It’s Friday! Here are the topics that caught my eye for today’s column: 

• Montanans For Fair & Impartial Judges
• British Man in Great Falls
• Reading Assignments
• Football Reminder
• One More Thing

MONTANANS FOR FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JUDGES:

The Daily Montanan is reporting that the Montana Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, found that Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen had no basis for rewriting a constitutional initiative ballot statement that would make all district and Supreme Court judges nonpartisan. 

It ordered the Montana Secretary of State, Christi Jacobsen, to restore Montanans For Fair and Impartial Judges’ language and certify the measure for signature collection.

The Daily Montanan also added that this is the second time in a month the state’s highest court, and the court that handles matters of constitutional initiatives, has overturned a decision by Knudsen’s office involving ballot language.

At least Montana AG Knudsen is still the President of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA)! 

With all of Knudsen’s screwups, I’m beginning to think that Christi Jacobsen has the inside track to be the next governor of Montana! 

BRITISH MAN IN GREAT FALLS:

The British man, Dakota Wheeler, who was apprehended in Great Falls, had his first day in court on December 10 in front of U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris. The Montana Free Press (MTFP) reported on the court appearance, and it is a very interesting read. 

MTFP reported:

U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested Wheeler on Nov. 5, 2025 — 11 years to the day after he arrived in the U.S. from England. The arrest happened at The Rainbow senior living home, where Wheeler worked in downtown Great Falls. He’d been a kitchen worker there for eight years. Immigration agents responded to “several tips” about Wheeler’s status before arresting him, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court.

Then, the MTFP reported this:

Questions about how Wheeler remained in Great Falls for so long seem to revolve around one place: The Rainbow senior living home, where Wheeler held a kitchen job for eight years despite his nonresident status.

“There was no I-9 on him,” Dena Schoolcraft, the former executive director at The Rainbow, told MTFP Wednesday. “He was always paid through a petty-cash account.”

An I-9 is an employment verification form that confirms an employee’s citizenship or legal status, allowing them to receive taxed wages.

“He was always paid through a petty-case account.”  Holy cow! That is totally against the law! 

It was also reported that Judge Morris didn’t issue a ruling from the bench but promised a decision soon. Wheeler has been in the Cascade County Detention Center since his Nov. 5 arrest.

I have always believed that if you are illegally here for some reason, no matter how long, then you should leave and come back using legal methods. Some situations are sad, but the bottom line is that we must ensure the people in our country have followed the laws. Amnesty is never an option if you broke the law, in my humble opinion. 

READING ASSIGNMENTS:

There were many newsworthy items that you should know about. Click on the headline to read:

(AP) Trump’s handling of the economy is at its lowest point in AP-NORC polling

Let’s face it, Trump sucks at running the country. 

(AP) Time magazine names ‘Architects of AI’ as its person of the year for 2025

I love AI and use it often (not to write, but to search for info)

(AP) Indiana Republicans defy Trump and reject his House redistricting push in the state

There seems to be a movement in the Republican Party to say, “F&^% Trump!” Good! 

(WaPo) Administration fails again to indict N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James

I guess James is not a ham sandwich…

(Reuters) Obamacare health subsidy to end as US Senate rejects dueling remedies

Contact your Senators and Representatives and tell them to extend Obamacare subsidies or come up with an alternate plan quickly. 

FOOTBALL REMINDER:

Just a reminder that the Montana State Bobcats and the Montana Grizzlies have games this weekend in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. 

The Bobcats will host Stephen F. Austin Friday night (Dec. 12) at 7:00 p.m. The game is scheduled to be televised on ESPN. 

The Grizzlies will host South Dakota Saturday afternoon (Dec. 13) at 1:30 p.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on ABC. 

It will get very interesting if the Bobcats and Grizzlies win their quarterfinal games! (Bracket)

ONE MORE THING: 

If you think Tylenol is bad for children, you should see what assault rifles do to them. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##