E-News

Missoula Current

Missoula's News Journal

Local News Missoula

Voices

Latest in Voices

Opinion on trapping: New Mexico moves forward, Montana leaps backwards

April 15, 2021
Chris Smith writes, "Gianforte unnecessarily, unethically and illegally trapping and shooting an iconic wolf is a sad reflection of Montana’s backslide into cruelty and disregard for natural resources, public lands and imperiled wildlife."

Letter to Gianforte: Trapping bills bad for Montana, bad for wildlife
15-04-2021
Kent Laudon writes, "These bills, individually and collectively, further erode society’s strained views of hunting and trapping. That in turn
Voices: Poll shows Legislature out of touch with voters on tobacco issues
14-04-2021
If legislators truly view themselves as representatives of Montana’s citizens, they will listen to what voters from across the political
Kadas: Rushed tax bill will result in uncertain and regressive outcomes
13-04-2021
Mike Kadas writes, "A complicated restructuring of Montana’s tax system should be considered on a longer time frame, allowing for
Letters: 2021 Legislature shouldn't handicap future sessions with bad bill
13-04-2021
Beth Brenneman writes that SB 182 "triggers tax cuts at a later date if certain parameters are met. These cuts
Montana Viewpoint: Covid research and the division between science and opinion
12-04-2021
Jim Elliott writes, "All this philosophical rambling is inspired by the ongoing attempts to counter statements that some of us
Letters: Legislature shouldn't mess with Medicaid and health services
12-04-2021
Leah Zins writes, "It’s frustrating to see legislators try to mess with a program like Medicaid expansion that is working.
Voices: Senators - time to prioritize real Montana problems
09-04-2021
Erwin Curry writes, "Let’s get our elected officials steered in the right direction, and if they choose to veer from
Opinion: Forest Service under Biden halts Trump's doomsday plans for Targhee
08-04-2021
Mike Garrity writes, "One of the Trump administration’s worst projects, which would have burned a million acres of the Caribou-Targhee
Letters: Helping Colstrip is fine, but not at the expense of ratepayers and businesses
08-04-2021
Gary Buchanan of Billings writes, "Senate Bill 379 is simple. It will raise electricity rates without anyone being able to
Opinion: Jim Crow 2.0 and the GOP's 'Big Lie'
06-04-2021
David James writes, "If Republicans would craft a message that has wider appeal rather than restricting the votes of people
Voices: Missoula needs inclusionary zoning, renter protection, developer regulations
06-04-2021
Daniel Carlino writes, "As it stands, our city’s budget and policies fail to prioritize housing solutions that work for Missoulians
Montana Viewpoint: A rainy night in Georgia
05-04-2021
Jim Elliott writes, "The voter turnout surpassed that of all previous elections, and Republicans won because of the quantity of
Letters: Legislature is wrong to punish cities that have Covid rules
05-04-2021
Pam Walzer writes, "The Republican legislature is trying to coerce community leaders into ignoring science and risk the health and
Opinion: Legislature must stand up to NorthWestern, support small solar industry
02-04-2021
Northwestern Energy is continuing its pattern of attacking rooftop solar customers and the businesses installing these systems. Their recent hijacking
Letters: Don't redirect funding needed for special education to private schools
02-04-2021
Susie Orr writes, "Taking funding for special education students from public schools and giving it to parents to use as
Missoula County: Allegations of election integrity undermine voter confidence
01-04-2021
Missoula County commissioners write, "If they truly believed their claims, they would challenge the election results in court, where Missoula
PSC Watch: NorthWestern's coal kings want everyone to pay them $15,000
01-04-2021
Monica Tranel writes, "Senate Bill 379, currently being considered by the Montana Legislature, may be a dream come true for
Voices: The Forest Service’s logging program undercuts grizzly bear recovery
01-04-2021
Without safe passage, grizzly bears cannot find new territory or new mates, furthering genetic isolation. Instead of improving Roadless Areas
Voices: 'Takings' legislation threatens everything we care about
01-04-2021
Steve Gilbert writes, "This is one of many bills this legislative session that is not based on Montana values. But
Opinion: Risky business for NorthWestern Energy customers
31-03-2021
Harold and Jan Hoem write, "Most shockingly, SB 379 would require NorthWestern ratepayers to pay for electricity and the purchase
Letters: Thank you, Sen. Tester, for backing the American Rescue Plan
31-03-2021
Terry Minow and Quint Nyman write, "Thank you, Senator Jon Tester, for standing up for Montanans by voting for the
Commissioner Slotnick: Local control, the 2021 Legislature and Missoula County
30-03-2021
Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick writes, "This session the Legislature engaged in hypocrisy, or its sister irony, when the same
Opinion: Ratepayers shouldn't serve as NW Energy's golden parachute for Colstrip
30-03-2021
Malcolm Gilbert of Helena writes, "The bill would saddle rate payers with hundreds of millions in additional debt under the
Letters: Montana bill wrongly overturns right of voters to decide nuclear energy
30-03-2021
Mike Males of Oklahoma City writes, "HB-273 sneakily repeals Montana’s nuclear safety and liability standards and exposes taxpayers and property owners to
Letters: Transgender legislation runs contrary to Montana values
30-03-2021
J.C. Moore of Helena writes, "I have watched a multitude of wacko bills progressing through this legislative session. Among the
Letters: Gianforte and GOP said they'd bring jobs; the opposite has proven true
29-03-2021
Julie Hippler writes, "The Gianforte Administration and the GOP majority in the legislature campaigned and were elected because they said
Voices: A tragic intrusion on agricultural land in Montana - and in Missoula
25-03-2021
Neva Hassanein writes, "The assault on local control takes the form of SB 211, which directly contradicts the intent of
Koopman: The free money game; when will Republicans wise up?
25-03-2021
Roger Koopman writes, "Currently, there are over 40 specific tax credits cluttering Montana’s anything-but-simple tax code, each one designed to
Curtis: Use American Rescue Plan to fund Montana's comeback
25-03-2021
Amanda Curtis writes, "Montana will receive $2.7 billion, and we have an incredible opportunity to help get people back to
Voices: A generational opportunity to lift up all Montanans
24-03-2021
Rep. Mary Caferro and Sen Pat Flowers write, "For a long time, ideas on how to tackle the major issues
Letters: Sex education in schools vital to healthy, informed young adults
24-03-2021
Karen Buley writes, "Sex education is vital. Planned Parenthood education staff reach 1.5 million individuals each year, and 64% of
Tester: Targeted COVID package will reopen our economy
23-03-2021
Sen. Jon Tester writes, "Too many workers, towns, schools, and small businesses are operating deep in the red, and I’ve
Letters: River guides and fly shops part of Montana's cash-for-play industry
23-03-2021
Dave Skinner writes, "Our sick reality is, average Montana sportspeople (like me) already compete with these “outdoors community” pros for
Letters: Montana lodging and tourism businesses supports modernizing old language
22-03-2021
By updating our laws, we make sure that all businesses involved in collecting lodging and rental car taxes are in
Letters: Reverend opposes proposed baiting, trapping, strangling of wolves
22-03-2021
Alice Orsini writes, "Please know that as a long time former resident of rural Alaska, outside of Fairbanks, and as
Opinion: Montana’s land and water needs more dedicated funding
19-03-2021
Members of Montana's outdoors community write, "Our precious rivers couldn't keep pace last year. Our land and water need more
Letters: Businesses should pay for privilege of using public's natural resources
19-03-2021
Dick Barrett writes, "If the value of your business depends on your using a public resource - in this case,
Opinion: 33,810 reasons to oppose new travel taxes in Montana
18-03-2021
Travel agents are critical to fostering in-state travel and helping out of state tourists plan their trip to Montana, generating
Opinion: State courage or shame regarding tolerance in Montana
18-03-2021
Evan Barrett writes, "Missoula passed an non discrimination ordinance in 2010, Helena in 2012, Butte and Bozeman in 2014 and
Letters: Legislature's 'wildlife' bill a giveaway to the public trough
18-03-2021
Harold Johns of Butte writes, "Anyone who watched or participated in the FWP committee meeting on HB 505 last week
Opinion: Public shut out of wildlife decisions by Legislature, FWP
17-03-2021
Montana hunters are being shut out of major decisions on future access to elk. The new approach in Helena, led
Opinion: Crossing the line in Helena with self-serving legislation
17-03-2021
Brady Wiseman writes, "Who could have guessed that what they meant was corrupt self-dealing legislation, political slush funds, and naked
Montana Viewpoint: Rule 22 meets Catch 22 - filibuster that is
16-03-2021
The filibuster is almost exclusively the tool of the minority and also almost exclusively used to stop legislation that the
Voices: Tribal health leaders critical for statewide health collaborations
16-03-2021
The creation of the director of American Indian health position was a pivotal moment in Montana’s approach to empowering American
Opinion: Anti-predator hysteria dominates Montana's 2021 Legislature
12-03-2021
The unsportsmanlike killing of wolves promoted by the Legislature is a blatant rejection of the concept of fair chase hunting,
Notebook: 'Guns everywhere' law leads some to carry in Missoula County Courthouse
11-03-2021
Despite the recently passed Republican measure allowing firearms just about everywhere, they still aren't permitted in the Missoula County courthouse,
Opinion: Sen. Daines shamelessness on full display in Haaland opposition
11-03-2021
If Daines really is the public lands champion he claims to be, now would be the time to demonstrate that.
Letters: America needs 21st century oil and gas leasing legislation
11-03-2021
Rick Kerr of Choteau writes, "The federal government has the responsibility to be good stewards of our public lands for
Opinion: Gray wolves still need federal Endangered Species Act protections
10-03-2021
Lindsay Larris writes, "In place of federal protection, states have already begun enacting new policies and, with them, swift and
Opinion: Cattle grazing is the actual cause of aspen decline in the West
09-03-2021
Mike Garrity writes, "If the Forest Service really wants to regenerate aspen stands, it is imperative to follow the science
Send this to a friend