The joke for newbie Montana state legislators is that if you can’t find a bathroom or a conference hall, just ask a lobbyist - they’re everywhere, and they know the Capitol better than anyone else. What’s true for the Capitol is also true for our government: Lobbyists know it better than we do. They use this knowledge to bend policy that is meant to work for Montanans to … [Read more...] about Tom Winter: Who’s in control, the lobbyists or the legislators?

The house warming was set for January 21, 1905.  Tables were arranged in the larger rooms to accommodate the three-course banquet, which would commence at 5 p.m., followed by a reception and musical program. The cost: 35 cents. Missoulians, that Saturday night in 1905, were celebrating the city’s brand new high school on Sixth Street.  Today, Missoula County Public … [Read more...] about Harmon’s Histories: As MCPS considers future, a look at Missoula County High School’s 1905 debut

We are capable of increasing human well-being while reducing resource consumption or, in other words, “doing better with less.” That’s the big takeaway from the UN Environment’s International Resources Panel 2019 Global Resources Outlook. That’s great news. And we must temper the tremendous momentum of decades of unfettered production and consumption to get there. According … [Read more...] about Sustainable Missoula: Six ways to go green this holiday season

On Friday, November 22, my cellphone exploded with requests to comment on the latest events involving the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Water Compact that has been stalled at the federal level for over four years.  Last week, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt sent a letter to Senator Steve Daines that supported moving forward with the Compact.  Then United … [Read more...] about Sen. Al Olszewski: Fight the Flathead Water Compact now