News
Stay current with top stories from Northwest Montana, including local government updates, education news, community issues, public safety, environmental reports, and regional developments.
Montana voters will be able to register to vote on Election Day, judge rules
A Montana judge has blocked the state from limiting voter registration on Election Day, concluding the move would …
Pollution lawsuit could curb use of aerial fire retardant
BILLINGS, Mont. — A legal dispute in Montana could drastically curb the government's use of aerial fire retardant to combat wildfires after environmentalists r…
FVCC taps into role-playing game’s popularity with continuing education class
A cooperative storytelling game, Dungeons & Dragons lets a group of players act as their characters as they complete quests, slay monsters, solve puzzles and, …
Zinke requests funding for 15 Montana projects
Congressman Ryan Zinke is requesting federal funding for 15 projects in Western Montana aimed at expanding local infrastructure, economic development and law enforcement capabilities.
Community briefs
Special Olympics games April 27-28; Special Olympics golf classic; Community meals set
As Montana looks to ban TikTok, questions linger
Less than a month after Congress battered TikTok’s CEO about Chinese influence over the social media platform and the threat it poses to national security, Mon…
Law roundup: Woman chased back inside by loose dogs
Flathead County Sheriff’s Office received a report that three dogs allegedly tried to attack a woman’s dog and chased her back into her house in Coram.
Homeowner sues county commissioners over zoning decision regarding fence
The homeowner who was denied a property zone change earlier this year for an already erected fence is suing the Flathead County commissioners.
Governor signs bill authorizing veterans cemetery in Columbia Falls
A new veterans cemetery serving former servicemen and women in Northwest Montana is coming to Columbia Falls.
Board selects Dziowgo as new Columbia Falls Public Schools superintendent
The Columbia Falls Public Schools Board of Trustees on April 12 selected Cory Dziowgo as its next superintendent.
Band and orchestra students perform at District Music Festival
Scenes from the District Music Festival at Glacier High School on Thursday, April 20. (Casey Kreider photos/Daily Inter Lake)
Trans lawmaker silenced for 2nd day by Montana House speaker
A transgender Montana lawmaker was silenced for a second day Friday as her Republican colleagues have refused to let her speak on the chamber's floor this sess…
State suspends OPI’s authority to award contracts
Montana’s Office Public Instruction temporarily lost its authority to enter into high-price contracts for goods and services Tuesday after the Department of Administration discovered deficiencies in the agency’s pr…
Man who left death threats at Tester’s office changes plea
Kevin Patrick Smith, 46, initially pleaded not guilty to charges of threatening to murder and to assault a member of Congress at his Feb. 23 arraignment, but s…
Daines, Feinstein team up to create Senate Wildfire Caucus
Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines announced this week the creation of the bipartisan Senate Wildlife Caucus in cooperation with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a C…
New district courtroom opens marking end of two-year project
The courtroom’s completion marks the end of a multi-phase project aimed at creating more space for county services and creating the necessary room to accommoda…