Author Archives: Jonathan McNiven

Jan152025

McNiven Meanderings: MT Legislature & HS Basketball

Jonathan McNiven

Well, Folks, here’s my cliff notes for this week: MT legislature and high school basketball.

1. The Montana Legislature is underway, and I was able to get time to go up to Helena last week in between and get a Yellowstone County Delegation 2025 photo. Getting a picture with everyone is a big feat, but to get the majority of them minus a few is incredible, in my opinion. So, the front page of this week’s paper is this legislative session’s delegation from Yellowstone County. I hope you take the time to see if you recognize your state rep and state senator. In addition, how many of them from Yellowstone County do you recognize?

2. Go, Paige, Go! Huntley Project’s Senior Paige Lofing has now surpassed the highest school career points at now 2,034 and is on track to pass the 9th place Marti Kinzler at 2,053. At the rate Paige is going, she is well on track to read more

McNiven Meanderings: Lives of Yellowstone County

Did You Know Them? Well, Folks, last week’s paper was our Christmas Edition as this week is our “Lives of Yellowstone County” special edition. This is our 3rd time we’ve done this special publication and paper honoring, remembering and reflecting … read more

December 27, 2024 Jonathan McNivenFeatures • Meanderings • Local • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyLives of Yellowstone County • McNiven Meanderings

McNiven Meanderings: The calm before the storm

Folks, this is the calm before the storm for the election season is ending. In fact, it kind of feels eerie to a point as this is our edition before the election. I feel good about Trump winning BUT I … read more

November 1, 2024 Jonathan McNivenPolitics • MeanderingsJonathan McNiven • McNiven's Meanderings

Vote Absentee Early, Vote Absolutely Republican!

Well, Folks, we are now two weeks into election season and 80% or more of Yellowstone County voters turn in their absentee ballots by now. As I write this column, I’ve still got to turn mine in but it will … read more

October 25, 2024 Jonathan McNivenPolitics • MeanderingsJonathan McNiven • McNiven's Meanderings

Claim your YCN Sweepstakes Cash Prize

We are celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary owning the newspaper so we are giving away $500 worth of YCN Sweepstakes cash prizes at $50 a piece. We randomly chose 50 YCN Sweepstakes numbers and published them in the October 4, … read more

October 5, 2024 Jonathan McNivenFeatures • Local10 year anniversary • Jonathan McNiven • Tana McNiven • YCN Sweepstakes • Yellowstone County News

10-year Anniversary–We’re celebrating as we give away $500 cash.

Well, Folks, this week marks our 10-year anniversary of owning the Yellowstone County News. Sometimes I wonder where did the time go? Other times, I wonder what in the world did I get myself into? However, I’m amazed looking back … read more

October 1, 2024 Jonathan McNivenHuntley Project • MeanderingsJonathan McNiven • McNiven Meanderings

Meanderings: The Importance of this Senate race, Our decision to Endorse Sheehy

Well, Folks, as many of you saw on the front page of our newspaper this week, we have made the choice to endorse Montana U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy over MT Senator Jon Tester. This decision was not taken lightly … read more

September 27, 2024 Jonathan McNivenMontana-Statewide • Politics • Yellowstone County • MeanderingsJon Tester • McNiven Meanderings • Tim Sheehy • Yellowstone County News

Thanks, Jonathan, for your eye-opening work on propaganda sent out by out-of-state newspaper

Dear Editor, In the September 13, 2024, issue of your paper I read the Editorial by Jonathan McNiven concerning a newspaper called the “Montana Independent”. I read many articles that state things but being inquisitive type person, I like to … read more

September 27, 2024 Jonathan McNivenLetters to the EditorJohn Turcotte • McNiven Meanderings • Montana independent • Montana Newspapers

Meanderings – Best of Yellowstone County Editor’s Choice Award, Sam Bruner,

Well, Folks, we are running a little late this year in announcing the winners of our Best of Yellowstone County Awards and feature the best professionals out there in our communities and industries. Not only is it important to recognize … read more

September 21, 2024 Jonathan McNivenHuntley Project • MeanderingsBest of Yellowstone County Awards • Editors Choice Award • Huntley Project High School • McNiven Meanderings • Sam Bruner • YCN Sports

Let’s Call it for What it is, Straight-Up Propaganda and Fake News

Folks I want to address a supposed “newspaper” and self-described news media entity called the Montana Independent. This “newspaper” is being sent to more than 150,000 Montanans from an out-of-state organization called the American Independent that has ties to a … read more

September 13, 2024 Jonathan McNivenPolitics • MeanderingsJonathan McNiven • McNiven's Meanderings • Montana Free Press • Montana independent • Montana Newspaper Association • Montana Newspapers

Meanderings: Billings Times Prints Final Newspaper

Well, Folks, as many of you have probably heard, the Billings Times announced last week that they have published their final edition of their newspaper. Yes, we signed an agreement early last week with the Billings Times and part of … read more

September 5, 2024 Jonathan McNivenYellowstone County • MeanderingsBillings Times • Billings Times Newspaper • McNiven Meanderings • Montana Legal Notices • Yellowstone County legal Notices

Church Seeks to Leave Heights Water District

Emerging as an issue for the County Water District Board of Directors is a notice from a Gracepoint Church at 900 Barrett Road that they want to extend their water line under Wicks Lane in order to connect to the … read more

August 16, 2024 Jonathan McNivenBillings-HeightsBo Andersson • Doug Kary • Gracepoint Church • Heights Water District • Josh Simpson • Ming Cabrera • Pam Ellis • Performance Engineering • Precision Engineering • Tom Zurbuchen

File a Claim for Another Property Tax Rebate.

Dear Editor, Taxation is the price we pay to live in a civilized society? Those who paid property taxes in Montana will be eligible to file a claim for another property tax rebate of up to $675 beginning August 15. … read more

August 13, 2024 Jonathan McNivenLetters to the EditorLee Deming

How many schools across the country are ready to handle the Biden administration’s rewrite of Title IX changes?

Dear Editor, The school year is fast approaching. How many schools across the country are ready to handle the Biden administration’s rewrite of Title IX changes? Are children going to have their First Amendment rights trampled on by being federally … read more

August 11, 2024 Jonathan McNivenLetters to the EditorJessie Browning

Wouldn’t You Think They Would Get Their Facts straight?

Dear Editor, Tobacco and pharmaceutical companies and lobbyists help fund the Republican State Central Committee, which recently sent a mailer promoting Dan Wilson for the Montana Supreme Court. Supreme Court elections are intended to be non-partisan read more

August 10, 2024 Jonathan McNivenLetters to the EditorBidegaray • Dan Wilson • Ellen Feaver

I’ll Keep This to the Point

Well, Folks, with so much going on, I’ll keep this to the point as I’ve got so much to do. First, Dig It Days is next week, so make sure you set your calendars to come and join us. Bring … read more

August 9, 2024 Jonathan McNivenPolitics • Meanderings#digitdays • Donald Trump • McNiven Meanderings • YCN Sports

Conservative Corner: Drug Dealing the DC Way

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during 2023 roughly 75,000 US citizens died from synthetic opioids. The Obama administration might have explained this away as the “new norm.” They said “new norm” began in 2013 and continued … read more

August 9, 2024 Jonathan McNivenPoliticsCenters for Disease Control • Drug Enforcement Agency • Jon Tester • Kamala Harris • Senator Jon Tester • The Conservative Corner • TJ Smith

The reason I’m an independent is I enjoy objectivity

Dear Editor, During “McNiven’s Meanderings” in the 7/26/24 issue, Jonathan lists six different bills where Jon Tester’s vote was the “deciding vote.” So – Senator Tester was the only read more

August 9, 2024 Jonathan McNivenLetters to the EditorC.R. Blom • Jon Tester

Laurel Generating Gas Station Now Serving NorthWestern Energy Customers

Although NorthWestern Energy’s Yellowstone County Generating Station is going through final performance testing, it is in full operation and serving customers. A group of media folks were given a tour last week, accompanied by several company representatives, including Josh Follman, … read more

August 2, 2024 Jonathan McNivenMontana-Statewide • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyCHS Refinery • EPA • Josh Follman • Northwestern Energy

McNiven Meanderings: Ready, Set, Go!!!!!

Well, Folks, I’ve had a lot going on the last couple weeks, but I want to take this week to focus on the Big Sky Speedway. Last year, I got hooked on going to the car races as I was … read more

August 1, 2024 Jonathan McNivenSports • MeanderingsBig Sky Speedway • Jonathan McNiven • McNiven Meanderings