Politics & Government
The Daily Inter Lake’s Politics & Government section delivers updated local and national political coverage, featuring legislative developments, elections, policy debates, and government actions shaping Montana.
Kalispell City Council moves forward on housing board, development standards along Parkline trail
City councilors narrowly agreed to move forward Monday on two housing-related initiatives championed by Kalispell …
House candidate Kier touts conservation work
Grant Kier visited the Daily Inter Lake recently to discuss his candidacy for Montana’s lone U.S. House seat.
AP FACT CHECK: A look at Tester's support of banking bill
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Democratic senators who supported the banking bill that recently passed the Senate have come under fire from others in their party for bac…
Zinke defends plan to raise park fees amid flap over travel
WASHINGTON (AP) — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke bristled Tuesday under questioning by Democrats about his travel spending as the Trump administration seeks dee…
Head of Child and Family Services resigns after 16 months
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The head of Montana's Division of Child and Family Services has resigned after 16 months on the job as the state has a record number of kids in foster care and the agency is dealing with intern…
Zinke talks Sperry rebuild, parks funding
On Saturday morning, employees of Glacier National Park and the Glacier National Park Conservancy welcomed Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to Columbia Fal…
Bozeman Dem touts progressive record in U.S. House race
Kathleen Williams, a Bozeman Democrat seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, sat down with the Daily Inter Lake Friday to discuss her campaign.
Interior Department veterans: Proposed overhaul is flawed
DENVER (AP) — U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's plan for a major realignment to put more of his department's decision-makers in the field has a fundamental …
Democrats say Interior boss withheld key facts
DENVER (AP) — Two Democratic congressmen accused Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Wednesday of withholding key information from lawmakers while launching a mas…
Fagg makes case for Senate candidacy
Russell Fagg, one of the many Republicans vying to unseat Sen. Jon Tester this November, sat down with the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board Wednesday.
Little support for proposed Medicaid cuts
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Some of the state's proposed cuts in Medicaid reimbursement will harm children and leave the state responsible for more expensive services…
Interest high in state legislative races
If the first day of filing is any indication, interest is high in the state political offices up for grabs this year.
Contests shaping up for county elections
There are early contenders for most Flathead County elected offices, setting the stage for some primary election run-offs in June as a busy election year kicks…
Montana lawmakers reviewing their sexual harassment policy
HELENA — Montana lawmakers are reviewing the Legislature’s sexual harassment policy after accusations of sexual misconduct led to the downfall of other lawmake…
Jones victorious in stunning Alabama Senate upset
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — In a stunning victory aided by scandal, Democrat Doug Jones won Alabama's special Senate election on Tuesday, beating back history, an …
Bill would remove wilderness protections from some study areas
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, R–Mont., has introduced a bill to remove some Montana Wilderness Study Areas from long-standing protections.