Features

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

The Beanery Moves into New Kiosk

Chelsea and Shane Hensleigh plan to open their new and approved kiosk for The Beanery on September 30 in Huntley. The kiosk, in the works for a few years now, was originally planned as a storage shed but according to … read more

September 27, 2024 Andrew BolerjackFeatures • Huntley ProjectChelsea Hensleigh • Shane Hensleigh • The Beanery

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

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

Get the T-Shirt! Win Cash! #digitdays

Getting a Dig It Days t-shirt has come to be a tradition at MontanaFair. This year’s t-shirt is a bright green, one that you won’t want to miss. Among the many give-aways at Dig It Days are one thousand t-shirts … read more

August 3, 2024 Evelyn PyburnFeatures • Yellowstone County#digitdays • Dig It Days • Dig It Days 2024 • MontanaFair • Yellowstone Dig It Days

13 year old Taliyah Rodriguez, of Billings, Brings Home the Gold

Taliyah Rodriguez, a 13-year-old high school student, and has brought home the Gold Medal from the Olympic trials which were held in Wichita, KS during June 22-29, 2024. Taliyah is a boxer with the Billings Elite Amateur Boxing Team, managed … read more

August 2, 2024 Guest submissionFeatures • SportsTaliyah Rodriguez

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

Jon Tester “Demands” Border Security, Since When?

Well, Folks, I’ve been trying to see both sides here, but I’ve got to comment and call out the BS when I see the hypocrisy (IMO). While watching some online videos, commercials and campaign propaganda from Jon Tester and his … read more

July 25, 2024 Jonathan McNivenPolitics • MeanderingsBorder Security • Immigration • Jon Tester • Meanderings • Montana Senate Election

Dig It Days Presents Checks to Local Groups

Each year proceeds from Dig It Days are disbursed to local worthwhile causes in the community – most of all for scholarships for young people planning to enter the building and construction trades. This week some of the proceeds from … read more

July 25, 2024 Evelyn PyburnFeatures • Local • Billings#digitdays • Brian Dennis • Dig It Days • Evelyn Pyburn • Hailee Olsen • Jonathan McNiven • Michelle Cohens • Montana Contractors Association • MontanaFair • Sheriff Mike Linder • Yellowstone Boys & Girls Club • Yellowstone County Sheriff's Department

Medical Minute Column: AI in Dentistry

As technology advances in the world, there are many different new and interesting things available for use in dentistry. Many of these advances have not only increased efficiency and precision, but they can help enhance patient care to make the … read more

July 24, 2024 Jonathan McNivenFeaturesDr. Laighton Jones • Medical Minute • Willow Ridge Dental Clinic

Meanderings: Fight, Fight, Fight!

Well, Folks, this last week has been a whirlwind with Homesteader Days, Big Sky Speedway and then with all the other events that have happened. I’ll keep each point short as I’ve got lots of stuff to do. First, YCN … read more

July 18, 2024 Jonathan McNivenMontana-Statewide • MeanderingsDonald J Trump Assassination Attempt • Fight • Fight Fight Fight • Jonathan McNiven

Jon Tester Tries to Distances Himself from Biden, but Doesn’t

Well folks, it’s not surprising to me that MT Senator Jon Tester is releasing a statement as his vulnerable re-election campaign is in full swing. To me, it seems the last time Jon Tester was this active in Montana was … read more

July 9, 2024 Jonathan McNivenMontana-Statewide • Politics • MeanderingsJoe Biden • John Tester • Montana Politics • Tim Sheehy