural issues in Helena and Washington, D.C.

To be considered for the award, nominees must be well respected in their agricultural community with accomplishments that have wide impact; be an industry leader or an upcoming active innovative producer; and be actively involved in the agriculture industry.

Active MSU or government employees are only eligible for the award’s “Friend of the COA/MAES” category. Retired university or government employees will be considered if they have been retired for at least two years and have shown service above and beyond their job description. Nominees who are not selected can be renominated in future years.

The deadline for nominations is Aug. 30 and supporting letters of recommendation are highly encouraged. An online nomination form is at ag.montana.edu/celebrateag/aggie_nomination, and paper copies can be requested by calling the College of Agriculture dean’s office at 406-994-3681. 

Celebrate Agriculture Weekend is an annual event to honor Montana’s agricultural legacy and current and future agricultural leaders, producers and students. Further details for the event will be posted to the Celebrate Agriculture website this summer.

HELENA – Landowners have until June 1 to apply for elk hunting access (EHA) agreements. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ EHA agreements provide landowners with an elk license, permit or combination thereof in exchange for allowing free public elk hunting access. These permits and licenses are valid only on the landowner’s property. 

EHA agreements were codified in Montana statute in 2001. The agreements were known as “454 agreements” reflecting the bill number of the original legislation. The statute was amended several times in the past 20 years, including during the 2021 session.

In general, EHA agreements allow landowners to receive an elk permit or license in exchange for allowing three public hunters on their property. One of the hunters is selected by the landowner from the list of successful permit or Elk B License applicants for the hunting district where the property is located. The other two hunters are selected by FWP from the same lists depending on the opportunities outlined in the agreement.

Application and details on how to apply are located online at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/landownerprograms/public-elk-access-agreements.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will approve 2022 EHA agreements at their June 23 meeting. The applications proposed for approval will be posted online two weeks prior to the meeting and the commission will take public comments on the applications at its meeting.

Applications must be complete to be considered. For questions, call your local FWP office or contact the FWP Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, 406-444-3750, LndSportRelations@mt.gov.

BOZEMAN – The Museum of the Rockies will open its new exhibition, “Apsáalooke Women and Warriors,” on Saturday, May 28, with multiple celebratory events. 

The exhibit, which comes to Bozeman from Chicago’s Field Museum, explores the history, values and beliefs of this Native American community known for its horsemanship, artistic pursuits, matriarchal ways of life and its honoring of the tradition of “counting coup” – performing acts of bravery. This special exhibition highlights the art and culture of the Apsáalooke people, also known as the Crow, who are based in south-central Montana.  

Special gallery presentations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. will explore Crow culture in the Museum of the Rockies’ exhibition halls. At 11 a.m., a panel will discuss “Intellectual Traditions: Crow Conversations in Land, Culture and Art” in the Hager Auditorium. Both events are included with admission to the museum. 

At 1:30 p.m., the public is invited to the Apsáalooke Social and Push Dance at the Montana State University Track and Field Complex, located south of Bobcat Stadium. This event is free and open to the public.  

Curated by Nina Sanders and jointly organized with members of the Apsáalooke community, the Field Museum and the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society at the University of Chicago, the exhibition will feature numerous Apsáalooke war shields, horse regalia, a 9-foot-tall modern tipi reproduction, and more than 20 works of contemporary art including paintings, photographs, beadwork, and fashion.   

The exhibition will be at the Museum of the Rockies from May 28 through Dec. 31. Museum members can access the exhibition early at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 27. Admission is free for members and children under age 5. Ticket prices range from $10.50 to $16.50 for youth, adults, and seniors.  

To learn more about the event and related programming, visit museumoftherockies.org/aww.