Tuesday’s Quick Hits

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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.

## THE END ##

5 thoughts on “Tuesday’s Quick Hits”

  2. Good Morning Jackie,

    Regarding your comments on the purchase of The Great Falls Tribune by Lee Newspapers. It seems to me that you have not recently read any of their Montana papers.

    Take a look at the Montana Standard, at least the print version. Only put out in a weekend type edtion, heavy wiyh content from the internet. Not too robust. I don’t wish it but I am skeptical that you will be pleased with the “new” Tribune.

    • I recently subscribed to the Helena IR and liked it.
      The Great Falls Tribune was very bad, so i think it will be an improvement. At least I hope so! -JmB

  3. “Great Falls residents deserve robust, high-quality local journalism”

    I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but that ain’t what you’ll get from Lee Enterprises. For a ridiculous subscription price, you’ll get only 3 print editions and 4 e-editions each week. The content generally includes 2 or 3 pages of actual regional/local news with a couple of articles picked up from Reuters for national/world events.

    The rest of the content will be cheap syndicated material that goes to all the other Lee pubs as well. Sorry, but I don’t need esoteric recipes for dishes that look dubious at best. I don’t really appreciate the advice on where to go for my next European vacation. Even the comics are barrel-scrapings. Take your choice between Barney Google and Flash Gordon to follow.

    In fairness, I should note that they do a pretty good job with obits. Of course, they charge exorbitantly for anything beyond the bare details from the funeral company. A family generated elegy costs by the word..

    • I recently subscribed to the Helena IR for a while. I received a really good deal – $2 for six months. I canceled after that and am waiting for another good deal.
      A local web newspaper in Great Falls “The Electric” does a decent job on local issues, but is not a daily.
      I just hope the news coverage will be better! -JmB

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