Mike Jopek

Inspiration of a New Generation - Flathead Beacon I looked with shock at the price on the chocolate bar at the grocer. It read $8.49. I swear it was less than five bucks just last month. It’s good chocolate but that’s a big price increase. America’s ...

Uncommon Ground: Inspiration of a New Generation flatheadbeacon.com/2025/10/29/i... #mtpol

Arrests, frozen bank accounts and a controversial election: Leadership crisis grips Northern Cheyenne Tribe Both the president and council members spoke with MTFP in recent interviews to clarify their perspectives.

"Those rules prohibit women from running, in addition to raising the minimum candidate age from 21 to 30." #mtpol

Sarah Borduin: With data centers, our security will be in the contracts — not the sales pitch What is a data center and why does it matter?

"...a 2024 study from Virginia’s state Legislature reports that residents could pay $37.50/month subsidizing data centers through their power bills." #mtpol

YouTube video by Beer, BUDS, and the Big Sky Podcast Beer, Buds and the Big Sky Podcast

Live w/ Steve Qunell, Ryan Hennen, Ed Docter and producer Kevin McDowell. Special guest Rus Cleveland #mtpol

At 40, Farm Aid Is Still About Music. It’s Also a Movement. Willie Nelson launched the festival in 1985 to save family farms. Amid corporate consolidation, it’s now a platform for populist organizing.

"Willie Nelson launched the music festival in 1985 as a fundraiser to save family farms. With corporate consolidation a continuing threat to farms, it’s now a platform for populist organizing, too." #mtpol

Optimism of Andy Feury It’s apparent that during his decades of public service, he has always put locals first

During these turbulent times, go with proven leadership and consensus candidates like Andy Feury. No one wants a local government that acts like the feds and punishes people for how they voted. #mtpol

“I”m hearing a lot of stress, apprehension, fear, people who are saying that they’re farmers or ranchers, and they’re on the ACA in Montana, and I know that they are counting on us to do the right thing,” Murray said. #mtpol dailymontanan.com/2025/10/15/w...

Optimism of Andy Feury - Flathead Beacon City Councilor Andy Feury attended Flathead High School along with the late County Commissioner Joe Brenneman. They took American history class together back when school kids read printed newspapers l...

Uncommon Ground: Optimism of Andy Feury #mtpol

Trump Ramps Up Trade War as Tariffs on Lumber and Furniture Kick In

Housing not expensive enough #mtpol

"The tariffs going into effect on Tuesday include:

10 percent on imported wood and timber, much of which the United States imports from Canada."

Democratic Food and Ag Candidates Enter the Political Fray Amid Trump’s tariffs, funding freezes, and food assistance cuts, newcomers from food and farming backgrounds are entering congressional races.

Platner: “That mostly seems like I’m just trying to give a damn about my community.” #mtpol

'Hurting farmers': Trump admin just made an 'unusual acknowledgement' about its policies Donald Trump's administration just made an "unusual acknowledgement" about its immigration policies, according to a new report Saturday.In a weekend article called "Trump administration says immigrati...

Food about to get even more expensive #mtpol

PSC approves rate increase for 89,000 Montana-Dakota Utilities natural gas customers "I don't want to say 'just suck it up,' but its sometimes it's a hard world," one Public Service Commission analyst said Tuesday.

'suck it up' the next rate increase #mtpol

Fmr. Sen. Jon Tester | Congress must stand up for farmers and against Trump’s tariffs Trump is reportedly considering giving money to farmers that will help them offset the damage his policies have caused.

Tester: Being a farmer is the best job I’ve ever had, but I have a dire warning for this country: Family farms are in trouble, and that translates to even bigger trouble for the rest of America. #mtpol

Editorial: Relief for farmers President Trump’s plan to bail out soybean farmers with a subsidy check, as was done in 2018, is the predictable consequence of what he called “Liberation ...

In 2024 Ohio farmers produced 276 million bushels of soybeans. Now, the cost to produce a bushel of soybeans is about $3.50 more than the market price.

That’s nearly a $1 billion loss for Ohio farmers www.toledoblade.com/opinion/edit...

22 states are in a recession or close to it, new analysis finds Twenty-two states are either in a recession or on the precipice of a downturn, according to a new analysis from Moody's Analytics.

Montana tagged as "In or at high risk of a recession". Budget shortfalls upcoming soon #mtpol

Judge says residential property owners can continue lawsuit against Montana's Department of Revenue • Daily Montanan A Butte judge said that residents can sue the Montana Department of Revenue for failing to equalize property tax rates for businesses and local homeowners.

Judge says residential property owners can continue lawsuit against Montana’s Department of Revenue #mtpol

Trump to Unveil Farmer Aid as China Shuns U.S. Crops

“We have an export-dependent industry, we’ve angered its biggest customer, and, boom, now we’re bailing out the export-dependent industry,” said Scott Lincicome, the vice president for general economics at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. #mtpol

Tariff tribulations: Farmers Union pushing for farm bill, other legislation as woes continue Legislative fly-In to Washington, D.C. priorities included Farm Bill, country of origin packaging and right to repair.

“I’ve got farmers who are calling me from these other farm organizations that are freaking out about the tariffs.”

Those tariffs continue to be a major concern, Schweitzer said, because it has caused some countries to simply buy agricultural products from other countries. #mtpol

Federal government shutdown freezes farm support services Many U.S. Department of Agriculture services are frozen as a result of the government shutdown. The freeze could have significant impacts for Montana’s farmers.

"These are funds that are critically needed by producers who have bills to pay, debt to pay," Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer told MTPR. "And it's just going to delay those payments and add stress to their everyday life." #mtpol

YouTube video by Beer, BUDS, and the Big Sky Podcast Beer, Buds and the Big Sky Podcast

Live w Bill Lombardi, Steve Qunell, Ryan Hennen, Ed Docter and producer Kevin McDowell. We got the Amelia Earhart files and will release one name per day of gov't shutdown #mtpol

Digitally Divided - Flathead Beacon He levered his arm downward as if switching off the power and said to just turn off the internet. I’d asked him how to calm many of the arguments plaguing society. He offered a simple yet fascinating ...

Uncommon Ground: Digitally Divided #mtpol

Listening - Flathead Beacon As I made the long drive from the Flathead to the Windy City to chat with statewide Democrats, I noticed the same phenomenon I do every time I travel across this big state; our landscape is incredibly...

Uncommon Ground: Listening #mtpol flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/17/l...

'Time for a new era': Shannon O'Brien elected as chair of Montana Democratic Party "It’s time for a new era, and this is that new chapter," O'Brien said. New vice chair Max Johansen said Democrats "need to be on the attack" to gain ground.

Unity and respect to the winner #mtpol

The Work - Flathead Beacon We started the onion harvest, and the rains came. It was a slow gentle shower. The dry clover patches sucked up the water quickly. Within the hour, the rainfall was gone. Moved on. Lasted long enough ...

Uncommon Ground: The Work flatheadbeacon.com/2025/09/10/t... #mtpol

Chopping Block - Flathead Beacon As Idaho fires poured smoke into the valley, an ashy flavor lingered in my mouth. It tasted familiar, permeated the nose, and caused distress to everyone it touched valley wide. We’ve been through it ...

Uncommon Ground: Chopping Block #mtpol #mtnews flatheadbeacon.com/2025/08/20/c...

Next Chapter - Flathead Beacon When dad gave grandma’s Dodge Dart to my younger brother, he told him that D was for drive and R was for reverse. That kind of life advice is easy to remember. Regardless of how dysfunctional politici...

Uncommon Ground: Next Chapter flatheadbeacon.com/2025/08/06/n... #mtpol #mtnews

Listen Up - Flathead Beacon That old-timer looked me square in the eyes and said that I got two ears and one mouth, better use them wisely. The guidance was clear. Listen more. Be upfront and treat locals with respect. Listening...

Uncommon Ground: Listen Up #mtpol #mtnews flatheadbeacon.com/2025/07/23/l...

archive.legmt.gov/content/Comm...

The new varied tax rate system in Montana says that depending on where you live decides how much property taxes you pay and how much reappraisal overtax you get back #mtpol

Missoula County collects the highest property tax in Montana, levying an average of $2,176.00 (0.93% of median home value) yearly in property taxes, while Wibaux County has the lowest property tax in the state, collecting an average tax of $505.00 (0.84% of median home value) per year #mtpol