Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/page/165/)
I was planning to ride off into the sunset today, but if I may appropriate an observation by Benjamin Franklin, it looks as though I might be heading in the direction of the rising sun.
In the week since I announced that Last Best News would cease publication today, I have heard so many expressions of interest in reviving it in some shape or form, with or without my continued involvement, that it appears likely that this independent online newspaper will live on.
With a calm, collected and often playful attitude, Northern Hotel Executive Chef Tim Freeman took on celebrity chef Bobby Flay in a culinary showdown and came out the victor.
The Food Network show, “Beat Bobby Flay,” aired Thursday evening, and the Northern held a special screening party to celebrate Freeman’s victory. As Freeman was declared the victor on national television, the audience belted out cries of enthusiasm and congratulations. Continue Reading →
The Rev. Michael Mulberry is passionate about food, but in ways most people most likely have never considered.
He considers food from both a political and a spiritual perspective, looking at what we do to the earth and to ourselves in the growing and the eating of it. Along the way, he talks about immigration and the prophet Daniel and Daniel’s refusal to eat “the king’s meat.” He talks about the abundance and diversity of food promised by God in Genesis, about agricultural practices, “food deserts” and victory gardens. Continue Reading →
Well, it’s official: Greg Gianforte did not schedule a two-day, eight-city tour to announce that he wasn’t running for Montana governor.
Instead, as expected, he opened his tour Wednesday morning in Lockwood by declaring himself a pragmatic, job-creating candidate for the Republican nomination in the race. Continue Reading →
In November there was a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic, remember? In Colorado Springs, Colo., where four people died. That incident may have been buried in the slew of other shootings around the country. But let us focus here.
As the man fired 20 shots from his semiautomatic rifle, he made remarks about “baby parts.” We can reasonably take these as a reference to a video released by an anti-Planned Parenthood group, which depicts Planned Parenthood workers dealing in the acquisition and exchange of fetal human body parts for profit. Continue Reading →
The beginning of a new year is often a time when people and organizations try to find ways to improve.
Despite being one of the largest and newest libraries in the region, the Billings Public Library isn’t immune to this process: During the recent annual retreat of the library board, members discussed ways in which the library could better serve its patrons in the new year and beyond. Continue Reading →
If you’re just driving by, it’s hard to get a feel for CJ’s Bar and Grill. Located at 2455 Central Ave., CJ’s is nestled in a small strip mall next to a printer cartridge refill outfit. It’s also on the way to Target, so we pass by often.
The exterior design of CJ’s is somewhat modern, with an almost cubist vibe. It looks like either a relic of the ’80s geometric period or a new architect’s attempt at “chic.” We weren’t sure what we were getting ourselves into when we chose this venue, but we thought it was worth a try. Continue Reading →
When I began reading the Newsweek magazine article about moving the St. Louis Rams to Billings, I thought it was a joke.
But I read on and then read it again and—what the hell? It might still be a joke, but John Walters, who wrote the column for Newsweek’s online edition Friday, did his homework and made a case for Billings that almost sounded convincing. Continue Reading →
Nobody said it was going to be easy.
Billings authors Adrian Jawort and Russell Rowland took on a complex, divisive and longstanding problem when they started the Native American Race Relations and Healing Consortium last year.
Their inaugural event, an all-day symposium featuring three different panel discussions, attracted nearly 75 people to the Billings Public Library in August. Continue Reading →
CODY, WYO.—There’s no guarantee of safety when hiking in grizzly country, but following a few basic safety guidelines can reduce the odds of having a bad encounter with a bear. Unfortunately, too many hikers either don’t know those basics, or ignore the advice that experts offer.
That’s one of the key findings from a report released Thursday by a panel that investigated the death of Lance Crosby, who was killed in August by an adult female grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. Continue Reading →
Susan Balter-Reitz, an assistant professor at Montana State University Billings, set my mind at ease last week about the laws governing journalism. But she said nothing to make me feel better about the future of the profession.
Balter-Reitz was giving one of a series of talks on political cartooning developed by MSU Billings professors. She was speaking in the Community Lecture Series at the Billings Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Continue Reading →
