Never forget – December 7, 1941 – Today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:

• Lee Newspapers
• Phil Drake
• Electors Pledged
• NFL Football
• One More Thing

LEE NEWSPAPERS:

I happened to catch a story on Sunday from Lee Newspapers announcing a “major investment in Montana news gathering” in that they had brought together “four great journalists” to form a new state government reporting team.

My first thought was, “Why?”

I don’t think they need four people to cover the clowns in the state legislature and other parts of the state government. They could have used four people to cover the 2020 campaign better, but that is water under the bridge.

I’m not sure I’d send my “four great journalists” into the super spreader event that will happen if the state legislature meets in person. I am a firm believer that the state legislature should be delayed to later in the year after more people are given vaccines.

Read the whole story from Lee Newspapers HERE.

PHIL DRAKE:

I was surprised to read on Twitter that Great Falls Tribune reporter Phil Drake was leaving the Tribune and going to work for the Helena Independent Record.

Drake did all types of reporting and also produced a weekly “Dome Lights” column that was always entertaining.

The Tribune has lost many great reporters over the past few years and it has hurt the newspaper. Drake is one of the best. You can read his last Tribune column HERE.

ELECTORS PLEDGED:

Another reason the election is over and Joe Biden is the winner…

The Associated Press (AP) reported that California certified its presidential election Friday and appointed 55 electors pledged to vote for Democrat Joe Biden, officially handing him the Electoral College majority needed to win the White House. Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s formal approval of Biden’s win in the state brought his tally of pledged electors so far to 279, according to a tally by The Associated Press. That’s just over the 270 threshold for victory.

Read the full report from the AP HERE.

NFL FOOTBALL:

Reminder – There are two football games on Monday and one on Tuesday!

• At 3:00 p.m. (Montana Time) on Fox, The Washington Football Team (4-7) plays the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-0).

• At 6:15 p.m. (Montana Time) on ESPN the Buffalo Bills (8-3) play the San Francisco 49ers (5-6). This game will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

• On Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. (Montana Time) the Dallas Cowboys (3-8) play the Baltimore Ravens (6-5). The game is being televised on Fox.

Check out the current NFL schedule HERE.

ONE MORE THING:

My reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos 22-16 Sunday night becoming the first AFC team to clinch a playoff berth. (NFL.com)

Can we win it all again?

## WEAR A MASK ##