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

• City of Great Falls Is Explaining
• William W. Mercer
• NFL Training Camps
• One More Thing

CITY OF GREAT FALLS IS EXPLAINING:

On Friday, the City of Great Falls issued a press release explaining the upcoming utility rate increase. 

They used many words when just a sentence like, “We decided to stick it to the citizens of Great Falls, once again.” 

As the great Ronald Reagan once said, “If you’re explaining, you’re losing.”

I won’t be voting for any members of the commission who approved the 27% rate increase. Please join me!  

WILLIAM W. MERCER:

In case you missed it, President Donald J. Trump has nominated William W. Mercer to serve as a Judge on the United States District Court for the District of Montana.

Here is Trump’s post announcing the nomination on Truth Social:

It is my Great Honor to nominate William W. Mercer to serve as Judge on the United States District Court for the District of Montana! Bill has TREMENDOUS experience, previously serving at the Department of Justice and, as United States Attorney for the District of Montana. He is STRONG and SMART, will fearlessly uphold the Rule of Law, and defend our Constitution on the Federal Bench. Congratulations Bill!

I have known Mercer for many years. Good man. He was born in Billings, and he is 61 years old. He has served in the Montana Legislature and as U.S. Attorney for Montana. He also served as principal associate deputy attorney general in the United States Department of Justice from 2005 to 2006. He later served as the acting United States Associate Attorney General starting in 2006, and resigned on June 22, 2007. (Source)

According to the Montana Free Press (MTFP):

Two judges appointed to the federal court’s Montana district by former President Barack Obama are edging toward retirement. This week, Judge Susan Watters announced she would assume senior status next year. In 2022, Judge Dana Christensen announced that he would begin senior status once his successor was confirmed. (Source)

The Republicans are overjoyed that Trump will get to replace an Obama appointee to the Federal Court in Montana. I expect Mercer will use common sense and experience when making a ruling, and may not toe the MAGA line as much as some would like. 

NFL TRAINING CAMPS:

I am ready for NFL training camps to begin! How about you?  

According to the NFL, the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions, who will face off in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31, will be the first two teams to have rookies and veterans report. Chargers veterans report on July 16, while Lions veterans report on July 19.

My Kansas City Chiefs start training camp next Monday (July 21). You can check out when your team starts by clicking HERE. 

ONE MORE THING:

My uncle just texts me asking, “What does IDK mean?”

I replied, “I don’t know.”

He said, “Damn, nobody does!”

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##