Opinion
Don’t let all the bad news get you down. True, we’re facing lots of crises, some of which even carry a risk of human extinction (nuclear war, climate change, maybe even AI). But there is hope, and you can start experiencing it simply by chatting with your neighbors. A few months ago, I wrote an op-ed about how simply going outside will make you feel better, and it’s likely to make you more inclined to help save the climate too. A friend, Simon Nelson, commented that I overlooked the role of community. I have to quote his message directly because he worded it so beautifully: “I think it’s the breaking of our connections with community that has left us s...
Montana collects $2.1 billion in property tax, with allocations as follows: 56% to schools, 28% to counties, 11% to cities/towns, and 5% to special districts. The 6 statewide university mills stay at the state, while the 95 statewide school mills are redistributed to local community schools, accounting for 3...
Hunting season has arrived! As hunters flock to the hills in pursuit of Montana’s treasured big game species, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the good work that was done in this spring’s legislative session for hunters, landowners, and conservationists alike. Wildlife issues have...
The Legislature’s major zoning reforms to increase the supply of affordable housing in Montana have made a lot of news, but there was also another significant pillar of our pro-housing work during the session: cutting red tape. Excessive government regulations have been one of the barriers to ...
Editor, Hopefully our nation of voting citizens will decide against falling into a Trump style autocratic system of government and opt to retain our democratic system of government. As a nation, we are right now close to making that decision. For a democracy to work and operate well requires patience a...
Note to readers (and self) super glue does not mix well with granite countertops. Recently I had the opportunity to experience this noxious combination in the comfort of my own kitchen. This was not of my doing. But you already knew that. Late one night (when all the excitement happens at my house) my ...
The pharmaceutical industry is renowned for its breakthrough therapies that have saved countless lives. Yet, the reality is taxpayers subsidize most research and development investments in new medicines—and Big Pharma companies are increasingly focusing their strategic know-how on gaming the patent sys...
Editor, Lisa Rehard is a write-in candidate for the Ward 2 Polson City Commission. Ballots will be mailed to voters around Oct. 18. The city commission is a nonpartisan board. I am writing in support of Lisa for the Polson City Commission. She is a third generation Montanan. She and her husband, Mark Hubb...
By definition, I am an introvert. I’m usually okay with time alone and minimal interactions with other humans. I enjoy conversations within my own head and maybe, perhaps have a significant relationship with both my phone and my laptop. However, lately I’ve noticed the world has sort of taken ...
The 2021 and 2023 sessions of Montana’s Legislature perpetrated a full-on war against Montana’s courts and judiciary. Dozens of anti-court/anti-judiciary bills were offered in these last two legislative sessions. The objective of these attacks? Demonize and marginalize Montana’s courts, ...
