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Steelers Could Have 'Substantial' Organizational Changes If The Team Has Another Late-Season FailureBuried among Florida’s manicured golf courses and sprawling suburbs are the artifacts of its slave-holding past: the long-lost cemeteries of enslaved people, the statutes of Confederate soldiers that still stand watch over town squares, the old plantations turned into modern subdivisions that bear the same name. But many students aren’t learning that kind of Black history in Florida classrooms. In an old wooden bungalow in Delray Beach, Charlene Farrington and her staff gather groups of teenagers on Saturday mornings to teach them lessons she worries that public schools won’t provide. They talk about South Florida’s Caribbean roots, the state’s dark history of lynchings , how segregation still shapes the landscape and how grassroots activists mobilized the Civil Rights Movement to upend generations of oppression. “You need to know how it happened before so you can decide how you want it to happen again,” she told her students as they sat as their desks, the morning light illuminating historic photographs on the walls. >> AROUND THE COUNTRY: National coverage from WVTM 13 Florida students are giving up their Saturday mornings to learn about African American history at the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach and in similar programs at community centers across the state. Many are supported by Black churches, which for generations have helped forge the cultural and political identity of their parishioners. Since Faith in Florida developed its own Black history toolkit last year, more than 400 congregations have pledged to teach the lessons, the advocacy group says. Florida has required public schools to teach African American history for the past 30 years, but many families no longer trust the state’s education system to adequately address the subject. By the state’s own metrics, just a dozen Florida school districts have demonstrated excellence at teaching Black history, by providing evidence that they are incorporating the content into lessons throughout the school year and getting buy-in from the school board and community partners. >> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free School district officials across Florida told The Associated Press that they are still following the state mandate to teach about the experience of enslavement, abolition and the “vital contributions of African Americans to build and strengthen American society.” But a common complaint from students and parents is that the instruction seems limited to heroic figures like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks and rarely extends beyond each February’s Black History Month . When Sulaya Williams’ eldest child started school, she couldn’t find the comprehensive instruction she wanted for him in their area. So in 2016, she launched her own organization to teach Black history in community settings. “We wanted to make sure that our children knew our stories, to be able to pass down to their children,” Williams said. Williams now has a contract to teach Saturday school at a public library in Fort Lauderdale, and her 12-year-old daughter Addah Gordon invites her classmates to join her. “It feels like I’m really learning my culture. Like I’m learning what my ancestors did,” Addah said. “And most people don’t know what they did.” State lawmakers unanimously approved the African American history requirement in 1994 at a time of atonement over Florida’s history. Historians commissioned by the state had just published an official report on the deadly attack on the town of Rosewood in 1923, when a white mob razed the majority-Black community and drove out its residents. When the Florida Legislature approved financial compensation for Rosewood’s survivors and descendants in 1994, it was seen as a national model for reparations . >> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube “There was a moment of enlightenment in Florida, those decades ago. There really was,” said Marvin Dunn, who has authored multiple books on Black Floridians. “But that was short-lived.” Three decades later, the teaching of African American history remains inconsistent across Florida classrooms, inadequate in the eyes of some advocates, and is under fire by the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has championed efforts to restrict how race , history and discrimination can be talked about in the state’s public schools . DeSantis has led attacks on “wokeness” in education that rallied conservatives nationwide, including President-elect Donald Trump . In 2022, the governor signed a law restricting certain race-based conversations in schools and businesses and prohibits teaching that members of one ethnic group should feel guilt or bear responsibility for actions taken by previous generations. Last year, DeSantis’ administration blocked a new Advanced Placement course on African American Studies from being taught in Florida, saying it violates state law and is historically inaccurate. A spokesperson for the College Board, which oversees Advanced Placement courses, told the AP they are not aware of any public schools in Florida currently offering the African American Studies class. It’s also not listed in the state’s current course directory. Representatives for the Florida Department of Education and the state’s African American History Task Force did not respond to requests for comment from the AP. “People who are interested in advancing African diaspora history can’t rely on schools to do that,” said Tameka Bradley Hobbs, manager of Broward County’s African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. “I think it’s even more clear now that there needs to be a level of self-reliance and self-determination when it comes to passing on the history and heritage of our ancestors.” Last year, only 30 of Florida’s 67 traditional school districts offered at least one standalone course on African American history or humanities, according to state data. While not required by state law, having a dedicated Black history class is a measure of how districts are following the state mandate. Florida’s large urban districts are far more likely to offer the classes, compared to small rural districts, some of which have fewer than 2,000 students. Even in districts that have staff dedicated to teaching Black history, some teachers are afraid of violating state law, according to Brian Knowles, who oversees African American, Holocaust and Latino studies for the Palm Beach County school district. “There’s so many other districts and so many kids that we’re missing because we’re tiptoeing around what is essentially American history,” Knowles said. Frustration over the restrictions that teachers face pushed Renee O’Connor to take a sabbatical last year from her job teaching Black history at Miami Norland Senior High School in the majority-Black city of Miami Gardens. Now, she is back in the classroom, but she also has been helping community groups develop their own Black history programs outside of the public school system. “I wish, obviously, all kids were able to take an African American history class,” O’Connor said, “but you have to pivot if it’s not happening in schools.”

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are back in first place in the NFC South and again in control of their playoff hopes. Rookie quarterback showed the poise in his first NFL start the Falcons will need to take advantage of their opportunity to end a six-year playoff drought. Powered by a big-play defense that produced two pick-6s, a solid starting debut by Penix and two rushing touchdowns by Bijan Robinson, the Falcons on Sunday. On Sunday night, the Falcons (8-7) received the assist they needed when Tampa Bay . Because the Falcons swept the Buccaneers, they hold the tiebreaker advantage if they remain tied atop the division. The Falcons have games remaining at Washington on Sunday night and at home against Carolina to close the regular season. If Atlanta wins both games, it would win the division and have a home playoff game. The Falcons are assured of their best record since a 10-6 finish under coach Dan Quinn in 2017, their most recent playoff season. Quinn is in his first season as Washington's coach and has led the Commanders (10-5) to three straight wins, including Sunday's over Philadelphia. Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, was promoted after coach Raheem Morris benched Kirk Cousins. Penix completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards with one interception on a pass that should have been caught by tight end Kyle Pitts. Penix is not a dual-threat quarterback, but he showed the ability to escape pressure in the pocket that Cousins lacks following his 2023 Achilles tendon injury. The left-hander's superior arm strength also was immediately obvious. What’s working Robinson's production provided a safety net for the offense which helped make for a smooth transition to Penix. Robinson had scoring runs of 2 and 4 yards. Robinson has rushed for 10 touchdowns this season. He's the first Atlanta player with 10 more more rushing touchdowns since Devonta Freeman during the 2016 Super Bowl season. Robinson ran for 94 yards on 22 carries and had 103 yards from scrimmage. His 11th game this season with at least 100 yards from scrimmage are the most for the Falcons since Warrick Dunn's 11 in 2005. Morris said Robinson deserves to be considered with Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley in discussions regarding the league's top running backs. “Bijan has been outstanding all year in the things that he’s able to do," Morris said. “He’s special. If it wasn’t for this other guy out in Philly, he’d get a lot more recognition across the league. But that guy is having a special year, and Bijan’s not far behind him.” What needs help With kicker Younghoe Koo on injured reserve and watching from the sideline, Riley Patterson was wide left on his first field-goal attempt from 43 yards. Patterson rebounded to make attempts from 52 and 37 yards. Stock up Jessie Bates III and Matthew Judon each had a pick-6 to highlight a day of big plays for the defense. Arnold Ebiketie had his fifth sack of the season and added a fumble recovery. Kaden Ellis added a strip-sack. He also has five sacks this season, including sacks in four consecutive games. It is the longest streak for Atlanta since Patrick Kerney had sacks in five straight games in 2001. Stock down There was some thought that a change at quarterback could be good news for Pitts, who often seemed to be missing in action with Cousins running the offense. After all, a tight end often is a natural target for quick passes from a rookie making his first start. Instead, Pitts had a poor start to the Penix era when he bobbled his first pass from the left-hander, creating an interception by cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. Pitts caught a 7-yard pass on his only other target. For the season, Pitts has 41 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns. Injuries There will be much interest in this week's injury report after WR Drake London (hamstring) was hurt in the second half. Morris provided an optimistic postgame outlook on London. CB Antonio Hamilton (quad) did not return after leaving the game in the first half. Key number 8: Bates has four interceptions and four forced fumbles. His combined eight forced turnovers lead the NFL. Next steps The game against Jayden Daniels and the Commanders is a reminder Penix was only the fourth of six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Daniels, from LSU, was the No. 2 overall pick behind Caleb Williams by Chicago. ___ AP NFL: Charles Odum, The Associated Press

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GREGG Wallace may be entirely edited out of the next series of MasterChef to ensure it can be broadcast. It's been a tumultuous week for the greengrocer, 60, who quit the BBC show as he is investigated for a barrage of off-screen misconduct complaints. But Gregg completed filming the upcoming installment alongside his co-host John Torode , 59, just last month. While The Professionals spin-off continues to air, MasterChef Celebrity's Christmas specials have been canned. The Beeb has stated its future will depend on the results of an ongoing investigation. And a production insider has claimed removing Gregg from the episodes is a viable option. read more on Gregg Wallace The source told MailOnline , "John and Gregg were always shot with separate cameras. "Any two-shots or wide angles featuring both presenters can be edited. Removing Gregg entirely is a challenging but achievable task." John has continued filming abroad, with Irish chef Anna Haugh stepping in to replace Gregg. Anna, a familiar face to the show’s audience, joined John to provide feedback to contestants in Gregg’s absence. Most read in Reality Filming for the upcoming season concluded earlier this week. The series had been scheduled for a Spring 2025 release, but its air date is now uncertain. Despite the sudden change, production sources praised the smooth transition. Another source said, "It couldn’t have gone better given the circumstances. Anna Haugh was brilliant, and the team worked hard to keep the atmosphere calm for the amateur finalists." Editing Gregg out of pre-recorded material is not without precedent for the BBC. In past instances, individuals accused of misconduct have been removed from shows before broadcast. A contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race was removed from an entire season following accusations of inappropriate behavior. And TV presenter Jay Blades , who was charged last month with physically and emotionally abusing his wife, has not been featured in episodes of The Repair Shop that were pre-recorded. Representatives for Banijay and Gregg have been contacted for comment. Tonight, The Sun revealed John repeatedly raised concerns about Gregg's behaviour on MasterChef — but no action was taken. The chef was unhappy about some of Wallace’s on-set language and was aware of his bullish reputation, pals say. The Aussie is understood to have spoken to officials at production firm Banijay about his co-host. He and actress wife Lisa ­Faulkner are now keen to publicly distance themselves from the scandal, viewing it as a PR disaster. Last night, a source said: “John is not stupid — of course, he was aware of some of Gregg’s less savoury behaviour . He did not condone it, and nor did he engage with it. He does not have a machismo sense of humour and when he made that comment about the pair of them not being friends in real life , he knew what he was doing. “It was his way of distancing himself when attempts to do it otherwise failed. “He repeatedly flagged his behaviour and poor-taste remarks to execs on set and made clear he wasn’t happy. It was never a formal ­complaint, rather a series of spoken concerns raised. “He does not know whether any formal record was ever made but the sense he got was that bosses needed to protect the ­MasterChef brand at all costs and that meant turning a blind eye. “He and Lisa are mortified with the fall-out, and are considering hiring a PR to help handle the situation and extract themselves as quickly as possible.” Wallace is accused of making sexual remarks to staff and guests across multiple programmes over 17 years, as well as allegations of groping colleagues and contestants . He denies any behaviour of a sexually harassing nature and has stepped back from MasterChef while Banijay UK investigates. This week, John wrote on Instagram: “I love my job, and I love MasterChef. I love being part of it and will continue to be part of it. “The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear and I have found the recent Press reports truly upsetting. John is not stupid — of course, he was aware of some of Gregg’s less savoury behaviour. He did not condone it, and nor did he engage with it “But as I hope everyone appreciates, there is an investigation under way, which I fully support, so I cannot make any further comment at this stage, and I hope that you all understand and respect my silence on the matter moving forward.” His wife Lisa, 52, whom he met on Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, reposted his message. They and Wallace, 60, no longer follow each other on Instagram — a move the Londoner prompted as he is reportedly devastated that his co-presenter did not back him. John was best man at his co-host’s fourth wedding in 2016. READ MORE SUN STORIES But in an interview the following year, he said pair “weren’t really friends” — which Wallace later claimed earned him a “telling off” from BBC bosses. A spokesperson for John, who has presented MasterChef with Wallace since 2005, did not respond to requests for comment. Gregg Wallace has been a familiar face on TV for years now thanks to his role as a judge on MasterChef - but let's take a closer look at his career so far... Gregg Wallace left school at 15 and started his career working on a fruit and veg stall in London. In 1989, he started George Allan's Greengrocers, a company that grew to a turnover of £7.5 million. Gregg's experience in the world of fruit and veg lead to him co-hosting Veg Talk on BBC Radio 4 with Charlie Hicks for seven years. He then became the first host of Saturday Kitchen in 2002, a role he held for a year before being replaced by Antony Worrall Thompson in 2003. At the same time, Gregg presented a number of food-related TV specials, including Veg Out for the Discovery Channel. Gregg landed his most notable TV role as a co-presenter and judge on BBC's competitive cooking show MasterChef in 2005. He stars alongside John Torode . In 2010 Gregg pursued another life-long dream of opening a restaurant. He opened the establishment Wallace & Co. in Putney. Then, in 2012, he opened Gregg's Bar & Grill in a joint venture with the Bermondsey Square Hotel. Gregg then scored a hosting gig with the BBC, presenting the documentary Supermarket Secrets in August 2013. Unfortunately, times were tough for Gregg, and in the same month, it was reported that one of his companies, West Veg Limited, had folded, owing more than £500,000. In 2014, both of his restaurants folded, with Wallace & Co owing suppliers £150,000. However, his TV career continued to thrive, and in 2015 became the regularly host of the award-winning documentary food series Eat Well for Less? Gregg helmed the show for eight years before stepping away. He also competed on Strictly Come Dancing . Gregg then made Telly history again when he revived the BBC's historical game show Time Commanders. More recently, the celebrity chef has presented a number of travel programmes such as Big Weekends with Gregg Wallace, South Africa with Gregg Wallace, and the food mockumentary, Gregg Wallace: The British Miracle Meat .A government that doesn't want to upset people finds itself outgunned by a man with simple, angry messages

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are back in first place in the NFC South and again in control of their playoff hopes. Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. showed the poise in his first NFL start the Falcons will need to take advantage of their opportunity to end a six-year playoff drought. Powered by a big-play defense that produced two pick-6s, a solid starting debut by Penix and two rushing touchdowns by Bijan Robinson, the Falcons cruised past the hapless New York Giants 34-7 on Sunday. On Sunday night, the Falcons (8-7) received the assist they needed when Tampa Bay lost at Dallas . Because the Falcons swept the Buccaneers, they hold the tiebreaker advantage if they remain tied atop the division. The Falcons have games remaining at Washington on Sunday night and at home against Carolina to close the regular season. If Atlanta wins both games, it would win the division and have a home playoff game. The Falcons are assured of their best record since a 10-6 finish under coach Dan Quinn in 2017, their most recent playoff season. Quinn is in his first season as Washington's coach and has led the Commanders (10-5) to three straight wins, including Sunday's 36-33 victory over Philadelphia. Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, was promoted after coach Raheem Morris benched Kirk Cousins. Penix completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards with one interception on a pass that should have been caught by tight end Kyle Pitts. Penix is not a dual-threat quarterback, but he showed the ability to escape pressure in the pocket that Cousins lacks following his 2023 Achilles tendon injury. The left-hander's superior arm strength also was immediately obvious. What’s working Robinson's production provided a safety net for the offense which helped make for a smooth transition to Penix. Robinson had scoring runs of 2 and 4 yards. Robinson has rushed for 10 touchdowns this season. He's the first Atlanta player with 10 more more rushing touchdowns since Devonta Freeman during the 2016 Super Bowl season. Robinson ran for 94 yards on 22 carries and had 103 yards from scrimmage. His 11th game this season with at least 100 yards from scrimmage are the most for the Falcons since Warrick Dunn's 11 in 2005. Morris said Robinson deserves to be considered with Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley in discussions regarding the league's top running backs. “Bijan has been outstanding all year in the things that he’s able to do," Morris said. “He’s special. If it wasn’t for this other guy out in Philly, he’d get a lot more recognition across the league. But that guy is having a special year, and Bijan’s not far behind him.” What needs help With kicker Younghoe Koo on injured reserve and watching from the sideline, Riley Patterson was wide left on his first field-goal attempt from 43 yards. Patterson rebounded to make attempts from 52 and 37 yards. Stock up Jessie Bates III and Matthew Judon each had a pick-6 to highlight a day of big plays for the defense. Arnold Ebiketie had his fifth sack of the season and added a fumble recovery. Kaden Ellis added a strip-sack. He also has five sacks this season, including sacks in four consecutive games. It is the longest streak for Atlanta since Patrick Kerney had sacks in five straight games in 2001. Stock down There was some thought that a change at quarterback could be good news for Pitts, who often seemed to be missing in action with Cousins running the offense. After all, a tight end often is a natural target for quick passes from a rookie making his first start. Instead, Pitts had a poor start to the Penix era when he bobbled his first pass from the left-hander, creating an interception by cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. Pitts caught a 7-yard pass on his only other target. For the season, Pitts has 41 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns. Injuries There will be much interest in this week's injury report after WR Drake London (hamstring) was hurt in the second half. Morris provided an optimistic postgame outlook on London. CB Antonio Hamilton (quad) did not return after leaving the game in the first half. Key number 8: Bates has four interceptions and four forced fumbles. His combined eight forced turnovers lead the NFL. Next steps The game against Jayden Daniels and the Commanders is a reminder Penix was only the fourth of six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Daniels, from LSU, was the No. 2 overall pick behind Caleb Williams by Chicago. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Charles Odum, The Associated PressBoxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Montana’s licensing board for outfitters and guides has opened 100 investigations against licensees — although the state agency overseeing that board has demanded those now under review receive an apology. The source of those investigations is a legislative audit that found 138 alleged violations in which outfitters or guides did not self-report criminal convictions while renewing their license or becoming licensed for the first time. The auditors triggered the investigations when they notified the state Board of Outfitters about the unreported violations. The audit, among other things, ultimately recommended the Board of Outfitters move away from self-reporting requirements and establish rules to conduct background checks of those seeking licensure to lower the risk level "to an acceptable level for the board." 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Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend Eastside Highway closed near Stevensville due to accident Corvallis Schools, teachers union agree to contract for 2024-25 school year Montana State Bobcats return to FCS title game with commanding win over South Dakota Coyotes Speed limit drops to 55 mph at Bell Crossing; roundabout still in works 'I thought he was helping me': Patient endured 9 years of chemotherapy for cancer he never had Roster review: A look at Montana Grizzlies' returners as winter transfer portal winds down Postal Service plan's impact on Ravalli County still up for debate Stockman Bank to open new Stevensville location Hamilton City Council starts search for new fire chief Daughter of country music star Wynonna Judd pleads guilty to drug, theft charges Live updates: No. 1 Montana State Bobcats host No. 4 South Dakota in FCS semifinals Montana's public lands at risk: A threat to hunters and heritage | Mike Mershon An outfitter leads a pack train through the Bob Marshall Wilderness in this file photo. ELIZA WILEY, Independent Record And while the Legislative Audit Division contended its work was done properly, auditors received a sharp rebuke last week from the Montana Department of Labor, which houses the Board of Outfitters. Sarah Swanson, director at DLI, contended those licensees' due process rights were violated when legislative auditors conducted "dragnet" background checks on licensed outfitters and guides, something neither the Board of Outfitters nor the Department of Labor have the authority to do themselves. In total, the Legislative Audit Division found licensed guides or outfitters had 234 citations, 30 felonies and 114 misdemeanor convictions. The search was narrowed down only to violations that could affect licensure, including hunting and fishing regulations, recreation and crimes against a person or property. Sarah Swanson is the director of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Courtesy of the Governor's Office "The source of these complaints was a background check that no one consented to or were notified it was happening," Swanson told the Legislative Audit Committee during an Dec. 17 meeting. The state labor department oversees 29 professional licensing boards in Montana. Swanson said they all have different standards for when licensees need to report criminal convictions, but the department is now working on standardizing those requirements. The 138 cases legislative auditors reported to the licensing board included some outfitters or guides who had not renewed their licenses, Swanson said. Others were dismissed because of instances of "same name, wrong person," hence the 100 open investigations at the Board of Outfitters instead of 138, she told lawmakers. A Missouri River fishing guide launches with his clients near Wolf Creek in late May 2015. TOM KUGLIN, Independent Record Swanson urged the legislative committee to reject the audit outright and clarify in law whether the Legislative Audit Division had the authority to conduct the background checks as it did. "I believe an apology on behalf of the state of Montana is warranted to each one of these licensees as well," Swanson said. Angus McIver, who heads up the Legislative Audit Division, said his office has done this type of research in several instances in the 20 years he has worked there, and said the process was not a criminal background check, which in most cases requires consent from the subject. He said this process was a Criminal Justice Information Network "data match," which largely leaned on public conviction information. He said Swanson had misunderstood the process. He added the committee in fact does not "accept or reject" any audit recommendations. Rather, lawmakers move forward with policy decisions that are informed by the information they provide. And, McIver noted, all state agencies are required to provide information to the legislative auditor, "confidential or otherwise." Angus Maciver, legislative auditor, left, speaks to the Legislative Audit Committee in Jan. 2020 at the State Capitol. Seated on the right is former Sen. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse. THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record "It's an important thing that we do," he told the committee. "I'd urge you in this particular context to focus in on what the real issue is here; which is what is the appropriate balance here, the public safety risk." Board of Outfitters Chair John Way also testified at the hearing, and said the board does not oppose or advocate for being given the authority to conduct background checks of guides or outfitters who apply for licensure. "The overarching protection for the Board of Outfitters is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and that’s a lens we keep in mind with every decision we make on licensing," he told the committee, later adding, "... We feel that by the audit running background checks on licensees without consent is probably a violation of our licensees rights at this point." The entire audit, which also examined the board’s sanctions, working relationship with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Net Client Hunter Use Days, can be found on the Montana Legislative Audit Division website. Author twitter Author emailBIG TEN THIS WEEKMany people forget that the Department of Defense conceived the internet as a secure and dynamic communication tool. Still, it took the private sector to turn it into an economic powerhouse that has revolutionized commerce and political discussion and transformed how people connect, work, and share information globally. Many argue that artificial intelligence’s impact on our society and economy will be greater than that of the internet, both economically and in national security. This public-private partnership can unlock AI’s potential, allowing the nation to protect itself while enriching itself. That’s why the Department of Defense, which has said that AI “will change society and, ultimately, the character of war,” wants to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI). This venture will advance America’s defense and ensure the United States remains the world leader in technological modernization. However, while the Defense Department desperately seeks to develop and expand AI, the Department of Justice has declared war on it. It is taking legal actions that threaten to smother the industry, which is still in its infancy. AI technology is already touching every facet of modern life. For national defense, AI has the potential to analyze vast amounts of intelligence in real-time, assist in decision-making, and help with battlefield strategy. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for nuclear matters recently noted that AI’s adoption will be a “considerable advancement in our ability to safeguard critical assets." The Defense Department’s investment in AI is also about maintaining parity — or ideally, superiority — against adversaries like China and Russia, who aggressively pursue their AI initiatives. Beijing has made no secret of its ambition to become the global leader in AI and is funneling billions into various military and civilian applications. It aims to lead the world in AI by 2030 so it can obtain “intelligence supremacy,” allowing it to leapfrog the technological capabilities of the United States. If the U.S. fails to match or surpass these efforts, it risks falling behind in the arms race of the 21st century. AI is not just about military applications. The technology underpins advancements in healthcare, finance, transportation, and countless other industries and has been called the “most important technology of any lifetime.” Leading in AI ensures that American companies drive innovation, which creates jobs and fosters economic growth. Just as the internet was initially incubated by research and development for military applications, the same holds for AI. We need a robust partnership between government initiatives and private sector innovation to secure America’s AI development and application leadership. Many industries, such as tourism, travel, and hospitality, have adopted AI and are already implementing it. Hotels and airlines employ AI algorithms for dynamic pricing, which adapts rates based on up-to-the-minute supply and demand analysis. When demand is low, AI suggests lower pricing to help fill the capacity of hotels and airline flights. Yet, despite already being in everyday use, AI has come under fire from government regulators and bureaucrats. A federal court case in Nevada has become ground zero in this fight as hotels that use AI to offer pricing options are being sued with the wholesale support of the Department of Justice. Similarly, the DOJ has targeted RealPage, accusing the company’s software, which assists homeowners and landlords in determining what price to offer customers, as being illegal. These actions by the DOJ are incredibly short-sighted. Any business model that suggests both price reductions and price increases tied to supply and demand are the signs of a healthy, competitive marketplace is all about, not an antitrust violation. If the DOJ’s continued actions against algorithmic AI are successful, their actions risk setting a dangerous precedent by discouraging industries from leveraging AI’s full potential. Who will invest in technology when it risks potential litigation by the federal government? The stakes are too high for the United States to fail. If China dominates AI development, U.S. companies can become sidelined in global markets, and American workers could lose jobs in cutting-edge industries, not to mention watch ethical standards get shaped by regimes that prioritize state control over personal freedoms. AI is a foundational piece of our future vitality. It makes no sense for one government agency, the Department of Defense, to invest heavily in technology while another, the Department of Justice, threatens to smother it in the crib. Our security and prosperity depend on AI's growth, adoption, and use. A cohesive national strategy is essential, where innovation is nurtured, not stifled, ensuring that AI can flourish to secure America’s future economically and militarily. ( is an adjunct professor of economics and political science at Georgia Military College.)