Guest Opinions

Prisoners helping with California fires

Guest Opinions

As firefighters in California battle the deadliest wildfires in the state’s history, they are joined by unlikely allies against the blaze. About 200 prisoners in California’s Conservation Camp program are fighting the fires alongside civilian employees, earning just $1.45 a day for their work. Their pay as workers is a fraction of minimum wage. The hazard to their lives is real, as evidenced by a death toll that has climbed steadily.

One-party state?

Montana appears well down the road to becoming a one party (Republican), deeply conservative state, like the states that surround us. Jon Tester’s survival was an anomaly best explained by

Wild bison restoration unlikely

Central Montanans recently became aware of a newly created coalition of dreamers who call themselves the Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition. The coalition appears to have been created to serve

Cattlemen leery of free trade with Brazil

Following Brazil’s recent presidential election, news of a possible bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Brazil has begun to emerge. President Donald J. Trump and newly elected Brazilian

Lawsuit seeks to stop the Lincoln County Sheriff

The Lincoln County Sheriff is illegally imprisoning a Montana resident at the request of U.S. Immigration Officials, according to a lawsuit filed with the Lincoln County District Court by the

Zinke’s words ring hollow

Several organizations that advocate for public lands and wildlife in Montana rebuked Secretary Ryan Zinke for hiring Karen Budd-Falen, who recently joined the Department of the Interior, as deputy interior

Don’t leave rural America unconnected

Connectivity is the defining aspect of our 21st century economy. Access to broadband internet offers the best in education, health care, and economic development. Unfortunately for many, the best isn’t

Yes for Responsible Mining calls on Stillwater Mine to support I-186

In response to a new television ad, the Yes for Responsible Mining Initiative has sent a letter inviting the Stillwater Mining Company to join its campaign for responsible mining. The

I-185 provides tools to deter future smokers

I was sold on voting yes I-185 early on just to prevent 100,000 Montanans from losing their health care coverage. But I was significantly more convinced when I recently was

The legislature has already found ways to pay for mine cleanup

On Nov. 6 Montanans will have the opportunity to vote on whether we will continue to have a strong and viable mining industry. Mining currently contributes $2.7 billion to our

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