Whitefish voters already received their ballots in the mail. They are due back on Nov. 5. Any eligible citizen who did not receive a ballot can vote at the election department at 800 South Main Street in Kalispell. Montanans enjoy same-day voter registration, which assures citizens in Whitefish, Columbia Falls or Kalispell who may have […]

The board of Montana West Economic Development has researched the ballot issues surrounding the Kalispell Airport. We compared the economic impact of accepting FAA funds to upgrade the airport to FAA-recommended safety standards and that of not pursuing the FAA funds for upgrades or further maintenance. The results of our research: The airport has a […]

Thank you, Congressman Steve Daines for voting to temporarily reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. Unfortunately, by the time you finally woke up and stopped supporting the whack job faction that closed the government and brought us to the brink of economic chaos, unnecessary damage had already been done: According to the S&P […]

I thought Montana Republican Congressman Steve Daines would soon declare for U.S. Senate – now that the government is reopened and the debt ceiling raised. But the freshman lawmaker recently announced he won’t decide until next year. If he does run, he would still be the frontrunner, but it’s hard to imagine the last few […]

By John Fuller Because of the total capitulation of some House and most Senate Republicans, the government shutdown (or slimdown) is over (temporarily) and the Democrats, their liberal media shills and their low-information followers are claiming victory. And a victory of sorts it is. The Republicans got nothing they wanted. The talking heads will be […]

They say, “70 million French can’t be all wrong!” Not being satisfied with just Americans, President Barack Obama was spying on more than 70 million French phone calls and emails, as well. So, who is left? How do I know they’re don’t have a camera in my toilet bowl? The NSA now has email and […]

Media reports about the impact of the federal government shutdown have interestingly focused on one public impact more than any other – the loss of access to public lands. Barricaded monuments, chained gates at national parks, and refuges closed to hunting became the most visual – and often most emotional – representation of the shutdown. […]

Call me miffed at the National Park Service’s ham-handed federal shutdown management. But you can also count me as grateful the Park Service hosted an event on the Washington Mall. With everyone else banned, an immigration rally went forward, complete with stages, lighting and a popular Norteno band. It was classic Animal Farm two-facedness, with […]

Dan Kennedy is known to say something to the effect of “If I wake up at 2:00 am thinking about you or your business, you’re in trouble.” I can relate. For me, the “are you worth it?” measuring stick is often drama-related. Drama happens. It’s part of life. On the other hand, if you intentionally […]

I really don’t care what party you claim to belong. Have you seen the latest news as to what has happened because of the government shutdown? If I recall correctly when the Republicans were running for seats in the House, their main cry was jobs, jobs and jobs. I didn’t know they were going to […]

By John Fuller On or about Oct. 17, the United States government reaches its debt limit. With the government borrowing more than $2 billion a day, it was inevitable that we would reach the congressionally pre-determined debt ceiling. President Barack Obama and the Democrats claim that unless the debt ceiling is raised the U.S. will […]

The Democrats need to smell the coffee and change their idiosyncratic philosophy to make it more friendly to the free market and less hostile to it. Since President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Democratic Party has never missed a chance to turn this county from a nation of laws into an administrative state not unlike the […]

Hate Congress? Sick of reading descriptions of our U.S. governing body accompanied by words like “stalemate,” “dysfunction” and “broken”? Well, then you should consider running for office. That might sound counterintuitive, but your country needs you. Unfortunately, the recent shutdown and standoff over raising the debt ceiling is having the opposite effect. Since Republican U.S. […]

Montana is lucky that cities like Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Kalispell do not suddenly close local parks or defund the health department in ideological fights over another law. State fiscal analysts project that Gov. Steve Bullock is faced with another two-year budget surplus, this time over $500 million. Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer maintained an average […]

What does being professional mean to you? To some, it means “Not being an amateur”. So how does the public differentiate amateurs from professionals? In some circles, money is the key. Amateurs don’t get paid, professionals do. For example, an amateur golfer typically isn’t eligible for prize money in tournaments. Once they decide to go […]