Monday, March 24, 2025
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Columns

Searching for opinion based articles? Below we'll share opinion news articles on a wide variety of topics.

Updated 10 months, 3 weeks ago

Apgar Lookout: This early season jaunt a great way to get in shape, with views

The Apgar Mountain Lookout Trail is one of those trails to hike first thing in the season because it’s easy to get…

Updated 5 days, 16 hours ago
A bill for the dogs and taxes for you

Senate Bill 427 was plodding along on the senate floor. The subject matter involves trapping and snaring. Needless to say, emotions can run high when such a discussion occurs. The bill proposes to provide a uniform…

Updated 1 week, 5 days ago
An open letter to Montana’s Congressional delegation

I represent House District 3 in the Montana House of Representatives. My district includes the western half of Glacier National Park, a large portion of the Flathead National Forest and the gateway communities alo…

Updated 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Nearing halfway point

On a frigid Helena morning, somewhere south of minus 20 degrees, a bus load of residents from Ennis were dropped off at the Capitol.

Updated 3 weeks, 4 days ago
They don’t know what they don’t know

Much has been written and broadcast recently regarding the impacts of the Trump administration and particularly the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the size of the federal government workforce.

Updated 1 month ago
Visiting with Friends

Early one morning a lobbyist for a trade union enters my office. Yes, my elevation to the Senate includes office space, a real stretch of the language, more a cubby space I share with Senator Windy Boy of Box Elder…

Updated 1 month ago
Cut the budget, not the Constitution

I had the opportunity, during the second Bush administration, to engage in advising struggling democracies in a project then known as “democracy building.” It was enormously fulfilling work, and I saw real progres…

Updated 1 month, 1 week ago
Racicot on politicizing the judicial branch

Before entering upon the duties of his or her office, a legislator “shall,” according to Article III of the Montana Constitution, solemnly swear to faithfully support, protect and defend the constitutions of Montan…

Updated 1 month, 1 week ago
Beware the Trojan horse targeting public lands

Sometimes when I drive past the little house my wife and I bought when we first married, 30 years ago, it makes me sad. Not only because of nostalgia, but because of economics.

Updated 1 month, 2 weeks ago
In defense of the green and the gray

The Trump administration’s federal workforce hiring freeze and “resignation” offer certainly sent a chill with locals who work for the Park Service and Forest Service last week.

Updated 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Daines on priorities for 2025

When President Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States this week, it marked a new day in America. Voters rejected Joe Biden’s policies that led to unaffordable prices, open borders and weaknes…

Updated 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Montana’s nuclear future

Montana has historically played an important part in U.S. energy transitions throughout its one hundred thirty-five-year history. We have a unique opportunity to continue to play an important part in the current q…

Updated 3 months ago
Opinion: Some tips on searching Hungry Horse News archives

One of the biggest requests we get here at the Hungry Horse News is an archive search. The call typically goes like this: “Back in the 1980s my such and such was in the newspaper. Can I get a copy of it?”

Updated 3 months, 1 week ago
Opinion: Made in Montana

So I was flipping through the L.L. Bean catalog the other day and then I picked up the Orvis catalog and something struck me: No, it wasn’t that companies still mail catalogs to old guys like me, it was that virtua…

Updated 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Opinion: The baluster in the background

So last week I watched a couple of holiday films, Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and then, “Psycho.” Two films I’ve managed to miss. They are on Netflix right now in case you’re looking to get into the holiday spir…

Updated 3 months, 3 weeks ago
EPA should listen to public

f there is one thing that EPA Region 8 (the Environmental Protection Agency for Montana, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and 27 tribal nations) needs to realize after this recent election, is t…