I spent some time with a coworker recently on the University of Montana campus. We were there to help the Journalism School prepare for its centennial celebration – it turns 100 years old next year. While most of the conference involved party planning it also included some somber news on the university itself – mainly […]

By John Fuller After President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry mastered the art of carrying a big mouth and being hit with a big stick in return, the spin masters of American media are attempting to call the Syria escapade Obama’s greatest diplomatic achievement. An achievement it is, but not necessarily in America’s best […]

Two recent opinion articles in a local newspaper highlighted the fact that Montana’s forest products industry continues to suffer from two tales of one industry. The first article opined that throwing billions more at logging was wrong and went on to suggest that “parroting of Bush-era ‘Healthy Forests Initiative’ propaganda, is nothing but a smokescreen […]

I went to a meeting of local global warming activists recently. Featured was a Web movie, “Do the Math,” starring carbon crusader Bill McKibben. Next was a fellow from Oregon recruiting folks for a Helena “direct action” (get arrested) aimed at getting the Land Board to reject the Otter Creek coal mine. There was also […]

Thanks to the kindness of a few people and a good mix of intent and luck, I’ve been fortunate to meet a number of people that I consider mentors or significant influencers. In several cases, I’ve managed to work with them in person, via email or phone calls. More often than not, this happens at […]

Congress is poised to begin in earnest a debate on how to fix America’s broken taxation system. Reform is sorely needed, with the U.S. tax code notoriously convoluted, out of date and considered to by many to be a competitive disadvantage for American job providers. At the center of this debate will be Sen. Max […]

The most aggressive suppression alternative under the CSKT draft EIS is projected to reduce spending on lake trout angling by less than 12 percent. It would reduce lake trout catch rates by only 0.25 fish per hour over 50 years. A recent editorial, citing no data or economic studies, guesstimates that this small change will […]

Of the many challenges facing Glacier National Park’s new Superintendent Jeff Mow the most pressing will be decided by Congress in the next few weeks. Will lawmakers replace sequestration – the automatic budget cuts that will deepen in the coming years? Will they leave it in place? Will they provide a temporary fix? Predicting whether […]

By John Fuller U.S. Highway 93, like many other federally funded interstate highways, travels the length of the country. It is a vital artery for many communities and traffic congestion in city centers along its length often becomes burdensome. Bypasses around such centers are normally desirable for through travelers and long-haul truckers. The southern half […]

It has come to my attention that Bonneville Power is likely going to provide funding for the very controversial gillnetting of lake trout in Flathead Lake. Attached is my written comments sent to the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe (CSKT) after a public hearing in Pablo on Aug. 1: Thank you for the opportunity to comment […]

In 1944, wreckage of three 33-foot diameter balloons with Japanese writing on them was found in western Montana. The FBI later reported that 6,000 such balloons were released from Japan, equipped with incendiary devices to start wildfires in the United States and Canada. No amount of high-tech spying could defend us from a terrorist whose […]

The federal income tax credit for qualifying children under the age of 17 may be worth as much as $1,000. Credits help taxpayers reduce the amount of income taxes paid. The tax code has plenty of credits like earned income, childcare, education, retirement savings and first-time homebuyer. Integral in the Affordable Care Act are transferable […]

Last time, we talked about how showrooming is impacting the retailer, briefly discussed what causes it and covered how a home store’s effective website selling experience helped me save time by avoiding a trip to a store that couldn’t decide whether it could help me. All the retailers say it’s about price and the research […]

By John Fuller In November, voters will have an opportunity to decide what to do about improvements to the Kalispell City Airport. Like many local and municipal referendums, the people will vote on an issue that has the potential to affect everyone, spend millions of taxpayer dollars and will be smothered in hyperbole from advocates […]

I reside in the City of Whitefish, inside the doughnut, and I support Flathead County’s total control of the property immediately outside the city limits. Simply stated, my overreaching neighbors find fault with everyone except themselves. I find the doughnut war ridiculous, without merit for the city, and a waste of city resources. I am […]