Gianforte’s lack of leadership tells voters plenty The recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Montana prompted Gov. Bullock to sensibly act to require masks for indoor public spaces. It was right; it will save the lives of Montanans. It took courage, political and moral. He didn’t do it alone. His team included Lt. Gov. Mike […]

It seems that Sen. Steve Daines has gotten much quieter about his ties to China recently. It’s not hard to see this for what it is — another election year flip-flop from a senator getting quite good at flipping and flopping. Daines can try to scrub away his record of cozying up to China, but […]

Forest Service has failed to protect the wilderness The recently released Custer Gallatin National Forest Service plan shrinks interim wilderness protections for the 155,000-acre Hyalite Porcupine Buffalohorn Wilderness Study Area (HPBH WSA). The HPBH WSA was established by Senate bill S. 393 in 1977. Among the mandates in the Act: SEC. 3. (a) says: “Except […]

NPR recently reported that Florida’s official disease monitor was fired for not cooking the COVID-19 statistics as ordered by state authorities. She refused to lower the number of positive test results and other statistics to the threshold the governor had set for opening the economy. The state hired a consulting firm to replace her. The […]

By RANDY HAFER AND DAREN NORDHAGEN Guest columnists As our economy faces COVID-19 pandemic fallout, the House of Representatives has a massive chance to stand up for Montana businesses and jobs by passing the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). After decades of uncertainty, the act would secure full, dedicated funding for the Land and Water […]

All children should have access to a good education and Montanans consistently support public schools with their tax dollars. We need to elect a strong and effective superintendent of public instruction. Melissa Romano is an experienced, award-winning teacher. She is committed to improving our public education and supporting the public-school teachers who are the backbone […]

Daines’ record clear that he is no conservationist Steve Daines claims he’s a conservationist. His record says otherwise. During his Senate term, Daines’ voting record on conservation issues has been one of the worst in Congress. He speaks of conserving public lands, only to support special interests in opposition. One good example was his claim […]

U.S. should be worried with Trump in charge Few things are more frightening as a weapon than infectious diseases, and frighteningly, we know that stockpiles of these bio-weapons exist in many military arsenals. Bioweapons are small, easy to transport, highly contagious, and some have mortality rates over 50% (compared with COVID’s mortality rate of 2%). […]

State GOP sends message of privilege, selfishness It’s painfully obvious who Republicans Greg Gianforte, Kristen Juras, Matt Rosendale and Troy Downing really care about. I hate to break the news, but it is not the citizens of Montana. By attending a Donald Trump fundraiser in Big Sky last week with Donald Trump Jr., and his […]

By MIKE GARRITY AND ERIK MOLVAR Guest columnists The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling on July 8 on the litigation over the 2018 delisting of the Yellowstone grizzly bear population under the Endangered Species Act, affirming a District Court order that blocked the delisting of the great bears and kept them listed […]