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

• Montana-Canada Border Traffic
• State Senator Jason Ellsworth
• Reading Assignments
• AFC/NFC Championships
• One More Thing

MONTANA-CANADA BORDER TRAFFIC:

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) has posted an interesting story about Montana-Canada Border traffic. 

MTFP is reporting that passenger and freight traffic across Montana’s northern border fell sharply in the first 11 months of 2025, with commercial freight seeing the sharpest decline from a for comparable periods in at least 30 years. The number of inbound people crossing also saw the steepest year-over-year percentage declines of recent decades outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

MTFP says that data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics indicates that full shipping container crossings into Montana for the first 11 months of the year fell 21% from its 30-year peak in 2024. Over the same period, individual crossings dropped 29%. The drop comes after years of sharp increases in freight and individual crossings coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also reported that passenger crossings from Canada into Montana fell to 736,000 in 2025, a 29% decline, the lowest mark in over 30 years outside of the pandemic.

You can thank President Donald Trump for the loss of traffic into Montana. He pissed off Canadians, and that is hard to do. The Montana delegation of U.S. Senator Steve Daines, U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy, U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke, and U.S. Representative Troy Downing are also responsible for the decline, as they are afraid to stand up to Trump and help Montana. 

STATE SENATOR JASON ELLSWORTH:

Lee Newspapers is reporting that Montana State Senator Jason Ellsworth pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor official misconduct charge Thursday, and his attorneys argued the case should be dismissed before trial on the grounds of legislative immunity. 

Ellsworth was charged last month with official misconduct after he attempted to secure a no-bid contract with a longtime friend using $171,000 of state money he had control over as Senate President in the final days of 2024. The Montana Department of Justice is prosecuting the case.

Lee Newspapers reports that oral arguments on the legislative immunity claim are set for March 12. 

The “legislative immunity” claim is an interesting defense. It will be interesting to see how the judge rules. 

There are several reports about the Montana Senate taking its own disciplinary actions against Ellsworth back in 2025:  The Senate voted 44-6 to censure Ellsworth in April 2025. He was stripped of all committee assignments and banned for life from the Senate floor and committee rooms, though he was still permitted to vote remotely.

I guess the “banned for life” does not take into account if his constituents want him in the state senate. 

Probably part of the anger toward Ellsworth is because he was a member of “The Nine,” which formed a working majority with Senate Democrats to bypass the far-right (MAGA) leadership in the Montana Senate. 

I think those nine should be given medals. I’m proud of the bipartisanship.  

READING ASSIGNMENTS:

Here are some reports you should read:

Smith defends his Trump investigations at a House hearing. ‘No one should be above the law,’ he says

That was a crazy hearing in front of the House Judiciary Hearing… 

Trump launches Board of Peace that some fear rivals UN

More silliness from Trump…

House approves final spending bills as Democrats denounce ICE funding

The bills need to go through the Senate…

AFC/NFC CHAMPIONSHIPS:

It’s a little sad for me, as this weekend marks the first time since 2019 that my Kansas City Chiefs have not competed in the AFC Championship game – a streak of seven straight years. What a run!

It’s also sad that, as a football fan, there are only three NFL games left this season! I always have withdrawals! I love football. 

First up on Sunday, we have the AFC Championship game with the New England Patriots (14-3) traveling to Denver to take on the Denver Broncos (14-3). The game begins at 1:00 pm (Mountain time). The game will be televised on CBS. 

After that, we have the NFC Championship game with the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) traveling to Seattle to take on the Seattle Seahawks (14-3). The game begins at 4:30 p.m. (Mountain time). The game will be televised on Fox. 

On February 8, the winners will face off in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The game starts at 4:30 Mountain time. 

ONE MORE THING:

I’m never sure if I actually have free time or if I’m just forgetting shit. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##