Atlanta, GA – Manhattan, Montana resident Mark Longie performed the National Anthem December 10, 2023 at the Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.

“This was the gig of a lifetime,” said Western Skies front man Mark Longie. “I’ve been playing at Mountain Sky for twenty-three years and have gotten to know Mr. Blank well.  He was kind enough to submit me for the Anthem, and I found out I was selected this summer. Being able to represent the West and perform at an NFL game was nothing short of a dream come true.”

Longie is the featured performer at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch located in Paradise Valley, Montana with his band Western Skies. He has been a constant fixture at Mountain Sky for over twenty years, where his weekly performances are a favorite of ranch guests including ranch owner, Arthur M. Blank.

Mr. Blank, owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, suggested Longie to the Falcons anthem selection committee for consideration. After submitting a demo to the committee, Longie was chosen to perform at the Dec. 10 game. Blank personally broke the news of his selection to Longie at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in July of this year.

Longie, a long-time Atlanta Falcons fan, made the trip to Atlanta with his family on Friday ahead of his Dec. 10 performance. Current Falcons and former Montana State University player Troy Andersen stopped by to say hello, along with Mr. Blank and Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith.

BOZEMAN — Montana State University President Waded Cruzado announced today that she has awarded the MSU Presidential Medallion for Achievement to a faculty member in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the university, her students and her respective field.

The honored professor is Elizabeth Shanahan, professor in the MSU Department of Political Science in the College of Letters and Science and MSU’s associate vice president for research development.

The award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated scholarship of an international caliber, an exemplary commitment to teaching and mentoring, and leadership in service at MSU, around the state and beyond.

“Montana State University is honored to recognize professor Shanahan for her impressive achievements,” said MSU President Waded Cruzado. “She has made truly extraordinary contributions to her field of study and demonstrates a deep commitment to her students and to this university.”

“I have immense gratitude to be awarded MSU’s Presidential Medallion for Academic Achievement,” Shanahan said. “This recognition reflects the tapestry of people in my life—MSU students and colleagues, my mentors, my family—all who have guided, challenged and supported me on this amazing journey. In tandem, I also feel a great sense of responsibility and inspiration to continue the work embodied by this medallion—to contribute to MSU as an institution, engage with MSU students and bring my expertise to questions commissioned by our U.S. Congress through the National Academy of Public Administration.”

Shanahan, who came to MSU in 2005, is an expert in narrative risk communication and is co-architect of the Narrative Policy Framework, which she has spent her career developing and testing. The framework focuses on policymaking and the power that narrative and stories have to gain public attention, to motivate behavior and to shape policy outcomes. The Narrative Policy Framework is now used internationally, having “made a pretty big splash in the policy world” when it was introduced, Shanahan said.

Earlier this year, Shanahan was named a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA). Founded in 1967, the Academy was chartered by Congress to provide independent, nonpartisan and neutral advice to government leaders and agencies at all levels of government, similar to the National Academy of Sciences. NAPA fellows are chosen by the membership based on their distinguished and continuing achievements in and contributions to public administration and public policy.

Shanahan said that, typically, technical approaches are proposed to deal with risk and hazards. In her work, she brings the social sciences into the mix to understand community perspectives about risks like flooding and works with these communities to develop and adopt risk reduction policies and behaviors.

“People need to see policy as relevant to their lives, and scientific information communicated in narrative form can help,” she said.

She added that she believes her expertise in narrative risk communication is a primary reason she was selected as a NAPA fellow, as it positions her to help governments — especially those in the western U.S. — prepare for and respond to natural hazards like fires and floods, the spread of infectious disease, and cybersecurity threats.

Mere weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., an interdisciplinary MSU research team led by Shanahan published a paper on its research showing that delivering public information about potential hazards through narrative is significantly more effective at engaging people in risk reduction behaviors than science statements alone. During the pandemic, Shanahan led a group of social scientists on COVID-19 vaccine narrative communication, publishing on the use of visual narratives to increase vaccine uptake. During that time, her team made risk communication recommendations to the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Shanahan continues to research effective ways to communicate evidence-based information for a range of disasters (such as natural hazards, cyberattacks) while ensuring that the persuasive power of narrative isn’t misused.

Shanahan has a doctorate in political science and two master’s degrees, all from Idaho State University. She also has a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College.

Shanahan is the fifth recipient of the MSU Presidential Medallion for Achievement and the first social scientist; last year, MSU awarded the medallion to Alexandra Adams, Peter Buerhaus, Joan Broderick and Dana Longcope.

Traveling with your beloved canine companion can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be a bit challenging. Just like humans, dogs can experience anxiety and stress during travel. Whether you're embarking on a road trip or taking a flight, it's essential to ensure that your four-legged friend has a comfortable and stress-free journey. This article will provide you with some valuable tips to make traveling with your furry friend a breeze, and it will explore the use of hemp for dogs products like oils to help reduce travel-related anxiety in dogs.


Choose the Right Mode of Transportation

The first step in planning a stress-free journey with your dog is to select the most suitable mode of transportation. Consider your dog's size, breed, and temperament when making this decision. If you're traveling by car, make sure your dog is safely secured with a seatbelt or in a well-ventilated crate. For air travel, research airlines that are pet-friendly and ensure your dog's carrier meets the airline's requirements.

Plan Ahead and Pack Wisely

Before you hit the road or board a plane, make a checklist of essential items for your dog. This includes food, water, medications, poop bags, a leash, and your dog's favorite toys or comfort items. Also, don't forget to pack a first-aid kit for your pet, just in case.

Visit the Vet Before Travel

Schedule a visit to your veterinarian before embarking on your journey. Ensure that your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and has a clean bill of health for travel. Ask your vet for advice on managing your dog's anxiety during the trip, and inquire about any medications or supplements that may be beneficial.

Introduce Your Dog to the Travel Environment

If your dog is not used to traveling, it's crucial to gradually introduce them to the travel environment. Start with short trips to get your dog accustomed to the car or carrier. Reward them with treats and praise to create positive associations with the experience.

Reduce Anxiety with Hemp-Based Pet Products

One effective way to reduce travel-related anxiety is by using hemp for dogs. These products are derived from hemp plants and contain compounds like CBD (cannabidiol) that can have a calming effect on dogs without causing any psychoactive effects.

CBD oil is a popular hemp-based product known for its potential to reduce anxiety in dogs. It can be administered orally or added to your dog's food. CBD oil interacts with the endocannabinoid system in your dog's body, which plays a role in regulating stress and anxiety. It may help your dog feel more relaxed and comfortable during the journey.

Stay Calm and Relaxed

Dogs are excellent at picking up on their owners' emotions. If you're stressed or anxious, your dog is more likely to feel the same way. Stay calm and relaxed throughout the journey, and your dog will likely follow suit. Keep your voice soothing and offer gentle reassurance to your furry friend.

Take Breaks and Stretch

During a long road trip, it's essential to take regular breaks to let your dog stretch their legs, relieve themselves, and have a drink of water. This not only ensures your dog's physical comfort but also helps reduce stress and restlessness.

Choose Pet-Friendly Accommodations

If you're staying overnight at a hotel or vacation rental, make sure to choose pet-friendly accommodations. Research in advance to find places that welcome dogs and provide amenities like pet beds or designated areas for exercise.

Plan Dog-Friendly Activities

Incorporate dog-friendly activities into your travel itinerary. Research parks, hiking trails, or beaches where you can spend quality time with your dog. Exercise and mental stimulation will help keep your furry friend happy and relaxed.

Bed Prepared for Emergencies

While no one wants to think about emergencies, it's crucial to be prepared. Carry a copy of your dog's medical records and contact information for local veterinarians along your route. Knowing where to go in case of an emergency can provide peace of mind.

Enjoy the Journey Together

Traveling with your furry friend can be an enriching experience for both of you. Embrace the adventure, create lasting memories, and cherish the bond you share with your loyal companion. Remember that with proper planning and the use of hemp-based pet products like oils, you can help ensure a stress-free journey for your beloved dog.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience with a little preparation and the right approach. By choosing the right mode of transportation, planning ahead, and introducing your dog to the travel environment gradually, you can set the stage for a stress-free journey. Additionally, consider the use of hemp-based pet products like CBD oil to help alleviate travel-related anxiety in your furry friend. With these tips in mind, you and your dog can enjoy many adventures together, creating cherished memories along the way.

Each area has different ways to regulate the crypto industry. El Salvador is a pioneer in legalizing virtual currency as legal tender on par with the US dollar. That is, Bitcoin and the dollar have the same payment power. It suggests that cryptocurrency activities are actively supported at the state level, which contributes to the development of firms provided that they have received an El Salvador crypto license.

How does a permit help organizations develop?

Organizations can actively develop their business through the following positive aspects by obtaining permission for crypto activities.

Pioneer experience

Since it is the first state to introduce a legal framework for digital coins as legal tender, this allows firms to be the first participants in the crypto market in this category.

Taxation allows you to have more profit

If a firm engages in crypto activities, then preferential taxation is applied. That is, income from virtual assets will not be taxed. In addition, capital gains that were received from trading digital coins will also not be taxed. Also, companies engaged in issuing securities and registered as providers of virtual assets will be able to take advantage of the same tax benefits:

• no income tax;
• no tax on the transfer of goods and services provided;
• no municipal taxes.

In addition, companies will be relieved of liability for paying these taxes if such an obligation arises.

Providing access to the virtual asset market

The licensing and acceptance of Bitcoin as legal tender provide an attractive environment for the digital asset market. These aspects allow you to attract potential solid partners. With such a permit, the firm can quickly gain access to the digital coin market and offer its services.

Free orientation in legislation

Since licensed firms operate within the framework of transparent legislation, this will make it easy to navigate the cryptocurrency business and develop effectively. With a permit, the firm guarantees that all legal requirements will be met, including AML and KYC policies. Such compliance will significantly increase the trust of potential partners.

Attracting international partners

Since El Salvador has decided to legalize digital coins and create a regulatory framework, this will attract companies from around the world looking to expand their business. With permission for cryptocurrency activities, firms can enter the asset market and acquire strong business partners.

Government support

Since the authorities have decided to legalize digital coins, they will be interested in developing and promoting the cryptocurrency business. Firms will be able to apply government initiatives to develop this area. Also, the use of blockchain technology is of great importance, which will ensure the reliability and confidentiality of transactions. Government support can lead to joint partnerships on research solutions that will enable more efficient financial activities.

All these aspects will have a very favorable effect on financial activities, helping to attract international partners and increase capital.

Tax policy

If a company is registered with the Registry as a virtual asset provider, it will be able to take advantage of many tax benefits:

• the absence of all types of duties, taxes, and fees, including the assessment of the nominal value and profitability of virtual coins;
• there will be no tax on capital gains and ordinary income that was received in the process of trading or transferring virtual assets;
• there is no tax on the transfer of goods and services and other tax obligations of the asset provider.

In addition, organizations included in the Register will be exempt from taxation liability in cases where this can be applied. Such tax benefits will allow your business to develop effectively and profit more than other jurisdictions.

Conclusion

El Salvador is among the most promising and favorable jurisdictions for obtaining permits. Strong government support and attractive taxation will contribute to active business expansion. Innovative infrastructure and distributed registry technology will allow you to conduct business safely, ensuring the high trust of partners and clients.

WISDOM – Several organizations have offered to contribute additional funding to raise the cash reward for information on a wolverine killed illegally northwest of Wisdom in November.

Donating organizations include the Animal Defense Fund, Trap Free Montana, Skyline Sportsmen in Butte, the Center for Biological Diversity, and FWP’s TIP-MONT program. The combined reward offered from these organizations is $21,500.

Game wardens received a report on Nov. 10 of a wolverine carcass found on U.S. Forest Service Road 7377 near Schultz Saddle and the Continental Divide, northwest of Wisdom. A game warden located the carcass and confirmed the animal had been shot, skinned and abandoned.

Wolverine harvest is not legal currently in Montana.

Anyone with possible information about the illegal harvest is encouraged to visit https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/tipmont to provide details or call the FWP violation reporting hot line at 1-800-TIP-MONT.

BELGRADE – As the holiday season kicks off, the Belgrade Police Department and the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) are encouraging Montanans to plan for a sober ride home before celebrating. Historically, the period between December 15 and January 1 has a high concentration of impaired driving crashes and crash fatalities. Under the Vision Zero goal, Gallatin County law enforcement, MHP and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) are committed to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Montana’s roadways during the busy holiday season. Law enforcement partners across the state will be increasing patrols through the winter holidays and making Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests as part of the effort to help Montanans get home safely.

Montana law states that if drivers have a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or higher, they could be arrested and face a DUI charge and other serious consequences, including having their driver’s license revoked, being required to take mandatory classes, and receiving possible jail time and up to $10,000 in fines and legal fees.

“If you’re drinking during the holiday season, make a plan for a safe ride home,” said Dustin Lensing, Chief of Police, Belgrade Police Department. “Winter driving conditions are dangerous enough, and adding alcohol to the mix puts everyone in danger. For yourself, your family and your community, make a plan for a sober ride before you start celebrating. Whether it’s designating a sober driver or arranging to stay at a friend or family member’s home if you’re drinking, having that plan ensures our community stays safe.”

Why is Montana law enforcement on high alert during the holiday season? These are Montana’s sobering statistics:
● Montana has one of the highest fatality rates in the nation for the number of deaths caused by alcohol-impaired drivers per vehicle mile traveled.
● In the last three years, over 60% of Montana’s crash fatalities have involved an impaired driver.

“Please celebrate responsibly this holiday season. Have fun, but don’t drive impaired,” said Montana Highway Patrol Colonel Steve Lavin. “We’ll be increasing patrols throughout the holidays to make sure Montanans get home safely so they can spend time with their friends and family. Do your part and plan ahead or call for a sober ride home if you’ve been drinking. Together we can keep our community safe.”

Montana Department of Transportation — Vision Zero
This is a Vision Zero message from the Montana Department of Transportation. This and other enforcement and educational campaigns are strategies to reach Vision Zero — zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. For more information about Vision Zero, contact Tammy Ross, Montana Department of Transportation, 406-444-9192 or tross@mt.gov.

Montana State University physics professor Rachael Filwett is pictured with a solar image Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Bozeman, Montana. MSU photo by Kelly Gorham

BOZEMAN – A Montana State University physicist who studies space weather and solar winds has received a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation to further her research and establish a hands-on educational program for high school students and teachers across the state.

“The NSF has been a huge supporter of my career,” said Rachael Filwett, the newest member of MSU’s Solar Physics Group, who was hired as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics in January. That position, which she accepted upon completing her NSF-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Iowa, receives funding from an NSF Faculty Development in Space Sciences grant.

But it’s the CAREER Award, designed to support early career development of teacher-researchers, that is considered to be the NSF’s most prestigious. Yves Idzerda, dean of MSU’s College of Letters and Science, said the award recognizes the expertise Filwett brings to the Solar Physics Group, which he called “one of the best space science groups in the country.”

“A number of our graduates are in leadership positions at NASA, which means we have a really strong set of influencers in policy aspects of space sciences,” Idzerda said. “Rachael has won a CAREER award, which is a trajectory you’d expect to see for somebody who’s setting policy for funding agencies.”

With the nearly $700,000, five-year grant, Filwett, a postdoctoral research scholar and two students – one graduate and one undergraduate – will embark on a study designed to further understanding of “space weather” in areas of the heliosphere known as “stream interaction regions.”

Space weather is caused by interactions of the space environment with streams of electrically charged particles, called plasma, released by the sun. Those streams — which some people may know as the “solar winds” — travel at different speeds along the sun’s magnetic field lines and collide in stream interaction regions, or SIRs. There they may experience forces that compress them together and can create shock waves. The shock waves, in turn, can cause the plasma particles to accelerate, thereby strengthening their potentially disruptive geomagnetic effects on objects they encounter further from the sun.

For example, when solar particles collide with Earth’s atmosphere, the energy often manifests as glowing auroras around the poles, commonly called the Northern Lights in this hemisphere. But more intense collisions also can cause geomagnetic disruptions that could result in massive, and potentially devastating, communication and electrical power disruptions. As part of the grant, Filwett will create two outreach projects designed to raise awareness of those realities.

“I want to make more people aware of heliophysics and that space weather is a thing they should care about,” she said.

Filwett studies all those phenomena both in the interplanetary medium — the space between the planets — and in planets’ magnetic fields. The acceleration of particles in SIRs was the focus of her doctoral dissertation, and her research under the CAREER grant will expand on it. As part of the project, Filwett and her students will compare records of solar activity against particle data collected during NASA solar and planetary missions.

She also will develop the curriculum for a new MSU course for non-science majors called “The Sun and Society,” which will cover the fundamental science about space weather and the sun’s workings and examine ways the sun has been viewed by humans through the ages. Filwett said that among other topics, the course could cover the beliefs of early civilizations and local Indigenous cultures about the sun; space weather’s role as humans travel more often in space; and the links between the solar cycle and crop production and prices.

The second project is the establishment of a statewide Space Weather Underground program in Montana high schools. Patterned after similar programs at the University of New Hampshire and University of Alaska Fairbanks, the program will offer free training to high school educators interested in teaching their students about sun and space weather.

Space Weather Underground will provide magnetometer kits to participating Montana schools, whose students will build the instruments and use them to measure magnetic fields on the ground and learn to analyze the resulting data. Filwett added that the information collected will benefit scientists at MSU because there currently isn’t a lot of that sort of data available in Montana.

“We’re looking to reach a wide range of schools over a wide geographic range. This will be a way to get good data,” she said.

John Neumeier, head of MSU’s Department of Physics, said the outreach program will be “a fabulous way to engage high school teachers and their students in a meaningful way.”

Idzerda predicted that Filwett’s expertise and enthusiasm will attract more students of all ages to the field of space sciences, including members of underrepresented groups.

“She has a passion for the field,” Idzerda said. “Students feed off that when they see that in a faculty member, so that’s exciting to see.”

Foundation expands work in Montana through new giving areas

ATLANTA and LIVINGSTON, MONTANA – Dec. 7, 2023 – In 2023, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation granted more than $6.5 million to nonprofits serving communities across Montana. The Blank Family Foundation has supported nonprofits in Montana since 2001, when the foundation’s chairman Arthur Blank purchased Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Emigrant.

The foundation has recently adopted new giving areas, the majority of which will find expression in Montana, growing its impact statewide. In 2023, the foundation granted more than $2.9 million to nonprofits in support of these areas.

• More than $1.7 million to support Youth Development, connecting young people in Montana to economic mobility, including a recently approved $919,000 grant to Montana State University to develop and pilot a new one-year Hospitality Management Certificate program
• $706,000 from the foundation’s Environment portfolio, $331,000 of which supports conservation efforts and $375,000 to support the deployment of clean energy
• $500,000 to support Mental Health and Well-Being through a grant to the Montana Community Foundation for Funders for Thriving Communities, a Montana funder collaborative that aims to catalyze collective action through philanthropy for greater impact on mental well-being in Montana with a focus on youth and families as well as Indigenous populations

“We are pleased to expand our giving in Montana to include these new areas of focus,” said Fay Twersky, president, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “We will continue to invest locally in Park and Gallatin Counties while also looking for opportunities to have state-wide or regional impact across the Intermountain West. We look forward to working with nonprofit partners and other funders to make a positive difference in the lives of Montana residents.”

The foundation granted $2.7 million from its Founder Initiatives portfolio, which is aligned with the interests of Arthur Blank, including a $1.4 million grant to the Montana Historical Society for the new Montana Heritage Center, a world-class destination and community hub that will connect thousands of people annually to Montana's rich history, and $750,000 to Mountain Shadow Association, a Native American-led nonprofit, to build the Crow Reservation’s first dedicated healing center for families healing from substance abuse.

$875,000 of the grants are from the AMB West Community Fund, comprised of a group of associates from across Blank’s four ranches in Montana who collectively recommend grants intended to enhance the quality of life for residents of Montana, particularly in Park and Gallatin Counties and Indigenous communities across the state. Grants this year address community well-being, nurturing childhood and thriving youth. A full list of 2023 AMB West Community Fund grants can be found on the foundation’s website: https://ambff.org/2023AMBWest.

The foundation also supported the efforts of the Atlanta Falcons to grow flag football in Montana, including providing grants to five local high schools to create girls flag football programs. For the last two years, the Blank Family Foundation and the Atlanta Falcons have supported girls flag pilot programs, with the goal of girls flag football becoming a sanctioned high school sport in Montana.

About the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation 

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is a philanthropy founded to help transform lives and communities by uniting people across differences to find common cause. Started in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, the foundation has granted more than $1 billion to charitable causes. Our collective giving areas are Atlanta’s Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Youth Development. Across these areas, we take on tough challenges by uniting the courage and compassion of our communities so we can all thrive together.

In addition to the priority areas of giving, the foundation oversees a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. The foundation will also continue to guide the six associate-led giving committees operating across the Blank Family of Businesses. 

For more information, please visit www.blankfoundation.org. 

Gallatin County is in the early stages of identifying improvement options for three critical intersections on County roads between Belgrade and Bozeman. The purpose of this project is to identify potential improvement options for each intersection, conduct a detailed analysis of all options, and identify the best solution for each intersection. The analysis will consider multimodal traffic needs, safety concerns, environmental impacts, cost, feasibility, and input from landowners, stakeholders, and the public. Once a preferred alternative has been identified for each intersection, the County intends to move forward with design and construction as funding becomes available. The project intersections include the following.

• Alaska Road South / Cameron Bridge Road
• Alaska Road South / East Valley Center Road
• Love Lane / Durston Road

The county is hosting a public open house to provide information to interested parties about identified areas of concern, present preliminary findings, and gather feedback on potential improvements. The open house will be hosted in-person over a two-hour period, and the public is invited to drop in at their convenience to see what is planned and talk with the project team.

WHAT: Public Open House

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 14 from 4-6 PM

WHERE: Gallatin County Courthouse (311 W. Main St. in downtown Bozeman), Community Room

​In addition to the open house, the county will also host a live virtual public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 14 over the lunch hour. The meeting will start with a brief presentation covering initial findings and an overview of potential improvement options. An opportunity for public comment will be offered at the end. The virtual meeting will be recorded and posted to the project website for those who are unable to attend live.

WHAT: Virtual Public Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 14 from 12-1 PM

TO REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3R05cDJ

Pre-registration is required to attend. 

Community input is a very important part of the process. The public is encouraged to participate in the open house and/or attend the virtual public meeting to share their concerns, thoughts, and ideas with the project team. This project is intended to be a collaborative effort between the county, landowners, stakeholders, and the public. As such, all input gathered from these events will be considered by the project team as the project advances.

Comments can be submitted at any time to the project manager, Scott Randall, via email at srandall@rpa-hln.com, by phone at 406-447-5005, or by mail at 3147 Saddle Drive, Helena, MT 59601.

For more information about the project, visit https://rpa-hln.com/gallatin-intersections/.