News
Stay current with top stories from Northwest Montana, including local government updates, education news, community issues, public safety, environmental reports, and regional developments.
New owner begins renovating former Outlaw Inn, details plan for extended-stay rentals
Columbia Falls developer Mick Ruis has begun renovating the former Outlaw Inn after its previous owner left the bu…
Kalispell City Council to take second look at service line replacement funding
Kalispell City Council will be focused on heavy metal during its Monday work session.
Law roundup: Truck has bumper to match reckless driving
A black truck with a crumpled bumper was reportedly looking for a few more dents when it was swerving all over the road and getting uncomfortably close to another vehicle.
Weyerhaeuser plant in Columbia Falls marks 50 years of operation
In 1974, Plum Creek, a subsidiary of the Burlington Northern Railroad, built the area’s first fiberboard plant. The idea was to make sawdust and other wood was…
Modern babywear brand opens Kalispell storefront
As of June, Forever French, a baby and lifestyle brand owned by Chantelle French of Arizona, now has roots in Kalispell, offering the local community a boutiqu…
Forecasts show warm, dry Montana summer could transition to cold and snowier winter
Montana’s summer was among the top 30 warmest and driest the state has seen during the past 130 years, causing drought to reach extreme levels in southwestern …
Law roundup: Why did the chicken not cross the road?
Someone calling from Crescent Drive called Columbia Falls Police Department reportedly concerned about the welfare of 10 chickens on the loose in the road and in people’s yards. Officers ...
Volunteers needed for project on Wild Horse Island
Volunteers are needed for a forest project on Wild Horse Island next weekend.
Iconic Columbia Falls bar closes its doors
An iconic Columbia Falls watering hole is no more. Columbia Bar owner and developer Mick Ruis said he closed the saloon after business hours on Sept. 17.
Study will look at Columbia Falls' housing needs
Columbia Falls will undergo a comprehensive housing study that will not only look at the housing market, but survey employers, study the impacts of vacation re…
Bigfork man recovering from injuries sustained in workplace chemical fire
Bigfork native Ken Williams left for work Sept. 6 with his dog in his truck, headed down to Polson. Williams had been employed by an asbestos removal company f…
Tester talks housing tax credit legislation in Kalispell
Sen. Jon Tester continued to distance himself from the Harris-Walz presidential ticket during a press conference in Kalispell on Friday on legislation aimed at…
Ballot error shuts down Montana online absentee voting system
When Max Himsl opened his electronic ballot on Friday, he was dismayed to see a candidate missing from the list of options.
Logan Health adopting Billings Clinic's electronic health records system
Billings Clinic-Logan Health are getting on the same page when it comes to storing and accessing electronic health records, according to Co-CEO Kevin Abel.
Biden administration seeks to remove gray wolf protections in Lower 48
The Biden administration on Friday asked a federal appeals court to reinstate a rule passed under the Trump administration to remove Endangered Species Act pro…
State lawmakers zero in on education funding, OPI spending
Montana lawmakers this month have trained a critical eye on funding for public schools, proposing new enhancements to the state’s education funding formula and raising concerns about the handling of federal school …