Thumbs down to what probably was inevitable: Montana will lose its brucellosis-free status because the disease has been discovered in state cattle herds for the second time this year. The lost designation will costing the industry millions. Once again it is assumed that - somehow - the disease spread from infected bison or elk.

Thumbs down to still another probable inevitability: for the first time, the national average for gasoline prices hit $4 a gallon this week. But that's just the bad news. The worse news is the expectation ahead. As the cost of a barrel of oil continues to rise, gasoline prices can only keep climbing.

Thumbs up to a report by a national consulting firm that says Helena's economy is among the strongest in the nation among communities its size. The annual survey ranked Helena 13th out of 577 "micropolitan" urban areas with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. That almost puts Helena in the 98th percentile.

Thumbs up to Good Samaritan Ministries for once again spearheading "Stuff the Bus," a drive to provide school supplies for students whose parents can't afford them. The bus will be parked at one of 11 participating area churches during the summer.