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…
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…
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.
Columbia Falls student wins county spelling bee
There was no mystery as to who won the 2026 Flathead County Spelling Bee.
GOP primaries set for multiple Northwest Montana races
Campaign filings closed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, sealing the roster of candidates set to compete for seats in both the federal and state delegations.
Candidates enter Flathead County races
Four candidates are running for county commissioner.
Students display scientific discoveries at annual Flathead County Science Fair
Every year, the fair draws in third- through 12th-grade students from across the valley, challenging them to explore an array of topics using the scientific me…
Officers involved in shooting near Libby while serving warrant
Lincoln County law enforcement officers were involved in a shooting Wednesday afternoon at a location on Libby Creek Road, authorities said.