Montana customers may pay more for power while executives get millions in bonuses.

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

"I think an important point is, considering what the president is undertaking, what is the cost of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon? And the fact that this president’s been willing to make a historic and courageous choice to confront that, it comes with cost. And we recognize that." – Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the cost of the war in Iran.

On Monday, the Trump administration rescinded the “recreation” rule that had been put into effect by the Biden administration. It said that recreational purposes must be afforded equal weight to other uses. The new policy, which prioritizes mineral extraction and other land uses that will generate income, will affect 8 million acres of public land in Montana.  

Members of both parties in Congress blanched a bit when they got the latest update on the costs of the war in Iran, which topped $29 billion — and those numbers did not account for damage to other military bases around the region and world that have been struck by Iran. Republicans and Democrats blasted the administration for spending that kind of money, especially as the war puts pressure on gas and other consumer costs.

President Donald Trump had hoped to strengthen his power in the mid-term elections in November. While that has always been a struggle for President in his second term, he has implored Republicans to coalesce behind him to finish the agenda he’s outlined, but plummeting poll numbers threaten not just to hand election victories to Democrats, but also could undermine his policies if power switches.

After the United States Supreme Court decision about the Voting Rights Acts, states have rushed to redraw the Congressional district lines before the election. However, many of those decisions will not necessarily come before the U.S. Supreme Court. Those decisions will be left to state courts across the country.

Under pressure from various groups, including those who support reproductive rights, Dr. Marty Makary, Donald Trump’s Food and Drug Administration chief, has resigned.

There’s a great story that I read about Ricky Skaggs, who was behind stage at a concert, and seeing Ray Price go on stage. Price was looking his age — a bent-up, somewhat frail looking older country star. Skaggs and others wondered if he would even be able to make it through the performance, let alone do well.

Then, out of this frail body in a western-cut suit, a big voice that the sound system had a hard time containing put on an absolute clinic in country music. As Price walked off stage and passed Skaggs, there was a glimmer in his eye as he winked. Skaggs recounts that they may have just witnessed one of the greatest country performers ever.

Certainly, a look at Price’s career shows a country western artist who spanned more than two decades of active recording, performing and chart-topping — which would be enough for most people. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and had a string of hits to fill an entire box set, instead of an album. And a cursory look at statistics like number of weeks on the chart, or number of albums sold, show that Price is often in the Top 10.

Still, ask most country fans about Price, and they may not say much. In the mid-1950s, Price had a string of Top 10 hits on the country Billboard charts, including “Crazy Arms.”

Price’s voice was soaring and he may have had a range not unlike Roy Orbison, who could hit high notes with force and clarity. The tight vocal harmonies, usually from overdubbing, made it look and sound easy, just like this song, “Burning Memories,” from his 1965 album by the same title.

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