City Desk
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June 30, 2025
ButteNews
ButteNews
June 23, 2025
BILLINGS - A Billings man accused of using a cell phone to arrange for commercial sex admitted to a charge today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Usman Hanif Kahn, 52, pleaded guilty to use of a facility of interstate commerce to aid in racketeering. He faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided, and District Court Judge Susan P. Watters will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later time. Kahn was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that prior to April 9, 2023, Khan met a woman on a social media website for those interested in a commercial sex relationship. Then, on or about April 9, 2023, Khan communicated with the woman for the purpose of arranging a commercial sex date with Jane Doe, a minor. Khan and the woman communicated via text messenger and utilized cell phones to arrange the date and discussed, among other items, the particulars of the commercial sex date. On the evening of April 9, 2023, the woman transported Jane Doe to Khan’s residence for the purpose of a commercial sex date. Khan and Jane Doe engaged in a sex act, after which Khan contacted the woman to arrange transportation of Jane Doe and provided Jane Doe with money for the encounter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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PNS - Monday, June 30, 2025 - The Senate narrowly advances Trump's budget megabill, despite procedural issues. Democrats demand answers about the decision to bomb Iran's nuclear sites and Health Secretary RFK Jr. is changing how vaccines are evaluated.
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Click on the image above for the audio.
PNS - Monday, June 30, 2025 - Despite pushback, U.S. presses ahead for final adoption of budget reconciliation bill to send it back to the House; FL immigrant advocates describe chaos in light of SCOTUS decision related to birthright citizenship; New report renews concerns about "forever chemicals" detected in U.S. waterways.
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By Kathleen Shannon - Producer, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - A new report shows for prospective college students, politics, ideology and mental health support are all important considerations in their search for a school. Comments by Pam Royall, head of research, enrollment and marketing solutions division, EAB (a consulting firm formerly known as Education Advisory Board).
Click on the image above for the audio. Some 67% of college students say a characteristic of "safe" campuses is offering support for mental health and wellness, according to a report from the education consulting firm EAB. (A. Frank/Adobe Stock)
Kathleen Shannon
June 27, 2025 - Nearly 30% of "Gen-Z" college students decided where they would attend school based at least partly on political reasons, according to a new report.
The education consulting firm EAB found 14% of prospective students removed a school from their consideration list for being "too conservative," and 12% did so for schools they deemed "too liberal."
Pam Royall, head of EAB's research, enrollment and marketing solutions division, said a key finding is that prospective students are looking for college choices that reflect their values.
"They're eliminating certain institutions that they believe are misaligned with their political values," she said, "either because they're too conservative or they're too liberal, they're in a blue state or a red state."
These incoming students are part of what some call the "anxious generation" because of their increased mental-health struggles. Royall said they tend to have a greater sense of anxiety, largely because of social media and pressure to make decisions in an environment with competing messages.
Hallmark elements of school safety include protection from gun violence and sexual assault. According to the report, Gen Z students also define a safe campus environment as one that supports diversity, equity and inclusion, and has a commitment to free speech.
"Now, it's also a matter of support for mental health and wellness that is driving students' perception of safety and their sense of belonging on campuses," she said.
Among those in the report, 45% of students said anxiety or feelings of isolation had a "moderate to extreme impact" on their college search.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
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