Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/tag/john-engen/)
The Missoula Redevelopment Agency’s board of directors agreed on Thursday to give $200,000 to the Missoula Public Library and pledged an additional $300,000 over the next four years to help the facility retain the top floor of its new building, as envisioned in its design. (more…) Continue Reading →
The Missoula City Council and all in the audience at Monday night’s council meeting stood to honor Missoula veteran Marvin Strombo for the compassion he showed a Japanese family who lost a son and brother in World War II. Earlier this year, Strombo fulfilled a commitment he made seven decades earlier to return a Japanese flag found on the body of an enemy soldier after a ferocious 1944 battle on the island of Saipan. (more…) Continue Reading →
Missoula’s gun lobby and its supporters sought to defeat an ordinance requiring background checks on all firearm sales and transfers within the city limits on Monday night, long before the scheduled hearing on the issue began. But while opponents and the National Rifle Association mounted a strong opposition, arguing that the ordinance would be both unenforceable and unconstitutional, the Missoula City Council voted 8-4 to approve the new law. (more…) Continue Reading →
Editor’s Note: Missoula Mayor John Engen wrote this guest editorial for the Missoulian and we are reprinting it here, with his permission. We wanted people to know what leadership looks like, particularly at a time when too many politicians are shamelessly pandering to voters’ worst instincts, stoking fears and making scapegoats of some of the most desperate, defenseless people on earth. I was 13 when the first Hmong refugees began arriving in Missoula from a place about which I knew nothing; a country across the planet I didn’t know existed. (more…) Continue Reading →
When Matthew Danzico heard an interview on Public Radio International regarding the debate over refugees in Western Montana, he opted to take a closer look on behalf of the British Broadcasting Corp. Weeks later, he landed in Missoula and set out to interview several Montanans central to the debate, including Mary Poole of Soft Landing Missoula, Missoula Mayor John Engen and Ravalli County Commissioner Jeff Burrows. (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 →
