Thumbs up to the U.S. Postal Service's decision to abandon the idea of moving mail sorting from Helena to Great Falls.

Thumbs up also to Sen. Max Baucus and postal union officials, who pressured the agency to drop the plan. The change would have moved jobs to Great Falls and caused service in the Helena area to deteriorate.

Thumbs up to Helena and Jefferson County officials for progress on cooperative land-use planning. Despite continued disagreement over the city's authority to unilaterally annex Jefferson County land, the two sides agreed this week to create a joint planning board to develop a growth policy for the northern part of the county.

Thumbs down to a less than breathtaking piece of legislation. One of the first items on the session's agenda turned out to be ... a bill to ensure that paper towels are available in all public rest rooms.

Thumbs up to Helena Superintendent of Schools Bruce Messinger. who was honored by school board members and others Tuesday for his work on behalf of the students in the district. The Lewis and Clark County Commission proclaimed the day Bruce Messinger Day in the county.