DIL Editorial
Thoughtful perspectives from the Daily Inter Lake editorial board—local viewpoints on issues shaping Northwest Montana.
Mall redevelopment may be a gamble worth taking
Developers have proposed an intriguing plan for Kalispell Center Mall that promises a bright future for the town’s…
Shut the 'right to know' loophole
A bill that reinforces the right of Montana citizens and media to access public records and deliberations is thankfully moving right through the legislative process.
Let schools know how you feel
How do you plug a budget hole that is estimated to be at least a half-million dollars?
North Fork deal is a winner
It’s hard to overstate the significance of the recently announced commitment of the Nature Conservancy to provide about $9.4 million to seal a deal between Montana and British Columbia that will prevent mining in t…
Legislature must stay focused
It’s not unusual for Montana legislative sessions to be tangled with seemingly frivolous and constitutionally questionable bills, and the current session is no exception.
Keep Open Meeting Law tough
It may seem innocuous, but a bill that is in motion to close meetings of school boards and other governing panels to discuss labor contract negotiations is a big step in the wrong direction for Montana.
Medical marijuana fix needed
It’s understandable why Montana Speaker of the House Mike Milburn is pushing legislation that would repeal the state’s medical marijuana law.
Fixing work comp a priority
It’s encouraging to see that state lawmakers are pursuing workers’ compensation reform with determined focus and clarity — and that Flathead legislators are leading the charge.
Whitefish gets royal treatment
Hear ye, hear ye.
Speech wizards dominate again
The trophy cases must be getting a little crowded at Columbia Falls High School.
Cautious optimism, at best
Characteristically, Gov. Brian Schweitzer had an upbeat, optimistic view of Montana’s economic outlook in his state-of-the-state address last week, challenging Republican lawmakers on their more pessimistic view fo…
Good words; now for action
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address before Congress this week was at times uplifting, paying optimistic heed to American innovation, free enterprise and entrepreneurship, but it came up short in sig…
Hard work ahead for board
It’s commendable that the Kalispell School Board is reaching out to parents for help in developing effective, workable policies on chemical use and bullying, but in the end, it will come down to some serious decisi…
A measure of dignity at the end
There is no question that the Legislature needs to follow through on a Supreme Court ruling that effectively allowed physician-assisted suicides in Montana, because that ruling provided no guidance or oversight wha…
It's time to re-examine tenure
Most of us, if we’re lucky, can remember teachers who were in a league of their own in the way they inspired and mentored their students to achieve academic excellence. They made us want to learn; they made our chi…
Ski for fun, but keep it safe
The deep blanket of snow surrounding trees at local ski areas often masks what could be an unexpected danger: the wells around the trunks of the trees.