NorthWestern Energy urges PSC to toss complaint that alleges it's keeping customers in the dark.

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

"Like the 60,000 women that were assaulted sexually last year, or the 10,000 students that were assaulted by people that worked at their schools. Or, let’s get closer to home, the 3,000 cattle that were rustled across this country, or the 35,000 horses that were stolen, or the 2 million bicycles that were stolen last year. These are the sorts of things that affect the lives of people in America.” – Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, talking to reporters about the SAVE Act, and other crimes that should attract more attention from Congress.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte does two things at once — he celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and also celebrated Montana’s agriculture month by spotlighting Gulch Distillers in downtown Helena, which has received state funding to help relocate and expand its business, which features barley, malt and rye from Montana.

Yellowstone National Park comes so very close to setting a record for number of visitors in 2025. It came within 10,000 visitors of setting a record.

As gas prices begin to soar because of the war with Iran, that comes as a double-whammy for many residents who are already experiencing high energy costs at home. Competition for electricity, especially in the midst of talk about data centers, coupled with rapidly increasing fuel rates, are driving the costs of transportation higher, and groceries are seeing upward prices because of it, too.

In New Mexico, a “truth commission” that will be investigating the activities of child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his sprawling estate there, Zorro Ranch, is looking for a law firm to assist the lawmakers who are a part of that state-led investigation.

Our colleagues at Stateline have reported that state election officials are also standing opposed to the SAVE Act, which Republicans in Congress are supporting. They say that in addition to interrupting or delaying elections, the new legislation would also shift significant costs to the state, without any funding from the federal government.

Speaking of the SAVE Act, the United States Senate has begun debating the measure, but the legislation, which has been hailed by President Donald Trump, is likely doomed because it would require 60 votes from Republican Senators, something impossible in the current Senate. Meanwhile, Trump has said that the Senate should consider repealing the filibuster, which could have a long list of political repercussions in an already very divided, acrimonious Congress.

Members of Congress voted to memorialize the sacrifices and events of January 6, 2021, after police officers were injured and died. However, after President Trump re-took office in 2025, he pardoned many of those involved in the insurrection and now the plaque commemorating the sacrifice of the officers is placed in a rather obscure, out-of-the-way place.  

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I have worked in a lot of strange offices — mostly involving newspapers. In several of those offices, there have been vaults or other bank-like safes because, at one time, newspapers handled a lot of cash, including a significant amount of loose change from vending machines. The Wall Street Journal reported that one of those offices I used to inhabit — the former site of the Casper Star-Tribune — now uses its vault to house a significant amount of gold.

Sometimes, I am left at a loss for words when it comes to musical discoveries. Jimmy Newman — sometimes referred to as “Jimmy C. Newman.” He said the “C” in his middle name stood for “Cajun,” a nod to his Louisiana home state. Newman is one of those artists who maintained a steady period of popularity throughout the 1960s, but often gets overlooked in the avalanche of very talented country musicians from that era, even though he was a member of the Grand Ol’ Opry.

His voice is clear and can cut through a song as good as any of them. In the era of smooth, gentlemen country, his voice was equally powerful, but there was a lonesome element to it that seemed to make the sad songs pull on your heart just a bit more. Recently, I came across a great copy of his “Artificial Rose” album, which had several hits on it, including the title track. It is from 1965, and you’d be hard pressed to find a bad song on the entire album, with many of them being written by the legendary performer and writer Tom T. Hall.

One of those great songs is “Back In Circulation.

If you’re a fan of mid-century country and a great voice, you’re sure to find some gems and surprises on this album.

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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