Is This Deal Finally Good News for Montana TikTok Creators?

There are still a lot of details to be revealed, but Montanans who depend on TikTok for at least part of their income might be cautiously optimistic today, after the Trump Administration announced a tentative deal has been reached for an American group to buy the Chinese company.

President Trump signed an executive order yesterday that would transform control at a transaction valued at $14-billion. Although outside of investors, Larry Ellison of Oracle, and media billionaire Rupert Murdoch (who has a ranch in Southwest Montana), the specifics weren't detailed. Current owner ByteDance would still keep a "less than" 20% stake.

Montana was the first state to bring suit over TikTok privacy concerns with a case filed nearly 3 years ago by AG Austin Knudsen, although that case stalled. It did bring great concern, and online protests from local TikTok creators, who complained an outright ban, which was finally ordered by Congress last year, would be devastating to livelihoods.

LOOKING BACK: When Montana Attacked TikTok

Tourism traffic down, but spending up

A new report from the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana shows that visitor spending continues to be a major segment for the Montana economy, even with a slight downturn from the post-pandemic boom.

The report, which reviewed spending trends in 2023 and 2024, shows tourism accounted for almost $5.3 billion over those two years. That's off about 9% from the spike that happened after COVID in 2022 and '23. But the report also shows the continued impact of Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, which continue to drive much of the traffic even without record crowds.

Reservations still needed in Glacier this weekend

If you're planning on visiting Glacier National Park this weekend to enjoy the fall weather, don't forget the park's reservation system is running later this fall than it has in the past few years.

"Timed entry" reservations are still needed to access the park via the Apgar Entrance Station for Going-to-the-Sun Road, and for the North Fork area at Polebridge. Sunday will be the last day the reservations are needed.

      🏕️You can also enter the park without a reservation after 3 pm.

Sanders County mine expanding

Residents in the Lower Clark Valley are celebrating, but also a little apprehensive elsewhere in the state, as a company is pressing ahead with plans to mine and process tons of antimony in the years to come.

United States Antimony Corporation was established in 1969, with the goal of mining antimony that can be used in everything from bullets to batteries. The current version of USAC has been pressing ahead with plans to expand the mine and smelter outside Thompson Falls for the past several years, announcing this week it had secured a 2-hundred 45-million dollar contract from the Defense Department.

During Thursday's groundbreaking, Chairman and CEO Gary Evans noted the economic impact, but also pledged to protect the environment.

"We're excited at how this expansion will not only, you know, help fulfill this contract, but add to the employment in this area. This region of Montana is very pristine, and we're trying to do our best to keep it that way.- Gary Evans, Chairman/CEO USAC"

Reaction to the news was mixed on the Governor's Facebook page, with some welcoming the news and investment with up to 25 new jobs, while others worried about Montana's complicated history with mining impacts.

Allegiant Air isn't leaving Montana

Allegiant Air is in the final stages of winding down service between Montana and Southern California as it closes its Los Angeles crew base.

Allegiant first announced the change last spring, citing the higher fees and labor costs for maintaining the LAX connections. That stopped direct service immediately from Billings and Glacier International in May. It just announced it's also killing flights between LAX and Bellingham, Washington, along with Cincinnati in January.

However, Allegiant isn't giving up on Montana and will continue with other popular connections to markets like Las Vegas and Phoenix from Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Glacier, and Great Falls.

And there's a chance the direct Southern California connection could return, as Allegiant moves to the airport in Burbank.