By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief
Happy middle-of-the-week, folks. Today, we begin with a court case that involves 17 people picked up by the Department of Homeland Security in Montana. According to federal court documents, none of them have criminal warrants, and all of them have been refused due process under a policy that both Montana and appeals courts have rejected.
Speaking of court cases, a growing number of Republicans, now being called “Grass Roots Republicans,” have filed a friend-of-the-court brief, objecting to the Montana GOP’s new bylaws, which would allow party officials to boot Republicans they believe do not uphold the party’s values.
Upper Seven Law seeks class action in immigration case
by Keila Szpaller
A man who has lived in Montana for 10 years and faced pressure from federal authorities to deport himself is among 17 people being illegally detained in the Cascade County Detention Center, according to a federal court filing this week. Jesus Verde Hernandez, of Worden, faces no criminal charges, but U.S. Customs and Border Patrol […]
County Republican committees, lawmakers and candidates file brief in lawsuit against state GOP
by Micah Drew
Two weeks after a district court judge held a hearing on whether new Montana Republican Party bylaws are unconstitutional, a group of 67 individual Republicans, plus representatives of three county GOP central committees, filed a brief supporting the lawsuit. In an amicus curiae brief, the group, collectively known as “Montana Grass Roots Republicans,” argues that […]
Montana extends fee waiver for driver’s license, ID renewal
by Micah Drew
Montanans looking to renew their driver’s licenses, IDs and commercial driver’s license credentials can benefit from a state waiver of some fees through September, if they are adding a new U.S. citizenship marker. The state legislature passed a law in 2025 requiring state ID cards and driver’s licenses to indicate whether the person is a […]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The United States Senate passed a stopgap measure to keep the government funded through part of December. The legislation would keep the “lights turned on,” so to speak, but some are worried because it halts some previously approved highway and transportation projects to the tune of $38 billion.
Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee to become the United States Attorney General has cleared the U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee after some wrestling over the $1.8 billion “slush fund” that Blanche created at the behest of Trump, who as late as Monday was advocating to compensate those who had been convicted during the January 6th insurrection.
Idaho has just received a federal grant to become one of the sites that could continue government-funded nuclear energy. However, as part of the grant, it must accept and store nuclear waste within the state.
Crisis pregnancy centers are meant to be an alternative to clinics that offer abortion. However, many of them may not be staffed by a full medical team. Those centers are pressuring the government to allow the use of ultrasound technology to assist their work and clients, without government oversight.
COMMENTARY
Former state lawmaker Jon Ellingson writes that’s it’s easy to be fooled by the flat-tax proposal coming from the Gianforte administration. However, that won’t help the average Montanan, while leaving state coffers struggling to help everyday Montanans with their needs like healthcare and schools.
THE HOOK
Many of us awoke to cooler temperatures and blue skies instead of the smoky, gray-orange haze that seemed to linger in the air like fog. While the reprieve is likely temporary, the first song that popped into my head was Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now.”
The song became a smash hit in America, hitting No.1 on the Billboard pop charts. It also helped expose more people to reggae music. In fact, Nash credited a writing session with Bob Marley for helping him to inspire this hit that has been done and redone by many artists.
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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