Over Independence Day weekend, the news hit that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has decided to “fast track” buying the so-called Spotted Dog ranch near Deer Lodge and turning it into a 38,000-acre Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The money for the buy ($16.6 million) is sourced from Montana’s Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP), funded […]

As a restoration ecology student at the University of Montana, I’ve been following the statewide discussion over forest management issues very closely. I was born and raised in Carson City, Nev., and I’ve been a Wilderness enthusiast all my life. Since 1999, Nevada has successfully protected over 3 million acres of land as Wilderness and […]

One of the hardest things for a newsroom to do is report on itself. Kalispell’s Daily Inter Lake has been in that position since first covering the story of a missing plane that involved two of its reporters. Journalists who weren’t gathering information about their colleagues last week were searching for them along the Flathead […]

Having recently celebrated Independence Day and the events that brought about the birth of our nation, let us continue to reflect upon the true meaning of patriotism and the responsibility that citizenship entails. The United States of America – and the planet – is facing an unprecedented crisis of a magnitude that would be unimaginable […]

Though our current economic troubles are complex, many mainstream economists have endorsed the simplistic Keynesian theory that massive government spending will produce jobs and prosperity. From such Keynesian thinking have flowed the “stimulus” and bailout measures that have increased the size and power of government and added trillions of dollars to the public debt. The […]

One of the reasons that businesses struggle is that they appear to be working as if the profit from a sale is more important than getting a new customer. Recognizing the difference in importance is critical to turning one-time visitors into long-time devotees. What’s a devotee? A devotee will bring their family and friends to […]

The political environment, that has been created the last few decades, has left us questioning the motives of our elected officials, candidates and campaigns. Are the messages ones of winning arguments or are the messages about solving problems and guiding this country into the future? Where are the civil debates, which we so desperately need, […]

It was early 2009 when, following the tragic death of its finance director and departure of its city manager, Whitefish began to get its finances in order. Amid a recession that had hammered budgets elsewhere, the municipality remained quite optimistic. It reported having robust cash reserves and officials there were confident building permits would pick […]

Gov. Brian Schweitzer wants to know if Canadian, or any other, oil companies “will skedaddle back” to where they came from in case of a spill, “and leave you hanging?” (June 22 flatheadbeacon.com: “Pipelines Bigger Threat Than Wells in Montana.”) Charming. That is a statement hardly worthy of any politician, especially one who’s anxious to […]

One of the most frequently asked questions of legislators these days is, “Why are there conflicting reports on Montana’s financial state of affairs?” The Legislative Fiscal Division reports that expenditures are greater than revenues and significant action will be necessary in the future to balance the budget as required by law. Meanwhile, the governor touts […]

I’m guessing that when you visit a doctor’s office for the first time, the experience is identical to most other first visits to most other doctors. You get a clipboard of paper to fill out, since they don’t know you from Adam – even though you have an appointment. The forms usually require that filling […]

The Supreme Court upholds gun rights in a wide-reaching ruling, while Gen. Stanley McChrystal is dismissed from commanding the Afghan War. HIGH 2nd AMENDMENT – A Supreme Court ruling Monday affirms gun rights apply nationwide. HORSE RACING – This popular sport is returning to the Northwest Montana Fair, Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, courtesy of […]

BOZEMAN – The first debate of the campaign season between incumbent Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg and Democratic challenger Dennis McDonald was the first time I have ever seen the two men in the same room. It appears that they don’t much like each other. In front of an audience of 100, about a quarter of […]

I read with great interest a series of articles about one of my favorite places: The Rocky Mountain Front. Nowhere else in Montana can we still witness what Lewis and Clark saw as they made their way through the state on their Journey of Discovery except through that of the Front. I have had many […]

You won’t get much debate in Washington or elsewhere if you say the United States must at some point seriously reduce its ballooning budget deficit. Perhaps after the economy has recovered further. Other developed nations are already cutting back. President Obama, having appointed a commission to make deficit-reducing suggestions, is requesting further authority to cut […]