Local News
Your source for reliable, in-depth reporting on Northwest Montana’s communities, government, and daily life—delivering the stories that matter most to you.
Montana snowpack rapidly melted in May
Throughout May, warm temperatures across Montana led to a rapid melt off of the state’s snowpack, which sits “larg…
House Judiciary amends Montana bill targeting drag performances, sends it to House floor
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday passed on party lines a bill targeting drag performances in Montana after amending it so it will apply to any place that receives any sort of state funding.
Suspect in Bigfork double homicide pleads not guilty
The man accused of murdering a couple inside their Bigfork home in October pleaded not guilty to two counts of deliberate homicide in Flathead County District …
Campground shooting suspect said she fired after being hit
Prosecutors filed a single count of assault with a weapon against Chelsie Marie Morrison, 33, of Eureka on Jan. 24 for her alleged role in the confrontation.
Man accused of shooting at kayakers maintains innocence
Jeffrey Allen Smith, 49, appeared before Judge Amy Eddy in Flathead County District Court on Feb. 9 for his arraignment on four counts of criminal endangerment.
Suspect in pepper spray attack given deferred sentence
Judge Amy Eddy also gave Wendy Jean Warner, 49, credit for 57 days of time served.
Flathead County seeks environmental review of the lower North Fork Road
Flathead County will apply for federal funding in the coming weeks for an environmental analysis aimed at improving the lower end of the North Fork Road — a pr…
Opponents decry grizzly bill as too vague at Senate committee hearing
Critics sought more clarity Tuesday on a bill allowing livestock owners to take grizzlies on their property in anticipation of the federal government lifting p…
Kalispell Planning Board recommends requests for proposed residential developments
The Kalispell Planning Board recommended Tuesday two requests from housing developers to the City Council.
Logan Health, Billings Clinic discuss potential deal
Logan Health and Billings Clinic, two of Montana’s largest hospital systems, have opened discussions about uniting as a single health-care organization. Billi…
Bill would enshrine abortion rights in state law
A bill introduced this week in the Montana Legislature flipped the typical script for hearings on abortion access: Instead of opposing restrictive bills, reproductive rights advocates lined up to support legislatio…
Landlords push back on pro-tenant, mobile-home park bills
A pair of Republican-sponsored bills intended to help mobile-home park residents weather Montana’s acute housing shortage drew vehement opposition from park owners, real estate agents and the Montana Landlord Assoc…
Talk discusses history of Japanese people in Northwest Montana
The presentation is at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, in the Northwest Montana Historical Museum in Kalispell.
Shooting of vehicle in Lake County leads to arrest
Deputies were alerted to the gunshot near the intersection of Timberline Way and Eagle Trail Pass about 2 p.m., Feb. 12.
Regulators accuse Columbia Falls crypto mine of fraud, financial crimes
State Auditor Troy Downing has demanded answers from a cryptocurrency company with a bitcoin mining center in Columbia Falls accused of operating a multimillio…
Report: $60 million indoor sports facility would benefit local businesses
In addition to serving local youth and adult athletes, the visitors bureau asked its consultants to explore the viability of establishing a center that would a…