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

• A Helena Man
• Churches & Political Candidates
• Keep Your Shoes On
• Trump & Bombs
• One More Thing

A HELENA MAN:

It has been interesting reading about a Helena man who was detained by ICE on July 1, 2025. 

Lee Newspapers is reporting that Christopher Martinez, 31, listed in court documents as Christopher Martinez Marvan, was detained by federal agents on July 1 following a traffic stop by Helena police for expired registration near the intersection of Billings and Montana avenues. 

It was also reported that the detainee — who lived in Helena with his wife, Maria Pacheco, a U.S. citizen, and their four children — was expelled from the country in 2021 on May 5, May 15, May 26, and June 2, according to documents. His two applications for legal entry into America were denied in 2014 and 2018 and left Martinez under a 10-year ban from the country.

If the information from the U.S. Attorney’s office is correct, then Martinez/Marvan is out of chances in my book. He was here illegally and was banned from the USA for 10 years back in 2018. While it is unfortunate that a family may be split up, this often occurs when individuals break the law. His wife and family can go with him.

CHURCHES & POLITICAL CANDIDATES:

I have always believed that churches should encourage their congregations to pray for our elected leaders (no matter which political party) and to urge their members to vote. That’s it. 

Now, churches can endorse candidates. 

According to several reports, like this one in The Hill, churches and other houses of worship registered as tax-exempt nonprofits can endorse political candidates to their congregations, the IRS said Monday, issuing a new interpretation of the tax code. 

I don’t agree with this decision at all. 

KEEP YOUR SHOES ON: 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a new policy on July 8, which will allow passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. (Source)

Noem also said, “Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards.”

It also stops the embarrassment of taking off your shoes and remembering that you have a hole or two in your socks.

TRUMP & BOMBS:

Several reports are saying that President Donald Trump said he had separately warned both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping that he would bomb their respective capitals if either of them invaded their neighbors, as newly released audio broadcast by CNN shows.

Newsweek is reporting:

The U.S. president was recorded speaking at a private fundraiser in 2024 about his conversations with Putin and Xi.

“With Putin I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m gonna bomb the s*** out of Moscow,'” Trump is heard saying, recounting his version of their conversation. He also said with Xi he also threatened to “bomb the s*** out of Beijing” if it invaded Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its own.

I am not surprised at hearing these threats. Only Putin and Xi know if it is true. I think Trump is dangerous, and he has people in his inner circle who won’t stop him from doing crazy things.

ONE MORE THING:

Today’s 3 year olds can switch on laptops and open their favorite apps. 

Me? When I was 3, I ate mud. (Source) 

## END ##