From: ronb02NOSPAM@gmail.com   
      
   On 2026-02-01, rbowman  wrote:   
   > 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.   
      
   The same with the Idaho Statesman, delivered by the Post Office. That's why   
   the "Sunday" paper comes out on Saturday. So much for the "daily" crossword.   
      
   When we first moved to Great Falls there were two daily newspapers (or the   
   one had just shut down). The Great Falls Tribune (morning) and the Great   
   Falls Leader (afternoon). I knew the Leader had shut down, but I didn't   
   realize it was all the way back in 1969. It looks like Gannet (renamed USA   
   Today Co. in 2026) owns the Great Falls Tribune, which is now printed by the   
   Helena Independent, who (in the distant past) once owned the Great Falls   
   Tribune. So weird to think of those big web presses sitting silent. It looks   
   like the Tribune printed edition is published six days a week and is sent   
   through the mail. For a short while I worked distributing the Tribune (in   
   the early morning) to its carriers. It was a big paper back then.   
      
   It looks like Great Falls also has another paper now, the Great Falls   
   Gazette. It gets published three days a week, and (advertises that it   
   delivers directly). They must print locally, which is probably why the   
   others mail their newspapers.   
      
   --   
   "Not just insane... Trump insane."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)