Montana
In First Visit to Montana, Author Min Jin Lee to Give Talk at Flathead Valley Community College – Flathead Beacon
In explaining why she’ll be taking her first trip to Montana to speak at Flathead Valley Community College for an event that will be free to students of all grade levels, the celebrated novelist and writer Min Jin Lee begins to describe herself as an introvert who happens to receive lots of invitations to things.
As is the case with many introverts – people who gravitate towards quiet, solitude, and more limited social engagements – accepting invitations, and then attending big events can be a draining, exhausting experience, and so Lee said she tries to be selective.
In 2024, that has included participating in a January panel with the writers Colm Toibin and Rumaan Alam at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater in New York City to discuss the 100th anniversary of E.M. Forster’s “A Passage to India,” being honored in February at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute’s 75th Anniversary Gala, and after her Kalispell talk, another talk at the University of Utah, before her public engagements subside until a May discussion at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston called “Min Jin Lee: Writing and the Korean Wave.”
A quick spin through Lee’s professional biography puts into some perspective why these invitations arrive. Her 2007 debut novel, “Free Food for Millionaires,” landed on top 10 books of the year lists for The Times of London, NPR’s Fresh Air and USA Today, and was a national bestseller. Her second novel, “Pachinko” was published in 2017, and again earned her accolades and nominations. It was a finalist for the National Book Award for fiction, and in addition to being a New York Times bestseller and an international bestseller translated into 35 languages, it was one of the New York Times’ 10 Best Books of the Year, and landed on similar lists for BBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, while also appearing on best books of the year lists for NPR, PBS and CNN. As Lee told the Beacon, she recently finished writing the draft of her third novel, and is currently working on rewriting it.
Lee has also received prestigious fellowships, including from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. A member of the New York Foundation for the Arts Hall of Fame, and the New York State Writers Hall of Fame, and the winner of the 2022 Manhae Grand Prize for Literature in South Korea, Lee is currently the writer-in-residence at Amherst College and recently served as the editor of the 2023 edition of the Best American Short Stories series.
Michael Luo, an editor for The New Yorker magazine, described her in a 2022 piece as a writer whose gift is an ability to “write sweeping, magisterial books that take on ponderous political themes – like the Korean diasporic experience, the invisibility of marginalized groups in history, the limits of assimilation — and to make their unhurried, quiet intrigues read like thrillers.”
As for why she chose to accept an invitation to come to FVCC, Lee said there were two main reasons. On the one hand, she was curious to finally see Montana and meet Montanans for the first time, and figure out just how different things might be from New York City, where she has lived for much of her life.
“I’m from New York City, I was born in Seoul, I’ve lived in Tokyo … it’s very hard to impress me with a city … I think for me Montana is very glamorous. Ohio is very glamorous to me. Wyoming is very glamorous to me, because I think, ‘Oh, I don’t know this.’” Lee said.
As someone who steeps themselves in early 19th and early 20th century American authors – something she explained as part of her ongoing study of omniscient narration – Lee said that she’s also drawn to the South, and described an appreciation for opportunities to visit places where people significant to her once lived. That has included visiting the home in Ketchum, Idaho, where Ernest Hemingway spent his last days; and also a trip to Warrensburg, Missouri, to stand in the same auditorium where her late uncle John Y. Kim, who sponsored her family’s immigration to the United States, studied as a college student at the University of Central Missouri.
But beyond her continued efforts to see and in some way understand parts of the United States with which she is less familiar, Lee emphasized that she is coming to Kalispell because she is big proponent of college education in the United States.
“It’s something that I believe in very strongly,” she said. “I thought it’d be very cool connect to that audience, in particular because very often when you hear about Montana in New York City, very often you focus on elite people who kind of fly in and fly out, and just take advantage of the nature part, but I wanted to meet people who are from Montana, who care about Montana, who feel connected enough to go to community college, and to feel a sense of mission there.”
Her talk will be about failure, struggle, why she does what she does, and writing as a craft.
“It’s what I do better than most people,” Lee said of failure. “I’m really good at humiliation. And I think if I can teach you how to feel better, I’ve done something that’s worth taking a plane trip over.”
For people who are skeptical that Lee’s talk will have relevance to those whose interests don’t lie in reading and writing, she would probably argue otherwise. While she has concerns about the future of reading, or more specifically reading deeply, as it relates to the technologically driven distractions that are so widespread in today’s world, Lee said that she has a somewhat cynical view of why reading will continue to be of importance in the world. In short, she said that in her experience, powerful people read, and read often.
“This is my little TED talk for my students, very often, which is if you want to get ahead in life, if you want to understand human motivation, if I were you, I would read the wisdom garnered from the best kinds of books that you can possibly find,” Lee said. “Because it’s all there.”
Min Jin Lee’s talk at FVCC is part of the college’s WCC Speaker Series. The event is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. on March 18 at the Wachholz College Center. The event is supported, in part, by the Broussard family. For more information and to get tickets, visit https://www.wachholzcollegecenter.org/Online/default.asp. Free tickets are available for students of all grade levels.
Brian Miller won the Democratic primary Tuesday for the U.S. House seat in Montana’s eastern district.
The Associated Press called the race for Miller, an attorney in Helena, who fended off a challenge from state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a longtime legislator from Box Elder, and Sam Lux, a farrier from Great Falls.
In the Republican and rural eastern district, any Democrat will be an underdog, and Miller will face off against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, who was unopposed Tuesday.
Libertarian Patrick McCracken is also running.
In the primary, Miller took 58% of the vote. Lux took 27% and Windy Boy took 16%, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s website.
In April, Windy Boy paused his campaign amid “serious sexual abuse” allegations raised by the Montana Democratic Party — but Windy Boy restarted his campaign and later called the allegations “political attacks.”
Miller is representing the victim of the alleged abuse and her mother, although he said he didn’t take on the role until after Windy Boy initially suspended his campaign.
The Western Montana Food and Farm Trail, a new agritourism initiative led by Farm Connect Montana, launches May 30, offering locals and visitors a new kind of food and farm adventure across Western Montana.
Running June 1 through October 31, the self-guided Trail spans more than 200 miles and features more than 100 farms, ranches, farmers markets, restaurants, breweries and food businesses across the Missoula, Bitterroot, Flathead and Mission Valleys. Along the way, participants are invited to meet growers and makers, taste what’s in season and experience the culture and care behind Western Montana’s local food community.
At the center of the experience is the passport-style Trail Field Guide, illustrated by Missoula-based artist Courtney Blazon. The guide features illustrated maps, curated itineraries, seasonal highlights and more than 100 local food destinations throughout the region. The guide also includes more than $130 in special offers from participating farms and businesses.
Participants can collect stamps at Trail stops along the way to qualify for prizes, giveaways, or simply as a way to document their journey. End-of-season prizes include raffles for three CSA memberships valued at over $600 each, as well as local food and farm gift certificates, product bundles and Courtney Blazon-designed market totes.
The Trail is a regional collaboration led by Farm Connect Montana in partnership with Land to Hand Montana, The O’Hara Commons and Sustainability Center and Abundant Montana, organizations working to strengthen local food systems across Western Montana. The project aims to support local farms and food businesses through expanded visibility and agritourism opportunities while reconnecting locals and visitors with the people, places and stories behind their food.
“In creating the Western Montana Food & Farm Trail, we hope to inspire both residents and travelers to discover the stories behind their food and connect with the people cultivating a more vibrant, resilient and locally rooted food community,” said Bonnie Buckingham, Executive Director of Farm Connect Montana. “Participation in the Trail is a win for everyone. It creates new opportunities for farms and local food businesses to reach wider audiences while encouraging participants to explore new places, support local producers and experience Western Montana in a more meaningful way.”
“Land to Hand is thrilled to partner with Farm Connect on the Food and Farm Trail to highlight the robust agricultural heritage of Western Montana,” said Gretchen Boyer, Executive Director of Land to Hand Montana. “This initiative is more than just a guide – it’s an invitation to celebrate and support the local farmers who nourish our communities every day. By connecting residents and visitors directly to the source, we’re strengthening our local food system and honoring the people and landscapes that sustain the Flathead Valley.”
To celebrate the launch, regional Trail launch parties will take place in Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley and the Flathead Valley throughout early June, featuring Field Guide distribution, local food vendors, giveaways and opportunities to learn more about the Trail.
Trail Field Guides ($10) will be available for purchase beginning May 30 both online and at participating businesses, farmers markets and community locations throughout the region. A full list of Field Guide purchase locations and details, as well as a digital map and Trail listings, special events and more information is available at farmconnectmontana.org/trail.
Funding for this project was made possible through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
Regional launch events
• Missoula Launch Party — LaLonde Ranch, Sun., June 7, 1-4 p.m.
• Bitterroot Launch Party — O’Hara Commons Market, Wed., June 10, 4-6 p.m.
• Flathead Launch Party — Backslope Brewing, Tue., June 16, 4-7:30 p.m.
An “I voted” sign points to a Vote Center on June 1 in Los Angeles.
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Six states — California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and New Mexico — hold elections on Tuesday. Most of the attention is on California and Iowa, where there are competitive primaries for governor. In both states, the Democratic Party also sees a road map to control of Congress in the fall.
In California’s unique primary system, voters send the top two vote-getters to November’s general election, regardless of candidates’ political parties. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is term limited, and California voters will also pick who should move on to the general election in five new Democratic-leaning congressional districts.
In Iowa, Democratic voters will choose a candidate in a key Senate race — the Republican in the race is already the de facto nominee. In order to win a majority in the Senate, Democrats must pick up four seats, forcing the party to win in Republican-leaning states like Iowa. For governor, the race is the first good chance Democrats have to win the office in years, but Republicans still need to select their nominee.
Here are key races to follow:
Or skip to specific races:
California governor | California U.S. House | Iowa governor | Iowa U.S. Senate | New Jersey and Montana
You can also check out June 2 voter resources from the NPR network.
California decides top two gubernatorial contenders
It’s been a chaotic scramble to pick the next leader of the country’s largest state. After three prominent Democrats — former Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Alex Padilla and state Attorney General Rob Bonta — decided not to run, Democratic voters haven’t had a clear front-runner for the first time in decades. Voters have more than 60 candidates to choose from, but only a fraction of those are considered serious contenders. Only the top two vote-getters will move on to the general election in November.
California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra hugs a supporter at the Long Beach Arena on May 31 in Long Beach, Calif.
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The race got a shakeup when former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, the presumed favorite, dropped out of the race after he was accused of sexual misconduct by several women. Most recently, polls show the contest could be between two Democrats — the Health and Human Services secretary under former President Joe Biden, Xavier Becerra, and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer.
Before Becerra was appointed to Biden’s Cabinet, he served 12 terms in Congress and was elected as the California attorney general in 2016. He’s considered by many as the candidate with the strongest political background. Becerra’s pitch is that he is a proven leader who can hold his own and protect California from President Trump.
Steyer has forked over more than $213 million of his own fortune on the race and is also financially backed by Our Revolution, a group aligned with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Steyer’s platform is centered on taking a stand against special-interest groups in politics.
Polling just a few points behind Becerra and Steyer is Republican Steve Hilton. The former Fox News host was endorsed by President Trump in April, after which Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, another Republican in the race, quickly dropped in the polls. Hilton’s platform focuses on increasing affordable housing supply for first-time homebuyers, bolstering tech industries and reviving California’s film industry.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks with students during a Get the Youth Vote with Bruin Democrats event at UCLA’s campus on June 1 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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The outcome of California’s new congressional districts
In response to Texas redrawing its congressional lines to create five Republican-leaning districts at the behest of President Trump, Californians approved Proposition 50 in November last year. The measure temporarily sidestepped the independent redistricting commission tasked with drawing nonpartisan influenced congressional boundaries, in favor of politically gerrymandered districts. That allowed state Democrats to redraw their map so five previously Republican-held districts now lean Democratic.
This has left those Republican incumbents figuring out their political futures. Rep. Ken Calvert, the longest-serving Republican from California, and Rep. Young Kim are running in the same district, for example, in a race that’s gotten quite heated.
Then there’s Rep. Kevin Kiley. After being drawn into a much more Democratic-leaning district, he decided to run in a new seat and announced he was leaving the Republican Party and running as an independent instead, though Kiley said would still caucus with the Republicans.
Because of California’s primary system, some of these more competitive seats are creating competitive primaries between Democrats, allowing primary voters to signal to the party what kinds of candidates speak to them most in places that have the most to lose — and gain.
Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary
Iowa Republican voters could decide the party’s nominee for governor in the state’s first open race for the office since 2011, as sitting Gov. Kim Reynolds opted not to run for reelection.
With five Republicans on Tuesday’s ballot, Rep. Randy Feenstra is the only one endorsed by Trump. The race will test whether Trump’s endorsement holds weight in a state where his approval rating has slipped over the economy and the war in Iran. Feenstra’s lead may be declining, as one recent poll shows political newcomer and Iowa businessman Zach Lahn could have a shot at winning the GOP primary.
There is a good chance, though, that Iowans won’t know the outcome of the race on Tuesday because a candidate must secure 35% of the vote to win outright. If no one clears that threshold, the nominee will be decided at a Republican convention where delegates — not primary voters — make the final choice.
But the Republican-backed candidate isn’t a shoo-in come November. Cook Political Report categorizes the governor’s race as a toss-up with a slight Republican advantage. Whatever Republican wins on Tuesday will face unopposed Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand in the general election. Sand is popular among voters and has, so far, outraised any other candidate for governor.
Democrats look to flip Iowa Senate seat
Democratic voters in Iowa will pick which candidate they think has the best shot at beating the Republican nominee for Senate, expected to be Trump-endorsed Rep. Ashley Hinson, on Tuesday. This is a seat that Democrats believe they have a shot at flipping come November. It’s part of a larger strategy of expanding their map — and winning in states currently held by Republican senators — if they want a chance to retake the Senate majority.
Iowa Democrats have a choice between state Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls. Both candidates are courting different Iowa voters, though. Turek is vying for the independent-leaning vote, while Wahls is hoping to gain the support from committed Democrats. Turek flipped a state House district held by a Republican, while Wahls represents a Senate district that is solidly blue. Both argue they are the candidate who has the right message to win in November.
And with three competitive congressional races on the ballot, some Democrats in the state are feeling like the road to a Democratic majority in Congress runs through Iowa.
Looking beyond Tuesday
New Jersey and Montana also have competitive races that could decide which party has control of Congress.
In New Jersey, all eyes are on Congressional District 7. Four Democrats are hoping to oust Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. The sitting congressman has been notably absent from Washington for weeks due to what Kean cites as unspecified medical issues. He has missed more than 100 House votes since his last recorded vote on March 5.
Two races in Montana may be more competitive than originally expected with the last-minute announcements — shortly before the filing deadline — by Republicans, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zinke, that neither would seek reelection.
While an open Senate seat does not make Montana, which has long been considered a Republican stronghold, necessarily competitive for Democrats, an independent candidate is outraising candidates in both major parties. Seth Bodnar, Iraq war veteran and former president of the University of Montana, is hoping voters will send him instead, mostly on the message that he won’t work for either party and is focused on changing the direction America is heading. In Bodnar’s case, he has enough voter signatures to land himself on the November ballot, but the Montana Secretary of State’s Office hasn’t yet certified those signatures.
Democrats are working to flip Montana’s 1st Congressional District as well. When Zinke announced he was retiring from Congress, it was seen as an opening for Democrats to compete. Now, four Democrats are angling for the open seat, including front-runner Sam Forstag, a smokejumper who is endorsed by popular progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
June 2 voter resources from the NPR Network
California | Iowa | Montana | New Jersey | New Mexico | South Dakota
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Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoCalifornia primary election results: governor and L.A. mayor races
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Detroit, MI2 hours agoAnother bribery scandal hits Detroit. It involves the People Mover
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San Francisco, CA2 hours agoWhat’s Worth More Than Cash in San Francisco Real Estate? Anthropic Stock
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Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas weighs $500 million‑plus repair plans as City Hall’s future comes up for debate
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Miami, FL2 hours agoMiami biotech executive was followed into his condo by man who allegedly threw him from 25th floor
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Boston, MA2 hours agoWhat a World Cup ‘fan zone’ is and what Boston fans can expect in 2026
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Denver, CO2 hours agoDefensive lineman Jordan Miller has a tough battle to make the Broncos’ final 53-man roster
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Seattle, WA2 hours agoVIDEO: Mayor Wilson proposes renewing, expanding Seattle Transit Measure by doubling the sales-tax percentage that funds it.
