Tuesday’s Quick Hits

Posted on by

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

  • Crime in Great Falls
  • Safest Cities in America
  • New America?
  • One More Thing

CRIME IN GREAT FALLS:

KRTV is reporting on some recent crime statistics in Great Falls:

Theft dropped from 1,590 cases in 2021 to 880 cases in 2025, a decline of 710 cases, or 44.7%. Auto thefts fell from 289 cases to 142, a decrease of 147 cases, or 50.9%. Vandalism also declined from 967 cases to 687, down 280 cases, or 29%. Shoplifting dropped from 534 incidents to 376, a decrease of 158 cases, or nearly 30%.

Aggravated assaults increased from 218 cases in 2021 to 250 cases in 2025, a rise of 32 incidents, or 14.7%. Police also investigated three homicides and two attempted homicides in 2025.

Robberies fell from 30 cases in 2021 to 21 cases in 2025, a decrease of 30%. Partner or family member assaults also declined from 369 cases to 291, a drop of 78 cases, or 21.1%. Sex offenses remained relatively stable, increasing from 130 incidents to 132 over the same period.

While city leadership and external groups continue to lobby for increased public safety funding, the data suggests that current allocations may already be sufficient. It is standard practice for department heads to advocate for more resources, but these statistics demonstrate that the existing budget is adequate to meet current operational needs.

SAFEST CITIES IN AMERICA:

On Monday, I happened to see a post on Facebook from Republican Aaron Flint, who is running for Montana’s 1st Congressional District against Democrat Sam Forstag.

Flint wrote the following:

Drug needles on the banks of the Clark Fork River. Women fleeing domestic violence unable to walk into the thrift store due to transient crime. Transients defecating in the water fountains in city parks in Missoula. This was one of the more telling moments in our last debate.

My opponent BRAGGED about how he lobbied to give YOUR MONEY to transients. And the transient crisis got WORSE. Then he took taxpayer dollars as a lobbyist for the City of Missoula to raise your property taxes AND stick you with a sales tax. Crazy! I fought back against all of it.

Then I read a report from WalletHub titled “2026’s Safest City in America,” and the same Missoula that Flint wants to represent in Congress was ranked the 17th safest city out of 182 cities across the fruited plains. Billings was the other Montana city to make the list and was ranked 55th.

WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Home & Community Safety, 2) Natural-Disaster Risk, and 3) Financial Safety.

You can check out the full report from WalletHub HERE.

NEW AMERICA?

Just when you think the White House has reached its peak intellectual capacity, Donald Trump drops another policy gem that proves we’re just getting started. Behold:

New Mexico should immediately change its name to New America. We are not Mexico, we are the United States of America! The name would add great value and prestige to the State! Home Values and Incomes would rise, and you would be even prouder while saluting our beautiful American Flag! Maybe even the Crooked Elections, that New Mexico is known for, would become honest again!

President DONALD J. TRUMP (Source)

ONE MORE THING:

Growing up, my parents convinced me that the ice cream truck only played music when it was completely sold out.

## END ##

What do you think?