The Prison Dairy Program was created to teach prisoners post-release work skills. After a major milk purchaser cancelled, the Montana Legislature inexplicably pivoted the program to raise pheasants for Fish, Wildlife and Parks for $1 million per year with the goal of recruiting youth hunters. A worthy goal but using a program that has failed before. No word on how many pheasant … [Read more...] about Letters: Montana should reexamine Pheasant Stocking Program

If you care about the misuse of fines and incarceration in Missoula courts, you should vote for Ethan Lerman as municipal judge. He is a compassionate, careful judge who works on this issue every day. Right now, there is exactly one person in jail from the municipal court: a three-time DUI offender, whom Montana law requires to be locked up. That is a typical jail load at … [Read more...] about Letters: Ethan Lerman as municipal judge would address fines, incarceration

When the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission adopted criteria and goals for dividing Montana into two Congressional Districts, it included a goal of considering competitiveness in its decision-making. That made sense, for history is very clear: Montana, over the years, has been competitive between the two major parties. It is easy to look at the most recent … [Read more...] about Commentary: Congressional districts need to reflect Montana’s competetiveness

Growing up in rural Utah, I had incredible public hunting opportunities, just like so many in Montana have enjoyed for generations. I spent time with family and friends, pursuing mule deer and elk on both public and private lands in what were the defining moments of my upbringing.  That all changed when a group called Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife took over my home state’s … [Read more...] about Commentary: Gianforte appointments favor private wildlife, threaten MT heritage