News

A Timeline of Events, Decisions, and Court Proceedings

By Rae Grulkowski

Read the complete article: Understanding the Rural Solid Waste District Issue in Cascade County

Over the past two years, decisions involving the Cascade County Rural Solid Waste District have generated significant discussion among residents, county officials, and the courts. Many citizens have asked how the issue developed and what the courts have, thus far, said about it. Let’s summarize key events to help residents better understand what has occurred.

Read the complete article: Understanding the Rural Solid Waste District Issue in Cascade County

VOTE the Primary Ballot June 2, 2026 – the most important election of the year.

Support These Candidates for Republican Precinct Committee Representatives in Cascade County

Endorsed Candidate List

In the gritty world of Montana politics, some play dirty to cling to power—and George Nikolakakos just proved he’s willing to stoop as low as it gets.

Forward by Marci Marceau

Read the complete article: Responses to Nikolakakos

George Nikolakakos has finally crawled out from under whatever rock he’s been hiding his high school behavior and hypocrisy beneath. Armed with nothing more than a handful of ancient, context-stripped social-media screenshots and the desperate hope that nobody remembers what a fraud he is.

Read the complete article: Responses to Nikolakakos

Allegations of Cover-Ups, Retaliatory Policing, Jail Neglect, and Opaque Inmate Welfare Funds Mount

By Staff Writer

Read the article: Multiple Formal Complaints and Federal Lawsuit Target Cascade County System Under Sheriff Jesse Slaughter

Great Falls, MT – Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter faces intensifying scrutiny as multiple formal complaints to the Montana Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) and a sweeping federal civil rights lawsuit expose what critics call a “good old boy” culture of over-escalation, procedural violations, and protection of insiders at the expense of citizens and constitutional rights.

Three POST complaints against Slaughter and his deputies, combined with a new U.S. District Court filing by Great Falls resident April Ellis, paint a consistent pattern: minor incidents balloon into deadly force, public shaming, or ruined lives, while the sheriff’s office and county jail—under Slaughter’s direct oversight—deny accountability and basic care.

Read the article: Multiple Formal Complaints and Federal Lawsuit Target Cascade County System Under Sheriff Jesse Slaughter

If You Truly Want to Fix This Broken System, Show Up and Vote on June 2nd

By Staff Writer

Read the complete article: Montana Rotten Core

Montana’s political system is rotten to the core—and it has been since the days of the Copper Kings. From Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Ryan Zinke dropping out of their races at the last minute and hand-picking their own successors, to state-level legislators quietly enriching themselves at taxpayer expense, the pattern is unmistakable. This isn’t a few isolated scandals or a handful of bad actors. It is a deeply entrenched network of career politicians, unelected bureaucrats, lobbyists, compliant judges, law enforcement insiders, and media gatekeepers who function as a self-protecting “Good Old Boy Club”—or, if you prefer, the uniparty, the swamp. Call it whatever you like; the behavior is identical. They put their own power, insider deals, and special-interest payoffs ahead of the everyday needs of working Montanans. Elections have become little more than theater: no matter who wins the marquee races, the outcome stays the same—more debt, more control from Helena and Washington, and a steady erosion of our freedoms and state sovereignty.

Read the complete article: Montana Rotten Core

Why the Nikolakakos Duo Must Be Booted Before They Bankrupt Our Freedom

By Sally Tucker

Read the complete article: Montana Road to Ruin Starts Here

Montana families are being sold out by the very people who swore to protect them. George and Melissa Nikolakakos — the husband-and-wife tag team from Great Falls —aren’t conservatives or even moderate Republicans. They are a disastrous, failing grade duo whose voting records have done more to grow government, deepen federal dependency, and betray conservative values than most Democrats could dream of. Their combined legacy is bigger budgets, weaker gun rights, eroded parental protections, and Montana’s sovereignty handed to Washington on a silver platter.

Read the complete article: Montana Road to Ruin Starts Here

Promise or Peril for Power, Water, and Communities?

By Renee Pirtz

Read the complete article: Montana Data Center Boom

As artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and global tech demand surge, Montana has unexpectedly become a hotspot for hyperscale data centers. Vast open land, naturally cool nights, and access to long-haul fiber optics have drawn major developers scouting the Mountain West. But with proposals accelerating—NorthWestern Energy in talks with at least 11 entities, including signed letters of intent or agreements with companies like Quantica Infrastructure (planning up to 1,000 MW south of Broadview), Sabey Data Centers (250 MW west of Butte), and Atlas Power Group (150 MW expansion in Butte)—Montanans are asking hard questions: Who really benefits, and at what cost to our grid, water, and way of life?

One of the most consequential proposals now driving public concern is the massive 5,000‑acre data center planned south of Broadview in Yellowstone County, led by Quantica Infrastructure through its Big Sky Digital Infrastructure platform.

According to reporting from the Billings Gazette, NorthWestern Energy has issued a non‑binding letter of intent to supply up to 1,000 MW of electricity to the project— an extraordinary amount equal to roughly two-thirds of the power NorthWestern currently owns.

Read the complete article: Montana Data Center Boom

The Liberty Bell Editorial Board’s Rationale for Endorsements June 2, 2026 Cascade County Primary Election

Read the complete article: Liberty Bell Voter Guide

After weeks of reviewing candidate filings, voting histories, public records, campaign platforms, and direct interviews, the Editorial Board of The Liberty Bell has made its endorsements for the June 2, 2026 primary. Our guiding principles remain unchanged: we support candidates who have proven records of defending liberty, limited government, fiscal responsibility, Second Amendment rights, and Montana values — and who possess the personal integrity to serve without ethical cloud.

Although the majority of our endorsed candidates this cycle are Republicans, The Liberty Bell evaluates every candidate — Republican, Democrat, Independent, or from any other party — and selects only those who best align with the convictions of the Editorial Board. We choose the best person for each office regardless of party label.

Read the complete article: Liberty Bell Voter Guide