Cats take over White House.

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

The Montana State University Bobcats got the ultimate honor on Wednesday as they visited the White House to meet President Donald J. Trump and celebrate their FCS’ football championship. We like the idea that Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream was part of the celebration, along with hamburgers.

In Yellowstone County, the county’s three commissioners decide to hold off on a controversial proposal that would have either prohibited signature-gathering or required permission. Citizens had threatened legal action, saying the proposal would interfere with their First Amendment rights. The timing is a bit suspect too, as this new proposal just so happens to coincide with a citizens-led drive to prohibit data centers from being constructed without residents’ approval, an idea that commissioners don’t love.

Continuing its unbroken streak since 1973, the Montana Historical Society receives the endorsement from the Alliance of American Museums, an organization that conducts a rigorous set of evaluations and inspections. The certification is given to just 3% of museums nationwide, and the impressive new complex has welcomed more than 100,000 people in the time it has been reopened.

President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney and his current nominee for Attorney General of the United States, Todd Blanche, may not have enough support in the United States Senate to be confirmed after two Republican Senators have announced that they will not support him because of the deal he brokered with the Trump family about a since-abandoned “slush fund” that was designed to compensate people who have been victimized by “lawfare” and included the rioters who participated in the January 6th insurrections.

A new watershed piece of legislation that had widespread bipartisan support will be implemented to help fight against the housing crisis that centers on affordability. One of the key provisions of the legislation includes prohibiting companies from acquiring houses, especially more modestly prices homes, which has led to the increase in housing prices and a limited inventory.

A new report shows that unauthorized immigrants reached a population high during 2024, the last year of former President Joe Biden’s tenure. The numbers increased after years of relatively stable population estimates for the immigrants.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic and search for vaccine, came back from retirement to answer questions because of a legislative subpoena issued by a fellow doctor, Rand Paul, a senator from Kentucky. Fauci said that Paul has been relentlessly hounding him, accusing him of crimes related to the vaccine. Because of that, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, saying that commenting could only cause him harm because of what he characterized as trumped up, incorrect allegations.

The Department of Homeland Security has several different agencies under its umbrella — not so unlike many branches of the federal government. However, new reporting reveals that the Transportation Security Administration is sharing information about passengers and travelers with immigration and customs without telling travelers, raising some civil right concerns.

As temporary protections for certain immigrant groups and asylum seekers expires, Chris Van Hollen, a U.S. Senator from Maryland, tries extending those protections for people from Haiti and Syria. That measure failed, causing increased concern for those people as both countries face serious political instability, unrest and violence.

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A troubling new story by the Associated Press shows the percentage that average American households are paying for groceries, along with the increase in grocery prices overall. Anyone who has been to the grocery store lately would understand it, but the numbers are more severe than many have suspected (it’s never good news when you surprise the experts). In the past seven years, the average grocery bill for Americans has increased approximately 40%, which helps answer the question: Where did my money go?

Speaking of food, 11 people in Park County were sickened and some of them required hospital care after a rather unsuccessful mushroom hunting trip. Apparently, the folks didn’t find the right kind of mushrooms. All the people, according to reporting from KRTV, were from out of town.

Former Montana state auditor, legislator and executive director of the Montana Democratic Party Monica Lindeen said it’s important for Montana voters to come together to defeat the GOP and its nomination for the U.S. Senate, Kurt Alme. But that requires someone — Seth Bodnar or Alani Bankhead — to drop out. Even though she’s a proud Democrat, Lindeen said the choice is obvious, Bankhead is the weaker candidate.

While we all have our favorite artists, it’s interesting to see what artists resonate well in Montana. I have always liked the songwriter and artist Jackson Browne, who became a fixture in the 1970s and embodied the cool California sound with others like Fleetwood Mac.

I like Browne. But our very handsome and talented “Hooksters” love Jackson Browne. He, along with folks like Joe Cocker, are among our most requested. That’s why I was delighted recently to stumble on one of Browne’s hidden gems — hidden because it was on Joan Baez’s exceptional 1975 album, “Diamonds and Rust.” Baez is an interesting artist for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that despite being a fantastically talented song writer in her own right, she often incorporates many other artists’ work and you may not realize it.

Browne’s song is buried on the “B” side of the album, but both the melody and the lyrics make it easily identifiable as written by him. “Fountain of Sorrow” — was also featured on his 1974 album, “Late For the Sky.”

If you have a song that you’d like to share, or would like to get in touch with us, please send us a note at [email protected]

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