Opinion

Many of the issues that we discuss at the legislature can seem distant and complicated to the average Montanan. Hunting is not one of those issues. This session, I am sponsoring Senate Bill 270, which brings more science into our state’s tag system for elk hunting. The bill both protects elk in areas where populations are below objectives and allows for objective-based tag limits in areas where elk are abundant. SB 270 is a common-sense bill. Some parts of Montana, like my area, are under objective for elk numbers. Other parts of the state have so many concentrated in certain places that they can become a problem. The bill makes sure our elk tag system reflects this reality by lowe...

I raise my voice for Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Kahlil.  Trump is silencing Mahmoud through politically-targeted illegal deportation. Trump doesn’t like Mahmoud’s opinions and activism on Gaza. I’m a retired white guy living in Montana. I have a duty to my country ...

Ready for some fun? I’m not talking about fun in an exciting roller coaster sort of way. That type of fun is always fun, but fun can be all sorts of amusement park rides. Some are like roller coasters - fast, thrilling and take-your-breath-away. But that isn’t the only type of enjoyment ...

Editor, I am writing this letter to congratulate Don Aadsen Ford in Ronan on their acquisition of Ronan Motors. This is a large investment in their continuing goal of providing great products and service to the residents of Lake County and the Mission Valley. Ford, Chevrolet, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep...

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”  - John Wesley There you have it. The recipe for a good life. On the surface it sounds pretty simple and...

As a pulmonary physician I am passionate about the need to preserve the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) clean energy tax credits, and you should be too. Quite simply, they benefit the physical and economic health of my patients, their children, our cities, rural areas, the state, and the country. And they do t...

News from Citizens’ Climate Lobby  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Climate-concerned conservatives from Montana recently visited Washington, D.C. to urge Republican members of Congress to preserve the clean energy tax incentives driving investment and jobs in Montana. On Wednesday, March 5, right...

Editor, What is a demagogue? In a recent conversation the term “demagogue” came up as the other speaker was describing a person with whom he disagreed. Somehow, that just didn’t seem to fit – so I looked up the definition. Wikipedia says this: A demagogue is a power-seeking indi...

Montana’s Supreme Court has reaffirmed the state’s longstanding commitment to government transparency, rejecting efforts by lawmakers to conceal the inner workings of the legislative process. The ruling in Saslav v. Howe is a victory for open government advocates and a critical test of the state&...

Editor, What is a demagogue? In a recent conversation the term “demagogue” came up as the other speaker was describing a person with whom he disagreed. Somehow, that just didn’t seem to fit – so I looked up the definition. Wikipedia says this: A demagogue is a power-seeking indi...