When Opponents of the Helena Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Make the Best Case...
At last night’s City Commission hearing, one woman made the best case for why we need an anti-discrimination ordinance in Helena: A mother of two expressed her concern about folks using “gender...
View ArticleMath 101: The Helena College on Roberts Street Near Helena High-University of...
The Independent Record is reporting that UM-Helena believes it will cost as much as $202,950 to change the name of the institution from to the unwieldy (and unloved) Helena College University of...
View ArticleHelena School District Expands Health Coverage to Domestic Partners
The Helena School District Board of Trustees voted 5-1 last night to allow domestic partners to be included in the District’s health care plan. It was the right decision—and one supported by legal...
View ArticleCity Commissioner Dan Ellison is Wrong on the Discrimination Ordinance
While City Commissioner Dan Ellison would rather focus the news (and apparently City Commission meetings) on his pique about coverage in the Independent Record, he’s absolutely wrong on the issue that...
View ArticleJust How Stupid Does Randy Rickman Think We Are?
It seems that Randy Rickman, the publisher of the Independent Record, has more explaining to do, this time attempting to justify his decision to offer yet another “fresh start” at the Independent...
View ArticleOn the Death of Political Media
We’re living in a sad time for political reporting here in Montana. It’s not that newspapers like the Great Falls Tribune and Helena Independent Record are abandoning their role to endorse candidates...
View ArticleLiz Bangerter’s Curious Campaign Finance Report
This evening, I took a look at HD80 candidate Liz Bangerter’s campaign finance report for October and I found myself terribly confused. It seems that the Bangerter campaign gave donations of $630 to...
View ArticleA Library is Good for Everyone
A library is an equalizer for the whole community, it’s a place, where anyone, regardless of anything, can get information and educate themselves. A foundation to a strong democracy is a strong...
View ArticleRepresentative Daines Votes to Increase College Debt, Economic Uncertainty
Representative Daines wants those attending college to pay more for their loans. Today he voted for the poorly-named Smarter Solutions for Students Act, which would allow those same sensible market...
View ArticleChanges in the Leadership of the Helena School District and Independent Record?
There appear to be some moves afoot at both the Helena School District and Independent Record, with potential changes in leadership coming for both organizations. Multiple sources have told me that the...
View ArticleWhen to protest
This is more of a question than an answer. Three recent protests come to mind. Did they make a difference or were they all for naught? First of all, I’m channel surfing Friday night and land on CNN. At...
View ArticleA New Superintendent for the Helena School District
It would appear the Helena School District will be looking for a new superintendent almost immediately. From the Snohomish School District web page: The School Board held a special meeting this morning...
View ArticleHelena Mayor Jim Smith on Climate Change: “I’m Not Gonna Take the Time to...
During the recent City Commission debate about Andres Haladay’s proposal to uphold the Paris climate deal abandoned by President Trump, Helena Mayor Jim Smith expressed concern about the resolution and...
View ArticleAbout Monuments and History: Let’s Learn from the Confederate Memorial in Helena
One of the most interesting places I’ve traveled over the past few years was Memento Park in Budapest, an open-air museum filled with the detritus of Soviet rule over Eastern Bloc countries. There’s...
View ArticleGuest Post: Vote Yes on the Jail Levy
by Abigail St. Lawrence Let me start by acknowledging that I am far from a pureblood liberal. I get cranky about bureaucracy and can give you a list of governmental offices I think could be cut. As a...
View ArticleKey Endorsements Highlight 2017 Municipal Elections
Municipal elections are some of the most important elections that will occur in 2017. It is these candidates that are elected in municipal races that could one day be elected to higher office like...
View ArticleFirefighters Deserve Better
Military service members, law enforcement officers, first responders, and firefighters are some of the most revered professions in the United States. Since the events of September 11th, 2001, as we...
View ArticleMontana Municipal Race Highlights
With a little over one week until another election day, it bears a reminder that you need to mail back your municipal ballot or, if you haven’t received one to go to your local elections office,...
View ArticleThe Progressive Case for Plowing the Damn Roads in Helena
I only drive on the “emergency snow routes” in Helena to get to work. Yesterday, despite a week’s warning about the coming snow, when I tried to drive on those identified snow routes, as always, they...
View ArticleA new game plan for Montana Progressives: Win the Legislature back in 2018
Even against the best team, the opponent is going to score once in a while. Especially when the other team is playing a little dirty and the refs can’t catch everything. The opponent will score, but...
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