In 1947, Montana officials enacted a quota system that allowed one tavern with a liquor license for every 1,500 people. I wish I could travel back in time and tell them what a dumb idea that was. Since their implementation, the state’s alcohol rules have been unfair. For one, established taverns were grandfathered in, so […]

Since Kalispell does not have a strong mayor system in place – that is, a full-time elected city administrator – whoever replaces Tammi Fisher is less consequential to the overall direction of city government. But it still matters. Whether fair, the title alone conjures high expectations. In reality, the next mayor will simply be the […]

When the ABC reality show “The Bachelor” arrived in Whitefish last fall, it was a big deal. Central Avenue was shut down. Country singer Sarah Darling performed on stage. Hundreds of people lined the street. And there was Sean Lowe, the star of this season, embracing one of the contestants under perfect lighting. The scene […]

There are alarming details in Great Falls Tribune reporter John Adams’ story about leaked emails sent by Republicans in the state Senate, and the story pokes several holes in the overarching narrative that the new leadership touted in the run-up to the legislative session. In an interview with the Beacon just a few weeks before […]

The first debate between Democratic Sen. Jon Tester and his Republican challenger Congressman Denny Rehberg was in June of last year in Big Sky at the Montana Newspaper Association’s annual conference. There, the two men disagreed on just about everything. But one exchange that stood out was Tester’s and Rehberg’s differing opinions on the U.S. […]

Stocks surged the day after Democrats and Republicans in Congress reached a compromise to avoid sending the country over the fiscal cliff, but fewer people invest in stocks anymore, so fewer people cared. According to a recent Gallup poll, 54 percent of Americans say they hold stocks, the lowest level since the polling firm began […]

Whenever a year wraps up we are inundated with lists that subjectively measure everything. Songs, political moments, cat photos, you name it. So, I thought it would be appropriate to compile my own list of memorable moments from the Flathead Beacon newsroom, except I’m going to span its entire five-and-a-half year history. For those of […]

Over the years I’ve been accused of being overly optimistic in what I’ve written in this space – in fact, descriptions have included “delusional” and “naïve.” The accusations have some merit. But I embrace the criticism with some pride if the alternative is telling readers they should lock themselves in their homes and give up […]

Following District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock’s ruling last week that American Tradition Partnership must disclose its financial records, Attorney General Steve Bullock, who is also the governor elect, said this is “the beginning of the end of ATP’s lawless activities in the state of Montana.” That may be premature, but the judge’s decision is certainly a […]

Last week, a popular bill that would expand access for hunters and anglers and had previously enjoyed bipartisan support was blocked in the U.S. Senate for reasons no one quite understands. For now, duck stamps are being blamed. Yes, duck stamps. The Sportsmen’s Act, whose lead sponsor is Montana Sen. Jon Tester, appeared to have […]

This year, we were told a lot of things are awful. Politicians were horrible, their policies were worse and we were doomed no matter the outcome. But then the election passed and the majority of us are moving on whether our preferred candidates won. To be sure, not everyone is. People in every state have […]

President Barack Obama lost Montana by 14 percentage points. He lost North Dakota by 19 percentage points. But U.S. Senate races in both states, which Republicans saw as easy pickups six months ago, went to Democrats. The question is why. While Montanans are well known for splitting tickets, and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester enjoyed the […]

JetBlue is offering a curious promotion to its customers. If your presidential candidate of choice loses the election, you could win a free plane ticket to leave the country. It’s called “election protection” and it plays on Americans’ mostly bogus, and short-lived, threats to uproot when a bitterly contested vote doesn’t go their way. The […]

Before last week’s governor debate in Kalispell between Rick Hill and Steve Bullock I was asked, “Are you going to be more Jim Lehrer or Candy Crowley?” Those journalists oversaw the first two presidential debates and what observers thought of their moderating performances was largely influenced by their politics. Obama supporters largely panned Lehrer, who […]

At the 2009 state Legislature lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed the so-called “castle doctrine.” The law made it clear that Montanans have no obligation to retreat when they feel threatened before using deadly force to protect themselves or their homes. Just months after the session ended, a dispute between Walmart employees in Billings over the length of […]