Hello! Here are the topics for today’s independent commentary:

• Great Falls Tribune
• National Park Baseball 
• September 29, 2026
• One More Thing

GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE:

Lee Enterprises and USA TODAY Co. have entered into immediate strategic agreements to realign their local newspaper portfolios. Under the deal, Lee Enterprises is expanding its regional presence by acquiring four prominent publications in South Dakota and Montana:

• South Dakota: The Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Aberdeen American News (including Farm Forum), and Watertown Public Opinion.
• Montana: The Great Falls Tribune.

These newly acquired outlets join Lee’s existing regional network, which already includes the Rapid City Journal in South Dakota, as well as the Billings Gazette, Independent Record, Missoulian, The Montana Standard, and Ravalli Republic in Montana. (Source)

I think Lee Enterprises’ acquisition of the Great Falls Tribune marks a much-needed turning point for our community. Let’s be honest: the paper has been in decline for years. As a loyal subscriber for over two decades, it was painful to finally cancel my subscription last year. Great Falls residents deserve robust, high-quality local journalism, and this ownership change is a significant step in the right direction.

NATIONAL PARK BASEBALL:

According to The Washington Post, Major League Baseball has approached the Trump administration about hosting a regular-season game inside a national park. Following the commercial success of special stand-alone events like the “Field of Dreams” games in Iowa, league officials are exploring a temporary ballpark setup, with Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park emerging as a specific target location. 

A Major League Baseball game has no business being in Grand Teton National Park, or any other National Park. The risk to wildlife, the unavoidable light and noise pollution, and the physical threat to protected lands simply make it a bad idea.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2026:

Today, the war against Iran enters its eighth month, direct evidence of how quickly a “short excursion” can transform into a protracted conflict. What the administration initially predicted would take less than five weeks has dragged out for nearly three-quarters of a year. Despite continuous assurances that victory was just around the corner, global oil markets remain disrupted, the Strait of Hormuz is still blocked, and a diplomatic breakthrough is nowhere in sight. 

Remember this when you vote in the November election. 

ONE MORE THING:

I hate spelling errors. You mix up two letters, and your whole post is urined.

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