Author: Press Room

Pandemic rules are killing our kids, destroying liberties

21 September 2020
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By Dr. Katarina Lindley, The Center Square

The consequences of keeping children cooped-up at home far outweighs the risk of the virus. While the chance of a school-age child dying of COVID-19 is less likely than being struck by lightning, isolation is eating away at the mental health of our youth and even pushing some to do the unthinkable. Last month, an El Paso teen tragically took her own life; her mother noted pandemic-induced isolation was partly to blame.

It’s not a standalone event. CDC Director Robert Redfield commented in July, “there has been another [lockdown] cost that we’ve seen, particularly in high schools. We’re seeing … far greater suicides now than we are deaths from COVID.” Suicides in Chicago are up 13 percent compared to this time last year, while cities like Fresno, California, have experienced a 70 percent jump.

It’s obvious the consequences of at-home learning and skipping out on extra curricular activities are not limited to failing to grasp long division or missing out on kicking the winning field goal. Given the stakes, even Dr. Anthony Fauci recognizes getting kids back in the school setting should be the default position for community leaders. The stance is also supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, National Academy of Science and CDC.

But keeping classrooms on lockdown and suspending youth athletics is only the tip of the iceberg. COVID-19 has been used as a tool by governors and local leaders to trample basic liberties. If left unaddressed, the continuing breaches of individual rights will further sabotage our children’s future.

Examples are chronicled in the news on a daily basis.

A gym owner in New Jersey was recently arrested because he dared to open his business. A Kentucky couple was put under house arrest and forced to wear ankle monitors because they refused to sign self-quarantine documents. In Nevada, up to 500 people can gamble in a casino, but church congregations are limited to 50 via government edict. And most recently, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti authorized the city to shut off the water and power to homes hosting large gatherings.

These events remind me of my challenging childhood in Yugoslavia – which was characterized by government control and the suppression of individual freedoms. Sadly, the U.S. is inching in that direction with every additional pandemic rule and restriction. I wake up every morning wondering how many rights we will lose today in the name of fighting COVID-19.

Benjamin Franklin famously commented, “those who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Perhaps state and community leaders should revisit that thought and begin to reverse course. The future of the country, and our children, depend on it.

Katarina Lindley, D.O. FACOFP, is a physician in Texas and a partner of the Job Creators Network Foundation.

Now is the Time for the School Choice Now Act

21 September 2020
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By Greg R. Lawson

In one form or another, the new school year is or is about to be underway. Teachers, students and parents across the country face tough questions, challenges, and uncertainties amid the ongoing pandemic and its perplexing disruptions. And ready or not, the school bell rings.

With back-to-school plans ranging from teaching students anywhere from the classroom to the family room, this school year likely will require more flexibility than any other in modern history.

The School Choice Now Act, provides some of that flexibility by including bold proposals by U.S. Sens. Tim Scott, R-SC, and Lamar Alexander, R-TN, that can help families and educators navigate these uncharted waters. The legislation extends critical support to states, families and schools nationwide looking to get back to school.

In several ways, the act builds upon the concept of federal education savings accounts – or ESAs – that give parents greater authority to use their tax dollars on education-related materials and services, such as computers, textbooks, tutors and online classes. The Buckeye Institute has long-advocated state and federal ESAs, and with only 38 percent of Ohio’s public school students going to go back to school full-time, millions of families facing hybrid remote learning environments and looking for alternatives to public education need all the help and options they can get this year.

The School Choice Now Act provides that financial help and makes educational options more affordable.

First, the legislation provides one-time appropriations to support non-profit “scholarship-granting organizations” in each state. These non-profits receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to create scholarships for eligible students to attend qualified, non-public schools. Scholarships funded through the act also may pay for direct educational and home-schooling expenses – a key flexibility considering how many students will be learning from home rather than on K-12 campuses.

As with ESA funds, parents may use School Choice Now Act scholarship dollars for tuition at private schools and for remote learning resources and tutors. Significantly, the act also makes clear that any private, religious or home school educators may participate in such scholarship programs without fear of federal bureaucrats monitoring their every move.

Second, the proposal lays the foundation for expanding school choice opportunities down the road with a permanent dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for individuals and corporations that contribute to scholarship granting organizations. As scholarships become increasingly popular with parents surveying the educational landscape for the best opportunities for their children, such a tax credit will foster more school choice programs and encourage states to design their own tax credit scholarships for education better tailored to meeting student needs.

The School Choice Now Act should be part of any federal COVID-19 relief package designed to get America back to work and school safely. It offers immediate financial support to families and schools facing unexpected educational expenses and challenges, and it lays the groundwork for long-term opportunities that will strengthen academics and learning in this country for generations to come. Given all the upheaval and uncertainty facing our students and families, America needs school choice now and later.

Greg R. Lawson is a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute

North Dakota Court Supports Mineral Owners Rights

21 September 2020
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From Oil Patch Hotline

The North Dakota State Supreme Court last week backed up the contention of mineral owners along the edge of Missouri River near Williston that the state wrongly grabbed their mineral ownership and the result could be a huge payout.

The State does not have any claim or hold title as sovereign lands to any minerals above the Ordinary High Water Mark of the historical Missouri riverbed channel, the court said about the  William S. Wilkinson case brought against the ND Dept. of Trust Lands, Statoil, Brigham Oil and Gas and others.

“I t’s a historic win for North Dakota mineral owners/landowners against the State, said attorney Josh Swanson.  “The Supreme Court categorically rejected all of the State’s arguments, affirmed the fact that the Wilkinsons own the minerals, and is allowing the Wilkinsons to go back to the district court to pursue money damages against the State.”

As much as $1 million could be distributed to 14 mineral owners on 286 acres on the edge of Missouri River.

Montana Highlights September 1, 2020

21 September 2020
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The Missoula International Airport has seen over 1,000 plus more private planes land at the airport as  compared to July 2019.

The owner of Whiskey and Lace Clothing Boutique, located at 23 W. Main St.,  Bozeman, is Lee Ann Anthony.  The business began two years ago as a fully-online clothing store

The Ruh Building, located at 605 N. 7th Ave., in Bozeman is set for completion in December. The building occupants will include a brewery, 16 apartments and 5,000 square feet of retail space. The building is owned by Bill and Karen Ruh. Last Best Place Brewing, will fill the building’s brewery space.

Montana’s unemployment rate decreased for the third straight month, dropping by 0.8 percentage points to 6.4% in July. Montana’s unemployment rate is 3.8 percentage points below the national rate of 10.2% for July 2020.

The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, has announced the cancellation of  the 11th annual Great Northwest Oktoberfest scheduled for this fall has been canceled.  The event takes place in downtown Whitefish on the last weekend of September and the first weekend in October.

According to a new analysis from industry group Airlines for America, Montana experienced the smallest percentage decline in passenger flights out of any state in the country when compared to July of last year. Montana saw a 25% reduction in scheduled flights from July 2019 to July 2020. The national average was about a 50% decrease, and New York, the state with the most significant drop-off, saw flights decline by 70% compared to the same time period last year.

Rapid Clean Car Wash, a new Bozeman car wash, will have a 160-foot wash tunnel and 17 car vacuums.  Rapid Clean plans to hire up to 22 employees when they open. The planned for  detail shop and large vehicle wash openings will hire 3 or 4 more employees..

A huge expansion costing between $35 million and $40 million, that will more than double the capacity of the Dakota Access Pipeline to 1.1 million BOPD, was proposed by Energy Transfer Partners. Work will be completed by February 2021. The company said it is anticipated that crude oil production out of the Williston Basin will increase between 350,000 to 450,0000 BOPD over the next five years, with current production exceeding 1.3 million BOPD. The 36-inch crude oil pipeline runs 1,172 miles from Stanley, ND to Patoka, IL. The pipeline has reached its maximum capacity of 600,000 BOPD. (From Oil Patch Hotline)

Hess Corp is building a $155 million expansion of its gas processing plant at Tioga, ND.  The turnaround at the plant will take place next year along with the new tie- in to expanded NGL pipelines. Total capacity will be at 265 Mmcf a day.

Montana’s fire fund will be adequate to handle the fire season, according to the Governor. The fire fund has doubled to its statutory maximum, said Gov. Steve Bullock, and the state is well equipped to manage the COVID uncertainty with budget reserves of over $600 million. He said, “We are well equipped to handle two concurrent challenges with a fire fund that can cover nearly five average wildfire seasons and the reserves to sustain critical services and manage through the pandemic.” On August 15, $46.7 million was transferred from the general fund to the fire suppression fund, putting the fire fund at its statutory maximum of $101.5 million, or 4% of fiscal year 2021 appropriations.

Construction crews are widening Highway 287 north of Three Forks to 4-lanes, which will help improve stopping and sight distance for drivers.  The 7-mile stretch of highway in Broadwater County between I-90 and Toston will connect the existing 4-lane sections to help with safety and design standards. The Montana Department of Transportation says with the increase in traffic throughout the area this project will help improve visibility.  

Gallatin County’s residential real estate market saw increases in closed sales, pending sales and median sale prices in July, while the inventory of available homes decreased in both the single family and condo/townhome markets compared to last year. The median sales price increased 5.8%, from $462,250 in July 2019 to $489,000 in July 2020. Closed sales increased by 21.4%, from 192 to 233, and pending sales jumped 73.3%, from 150 to 260. The inventory of available homes decreased 40.5% compared to last year, from 504 to 300, and the month’s supply of inventory decreased 40.5%, from 3.7 to 2.2. The number of new single-family listings increased 2.3% compared to July 2019, from 213 to 218. The average days on market increased 4.4%, from 45 to 47. Sellers received 99.2% of their list price last month, up slightly from 98.9% last year. Closed sales on condos increased 38.1%, and sale prices in the condo/townhouse market increased 6.8%, from $323,000 to $345,000.  

Research activity at UM has grown substantially in recent years. This fiscal year, UM reported $104.7 million in research expenditures to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey. This is a 16% increase over the previous high of $90.6 million in FY2018 and a 90% increase from FY2014.morbidities

Montana Group Strives to Protect Affordable Care Act

21 September 2020
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Protect Our Care Montana was joined by Reps. Debo Powers and Dave Fern, Executive Director of Flathead Community Health Center, Mary Sterhan, and Kalispell City Councilman Kyle Watermen on an a call to discuss the new healthcare navigator grant program during a meeting that recognized the third anniversary of Senator John McCain’s thumbs-down vote to that would have repealed Affordable Care Act. 

 Speakers spoke with elected leaders supporting ongoing efforts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act in court. They said that the stakes have never been higher to protect the Affordable Care Act and Montana’s Medicaid, given the current concerns about COVID-19. 

 Waterman, councilman for Ward 3 in Kalispell, called upon his experiences working with Montanans facing health challenges, “Medicaid expansion has allowed us to expand services in our community and move care upstream for issues like mental health.”

Discussing Montana’s Medicaid program and the change it’s brought to the Flathead area, Sterhan emphasized the impact Medicaid expansion has had on the state. She pointed out that programs like Montana’s Medicaid allow healthcare providers, like her, to approach health holistically and begin working with patients early instead of having to provide emergency or critical care later. 

 Sterhan also applauded Governor Steve Bullock’s announcement of $1 million health coverage Navigator grant program in the state. She confirmed Flathead Community Health currently has two navigators working with the public and the patients and will be applying for grant funds to increase that outreach. 

 Reps. Powers and Fern lauded the impact the ACA has had in their community and stressed what they believe would be the unintended impacts of repeal, including economic hardship for nearly 90,000 as they struggle to find healthcare.

Montana Companies Making INC List

21 September 2020
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Each year Inc. lists the 5000 fastest growing companies. Twelve on the list this year are from Montana.

Ascent Vision Technologies, Bozeman — Provides integrated services, imaging systems, and software development for the defense and aerospace industry.

LumenAd, Missoula — Creates media management programs to assist brands and agencies with growth and awareness strategies.

Stone Glacier, Bozeman— Fabricates high-end mountaineering equipment. Products include backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, and technical apparel.

 XY Planning Network, Bozeman- Provides tools, resources, and services to enable state-registered investment advisers to start, run, and grow their own fee-only financial planning practices.

Big Sky Health and Rehab, Helena— Offers hands-on manual therapy and specially designed exercise programs to better the lives of its patients. Its rehabilitation services are available through its clinic in Helena, Montana.

Foundant Technologies, Bozeman— Provides custom a software system for grant makers, another system for grant seekers, and a comprehensive financial service for community foundations.

commonFont, Bozeman— Helps leading companies connect with and learn from their customers. Provides the guidance and technical knowledge that enables its clients to collect, interpret, and act on customer feedback data.

Energy 1, Bozeman— Delivers construction engineering, contracting, operations, maintenance, and management services, focusing on sustainable energy systems designed to ensure comfort, protect the environment, and optimize cost efficiency.

Yellowstone Health and Rehab, Billings— Operates physical therapy clinics in Billings, Montana.

Golden Helix, Bozeman— Develops and sells a platform supporting the analysis of sequencing data and the creation of clinical reports for the bioinformatics industry.

Very, Bozeman- Provides expert product development, software engineering, and design services.

Dee-O-Gee, Bozeman— Provides healthy care options for dogs and cats in the United States through its network of pet food stores across the country.

Manufacturing Rebounds Nationwide

21 September 2020
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Manufacturing production rebounded for the third straight month, rising by 3.4% in July. Despite progress over the past few months, output in the sector has fallen 7.7% year-over-year, with durable and nondurable goods output down 9.3% and 5.4%, respectively. Manufacturing capacity utilization rose 69.2% in July, although that is still down from 75.2% in February.

* There were 336,000 manufacturing job openings in June, up from 306,000 in May, which had been the slowest pace since October 2016. Overall, job postings have drifted significantly lower over the past year—a trend that began before the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, there were 486,000 and 360,000 job openings in the sector in June 2019 and December 2019, respectively.

* Consumer spending at retailers rose 1.2% in July, slowing from 18.3% and 8.4% gains seen in May and June, respectively. More importantly, it was the third straight monthly increase in consumer purchasing after stay-at-home orders sent sales plummeting in the spring. Excluding automobiles, retail sales rose 1.9% in July. Retail spending has risen by a modest 2.7% since July 2019.

Letters to the Editor

21 September 2020
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Rosendale will keep our communities safe

It is the responsibility of our elected leaders to ensure the safety of the citizens they represent. However, in Democrat-led cities and states, misguided officials have ignored the safety of a majority of their constituents to follow a political agenda. We’ve all seen the results. 

 Matt Rosendale has shown strong leadership, stating unequivocally that he supports Montana law enforcement and that he will stand strong against misguided attempts to abolish or defund police, which would put the public at risk. 

Now more than ever, we need Matt Rosendale in Congress to stand up to radical Democrats who are playing politics with our gun rights, law enforcement—and the safety of all Montanans.

Barbara Anderson, Lavina, Montana

Rosendale is a Fantastic Choice for Montana

Even during unprecedented times, may we never lose sight of the incredible privilege it is to live in the greatest country on earth. Where else are we so free to live, think, speak, learn, work, dream and worship as we see fit? Yet in the words of former President Ronald Reagan “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction”; and we, American voters, now hold the baton. We must preserve our liberty and pass it on to future generations. Perhaps like never before, American values are under assault by extreme leftists who unashamedly hate our president, our nation, and all that America represents. This is being exemplified through destructive attempts to eradicate our history, defund our police, and socialize our nation.

In November Montanans will vote to send a new representative to Washington D.C. to serve in Montana’s lone congressional seat. We have the exciting opportunity to send someone who loves Montana and America, someone who will support President Trump, back our law enforcement heroes, stand with our veterans, preserve our second amendment rights, protect our vulnerable citizens, work to lower health care costs, and bring fiscal responsibility to Washington D.C. This individual is Matt Rosendale, an honest, hardworking leader, whom President Trump describes as a “strong conservative fighter”.

America truly is great and exceptional. Patriotic Americans can keep it that way. Please vote for Matt Rosendale!

Hannah Dresser, Stevensville, MT

Legal Foundation Defends Property Rights

21 September 2020
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Mountain States Legal Foundation has been granted the right to intervene on behalf of besieged ranchers in Center for Biological Diversity v. Bernhardt, a case that could decide the future of livestock operations across significant swaths of Arizona and New Mexico. 

“Anti-ranching groups for years have been weaponizing the Endangered Species Act against livestock operators, in a bid to deny them their grazing rights and evict them from public lands,” said MSLF attorney Brian Gregg is response to the ruling. “The only difference here is that they’re using flawed, self-generated ‘science’ in support of the eviction order.”   

Anti-grazing groups understand that ranchers can’t survive without access to rivers, streams and other water sources. This explains a litany of lawsuits over the years claiming that this or that species is imperiled when livestock cross or otherwise use streambeds. An allegedly threatened jumping mouse is the latest species they want “saved” by fencing-off water sources that livestock growers can’t do without.  

MSLF in this case is representing longtime Arizona ranchers Doug Stacey and Bill and Barbara Marks, award  winning   conservationists who could lose access to critical water sources on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest if greater “protection” of “jumping mouse habitat” is allowed to negate their grazing rights,  water rights and property right. MSLF also represents the Arizona Cattle Growers Association, which recognizes the devastating statewide economic impact this case could have.    

The plaintiffs claim that the New Mexico Jumping Mouse could be harmed by these long-established ranching operations, based on non-peer-reviewed “science” of their own creation. MSLF argues that this case is not based on the best available science; that mouse and man can successfully share these areas; and that arbitrarily fencing-out livestock, based on self-serving agenda-driven science, would spell doom for ranchers who are good and conscientious caretakers of the land and water.  

MSLF believes that a conflict of interest arises when management decisions are made by “science” originating with interested parties – especially parties with a well-known anti-ranching bias. “The point of this and similar lawsuits isn’t to protect endangered species, but to use these allegedly endangered species as a pretext for regulating historic family ranches out of business,” said Brian Gregg, MSLF’s lead attorney on the case. “We’re intervening in this case in defense of ranchers who have a proven track record of good stewardship, but also against radical groups who are notorious for using dubious claims to wage an ideological war against grazing.”  

“The problem isn’t cattle running roughshod over streambeds, as alleged, but organized anti-ranching groups running roughshod over grazing rights, using unsubstantiated environmental threats as a pretext,” added Gregg.  

Dr. Wilmouth Recognized for Life Time Legacy

21 September 2020
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The Billings Chamber of Commerce announced that Dr. Robert J. Wilmouth, President of Rocky Mountain College, is the 2020 Legacy Award honoree.

Dr. Wilmouth has served in multiple leadership capacities in Billings for almost 30 years, and will be honored during the 2020 Billings Chamber Annual Meeting presented by KULR8 and PayneWest Insurance on September 10, at the Babcock Theater.

Dr. Wilmouth is an incredible champion for our community,” noted Chamber President and CEO John Brewer. “As Rocky Mountain College’s leader, he has led efforts to grow our workforce and expand the college with the new science center, and so much more. He has a long history of giving his time and resources to projects that will help Billings to grow and develop. Dr. Wilmouth is a true Billings asset.”

Dr. Wilmouth has been the President of Rocky Mountain College (RMC) since January 2013. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in psychology and pre-professional studies. Following college, he worked as a marketing representative for the IBM Corporation in the financial branch in Chicago, Illinois.

During this time, he also served as a commissioned officer in the Army Reserves Medical Corps. After receiving his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Illinois, he was a surgical resident at the University of Colorado, followed by a two-year fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at New York University. He moved to Billings in 1991 and joined Billings Clinic as a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, and then as Chief of Cardiac Services and Medical Director.

He was also the Program Director for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at RMC. According to one of his nominators, Tyler Wiltgen, Dr. Wilmouth “has taken RMC to the next level through his tireless pursuit of ‘getting better at everything we do.’”

Wiltgen credits Dr. Wilmouth with leading the charge to raise funds and construct the brand new Dr. Charles Morledge Science Center, outfitting Herb Klindt Field with lights and artificial turf, and as the champion of providing RMC students with the best possible educational experience.

“His leadership helped the College open it first ever doctorate program, in Occupational Therapy,” Wiltgen continued. “He has laid the groundwork for expansion of the College’s Physician Assistant Master’s program as well.” In his time at RMC, Wiltgen recognizes Dr. Wilmouth’s efforts in establishing the College as a true community partner, through his service on the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Riverstone Health Foundation, Billings Symphony, and Big Sky Economic Development Boards.

Dr. Wilmouth holds certifications from the American College of Surgeons, the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Heart Association, the American Board of Surgery, and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.