The Wednesday Read

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Welcome! Here are the topics for today’s column:

  • Casinos Partially Explained
  • Federal Shield Law
  • College Football Update

CASINOS PARTIALLY EXPLAINED:

Great Falls City Commissioner Rick Tryon told his followers on Facebook the other day that there are a few things to remember when it comes to ‘casinos’ in Great Falls:

There are no ‘new’ casinos here because they’re tied to liquor licenses and there are no ‘new’ liquor licenses here because state law requires a quota which is based on population. A liquor license may transfer to a new owner or a casino may open in a new LOCATION, but the number of casinos in Great Falls remains the same this year as it was last year, etc.

Like many people, I think there are too many casinos in Great Falls. This isn’t Las Vegas when it comes to gambling.  

I am sure some knowledgeable readers can explain what happens if the citizens of a city don’t want casinos or fewer casinos. Is there some way to change the quota that Tryon writes about?  It would probably be a career-ender for an elected official to propose fewer casinos. 

Tryon goes on to explain that Casinos, like other businesses, succeed or fail based on market realities and that the City of Great Falls is very limited in its legal ability to regulate casinos and other types of businesses beyond local zoning ordinances. 

FEDERAL SHIELD LAW: 

The Hill is reporting that U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) blocked a federal shield law on Tuesday that would protect journalists from revealing their sources and material to the government.

It was also reported that last month, President-elect Trump urged Republicans to “KILL THIS BILL,” despite it passing the House with bipartisan support.

So Cotton is just following Trump’s orders. 

After January 20, I imagine Trump will try to jail journalists who write negative things about him. 

We all know that MAGAs hate the press except for places like Fox News, Newsmax, or talk radio where they are never challenged. 

A similar bill passed the U.S. House unanimously last January. (Source) 

What is the PRESS Act? That information can be found HERE. 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL UPDATE:

The Montana State Bobcats are the only Montana college football team left standing after last weekend. The Bobcats beat UT Martin 49-17. 

The Bobcats will host an FCS quarterfinal game against the Idaho Vandals this Friday night. The Bobcats beat the Vandals 38-7 earlier this season. The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:00 pm Montana time. (Source)

The Montana Grizzlies were eliminated from the FCS playoffs by South Dakota State 35-18. 

Montana Western lost to Morningside of Iowa 31-24 in the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs.  Congratulations to Montana Western for a great season. 

I remind readers every year to get new batteries for the TV remote because College Football Bowl season is about to start. There will be 36 bowl games! The first two bowl games are this Saturday.

Check out the Bowl schedule HERE.  

Then we have the College Football Playoffs with 12 teams taking part this year. The first round of games starts December 20. The championship is on January 20. (Schedule)

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10 thoughts on “The Wednesday Read”

  2. If a liquor license and gambling license move from neighborhood A to neighborhood C within the city, it is still a new casino to the residents of neighborhood C and all those drivers who drive by it, isn’t it?

    But if overall there are allegedly never any new liquor licenses in Great Falls because state law sets a quota, then Great Falls is not growing, because how state law sets quota is:

    “(c) in incorporated cities of more than 3,000 inhabitants and within 5 miles of the corporate limits of the cities, five retail licenses for the first 3,000 inhabitants and one retail license for each additional 1,500 inhabitants.”

    from MCA 16-4-201 1 c

    Presumably that’s subject to the total number of new licenses the state issues each year being able to keep up with demand from all population centers. And maybe having updated yearly population figures for each incorporated city.

    And if Great Falls is not growing even enough to add a new liquor license for just 1500 additional new residents, that kind of makes a liar out of those public officials constantly haranguing us about the explosive local growth that supposedly requires squeezing ever more taxes and fees out of the existing population (as opposed to those newcomers paying for themselves), doesn’t it?

    • Great information and questions.
      I would also be in favor of allowing liquor to be sold in other stores besides the state-run liquor stores. The current system is archaic. -JmB

  4. “After January 20, I imagine Trump will try to jail journalists who write negative things about him.” Jackie

    No need to imagine, Jackie. Folks are beginning to understand that when trump says something, believe him. He admires Hitler and Putin for a reason. He tacitly approved when his Saudi pals butchered alive that American journalist. When trump expresses evil ideas and intentions, he’s not joking or exaggerating as some say. He’s quite serious, and seriously demented.

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2023/09/25/donald-trump-accuses-news-media-of-country-threatening-treason/

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