Federal judge says Molnar will be banned from office

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

Today, we begin with the news that a federal judge has agreed to uphold Montana Public Service Commission’s decision to boot commissioner Brad Molnar from the office — just as it begins to consider the merger of NorthWestern Energy. Now, the rest of us will see whether Gov. Greg Gianforte decides to remove Molnar because of comments that most people would agree are not work-friendly (for example, Molnar’s suggestions of “Topless Tuesdays”).

For all the gridlock in Congress, there are some moments — brief … very brief — where politicians work across aisles. An example is recent legislation from Sen. Tim Sheehy, who is working with California’s Sen. Alex Padilla on hazard pay for some wildland firefighters who are working controlled burns.

Finally, in what is an all-too-familiar rite of passage in the summer: Yellowstone National Park reports its first bison goring of the year. We really can’t say it enough: Do not pet the fluffy cows.

The 2025 Montana Legislature set up more programs to help raise awareness and solutions to the problem of wildlife crossings — especially around busy highways. The wildlife crossings are popping up more frequently and save human and animal lives. Now a new license plate by a Gallatin County artist will help raise funds to keep wildlife off roads.

The “graying of America” continues as several other states have now tipped the threshold that experts have said would happen: There are more older residents in some states (Montana is one of them) than younger people, which could have serious consequences for some sectors like housing, healthcare and education.

The United States Supreme Court ruled in a very split decision (it was 5-to-4) that states could continue to accept ballots received by election officials so long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day. The decision deals a blow to the Trump administration, which wanted to curtail mail-in voting. But Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote that the key issue was when people vote; in other words, so long as they vote on or before Election Day, that satisfies the law. Also, she acknowledged that states have the power to set their own election laws.

Speaking of the Supreme Court — it made another ruling that will have far-flung consequences: The justices, in another split decision, said that cell phone location data isn’t available for law enforcement just because it can gain access to it. Law enforcement must get a search warrant for specific data connecting an individual to a certain location and time.

President Donald Trump is nominating a former state trooper from Oklahoma to be the next person to lead the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That position has been vacant since conflicts in both Chicago and Minneapolis. Lance Schroyer doesn’t have a lot of immigration experience, but has worked with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

In a split ruling by an already divided Supreme Court, the court’s majority said that Trump is allowed to sack a member of the Federal Trade Commission because that agency was set up to carry out the president’s economic policies. However, the court also stopped short of saying he could sack a member of the Federal Board of Reserve Governors.

Also, Trump plans on visiting North Dakota on Wednesday as part of the 250th celebration and to visit the Theodore Roosevelt presidential library. While that is located in Medora, North Dakota, it’s a popular tourist spot for people going through or visiting eastern Montana.

Note: some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall

Our first story from The Washington Post chronicles a reporter visit the Trump administration’s “Freedom Trucks,” which have been crisscrossing the country for America’s 250th birthday. The trucks are traveling exhibits, celebrating the nation’s history, but also would seem to put a positive spin on such subjects as slavery.

The Post is also reporting that the Supreme Court also likely angered Trump because it has declined to hear the appeal of E. Jean Carroll, the woman who successfully sued the president and won for allegedly assaulting her in a department store.

Finally, there’s more news on the reflecting pool controversy. No, we still haven’t been able to find those vandals — but something else went missing at the pool. There were at least four bulky and visible nanobubblers that were helping to keep the pool blue. However, they were somewhat of an eyesore, and the administration had them removed before the Trump birthday celebration and UFC fight. They reappeared after, but it appears to be too late because the algae had already begun to take over.  

It seems to have been stormy all across Montana this weekend. A few high elevations even reported some snow. (Insert obligatory joke about Montana’s weather here). But Carolyn Willis, a photographer, shared on Facebook this time-lapse video of a thunderstorm moving in at the airport on the Rims in Billings.  

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The Library of Congress isn’t the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. And, you may think of it more as a place for books. But it recently received the archive collection of Doc Pomus. You’d be hard-pressed to find another person more influential in rock-and-roll music. He wrote songs for everyone from Elvis Presley to Big Joe Turner.

Part of the collection includes a cocktail napkin that he used to start what would become the song, “Save The Last Dance For Me,” which we feature on today’s “The Hook.” There are a lot of tapes and manuscripts, including where he’s working out demonstration copies of songs, or playing live music or just messing around in the studio. One of the acetates in the collection was made to guide Presley through the Doc Pomus’ song, “Viva Las Vegas.”

Here’s the article about the new collection.

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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