SB 266 has not yet been passed into law, but if it were to be passed this legislative session, here is a predictive scenario. Having a morning coffee with your neighbor, Fred, one day next year: Fred: I heard some out-of-state company bought some lots on our block and plan to put up a few…
Editors note – photo via Alan Mas, pexels.com ______________________________________________________________________ Protecting private property rights is a foundational American value. But when someone chooses to live in a community rather than on a patch of isolated ground away from them thar city folks then there is a mutually accepted set of standards that allows for some minimal…
Local control isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a fundamental American value. It’s in the U.S. and Montana Constitutions. It’s in both the Republican and Democratic party platforms. And if campaign promises were legally binding, most of our legislators would be legally required to defend it. Yet, here we are. Some of those same folks who…
Hey, Great Falls, do you want Big Brother Helena to control how citizens in Great Falls choose to budget, zone our community, and manage our resources? I say, “Hell no!” And why does Great Falls Senator Jeremy Trebas think that his SB266 is a good idea for our community? Here’s what SB266 will do in…
Montana House and Senate pass Bill 121, requiring people to use multi-occupancy accommodations, like bathrooms, based on their chromosomal make-up and reproductive biology, regardless of gender identity, from MTPR:https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2025-02-11/gop-bathroom-regulations-await-governors-signature Suspect arrested for break-in and starting fire at Mountain View Co-Op gas station and convenience store in Ulm, from KRTV:https://www.krtv.com/news/crime-and-courts/suspect-charged-for-break-in-and-fire-at-ulm-store Great Falls Animal Shelter temporarily relocated…
Editors note: the following is a letter from Great Falls City Commissioner Joe McKenney to the Great Falls Association of Realtors and Montana Association of Realtors. Overview The purpose of this memorandum is to express strong opposition to HB20 from a public safety perspective. This bill proposes changing voted levies from being stated in mills…
Editors note: Some of the following images and language is disturbing and inappropriate for children. There’s a FB page called ‘The Montana Resistance’ which, in my opinion, is inciting violence and hate against folks in our community. Here’s a few examples of memes posted on their page: A bayonet for wearing a MAGA hat? Please…
As we move into 2025 I want to take the opportunity to highlight a few of the changes, improvements, and opportunities coming to Great Falls in the coming year and on the near horizon. Thanks in large part to COVID relief and ARPA funding, both of which were one-time funding sources, the City of Great…
On October 10th I posted my predications for Election Day 2024 on my personal Facebook page, which you can read here. Here is a summary of those predictions with some added after-the-fact comments: “Montana remains ruby red with all statewide offices being won by the GOP, including Gianforte winning by a lot over Busse.” Both…
Lat week the Great Falls City Commission passed the City’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget. You can view the budget details here. This year’s budget included a marginal tax increase for local property owners – $2.25 per month for a $300,000 home. I’ve received several general questions about how our budget works and so I’d like…