News
Stay current with top stories from Northwest Montana, including local government updates, education news, community issues, public safety, environmental reports, and regional developments.
Making the grade — Kalispell Public Schools leader named regional superintendent of the year
Wrapping up his second school year leading Kalispell Public Schools, Matt Jensen has been named regional Superinte…
Hail storm leaves ‘sores and cankers’ on pine trees around Bigfork
Red foliage growing from ponderosa pines, as well as red “sores or cankers” on pinecones, consistent with the fungus diplodia, have been reported near Bigfork,…
Gianforte claiming executive privilege in public records lawsuit
Gov. Greg Gianforte doubled down on his claim of executive privilege in the latest filings in a lawsuit concerning whether forms his office used to track legis…
Numerous new fires crop up after lightning storm
A handful of new wildfires cropped up Wednesday night across Northwest Montana as thunder and lightning storms moved over the region.
Kalispell woman killed, man charged in fatal crash
A Missoula man with a criminal record is charged with vehicular homicide after his passenger was killed in a crash near Martin City on Monday evening.
Kalispell man killed in U.S. 93 motorcycle crash
A Kalispell man died in a motorcycle crash north of Kalispell on Tuesday.
Law roundup: Woman asks police to rampage through ‘drug house’
A distraught woman reportedly told the Kalispell Police Department she was confronted by a man who grabbed something from the back of his truck and started coming toward her, yelling “profane things” after she aske…
Hot Springs man sent to prison for murdering roommate
A Hot Springs man convicted of beating his roommate to death in 2020 is headed to prison.
Redistricting meeting focuses on western Montana
Sparking a back-and-forth with redistricting commissioners, Rep. Brad Tschida, R-Missoula, said Tuesday it wasn’t “fair” that Native Americans are “overreprese…
States tapping historic surpluses for tax cuts and rebates
Stoked by the largest surplus in state history, Missouri's Republican-led Legislature devised a $500 million plan to send one-time tax refunds to millions of h…
Couple recall harrowing escape from fire; credit puppy to saving their lives
Desiree Brewer didn’t think twice about jumping off a balcony, realizing it was her only escape from the flames that engulfed her family’s Kalispell home on Au…
Foundation unveils new look at future Bigfork library
The capital campaign for the project has raised about $821,000 to turn the Ark Building into the new library and construction is expected to begin once the fou…
Teen accused of shooting at father pleads not guilty
A 19-year-old accused of shooting at his father during a disagreement in Columbia Falls late last month has pleaded not guilty to a single count of assault wit…
Man accused of menacing treatment center staff sentenced
A man accused of pulling a knife on the staff of a local addiction treatment center in April and later arrested while in possession of methamphetamine earned a…
Law roundup: Woman sent photos of her stolen items
A woman whose vehicle had reportedly been broken into awhile ago was eerily receiving Facebook messages from a man containing photos of her items, asking her for her information and wanting to meet in person.
Sheriff advocates for increase in funding as county budget OK’d
The commissioners ultimately approved a budget that includes an increase in overall appropriations for the sheriff’s department by about $1.8 million over last…