News
Stay current with top stories from Northwest Montana, including local government updates, education news, community issues, public safety, environmental reports, and regional developments.
Wildlife experts analyze rare fatal bear attack in Glacier
Nearly three weeks after a 33-year-old hiker was killed in an apparent bear attack in Glacier National Park, quest…
Bigfork Fire Department to seek bond for new station on May ballot
Bigfork Fire Department will attempt to get a new fire hall on the May ballot in hopes of beating an ongoing struggle with funding.
Whitefish students play it forward with guitar raffle
Two Whitefish High School seniors, Lauren Rossi and Bailey Kallal, have teamed up for a DECA project to raise funds for North Valley Music School.
Residents urged to get involved in future of Columbia Falls' doughnut
A group of like-minded residents are urging residents of the former Columbia Falls “doughnut” to get involved in meetings that could decide future zoning designations for the areas.
Schnackenberg stepping down as Lincoln County coroner
The Lincoln County Coroner’s Office will be seeking a new coroner.
Wildland firefighter pay raises could vanish without action by Congress within days
The $20,000 salary increase for wildland firefighters in the 2021 infrastructure law could be coming to an end next week if Congress doesn’t act.
Convicted murderer accused of raping underage relative
A 42-year-old convicted murderer staying with his mother outside Columbia Falls is accused of raping an underage relative over the summer.
Businessowner Tamara Williams honored by Evergreen Chamber
Longtime Insty-Prints owner Tamara Williams was honored with Evergreen Chamber of Commerce's Brent Hall Award at the chamber's annual banquet dinner Wednesday …
Electric Co-op gets funding to protect infrastructure in canyon area
Flathead Electric Cooperative received $2.6 million in federal funding to help protect its electrical infrastructure in the Essex area south of Glacier National Park.
Woman accused of attacking deputies pleads guilty to misdemeanors
A woman accused of attacking deputies after blocking traffic in 2023 pleaded down her felony assault on a peace officer charge to a pair of misdemeanors earlier this year.
Law roundup: Full-grown man refuses to act like an adult
Did Billy Madison pay Kalispell a visit? A passerby described a suspicious man heckling children at a bus stop near tennis courts to officers with the Kalispell Police Department.
Man accused of pulling handgun on workers faces felony charge
Prosecutors filed charges this week against a 27-year-old man accused of leveling a handgun at an employee of a Kalispell veterans organization after an argume…
New approach to grizzlies sought ahead of the second Trump presidency
Environmental groups are asking the U.S. government to do more to protect Rocky Mountain grizzly bears before the next Trump administration decides the big bru…
Montana Supreme Court upholds lower court ruling that allows gender-affirming care for minors
A Montana law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors will remain temporarily blocked, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, after just…
Former Montana health staffer rebukes oversight rules as a hospital ‘wish list’
A former Montana health department staffer who described himself as the lead author of legislation to scrutinize nonprofit hospitals’ charitable acts said new …
Tester criticizes campaign finance laws in farewell address
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in a farewell speech to the Senate on Monday warned against campaigns becoming so bitter that lawmakers can no longer work together, blast…