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…
One dead, two injured in Kalispell crash
A 19-year-old from Kalispell died in a crash Saturday night after his vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and was struck by a pickup, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.
Monarch meditation: Butterfly struggles to survive with loss of habitat
The monarch butterfly is iconic in North America — but in Montana, it is a rare sight. That’s why when landscaper Kathy Ross discovered monarchs breeding i…
Flathead County flushes out new biosolid restriction for landfill, Kalispell and Columbia Falls say rule could be tough to meet
Biosolids, commonly known as treated sewage sludge, are the solid organic materials derived from the treatment of wastewater. Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whi…
Newly certified Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department fills gap in rural emergency services
Ferndale Fire Chief Shawn Devlin remembers the call coming in over the radio: Bigfork first responders dispatched to St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church for a possi…
Law roundup: Woman makes smooth moves
A woman reportedly sat down in a parking lot in front of a children’s playplace and started shaving her legs and hanging what looked like necklaces on a tree
Law roundup: Woman makes smooth moves
A woman reportedly sat down in a parking lot in front of a children’s playplace and started shaving her legs and hanging what looked like necklaces on a tree
Headlines: Man held in Hungry Horse shooting death, woman sentenced following border patrol obstruction, state marijuana tax revenue
Man held in Hungry Horse shooting death, woman sentenced following border patrol obstruction, potential projects from state marijuana tax revenue and more NW M…
Warm February leaves Montana’s snowpack depleted
Western Montana’s mountain snowpack did little to make up for a historically dry January, with water basins statewide lagging behind average heading into March.
Libby Park District sinks levy for swim pond
The district was going to piggyback on the special purpose district election...
Polson commissioners hear plan for reducing E. coli in Flathead Lake
Representatives from the Flathead Lakers and the Polson Bay Golf Course presented a plan to the Polson City Commission last Wednesday to reduce stormwater runo…
Polson woman pleads guilty to negligent homicide
A Polson woman admitted to causing a vehicle accident that killed a passenger in July 2025. Elizabeth Charlotte Hill, 23, entered a plea of guilty in District …
State takes on co-management of 200,000 federal acres in Northwest Montana
About 214,000 acres on the Kootenai and Flathead national forests will serve as what Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte called the “initial sandbox” for a shared stew…
Duct Tape Caper: Attendance incentive sticks Polson principal to the wall
Kids at Linderman Elementary in Polson were able to stick it to principal Kristin Wilson last Friday. Or, rather, stick her to it in a duct-tape attendance cha…
Flathead County OKs Pursuit employee housing in West Glacier
The Flathead County Planning Office recently approved an application for a large “work camp” that will house Pursuit Glacier Park Collection’s seasonal employe…
Solar project in Whitefish up and running
The Community Solar III project broke ground June 12 and began generating solar power to the grid in late January.