Taxpayers are also footing the bill for the Secretary of State's new billboards.

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

"I made this very clear that I don’t care what color your state is. I don’t care if you’re red or you’re blue. At the end of the day, my job is to be secretary of Homeland and to protect everybody the same. And we will do that. I’ll fight every single day.” –Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin

Columnist and conservationist Mike Garrity explains why he and others are suing the United States Forest Service over a project that borders Yellowstone National Park. The answer is simple: They won’t follow the law and instead are making it harder on already endangered species.

After former U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin voted for himself as part of an effort by the United States Senate to confirm him as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, a businessman from Tulsa will serve out the remainder of Mullin’s term, vowing that he will not seek re-election.

Union members with the Transportation Security Administration are urging members of Congress to find a funding solution that doesn’t leave the airport personnel without a paycheck and without calling in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Speaking of Markwayne Mullin, in his first public address after being confirmed and sworn-in, he pledged to protect all Americans, addressing concerns that the Department of Homeland Security has targeted American citizens.

The United States Supreme Court seems to be leaning toward letting the Trump administration turn away asylum-seekers from applying for asylum before they fully cross the border — although opponents argue that might violate federal law.

The U.S. Supreme Court is also wrestling with whether states can continue to count ballots that were postmarked on or before Election Day, even if the ballots don’t arrive until several days after.

The Republicans in the United States Senate have come up with a new plan they hope will allow TSA agents to get paid and fund the department. In a new proposal, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota says that the funding would appropriate money for many of the agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, while not funding some immigration related services in order to debate those details, which have been sticking points for both the GOP and Democrats.

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Our colleagues at the North Dakota Monitor report that a handful of ministers and religious leaders are planning a Palm Sunday morning march ,which will be to protest the treatment of immigrants and refugees.

Meanwhile, our neighbors to the west in Idaho may be in trouble after the Legislature there passed a measure that would allow the Attorney General of Idaho to fine and remove local officials who do not follow state laws. The Republicans in the state legislature are particularly perturbed at Boise and its adoption of a multi-colored “pride” flag, which contravenes state law. The Boise officials have not changed the flag, leading to this escalation at the Capitol, according to the Idaho Capital Sun.

Finally, The New York Times reports that many fine dining restaurants across the country are either struggling or closing. It’s not just that the economy is tight or that gas prices are high — although both of things factor in. However, fewer people are splurging on booze. Alcohol sales are usually the highest profit parts of the business, and people are willing to eat (which is less profitable), but they’re not drinking as much, if at all, pinching the pennies on the money that restaurants have traditionally relied upon.

It appears as if U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is enjoying some of his remaining time in Washington, D.C., even as he recently announced that he would not seek re-election in order to be closer to Montana and spend more time with his family. That’s a good reason. Even though he’s far away from home, Daines doesn’t appear too lonely. He posted a picture of visiting a friend’s house on Monday night.

In the past week, we’ve featured songs that are obscure, or songs with awful lyrics. What makes a song a good or terrible if often in the ear and head of the listener. But Denise Boggs, one of our old friends and eDJ, wrote to suggest a song, “Maggie May,” by Rod Stewart … or, also Sir Roderick David Stewart.

Even though Stewart had made a name for himself as part of the Faces and became a damn fine blues singer in the United Kingdom, “Maggie May” became a breakthrough hit. I have always loved Rod Stewart, even if his outrageous outfits left too little to the imagination. Then again, what do you expect from a guy who has made millions off a song titled, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” I’d suggest that is not a rhetorical question. As much as some of his outfits are cringy, he has one of those unique voices that is rough, scratchy and throughly recognizable. I'm also tempted to say that if someone even tried to emulate him, it would likely sound horrible.

But Boggs didn’t write much about that song — and that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to spotlight it. She mentioned that the lyrics aren’t terrible. And the song isn’t obscure. She just loves it. Period.

And, really that should be reason enough to feature any song on “The Hook.” We can have all sorts of opinions and ideas about which songs speak to us, but at the end of the day, it may indeed just be rock and roll.

And we like it.

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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