From: bowman@montana.com   
      
   On Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:38:46 -0000 (UTC), RonB wrote:   
      
   > The fact that I didn't know the Idaho Statesman was only coming out   
   > three days a week pretty much shows how much interest I have in these   
   > thin newspapers anymore. The Idaho Statesman, from the 80s at least, was   
   > the bastion of "liberal" BS in Idaho, so it never was my paper of   
   > choice.   
      
   The Missoulian used to have a free weekend events thing that came out on   
    Thursday that sort of competed with the Independent.   
      
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missoula_Independent   
      
   Not only was the price right but it had better coverage than the   
   Missoulian's effort. Lee bought that one too and shut it down.   
      
   Currently Lee owns The Billings Gazette, Missoulian, Helena Independent-   
   Record, the Montana Standard (Butte) and the Ravalli Republic, iow every   
   major paper in the state. That hasn't changed. The Anaconda Company sold   
   them all to Lee. Only the Billings and Missoula papers ran in the black   
   but it was a take them all deal.   
      
   Like you, I didn't even notice it became a three days a week rag in 2023.   
   Also, it's mailed now although you still see the tubes the delivery people   
   used to put it in.   
      
   Radio isn't any better Townsquare Media own 37 stations in the state.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)