Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/category/montana/page/51/)
How incredibly sharp have become the edges of the two-sided sword we call freedom of speech. Like most of the world, I received the news of what happened at the offices of Charlie Hebdo with a sense of extreme shock and sadness. But this was different. Because it was also coupled with something that I have not fallen prey to much when it comes to world events. I felt a profound sense of fear. Continue Reading →
(This is the first story in a three-part series investigating police officer-involved deaths in Montana.)
In the past two weeks, police officers in Montana have shot four men, killing three and hospitalizing a fourth. As state media outlets release more details about the individual incidents and aftermath, this reporter set out to determine just how many people have died in police custody across the state in recent years. (more…) Continue Reading →
PRYOR—Armed with about $8,000 in grant money and a box of donated climbing harnesses and shoes, Pryor teacher Loren Rausch set out last year to share one of his life’s passions with his students at Plenty Coups High School. Rausch, a second-year science teacher at the school, has long been a rock-climbing aficionado, climbing in Alaska and Nepal between finishing his undergraduate degree and starting his job in Pryor. So, during his first year at Plenty Coups, which is located on the Crow Reservation, Rausch started ordering parts to build a 22-foot climbing wall in the school’s gymnasium. (more…) Continue Reading →
Editor’s note: The Billings City Council will also be pushing for a local option sales tax during the 2015 legislative session. And while the proprietor of Last Best News is inclined to think such a tax has it advantages, we are pleased to offer this contrary view. Here we go again. (more…) Continue Reading →
On Dec. 4, 2013, John Cech went snowshoeing in the Elkhorn Mountains near his home in Clancy, accompanied by his two golden retrievers. It was a beautiful day, so he snapped a few pictures on his iPhone, and when he got back home he thought he’d post a photo or two on Facebook. He sent the photos from his phone to his laptop via Gmail for easier posting. A few minutes later, he received an email response from another John Cech—Jean-Louis Cech in Orange, France—who said, “Gee, it looks cold out there. Continue Reading →
Much has already been made of the news that the Montana House Education Committee will be led during the 2015 legislative session by two prominent supporters of school choice and charter schools. But since Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock is likely to veto any attempts to bring school choice to Montana, it’s the long game that is more interesting, and in that sense backers of school choice seem positioned to prevail someday soon. (more…) Continue Reading →
The new speaker of the House recently proposed, then rescinded, a dress code he was trying to impose on the Montana Legislature. While there was a great deal of negative press regarding this issue, there are other, more dangerous rules that are being forced upon the Legislature by a minority within the GOP leadership. These rules range from being simply insulting to Democrats to being extremely dangerous to the legislative process. The following are a few of them. (more…) Continue Reading →
Site work on what is proposed to be the biggest wind farm in Montana is expected to start Thursday about 10 miles southeast of Bridger. “That’s a huge project,” Carbon County Commissioner John Prinkki said. “It’s an exciting project.” (more…) Continue Reading →
One of the most important moments in Jerel Driver’s life came 3½ years ago, two days before he was to start serving a prison term for criminal endangerment. He was living in Glendive, where he committed most of his crimes. He said all his trouble involved the same two things: alcohol and violence. “I grew up fighting,” he said. “That’s the way it was. Continue Reading →
I wrote in August about an effort by Belfry-area landowners to create a special zoning district aimed at lessening the impacts of nearby oil and gas development. (more…) Continue Reading →
