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.
New owner begins renovating former Outlaw Inn, details plan for extended-stay rentals
Columbia Falls developer Mick Ruis has begun renovating the former Outlaw Inn after its previous owner left the bu…
NW Montana business sector better positioned to weather economic storm, bankers say
Amid a bleak outlook for many businesses across the state, Northwest Montana is in a better position to weather the ongoing economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic than most other regions, according to local ba…
United Way campaign off to strong start
Northwest Montana United Way is well on its way to the organization’s ambitious campaign goal of $4.2 million after an out-of-state foundation agreed to match …
Speech and debate: Flathead takes 2nd, Glacier 3rd as season kicks off online
Flathead and Glacier high school speech and debate competitors finally got a word in this season after it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
C-Falls Speech and Debate takes close second at Whitefish tourney
The Columbia Falls Speech and Debate team kicked off the 2020-2021 season with a formidable showing at the Whitefish Virtual Tournament.
State adds lights to crosswalk near Smith Valley School
The Montana Department of Transportation last week installed new flashing lights on U.S. 2 West near Smith Valley School to improve the safety of the crosswalk along the busy highway.
County launches program to track landfill visits
A new punch-card system will allow Flathead County homeowners to drop off three oversized loads of garbage at the county landfill each year, free of charge bey…
KRMC workers on track to get COVID vaccine this month
Kalispell Regional Medical Center and nine other Montana hospitals are expected to receive shipments of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine this month, providing the fir…
Five more COVID deaths reported in Flathead County
Flathead City-County Health Department officials confirmed five additional COVID-19-related deaths on Monday, bringing the county’s total number of fatalities to 44.
Weekly roundup: Whitefish rural fire board, city nearing contract deal
The Whitefish Fire Service Area and the city of Whitefish appear to be nearing agreement on a contract that would provide fire service to the rural area for the next five years.
Whitefish council mulls affordable-housing changes
The Whitefish City Council tonight is scheduled to consider a change to the city's Legacy Homes affordable-housing program as well as a final plat application for the 8.8-acre, 58-lot Trailview subdivision on the s…
Development proposals top busy Kalispell agenda
The Kalispell City Council has a busy schedule for its meeting tonight, which will be held virtually via Zoom videoconference starting at 7 p.m.
Flathead public works director stays busy managing roads, garbage
Dave Prunty makes sure Flathead County's roads get plowed each winter and road dust gets tamped down each summer.
Where is Benjamin Earls?
Four months into the search for Benjamin Earls, his case is still a mystery.
Former C-Falls man returns to answer burglary charges
More than 12 years after the alleged crime occurred, a former Columbia Falls resident appeared Thursday in Flathead County District Court to answer to charges …
Skiers should expect changes for opening day
It’s been a long off-season in the Flathead Valley since Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area closed early in March due to the COVID-19 pa…