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ICE operations in Great Falls

By
Alan
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ICE operations in Great Falls

Great Falls is less a raid city than Montana’s immigration processing hub: federal court, a county jail that holds ICE/CBP detainees, and cases that start elsewhere on the Hi-Line or in Gallatin County and then land here.

The Cascade County Detention Center is the only county jail in Montana contracted to hold ICE detainees longer than 72 hours. The county is paid a daily federal rate (reported around $115 per detainee in the 2021-era contract; officials have said federal inmates pay more than state inmates). Sheriff Jesse Slaughter has described that as a budget matter. Typical ICE/immigration counts at the jail have been small — often about a dozen immigration inmate listings, though total federal-contract inmates can be much higher.

The U.S. District Court in Great Falls (Missouri River Courthouse) handles many of the state’s illegal-reentry, document-fraud, and transport cases. Recent examples include sentences and ICE transfers under the Justice Department’s “Operation Take Back America,” plus habeas fights over detention. People arrested in Bozeman, Froid, Lewistown, Shelby, or along I-15/I-90 often appear or sit in Great Falls first.

Local police role is limited

Great Falls PD and Cascade County deputies say they do not enforce civil immigration law on their own and cannot arrest on an ICE warrant alone. They will call federal agents if they think immigration enforcement is needed during a local crime call. Montana law (MCA 2-1-601 through 605) bars cities from blocking cooperation with federal immigration agencies. Mayor Cory Reeves has said the city is not considering a non-cooperation resolution like Helena’s. Cascade County had a pending 287(g) listing in 2025 but did not appear on ICE’s public partner list.

Field operations vs. Great Falls as a holding point

Large street operations reported in 2025–26 were more often done in Gallatin County/Bozeman (ICE) and Border Patrol along the Hi-Line and I-90 (Havre Sector, Sweetgrass, St. Regis), not mass raids downtown Great Falls. Great Falls still sees individual ICE/HSI arrests — for example a British resident detained at work in November 2025 over an alleged visa overstay, and a 2025 case where GFPD called ICE to a trespassing scene.

Politics in town

City Commission meetings have drawn both sides.

There are residents asking the city not to assist ICE, and other residents backing federal agents and the jail contract. Commissioners have taken comment without passing an ICE resolution. There have also been protests at the federal courthouse after national ICE incidents.

Sanctuary cities

Montana’s sanctuary fight is not about a list of official “sanctuary cities.” The state banned those in 2021, before any Montana city had one. The live debate is whether cities may write local police rules that keep officers out of civil immigration work without violating that ban.

The state rule

House Bill 200, signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, is now MCA 2-1-601 through 2-1-605. It says a city or county may not adopt a policy that stops officials from:

    • exchanging citizenship or immigration-status information with federal agencies for a lawful purpose
    • honoring lawful DHS notification requests about a release
    • honoring a lawful immigration detainer when someone is already in custody

The attorney general investigates complaints. Penalties include $10,000 every five days of noncompliance and possible loss of certain state grant and commerce money.

Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed a similar bill in 2019 as a solution searching for a problem. The 2021 version passed largely along party lines. Gianforte was quoted as saying, “Immigration law will be enforced in Montana.” as he signed the legislation.

Critics note the statute never tightly defines “sanctuary city,” and Montana did not appear on later federal sanctuary lists. The League of Cities and Towns opposed HB 200 as a cut into local control.

What cities actually do

Most Montana departments already say they do not enforce federal civil immigration law and do not ask status on a routine stop. That is different from a written “we will not help ICE” resolution.

A few counties have signed 287(g) deals (local officers trained to do some ICE functions). State Highway Patrol and DCI also gained 287(g)-style authority in 2025. That is the opposite of sanctuary: more local help for federal immigration work.

Helena comes down with a sudden case of retard

Helena framed its resolution as writing down existing practice after high-profile arrests and national ICE tactics. Supporters said local cops should do local crime work, not civil deportation, and that trust with immigrant residents helps reporting of crime.

Knudsen and Gianforte called it an illegal sanctuary policy:

Cities do not set immigration law; voters rejected “open borders” policies; noncooperation hides people who should be removable.

The AG’s cease-and-desist said the resolution blocked stops/assistance based solely on status and told prosecutors to weigh immigration consequences of pleas. Helena’s lawyers answered that sharing was still allowed “as required by law,” including the anti-sanctuary statute itself, and that detainers on people already in custody were not refused.

The city hired outside counsel, then folded

Commissioners cited insolvency risk if $10,000/five-day fines stacked from January. The AG closed the case as moot and told Helena compliance is not a “collaborative enterprise.” Residents later asked the city to revive the idea after Bozeman-area sweeps and questions about an ICE holding site inside Helena city limits.

Montana is an anti-sanctuary state on paper, with cities that still try to keep local police out of civil immigration without using the word sanctuary.

Helena showed the cost of putting that in a resolution: investigation, fines in the statute, and a public climb-down.

Gallatin County’s fight with the AG shows the next front is records and prosecutors, not just city proclamations. Congressman Troy Downing has also floated cutting HUD money to non-cooperating cities — a federal echo of the same fight.

The unresolved legal question is how far a city can go in saying “we don’t do ICE’s job” before that becomes a banned “policy that restricts” cooperation under MCA 2-1-602. HB 200.

All of this hasn’t been fully tested in the Montana courts and until it is, the debate is going to be enforcement by letterhead and budget threat as much as it is by statute.




 

One-ring Cell Phone Scam can Ding Your Wallet

By
Aimee
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Cell Phone Scam

The one-ring cell phone scam is a real, old scam: one ring, hang up, hope you call back and pay. The ring itself does not empty your bank account. Calling the number back can.

How it works

Scammers auto-dial huge lists. Your phone rings once (sometimes twice) and stops. No voicemail. You see a missed call from a number that looks almost American. Curiosity wins. You tap it.

The callback is routed to an international or premium-rate line. You hear please hold, dead air, or a slow recording. The meter runs: connection fee plus a high per-minute rate. The scammer takes a cut of the toll. Japanese slang for this is wangiri — one ring and cut. The FCC wrote it into the rules as a defined one-ring scam.

Numbers that look domestic but aren’t

Caribbean codes are formatted like U.S. area codes. Common FTC list:

268, 284, 473, 649, 664, 767, 809, 829, 849, 876

(Antigua, BVI, Grenada, Turks & Caicos, Montserrat, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, etc.)

Other campaigns use African or other international prefixes, or UK-style premium personal numbers (070 in Britain). Caller ID can also be spoofed.

What it does not do

Returning the call does not let them download your contacts, clone your phone, or tap your bank in three seconds. That version is a viral myth piled on top of the real billing scam. The missed call you never answered costs nothing and installs nothing.

Calling back does confirm your number is live, so you may get more junk calls.

If you already called back

    • Hang up. Do not stay on hold.
    • Check the next bill (or prepaid balance) for international / premium / operator services lines.
    • Call your carrier first and ask for a goodwill credit. First-time victims often get it.
    • If they refuse, complain to the FTC and FCC.
    • If you never call overseas, ask the carrier to block outbound international calls.

How not to get dinged

Do not return a number you don’t know. If it mattered, they will text or leave a message. Block the number. Read the bill line by line. Silence unknown callers if your phone allows it.

The wallet hit is a phone-bill scam, not a hack. The defense is the same as it was when the FTC first titled that alert: don’t call back.




Boost Your Well-Being Daily with Simple Steps

By
Brad
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Boost Your Well-Being Daily with Simple Steps

Busy adults juggling work, family, and a never-ending to-do list often want daily vitality improvement, yet emotional well-being challenges can make even simple routines feel hard to start. Some days bring focus and energy, and other days feel flat, anxious, or overloaded, then guilt shows up for not “doing wellness right.” For general readers seeking well-being, the real tension is that feeling your best every day sounds like a big lifestyle overhaul when life already feels full. Practical wellness strategies don’t need perfection or a fresh start date; they need consistency that fits real life.

Pick Feel-Good Upgrades for Your Body and Mind

If you’re feeling a little up-and-down, you don’t need a full life overhaul. Start where you are and pick a couple of upgrades that fit your real schedule, energy, and preferences, then build from there.

Lock in a “minimum movement” routine:

Choose a baseline you can do even on a busy day, like a 10-minute brisk walk, 20 bodyweight squats, or a short mobility flow. The goal is consistency, because regular movement supports mood, sleep, and energy (and it’s easier to scale up later). Once the baseline feels automatic, add “bonus minutes” on higher-energy days.

Strength train twice a week (simple, not fancy):

Do 2 sessions of 20–30 minutes using big moves: squat or sit-to-stand, hip hinge, push, pull, carry. Strength work makes daily life feel easier, stairs, groceries, posture, and it often boosts confidence because progress is measurable. Keep it beginner-friendly: 2–3 sets, stop 2 reps before failure, and add a little weight or reps every 1–2 weeks.

Build your plate with a repeatable template:

Aim for protein + fiber + color at most meals (for example: Greek yogurt + berries + nuts, or beans + rice + salsa + greens). This supports steadier energy and fewer snack cravings because meals keep you full longer. If cooking feels like too much, keep “assembly meals” on hand, bagged salad + rotisserie-style protein + microwave grains.

Create a 10-minute self-care closing shift:

Pick a small sequence you repeat most nights: tidy one surface, prep water/tea, set tomorrow’s clothes, and do one soothing step (lotion, stretching, or reading). This works because you’re lowering decision fatigue and signaling “we’re safe” to your nervous system. If evenings are chaotic, do this right after dinner instead of right before bed.

Use a stress-reset you can do anywhere:

When stress spikes, do one cycle: exhale longer than you inhale for 2 minutes, relax your shoulders, then name the next tiny action. A meta-analysis found interventions are effective, decreasing anxiety and perceived stress, so it’s worth treating stress skills like trainable tools, not personality traits. Keep a short list of “next tiny actions” (send one email, take a shower, step outside) for low-motivation moments.

Practice mindfulness in daily “micro-moments”:

Instead of trying to meditate perfectly, attach mindfulness to something you already do: feel your feet while brushing teeth, take three slow breaths before opening your inbox, or eat the first three bites without scrolling. These quick check-ins reduce autopilot and help you notice what actually improves your day. If your mind wanders, that’s the practice, gently return without judging.

Start one new hobby with a 2-week experiment:

Choose a hobby that gives you either calm (knitting, drawing, gardening) or spark (dance class, language practice, photography). Schedule two short sessions a week (20–45 minutes) and keep the bar low: you’re collecting evidence about what feels good, not trying to be “talented.” Small wins here make it easier to stay motivated, especially when you pair them with a quick, encouraging story that reminds you change is possible.

Use Real-Life Stories to Boost Motivation in 10 Minutes

Once you’ve picked a handful of feel-good upgrades, the next boost is finding a quick hit of encouragement you can lean on anytime. Listening to inspiring, podcast-style stories can lift your daily well-being in just a few minutes because it gives your mind something energizing to lock onto: a real example of progress, a practical mindset shift you can borrow, and a reminder that setbacks don’t have to define your day. When you hear someone talk through what helped them keep going, it’s easier to stay focused, positive, and emotionally steady, especially when your motivation dips or your thoughts start spiraling

One easy option is an alumni podcast that shares inspiring stories and practical insights from people who transformed their lives through learning. It’s the kind of listen that can nudge you back into a growth mindset, less “I can’t,” more “I’m figuring it out”, while also offering grounded advice for anyone considering their own path to success. If you want a ready-to-use example to plug into your routine, the summary’s right here. From there, you can turn that renewed motivation into momentum by building a few core habits that keep your energy steady.

Core Habits for Steady Daily Well-Being

Motivation is a spark, but habits are what keep your well-being steady when life gets noisy. Because habit formation shows substantial individual variability, the goal is consistency over perfection, using small actions you can repeat.

Morning Light Check-In

    • What it is: Step outside and notice light, air, and your mood for one minute.
    • How often: Daily
    • Why it helps: It gently wakes your body clock and makes your day feel more intentional.

Three-Point Meal Anchor

    • What it is: Build one meal with protein, fiber, and a colorful plant.
    • How often: Daily
    • Why it helps: It supports steadier energy and fewer late-day cravings.

Ten-Minute Movement Snack

    • What it is: Take a brisk walk, easy strength set, or stretch break.
    • How often: Daily
    • Why it helps: It lowers tension and boosts focus without needing a full workout.

Two-Sentence Journal Reset

    • What it is: Write one win and one next step you can do.
    • How often: Daily
    • Why it helps: It turns vague stress into a simple, doable plan.

Weekly Habit Audit Question

Everyday Well-Being Questions, Answered

Q: What counts as self-care if I don’t have much time?

A: Self-care can be small and practical, like stepping outside for a minute or building one balanced meal. A helpful self-care definition is anything that manages stress and supports your physical, mental, and emotional health. Pick one tiny action you can repeat on busy days.

Q: How do I stay motivated when I’m tired or stressed?

A: Don’t wait for motivation, make the step easier. Shrink the habit until it feels almost too simple, like two minutes of stretching or writing one sentence. Tie it to something you already do, such as after brushing your teeth.

Q: Why do I feel guilty taking time for myself?

A: Many people were taught that rest has to be earned, but care is not a reward. The idea that self-care is one of the kindest acts you can gift can help reframe it as something that supports you and the people who rely on you. Start with a boundary that protects five minutes.

Q: What if I miss a day, does that ruin the habit?

A: Missing a day is normal, and it doesn’t erase your progress. Treat the next day as a restart, not a failure, and return to the smallest version of the habit. Consistency grows from getting back to it.

Q: Can I do this if I’m overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin?

A: Yes, and the best starting point is the one that reduces friction. Choose one area, body, food, movement, or mind, and commit to a two-minute action for one week. Simple wins build confidence fast.

Turning Simple Daily Habits Into Long-Term Well-Being

It’s easy to feel stuck between wanting to feel better and not having the time, energy, or motivation to overhaul everything at once. The way forward is the mindset practiced here: personalized well-being steps, steady motivational support, and a realistic commitment to health goals that fits real life. When that becomes the norm, positive lifestyle changes stop feeling like a project and start showing up as calmer days, clearer choices, and daily vitality inspiration you can actually trust. Small steps, repeated consistently, create the strongest kind of well-being.




 

Silvertip Fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness

By
Alan
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The Silvertip Fire is a lightning-caused wildfire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, about 15 miles southeast of Spotted Bear Ranger Station. Recent reports put it at roughly 4,688 acres with 0% containment, and several trails in the area are closed for public and firefighter safety.

The fire has been reported on both sides of Silvertip Creek, with growth mainly toward Silvertip Mountain and some spotting eastward. Officials say the remote terrain makes direct firefighting difficult, and no structures are currently threatened.

The Flathead National Forest has closed multiple trails, including portions of Trails 88, 584, 103, 89, 83, 90, and 229.

Silvertip Fire Dashboard

The Bob Marshal Wilderness

The Bob Marshall Wilderness — affectionately known as “The Bob” — is one of the premier wilderness areas in the United States, located right here in northwestern Montana.

Here’s a comprehensive overview:

    • Designated: 1964 under the Wilderness Act (originally set aside in 1940 as a primitive area)
    • Size: 1,009,352 acres — the fifth-largest wilderness in the lower 48 states
    • Named after: Bob Marshall (1901–1939), a forester, conservationist, and co-founder of The Wilderness Society
    • Location: Straddles the Continental Divide, just south of Glacier National Park, extending 60 miles from north to south

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex

“The Bob” is actually part of a larger complex comprising three wilderness areas:

    • Bob Marshall Wilderness (1964) — the oldest and largest
    • Scapegoat Wilderness (1972)
    • Great Bear Wilderness (1978)

Together they span more than 1.5 million acres, making it the third-largest wilderness complex in the lower 48. It stretches from Glacier National Park in the north to Rogers Pass in the south.

Landscape & Features

    • Chinese Wall — the iconic 1,000-foot limestone escarpment stretching 12–22 miles along the Continental Divide
    • Big Salmon Lake — the largest lake in the complex at 970 acres
    • South Fork of the Flathead River — a designated Wild and Scenic River
    • Elevations range from 4,000-foot valley floors to over 9,000 feet along the Continental Divide
    • Over 1,700 miles of trail open to foot and stock use only

Wildlife

The Bob is considered by many to be the “crown jewel” of the wilderness system and contains some of the best wildlife habitat in the lower 48:

    • One of the highest grizzly bear population densities in the U.S. outside of Alaska
    • Gray wolves, lynx, wolverines
    • Elk, deer, moose, mountain lions, mountain goats, bighorn sheep

Recreation

    • No roads, no motorized equipment, no bikes — true wilderness per the Wilderness Act
    • Activities: backpacking, horseback riding, hunting (in season), fishing (state license required), and river floating
    • Popular trails include the Chinese Wall Trail (53 miles, multi-day), George Lake, and sections of the Continental Divide Trail
    • Guided pack trips are available for those not wanting to carry heavy loads
    • Town of Augusta (pop. 200) serves as a key gateway from the east

Access from Great Falls

If you happen to be in Great Falls, you’re actually closer to to “The Bob” than you might think.

You can gain access to The Bob Access through towns like Augusta (1 hour drive from the trailheads), Choteau, Bynum, Dupuyer, and Browning.

The Flathead and Lewis and Clark National Forest ranger districts manage the area.

Key contacts:

Lewis and Clark National Forest: (406) 791-7700

Flathead National Forest: (406) 758-5200




 

Another Billionaire is building a resort in Montana

By
Alan
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Another Billionaire building a resort in Montana

Billionaire Arthur Blank (Home Depot co-founder and Atlanta Falcons owner) has debuted Auster at Dome Mountain, a new luxury lodge/resort in Paradise Valley.

This recent development fits the pattern of high-net-worth individuals, like other billionaires expanding hospitality or private properties in the state. Blank has assembled a large portfolio in the area over roughly 25 years — now totaling more than 33,000 acres across properties including Mountain Sky Guest Ranch (which he bought in 2001), West Creek Ranch, Paradise Valley Ranch, and now the new Auster site.

Auster sits on more than 6,000 acres beneath Emigrant Peak and the Absaroka Range, with about four miles of Yellowstone River frontage. It features 20 one-to-three-bedroom cabins designed for year-round stays, a main lodge with Southwind Kitchen and Saloon (including a rooftop deck), a pool, guided activities (hikes, horseback riding), and access to the Johnny Miller-designed Rising Sun Golf Course at the nearby Mountain Sky property. Construction largely stayed within an existing 1960s guest-facility footprint. Rates are in the premium range (reports mention around $1,000 a night in some coverage).

Blank has emphasized conservation easements on parts of his holdings (for example, thousands of acres protected via the Gallatin Valley Land Trust) alongside ranching, recreation, and philanthropy through the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and related Montana giving.

Montana has seen a series of similar projects and purchases by wealthy individuals and firms. Examples include the long-established Yellowstone Club (private ski/golf community near Big Sky with many high-net-worth members), Discovery Land Company developments such as Crazy Mountain Ranch (private membership ranch/golf experience on former Marlboro Ranch land) and the proposed Territory 1889 / Flathead Lake Club near Lakeside (1,700-acre members-only project with golf, residences, and marina that has drawn local opposition), plus other luxury offerings around Big Sky like Montage Big Sky and One and Only Moonlight Basin.

Recent local commentary often frames these as part of a broader trend, raising questions about housing costs, public access, water use, community character, and how much of the state’s iconic landscapes become exclusive retreats. Proponents point to economic activity, conservation efforts, and tourism benefits. Paradise Valley’s dramatic river-and-mountain setting is a major draw for these projects.

High-end development increases costs for everyone

Montana experienced sharp housing price increases starting around 2020. Statewide home values rose about 50% from early 2020 to mid-2022 (faster than the national average in that period), and in some metrics prices roughly doubled from spring 2020 levels in the following years.

More recent figures (late 2025–mid-2026) show medians around $530,000–$550,000 statewide, with some stabilization or modest year-over-year declines in places, though levels remain elevated. In high-demand areas the picture is more acute:

    • Gallatin County (Bozeman/Big Sky area) medians have often been in the $687,000–$800,000 range recently.
    • Bozeman-area figures frequently show $700,000–$790,000+ for single-family homes or overall medians depending on the exact period and data source.

Affordability metrics have been among the worst in the U.S. by price-to-income ratios at various points (sometimes ranking least affordable), as median household incomes lag (roughly $72,000–$75,000 in recent data). Many renters face cost burdens exceeding 30% of income.

Overall cost-of-living indexes place Montana near or somewhat above the national average in recent readings (e.g., composite indices around 95–106, with housing often 20–28% above national averages while other categories like utilities can be lower). Housing is the primary pressure point for many residents.

How much does a Billionaire cost?

Concentrated demand from higher-income migrants (including from coastal states), remote workers, retirees, and second-home/vacation buyers has bid up prices, particularly in places like Big Sky, Paradise Valley, the Flathead Valley, and around Bozeman.

Luxury resorts, private clubs (e.g., Yellowstone Club and related Discovery Land Company projects), and high-end lodge/ranch developments amplify this in specific locales by competing for land, drawing more affluent visitors/residents, and supporting a service economy where worker wages often do not keep pace with local housing costs.

High vacancy rates from seasonal/second homes reduce available stock for year-round residents and workers. This contributes to workforce housing shortages in resort areas. Montana has responded with property tax changes that raise rates on second homes and short-term rentals while providing relief for primary residences, explicitly aimed at shifting burdens after out-of-state purchases drove up prices and taxes for locals.

Broader factors include limited housing supply relative to demand (geographic constraints, construction costs, zoning, and slower building during the migration surge), national post-pandemic trends, and amenity-driven appeal of the Mountain West. Population growth surged then slowed (partly because high costs deterred further in-migration).

Economic Trade-offs Favor the Wealthy

Tourism and outdoor recreation (bolstered by these developments) generate substantial activity — nonresident visitor spending has been in the $5+ billion range annually in recent years, supporting tens of thousands of very low paying jobs and hundreds of millions in tax revenue that many claim can ease burdens on residents. Some billionaire owners (e.g., philanthropic efforts tied to large ranch holdings) may emphasize conservation easements but do nothing to help conserve affordable living arrangement for Montana locals.

The distributional effects are uneven: service and hospitality jobs can be seasonal or lower-wage relative to elevated local costs, and long-time residents or lower/middle-income workers face greater pressure on housing, property taxes, and everyday expenses in many areas of our state.

In short, billionaire-backed and luxury ventures raise local costs mainly via the housing channel in many of Montana’s desirable regions, exacerbating affordability challenges for many Montanans. Statewide effects are real and may vary somewhat by location but not by much. Over all, these trends are having ripple effects across the state and are not just being experienced in these so-called hot spots.




 

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