News
Stay current with top stories from Northwest Montana, including local government updates, education news, community issues, public safety, environmental reports, and regional developments.
Counting machines add vote of confidence to elections security
The conference room of the Flathead County Elections Department whirred with noise. Volunteers rattled off strings…
Biden and McCarthy reach final deal on debt ceiling
With days to spare before a potential first-ever government default, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached final agreement Sunday on a d…
Columbia Falls High School senior pushes through grief to find strength
Columbia Falls High School holds its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2023 on Saturday, June 3.
Story of a hero — new book chronicles distinguished Montana veterans
Army Chief Warrant Officer Manford Lloyd Kleiv had a dream of returning to his hometown of Whitefish following the Vietnam War.
Montana seltzers small, popular part of brewery market in state
Montana drinkers have pushed the state to high per capita beer consumption — most recently No. 3 per capita after North Dakota and New Hampshire, according to …
Transportation bill includes $1M for Evergreen sidewalks
Evergreen is slated to receive $1 million from the state to fund the construction of sidewalks along U.S. 2, an effort spearheaded by Rep. Tony Brockman, R-Kal…
Commissioners signal support for giving ImagineIF Libraries $2.5M for facilities projects
Flathead County commissioners gave their blessing to a request from the ImagineIF Board of Trustees for the library system to receive $2.5 million over 10 year…
Law roundup: Bicyclist collides with dog and crashes
Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Whitefish residence when someone reported hearing about 30 minutes of gunshots that sounded too close to the house. Deputies
PHOTOS: Kayakers ride the Wild Mile at 48th Bigfork Whitewater Festival
Kayakers navigate the Wild Mile along the Swan River during the Expert Slalom event at the 48th annual Bigfork Whitewater Festival on Saturday, May 27.
Motorist accused of drunkenly crashing into cyclists takes plea deal
Prosecutors brought Kenneth Malcolm Stevenson, 34, up on one count of felony negligent vehicular assault following the Aug. 21, 2022 collision on Seventh Avenu…
Spirit squad: 3 Polson grads make UM cheerleading team
“I’m in a little bit of a pickle,” admits Polson High senior Lucy Violett, who recently won a spot on the UM Griz Cheer Squad.
Group makes push for new skatepark in Columbia Falls
The Bad Rock Skate Park Association hopes to soon do a formal land survey at Fenholt Park in Columbia Falls for a new skatepark after the city concurred with the idea.
Judge says fire retardant drops are polluting streams but allows use to continue
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A judge ruled Friday that the U.S. government can keep using chemical retardant to fight wildfires, despite finding that the practice po…
Avalanche Creek drowning victim identified as University of Kansas student
The 28-year-old woman who drowned in Glacier National Park on Monday has been identified as a University of Kansas student who was on a tour of national parks …
Gianforte takes veto scalpel to infrastructure bill
Gov. Greg Gianforte flexed his veto powers this week to cut into a $1.2 billion infrastructure bill that drew allegations of pork-barrel spending as it emerged…
CEO of Western Montana Mental Health steps down
One of the state’s most prominent providers of mental health and addiction services will soon begin searching for a new chief executive.