By now you know that Arch Coal declared bankruptcy. We all knew it was coming. At first I didn’t think there was much to say about it beyond what the news articles were reporting but then I read Tom Lutey’s recent story in the Gazette and I think it is worth addressing the comments by John Tubbs, the director of Montana’s Department of Natural Resources (DNRC). Tubbs told Lutey that it was unlikely that Arch Coal would let Otter Creek collapse given the amount of money they had invested…

People who need to catch a goat, that’s who. Which, luckily, I can help you with. I’ve exchanged many emails with frustrated goat owners from all over the country who can’t catch their goats. On the more serious side of things, when I started East of Billings, I wasn’t sure that people would read it. I did it mostly out of frustration. There was so much happening in southeast Montana that wasn’t getting covered by the newspapers and I wanted a better way to communicate with people who live…

My nephew learned the pledge of allegiance when he was four. A dutiful aunt, I listened to him recite it and then heard, “one nation, under dog, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” “Can you repeat that please?” I asked. “One nation, under dog, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” I imagined a bronzed dog the size of the Statue of Liberty in the lawn of the U.S. Capitol building. Of course, I told everyone about it, shared a video of him on Facebook and made…

It’s nice to see Governor Bullock delegating some big responsibilities. It’s an election year, you know. He must be very busy. And, in terms of addressing climate change policy for our state, I couldn’t think of a better person to hand that over to than Senator Duane Ankney. Bullock’s advisory council line-up is great if the goal is to ensure that the federal government will have to step in to mandate how we will meet our obligations for carbon reduction under the Clean Power Plan. Or maybe he just wants…