Montana

Montana is now a pot state, not a coal one — so tell our federal delegation – Daily Montanan

Published

3 years ago

April 22, 2022

Montana is now a pot state, not a coal one — so tell our federal delegation – Daily Montanan

For years now we’ve got heard Jon Tester and Steve Daines declare themselves “coal state senators” at any time when they so willingly vote towards measures to cut back or tax using coal and its planet-killing air pollution. However as lately launched information present, the state and native tax income and variety of jobs created by Montana’s legalization of leisure and medical marijuana now outpace coal — a development that’s anticipated to proceed.

Montanans voted overwhelmingly to approve Initiative-190 in 2020 to legalize grownup leisure marijuana use. In reality, tens of 1000’s extra Montanans supported leisure pot than voted for Senator Steve Daines, Governor Greg Gianforte or Congressman Matt Rosendale. If “bipartisan help” means something to the politicians that frequently blather about it, the vote for legalizing leisure pot indisputably garnered votes from throughout the political spectrum.

As reported in a current article, the Montana Division of Income posted gross sales information displaying complete medicinal and leisure hashish gross sales hit $72.9 million within the first three months of this 12 months. Leisure gross sales outpace medicinal and with the vacationer season upon us — and an anticipated 10 million or extra guests to the Massive Sky State — these numbers are solely anticipated to extend. It’s truthful to say the solar is shining on the marijuana business in Montana whereas coal continues its precipitous decline.

When “The Marijuana Alternative and Expungement Act” handed the U.S. Home earlier this month, Montana’s Congressman Matt Rosendale voted towards it —regardless that 37 states, together with Montana, now have authorized medicinal and/or leisure marijuana. Regardless of his title, apparently Rosendale doesn’t suppose he has to really “symbolize” Montana’s voters.

So now the measure goes to the Senate and Republican Daines has already informed Politico: “I oppose it.”

Actually Sen. Daines? And why would you do this on condition that extra Montanans voted to legalize pot than voted for you within the final election?

Democrat Jon Tester ought to reply the identical query since, as additionally reported by Politico: “Sen. Jon Tester of Montana was equally unenthusiastic about ending federal marijuana penalties. Legalization would ‘trigger extra issues than it solves,’ Tester stated.

Disgusting, isn’t it, how these politicians can laud themselves as representing a “coal state” and sweep the recognized and disastrous issues brought on by coal underneath the rug — however are keen to fortunately vote towards the overwhelming needs of Montanans based mostly solely on their private opinions?

Montana is nowhere close to a “coal state” – and by no means was. Given Montana’s indeniable vote to help authorized pot, it’s clearly time for Daines, Tester and Rosendale to go away their phony anti-environment coal state excuses behind, admit Montana is now a “authorized pot state,” and begin representing their constituents’ priorities in Congress.

George Ochenski is a very long time Helena resident. His column seems within the Every day Montanan on Fridays.

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Montana

Helena Capital’s Vaughn Wirkus signs with Montana State football

Published

40 minutes ago

December 4, 2024

Press Room

Helena Capital’s Vaughn Wirkus signs with Montana State football

HELENA — The man who protected Merek Mihelish’s right during a Gatorade Player of the Year-caliber season officially became a Montana State Bobcat on Wednesday.

Vaughn Wirkus, Helena Capital’s 6-foot-6 right tackle, was tabbed a three-star recruit by 247Sports, ranked the best offensive lineman in the state of Montana’s 2025 class, and the fourth-best recruit overall.

All three recruits (Grant Vigen, Vinnie Souza, Malachi Claunch) ranked ahead of Wirkus join him in Bozeman.

“It feels amazing, committing to the team you grew up watching,” Wirkus said. “Now you get to play for them? It’s a pretty great feeling…

“The DonJoy Mafia, [MSU’s] O-line, it’s a pretty crazy group and I’m really excited to play for them.”

Wirkus was a two-year starter and three-year contributor for the Bruins, helping pave a path for a team that averaged 6.8 yards per carry and scored 31 rushing touchdowns during a state championship-winning 2024 campaign.

Committed since July, Wirkus officially signed early Wednesday morning, becoming one of 24 athletes to sign early with MSU and one of four offensive linemen.

Helena Capital OT Vaughn Wirkus was one of 24 athletes to sign with Montana State University football on Wednesday as part of early National Signing Day. Wirkus started at right tackle during the Bruins’ 11-1 Class AA state championship-winning 2024 campaign.

Daniel Shepard

Those other three offensive lineman are: Nicholas Maloff (Meridian High; Idaho), Nate Thornton (North Kitsap High; Washington); Ben Winters (Kalispell Glacier High).

“It’s pretty surreal,” Wirkus said. “You wake up in the morning and you sign the real document…

“You’re like, ‘man I’m a Bobcat.’ It’s pretty crazy to go from a Bruin to a Bobcat.”

Wirkus was a second-team All-Conference selection a season ago, honors likely improved upon with 2024 Class AA football honors teams still unknown.

Weighing between 240 and 250 pounds, Wirkus said his priority this off-season and after stepping foot on campus will be adding size and speeding up footwork to match the Division I level.

Vaughn Wirkus Signing 2 — Helena Capital OT Vaughn Wirkus was one of 24 athletes to sign with Montana State University football on Wednesday as part of early National Signing Day. Wirkus started at right tackle during the Bruins’ 11-1 Class AA state championship-winning 2024 campaign.

Daniel Shepard

“That all comes with coaching,” Wirkus said. “The facilities there at Montana State are really fantastic, so I don’t think I’ll have any problem doing that.”

Wirkus reunites with former Capital players Tom Carter and Talon Marsh at MSU, standouts on the Bruins’ 2022 title-winning team. He is Capital’s second Division I offensive line signee in three seasons, joining Austin Buehler, who signed with the University of Montana as part the Griz’s 2023 recruiting class.

Other recent Capital offensive line commits include: Cole Dawes (Montana Tech, 2024), Barrett Hageman (Montana Tech, 2024), and Jack Gollehon (Montana Tech, 2025).

“He’s been a solid part of that offensive line here for three years,” Capital head coach Kyle Mihelish said of Wirkus. “We’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of Vaughn, he’s a good football player…

Vaughn Wirkus Signing 3 — Advertisement

Helena Capital OT Vaughn Wirkus was one of 24 athletes to sign with Montana State University football on Wednesday as part of early National Signing Day. Wirkus started at right tackle during the Bruins’ 11-1 Class AA state championship-winning 2024 campaign.

Daniel Shepard

“He has good feet. Usually guys who are that size don’t have good feet. He’s quick, he can move, he can run. The Bobcats got a good one.”

Email Daniel Shepard at daniel.shepard@406mtsports.com and find him on X/Twitter @IR_DanielS.

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Montana

A New State Park Could Be Coming To Montana

Published

8 hours ago

December 4, 2024

Press Room

A New State Park Could Be Coming To Montana

A 109.43 acre property north of Winifred, Montana, was recently donated to the Montana State Parks Foundation by the American Prairie. Now the foundation is working to make that property a new Montana state park.

Flying over the Judith River near Winifred, MT

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks would acquire the land near the confluence of the Judith River and Missouri River in order to turn it into a Montana State Park. The acquisition would come with the requirement of development to provide for public safety, efficiency, and stewardship.

According to the state agency, the land would be turned into a park for a series of reasons, including ensuring perpetual public access, providing interpretive opportunities to the public for the surrounding historic district, provide further public outdoor recreation opportunities along the river, create a possible economic benefit for surrounding communities with the increased tourism, and create a state in an area known to have limited state park access.

If the property is acquired, funds for the project would be either requested through the 2025 legislative session or received through private donation. The Montana State Parks Foundation asks that those hoping to support the project read the environmental assessment and submit public comments. They also ask that those hoping to support consider making donations to help fund the project.

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Montana

South Dakota visits Montana State after Larkins’ 30-point outing

Published

16 hours ago

December 4, 2024

Press Room

South Dakota visits Montana State after Larkins’ 30-point outing

Associated Press

South Dakota Coyotes (3-5) at Montana State Bobcats (6-1)

Bozeman, Montana; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: South Dakota faces Montana State after Grace Larkins scored 30 points in South Dakota’s 95-88 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils.

The Bobcats are 4-0 in home games. Montana State is third in the Big Sky scoring 72.6 points while shooting 40.8% from the field.

The Coyotes have gone 0-1 away from home. South Dakota ranks third in the Summit shooting 32.0% from 3-point range.

Montana State is shooting 40.8% from the field this season, 1.3 percentage points lower than the 42.1% South Dakota allows to opponents. South Dakota has shot at a 42.5% clip from the field this season, 2.1 percentage points greater than the 40.4% shooting opponents of Montana State have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: Marah Dykstra is shooting 54.3% and averaging 15.0 points for the Bobcats.

Alexi Hempe averages 2.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Coyotes, scoring 13.1 points while shooting 37.0% from beyond the arc.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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