As a Native Montanan with ancestral ties stretching back hundreds of generations, I recognize the proud connection my fellow Montanans have with the landscape, as it provides all of us with a beautiful and unparalleled way of life. This deep appreciation for the soil, water, air and wildlife is a transcendent sentiment shared by our […]

It was with great sadness that I watched the Montana Senate pass Senate Bill 169, a bill that adds to the identification requirements of voting by mail. SB 169 will require that along with the ballot, a copy of voter identification be enclosed: driver’s license, voting card, utility bill, etc. Montana has had no trouble with […]

1. Montana > Hate groups in 2019: 5.61 per million people (total: 6) > Hate groups in 2010: 13.12 per million people — 2nd highest (total: 13) > Pct. pop. identifying as white: 88.0% — 8th highest > Pct. pop. foreign born: 2.3% — 3rd lowest > Median household income: $57,153 — 11th lowest Though Montana has relatively few hate […]

By CORA NEUMANN, JIM HODGSKISS AND DALE J. SEIFERT Guest columnists Montanans are hurting. We are approaching one year since COVID first reached Montana. In this time, we’ve made it through stay-at-home orders, school closures, major strains on our hospitals, and acute stress at every level from the family on up. We’ve lost jobs, businesses, […]

Gianforte ignored science in lifting mask mandate As expected, this morning’s Chronicle (Feb. 11) reported that our billionaire creationist governor would be lifting the mask mandate. This comes as COVID-19 variants are spreading across the country, the CDC just recommended wearing two masks and those of us in Phase 1B are struggling to get an […]

Dear Rep. Gillette: When you ran for office, I received circulars promoting your leadership qualifications. Once elected you have not expressed your leadership about issues you have expertise in, such as public health since you have a public health degree (MPH). Why have you not spoken out against the proposed lifting of the state mask […]

How strange Rep. Rosendale and Sen. Daines are still sitting in D.C. and were involved in the process of deciding whether Trump incited violence by spreading the lie that the November 2020 was stolen. They, too, dangerously promoted the Big Lie. Also without evidence. And without yet having had to answer to Montanans for deeply […]

There is a golden rule among firearm owners to treat all weapons as if they were loaded. You always keep your safety on and you never point your weapon at someone. Yet, thousands of needless tragedies and fatalities have occurred when these rules not followed. Every one of these deaths are tragic, but I cannot […]

By BRIAN WHEELER Guest Columnist I was encouraged by the feedback, both in person and online, to a couple of recent op-eds regarding concerns about water quality. It seems like the issue is finally receiving the public discussion and consideration that it deserves. As such, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight the efforts […]

After Impeachment 2.0, I must express my deep disappointment in Sen. Daines’ not guilty vote for the charges of incitement of insurrection against the former president. Daines had reversed course in objecting to the Electoral College results on Jan. 6, which was the reasonable thing to do. However, his not guilty vote gives a green […]