Opinion
Editor, I’m almost ashamed to be a fourth generation Montanan. I grew up with the belief that everyone had the right to personal liberty, earned by personal responsibility. Now, I’m seeing “every man for himself.” I’m seeing too many people choosing to stomp hard on women, people of color, and especially those who struggle financially on a totally inadequate minimum wage. I’m not seeing any sense of “for the common good.” We and our elected representatives should have a common goal: improving the lives of everyone. I repeat, everyone. We have allowed the dismantling of environmental protections. We have supported ...
The Montana Legislature is leveling one of the most aggressive attacks on public hunters we’ve ever seen under the guise of protecting gun rights. HJ 5, sponsored by Rep. Brad Tschida, R-Lolo, states that taxing firearms is unconstitutional, and unenforceable. Apparently, Rep. Tschida and supp...
Vitamins are essential to our health and wellbeing. We acquire the majority of these vitamins through the foods we eat; however, there is one vitamin that we get from the sun. A deficiency of this essential nutrient can be disastrous, and yet, somehow a group of people living in a place with too little sun f...
As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of Black History Month, it is fitting to acknowledge that small business owners are some of the strongest, most resilient people you will ever meet. With the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting communities large and small nationwide, its impact has been felt in every sector...
Like so many Montanans, I grew up with a rifle in one hand and a shotgun in the other. I converted my love of shooting into a 25-year career in the firearms industry. I helped build an iconic international gun company. I sold millions of guns. I’ve won awards, even been a finalist for the &ldq...
Editor, The Bread Basket Board would like to thank the over 225 individuals, families, businesses and foundations that helped support the Bread Basket in 2020. Strife can bring out the best or worst in people, and in this area of Western Montana, people really came through for the hungry, food ch...
Editor, Accountability can sometimes take longer than we want, but I bet we will know a lot more by 2022. Uncomfortable facts and awkward alliances are being exposed to the light of truth and, hopefully, coming to a neighborhood near you. Montanans have long held a fundamental belief in personal ...
Editor, Senate Bill 65, an act to revise civil liability law, setting conditions on civil actions for exposure to COVID-19, is being promoted as a new law to protect business from frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits; however, professional testimony in Helena confirmed zero frivolous lawsuits in Montana over...
Editor, Most state agency directors appointed by Gov. Greg Gianforte are getting paid at substantially higher salaries than their predecessors under the Bullock administration – some as much as 46 percent more. Public Health and Human Services: $165,000 – a 46 percent increase. Commerce: $1...
Greetings from Helena. During the last couple weeks, I’ve had two pieces of legislation generate well over 1,500 emails or messages to me either in support or opposition. One of those bills was SB 111 that would allow disabled hunters to use crossbows during archery season and the other was SB 115. ...
