DIL Editorial
Thoughtful perspectives from the Daily Inter Lake editorial board—local viewpoints on issues shaping Northwest Montana.
Reckless cruisers jeopardize Main Street pastime
Kalispell’s downtown cruisers are dealing with a few rotten apples that threaten to spoil the bunch.
Forest proposal good for business
Study after study has shown that outdoor recreation opportunities and access to public lands are essential to maintaining Montana’s robust economy.
Common ground found in 66th session
Montana’s 66th legislative session wrapped up late Thursday after lawmakers passed a $10.3 billion budget. We’re pleased to see the gears of bureaucracy grind out a balanced budget — as required by the state consti…
C-Falls looks to future with youth programs
The Columbia Falls School Board recently made a couple of important decisions that have the potential to positively affect generations of young people.
Kalispell school levy request a sound investment
It’s crunch time for school districts in Flathead County as voters prepare to make big decisions on levy requests and school-board trustee candidates in the upcoming May 7 school election.
Aquatic invader inspections must be improved
A new water-quality advocacy group has given the state a rather dismal grade of C- for its efforts to protect lakes and streams from aquatic invasive species. In this day and age, that’s just not good enough.
Libby cleanup in the final stretch
Libby residents who were exposed to the toxic asbestos dust from the former W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine will be dealing with asbestos-related disease for many years to come, perhaps even decades given the ago…
Interior's Badger-Two Med decision troubling
In a disconcerting twist to the long-disputed battle over energy rights on the Badger-Two Medicine area, the federal government last week dropped its appeal of one of two oil and gas drilling leases on the land bor…
Take care with burn piles this spring
Residents off Spring Prairie Road between Whitefish and Kalispell had quite the scare Tuesday evening when a grass fire swept through their neighborhood.
Montana looks at legal sports betting
Add Montana to the long list of states considering legalized sports betting.
Flathead plays host to big summer events
When it comes to big, crowd-pleasing events, the hits just seem to keep on coming for the Flathead Valley.
Bipartisan bills take aim at aquatic invaders
The prospect of an aquatic mussel invasion has drawn deep concern from Montana policy-makers for years, and for good reason.
Joyful homecoming for 495th troops
There were lots of cheers, tears and hugs as the Montana National Guard 495th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion arrived back in the Flathead Valley late Saturday night after a nine-month deployment in Afghanista…
Bill takes aim at foreign 'dark money'
A bill has been introduced to the Montana Legislature that would ban spending and contributions in state elections by foreign entities. Missoula Democrat Sen. Nate McConnell is the sponsor of the bill that is being…
Foundation's work focused on suicide awareness
The first Nate Chute snowboard races were held 20 years ago on Big Mountain as a way to remember a friend who tragically took his own life. Today, the event is thriving in participation and has blossomed into a cru…
Permits for North Fork worth studying
American Rivers pulls no punches when describing the upper North Fork of the Flathead River. It’s a “recreational paradise for anglers and paddlers,” they write, where “emerald water flows past a seemingly endless …