Laurel — Controlling people's pets is one of the most controversial things a municipal government can do. When someone came before Havre City Council recently and suggested that measures be passed to control unruly dogs, tempers started to flare. But Wednesday night, the council's Ordinance Committee discussed possible legislation, everyone on the committee and in the audience behaved exceptionally well. Everyone put their two cents in. The committee will meet again Nov. 8 to finalize plans.

Laurel — The two candidates for City Council from Havre's 3rd Ward are different in many ways — in political ideology, in political persuasions and in style. Both candidates have been responsible in making their positions known. Bob Kaul and Rick Dow have pursued their campaigns without resorting to name-calling or mudslinging. The voters have a clear-cut choice

Dart — Billings City Council has voted to in-effect ban sale of medical marijuana in the city. That's too bad, Montanans voted to allow medical marijuana in 2004. There was a widespread belief that things got out of control. The 2011 Montana Legislature passed restrictions — some would say too many restrictions — on medical marijuana sale in the state. The belief was that these restrictions would ensure that sick people could get medical marijuana, while recreational use of marijuana would be outlawed. That's not good enough for the city of Billings that wants to ban medical marijuana entirely, thus circumventing the will of the people.

Laurel — The YouthBuild program at Montana State University-Northern has given lots of young people a second-chance at life. At the same time, it has resulted in new houses and other community projects for area families. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Dorothy Stoneman, the founder of YouthBuild USA, were in town Monday to join the chorus of people praising the program and its participants.

Laurel — On Saturday night, “America's Most Wanted,” a Fox television show, will feature the efforts of police to apprehend David Burgert, who is being sought by police on attempted murder charges after a wild police chase. A decade ago, Burgert was a leader in the militia group Project 7, which is alleged to have planned to assassinate judges and police officers a decade ago. Some people of a like political mind believe that Burgert is being targeted by police officers for his past activities. Sounds unlikely to us. But the one way to find out is for Burgert to face a judge and jury, which can make a determination. Thanks to Fox for bringing the case to the nation's attention.