By now, most of us have mowed through our leftovers, but a fair number of central Montanans are still choking on theirs. Whether or not you noticed, several years’ worth of squabble over re-districting Montana’s state legislative seats after the 2010 U.S. Census officially ended last February. Unlike most states, which leave re-districting to shamelessly […]

Most everyone I’ve talked to who really cares about their work has that one thing that brings meaning, context and (as my kids used to say) “give-a-care” to the work they do. You might’ve heard it described as “Not on my watch”, a reference to pulling watch duty on naval ships. The best way I’ve […]

Legislators hear monthly about Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks matters from constituents. Last month’s audit of the Block Management program highlighted some needed changes. This program allows public hunting access on private land through a mutual agreement with FWP. The landowners are called cooperators in the agreement while the properties are known as BMAs. These […]

Although a democracy is the most equitable form of government ever devised, it has an inherent weakness that makes it vulnerable and short lived. This weakness is the realization by voters that they can give themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. This flaw in the design of a democracy results in its being temporary […]

Public school students in Montana under the direction of Denise Juneau, state superintendent of public instruction, are moving forward into the 21st century to implement Common Core Standards. After years of slowly slipping behind in student achievement, compared to other countries, Juneau not only worked with colleagues on this process, she also wanted to make […]

Someday, Americans will look back and remember when Christmas came after Thanksgiving. Not only are more stores putting out Christmas items and decorations as early as September, now three big retailers – Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us – will be opening even earlier this coming Thanksgiving Day in a race to launch Christmas sales. […]

When Oracle bought Bozeman-based RightNow Technologies in 2011 it was already involved in a long-running lawsuit with Google, alleging copyright and patent infringement over the search engine giant’s Android operating system. The case dragged on and largely focused on Java technologies, which Oracle now owned with its acquisition of Sun Microsystem a year prior. I […]

Thanksgiving is a nearly 400-year-old harvest tradition. It’s a time to be grateful and share the bounty of the season. It’s a time for the blessings of family, friends and food. Last week one of the biggest national turkey producers announced that there would be a shortage of average-sized and larger fresh birds. Families likely […]

How do customers and prospects look at you vs. others in your industry? For example: What are your competitors best known for? Why do customers choose them rather than everyone else in your industry – including you? How does your competition’s “best known” thing compare to what you’re best known for? Why do customers choose […]

As a former student of Flathead Valley Community College and the University of Montana, and a current student of the University of Great Falls, I was appalled by the decision to limit adjunct facility hours. I personally know the majority of the 25 adjunct teachers who are currently teaching more than 10 credits. These teachers […]

Stop Dark Money is a grassroots effort to change the law and require everyone who spends money on the political process to disclose who they are. I did say change the law. Right now it is perfectly legal to form a 501c(4) organization and spend money on politics without disclosing. Money from one or two […]

Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer said he wouldn’t take sides in the Democratic primary for Montana’s U.S. Senate seat in which his former lieutenant governor and former adjutant general are squaring off. But he wouldn’t stop there either. Instead, he readily took credit for what has become an intra-party dispute. “I guess I’m responsible since I […]

By Tim Baldwin Political strategists call Montana’s U.S. Senate race one of the most important in 2014, and conservatives see the potential to change federal politics starting from Montana. Demonstrating this race’s importance, Steve Daines chose to run for this seat while perhaps jeopardizing his U.S. House seat. So, is Daines the Republican primary “shoe-in” […]

As commissioners for Montana’s forest counties, we know firsthand that the sharp decline in timber harvests and timber jobs since the early 1990s has been devastating to our communities. Our forests are at greater risk of burning, our remaining mills are struggling to survive without a predictable and productive timber supply and many of our […]

I’m back from a working “vacation” visiting my Mom on the Washington coast. Basically, while Mom is low-maintenance, her house isn’t. Even after 20 years, the Evergreen People’s Republic still fascinates and amazes me. Between Spokane and Pugetopia, I usually take the back way through the scablands and wheat country, but one thing never changes: […]