It's official: Montana's PSC is juvenile.

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

Today, we begin with a court hearing in Missoula about whether Montana Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar will have to remain out-of-the-office because of his behavior. Meanwhile, even a federal judge agrees: The PSC’s behavior is rather juvenile.

And, despite protests and promises that a state psychiatric facility would not go where it’s not wanted, state officials have chosen to put the forensic hospital in Laurel (where there were a lot of residents who didn’t want it).

Finally, it’s too early to tell whether the hopes of the Democrats in the election is going to be a “blue tsumani” or something less powerful.

One of the repercussions of banning abortion and the medication that assists the process is that it is often used as a lifeline to help women out of situations where there is domestic violence. Folks who work in the field say restricting access to the medication may also increase the problem of domestic violence.

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

Today, we feature two stories from The New York Times to begin. The first comes as an unpleasant piece of news for those of us who like to hoist a few (me, included). The paper reports that scientists have found that just one drink of alcohol begins to elevate a drinker’s health risk.

The next story may even be more scary than the risks of grabbing a drink. Instead, new reporting and investigation by the paper shows how close the Trump administration has come to revoking the writ of habeas corpus — one of the foundations of democracy. By suspending the law, the administration would not have to answer why it’s imprisoning people. The rarely used exception is considered the most extreme measure a president can take, and usually only happens in the event of an insurrection or breakdown in normal law enforcement.

Finally, in what may be the most disturbing read you’ll see here today: Parents of children who are sick, disabled, or even fighting life-threatening diseases may choose to forego those because Tennessee officials have said they cannot guarantee that children or parental immigration status won’t be disclosed to authorities, leading some parents to have to contemplate getting medical help for their family, or risk being deported.

In our weekend newsletter (and, if you haven’t subscribed, you should; in fact, here’s the link), Daily Montanan Deputy Editor Keila Szpaller was recounting part of what happened to her recently. As she was on a walk with her faithful wiener dog mix, Frankie, they encountered some of the wildlife (see below, please).

Frankie and Keila beat a hasty retreat. But, she reiterated one of the truths of living in this place: Bears have the right of way.

Also, Montana problems.

Speaking of weekend newsletters, our “weekend” newsletter publishes on Saturday. So usually, Sunday is the only day that you don’t receive an email from us (please know we really miss you). But, as we know many holidays fall on Sundays — some by design, some by calendar coincidence. Such is the case for Father’s Day. And today, one of our dear eDJs penned a great Father’s Day tribute, so we’d like to share it here.

OK Robyn, over to you:

My dad was a member of “The Greatest Generation,”  as many of your parents were.  He was also a member of the Greatest Dads Club.  Many of us are lucky to have had a great dad — or a great dad surrogate — but I can attest to only my own.  Dad was fun, funny, steady and nice.  And always — always — there when you needed him.  Here is a brief summary of my regular, but great, Dad. 

And why he deserves a spot in “The Hook.”

Dad was born into tough circumstances in 1920. The Great Depression did not help matters, so he left high school to work in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps for two years.  He returned to his home town and finished high school, thereafter enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1941. The Navy sent him to a six month electrician's training course at Purdue.  He spent the war years working as an electrician's mate on LSTs — "Landing Ship, Tanks".  (Or, if you prefer a dad joke, "Large Slow Targets").  LSTs were large, lightly armed ships designed to land tanks, troops and supplies straight onto beachheads. They then picked up casualties, returned sail to an Allied-controlled port, reloaded, and returned to the beaches. Dad's ship worked its way from North Africa to Sicily to Salerno and Anzio and then to southern France.

Like so many men, Dad had zero interest in reliving his war experiences. When asked, his succinct summary of Anzio was: "It was a mess. It seemed like it would never end.  That winter (1943-44) was so damn cold. A lot of guys on the ship got bad frostbite and had a tough time with it.  And running up on those beaches unloading those poor guys...."   

Dad was discharged in 1945. He was mostly, but not entirely, intact. As with tens of thousands of other young servicemen, he was afflicted with stomach ulcers, which plagued him throughout his life. Years later, when my Mom wanted him to go to the Vatican with her and her church group, Dad declined the invitation. He mildly explained that the last time he was in Italy "everyone was shooting at us" and that a return trip held no allure.

Dad met and married my Mom in 1950. They had been married for 67 years when he died in 2018. He used his naval electrician's training to land a job with the Montana Dakota Utilities Co. for which he proudly worked until retirement.  

As fits the era, my dad loved the Big Bands and the “Rat Pack.” Dean Martin was his favorite, and he rarely missed Martin's Thursday night television show. Dean, holding a cocktail and a cigarette, "could really tell a joke," in my Dad's studied opinion.  

So, Dad, thanks for everything. Thanks for being a nice, normal Dad. Thanks for driving my sister and me around to every nickle/dime "concert" we could find. Thanks for not making us turn it down. Thanks especially for digging into your wallet every time the Rexall store got in a new batch of 45s.  We've made good use of our music-loving start.

Here's Dean and his Golddiggers singing a 1955 song by Chuck Willis. It was initially recorded by a Baltimore R&B group, the Cardinals. Their version is wonderful and is on Spotify. But today the “King of Cool” will croon "The Door is Still Open to my Heart."    

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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