Montana PBS to air historical smokejumper film ‘Higgins Ridge’

Smokejumpers who survived a “gobbler” of a wildfire in 1961 will recount their harrowing experience in an upcoming film on Montana PBS. “Higgins Ridge,” named for location of the fire in Idaho’s Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, will air Monday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m.

Noah Cummings rises up to lead Flathead hoops

One of the issues for this year’s Flathead Braves was where, in the wake of the graduated Joston Cripe’s 20 points a game, they were going to find points this basketball season.

Bill allowing for death certificates for miscarriages passes committee after tweaks

Legislation allowing families to request a death certificate for miscarriages met with approval in the House Judiciary Committee on Monday after a week of discussion and edits.

New abortion rules will be challenged in court, opponents warn

As the State of Montana considers changing rules to make getting an abortion using Medicaid more difficult and restrictive, a group of health care providers sent a letter via their attorneys warning the state and lawmakers that adopting the proposed rules will lead to a lawsuit.

Epperly, Vikings swamp Wildcats

Isak Epperly poured in 25 points and the Bigfork Vikings topped Columbia Falls 63-48 in an intraconference basketball game Tuesday.

Glacier stays cold in loss to Big Sky

Missoula Big Sky’s girls basketball team looked pretty tough Tuesday, holding down Glacier for a 38-21 Western AA victory at the Wolf Den. Just wait a couple years.

Cuaresma, Big Sky inch past Glacier boys Tuesday

Missoula Big Sky’s Josiah Cuaresma scored 14 points, nine down the stretch as the Eagles rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Glacier 50-49 in Western AA boys basketball.

Essex residents wary of CenturyLink's solution for poor phone service

CenturyLink customers in Essex may soon see a stop-gap solution to outages and poor phone service there, but the plan proposed by the telecommunications giant raises as many questions as it answers.

Lawsuit claims insurance company deliberately stalling in Libby asbestos cases

Just weeks after a Cascade County judge agreed with a jury that the insurance company that represented a Libby asbestos mine should pay a former miner there $36.5 million, attorneys for that miner filed a complaint in federal court, claiming that Zurich American Insurance Company systematically stalled and dragged out court proceedings in an attempt to force him into settling the lawsuit before other asbestos cases are tried.

Legislative curtain opens on Gianforte’s ‘red-tape relief’ push

A trio of bills that constitute the most prominent thrust of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s sprawling red-tape relief push drew praise and pushback in their initial hearings before a legislative committee this week.

Columbia Falls speech team wins Class A Western Divisional

Columbia Falls High School is the Western Class A divisional speech and debate champion, racking up 256 overall points.

Google axes 12,000 jobs as layoffs spread across tech sector

oogle is laying off 12,000 workers, becoming the latest tech company to trim staff as the economic boom that the industry rode during the COVID-19 pandemic ebbs.

Legals for January, 23 2023

Births

Naamski Wardal Zay LaFromboise, son of Terrance and Dusti LaFramboise of Browning, was born on Dec. 28, 2022, at Logan Health Whitefish.

Zito: Avian Flu is crushing farmers

The public's pocketbooks have been hit hard by the skyrocketing cost of eggs in the last few months. Prices have doubled and, in some places, tripled over what they cost a year ago -- if you can even find them in your local grocery store.

Code Girls United adds operations director, program coordinators

Code Girls United adds operations director, program coordinators

Rubys celebrate 70 years of marriage

Gene and Marilyn Ruby were married in the Methodist Church in Somers, Montana on Dec. 20, 1952.

Neva Eileen Youreman, 77

Neva Eileen Youreman passed away peacefully in her home in Kalispell on the early morning of Jan. 2, 2023.

Legals for January, 22 2023

Vikings score 63-30 win over Mission

Isak Epperly led a balanced Bigfork scoring attack with 17 points, and the Vikings pulled away in the second quarter for the District 7-B victory over Mission.