The end of an era in Anaconda.

By DARRELL EHRLICK | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning, Daily Montanan faithful. We’re mixing it up a bit here. For years, we’ve used this space for a quote of the day — sometimes insightful, other times inciting. Instead, we’re going to use this space to briefly describe our top three stories.

So, for today, we have Jordan Hansen’s excellent look at Anaconda — the community that almost became Montana’s capital — now has no local media. Meanwhile, even though some in his party have called for GOP Chairman Art Wittich to step down, he doubles down, saying the Republican Party is the only antidote to creeping socialism. Finally, kids in Montana have an additional means of help as Montana announces its “Sun Bucks” program — supplemental food assistance for qualified school-aged kids to ensure they have adequate food during the non-school months.

The lead plaintiff in the federal case challenging the lack of action by the government in the face of undeniable climate change, Eva Lighthiser writes that the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals didn’t dismiss the youth challenge because it disagreed with the legal argument that the climate is changing and governments aren’t protecting future generations; instead, it said that the harm from the change must be real, not speculative. Lighthiser says: The next generation can’t wait that long.

Democrats in Congress warn that more protections are needed for transgender students who have become targeted and picked on as President Donald Trump and other members of the Republican Party have targeted student athletes and passed onerous bathroom bills.

A federal judge says she’s not dismissing a lawsuit involving Trump’s “slush fund,” which would help compensate members of those targeted by government “lawfare,” especially the Jan. 6 rioters, until there’s evidence that the plans to create and fund the project are officially dissolved.

Inflation grew at a higher-than-expected pace for May, totaling 4.2%. Economists say that increase was largely driven by an increase in gas prices, which trickles down to almost all consumer goods.

Vance Boelter, who killed two Minnesota lawmakers and attempted to do the same with others, pleads guilty and will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the crimes that shocked the nation.

A federal judge has said that a planned UFC cage and a fighting match that was scheduled for President Trump’s 80th birthday (which was Sunday) could proceed on the White House lawn, despite much pushback. The judge said that plans for such an event were made public months ago and the emergency request was not justified. In other words: Those who objected to the cage and the use of White House property had plenty of time to protest.

As of Friday afternoon, it appeared that there was a framework of a deal to end the war with Iran. In fact, there even seemed to be some agreement about the removal of nuclear material from the country, but that created a new problem: How to remove dangerous nuclear material from the country.

In an age of distrust — when both parties and their followers deeply distrust the other side — a spy law that allows the government to listen in on foreign nationals and conversations overseas — has expired. It’s uncertain whether they’ll be enough support the reauthorization of the controversial program.

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

Our colleagues at the Florida Phoenix show us what happens when local law enforcement agencies lean too heavily into artificial intelligence. There a man was falsely accused when AI identified him as the suspect in a crime.

Our colleagues at the Ohio Capital Journal report that lawmakers there have offered even more helpful mandatory advice to students in public school about when to have children. First, you graduate from high school; then you get married; and only then, should you have children. While many people have followed that series in their own lives, and while many may even agree with it, it seems like something different when the government mandates exactly how and when you should have children — especially since many government officials have decried the negative population growth.

Finally, some news from outside of this world: Scientists have discovered a rare meteorite that suggests that very early in our own solar system’s creation, there may have been more smaller planets that were being formed that didn’t make it, giving tantalizing clues to how our solar system may have changed and evolved, according to Smithsonian magazine.

Today, we have a great song to kick off the week. And we have a great person, one of our eDJs, Laurie Franklin, to bring her great “The Hook” suggestion. The song’s title, which should be very familiar, is a good reminder for today, too. Despite all the rancor and the political dissent, Americans should stay together. We need each other. And, we need the good musical suggestion of Laurie … and so, Laurie — it’s over to you:

In this moment of great divisions in society, I offer this: Al Green’s classic, “Let’s Stay Together”, interpreted by Diplomats of Funk, an organ trio with one foot squarely in Montana and another in New Hampshire. They are keyboard master and audio engineer, Jay Frigoletto (New Hampshire), guitarist and audio engineer, his musical brother Owen Ross (Missoula), and on the drum throne, J.L. Claybourne, now in Georgia. Sometimes the drum throne is occupied by Tyler Montaquila, (Massachusetts) and often by Missoula frequent visitor from Spain, Antonio Al aka Antonio Pax. Owen collaborates with Billings guitar wonder Alex Nauman! If you “YouTube” Diplomats of Funk, you can hear covers and lots of originals. They groove. Personal note: Owen Ross is my son, and yes, I’m a proud mama.

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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