Gianforte rebuts far-right accusations about child protection case

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte is defending the state health department’s actions in an active child protective case against a wave of online criticism from conservative groups, including some far-right, anti-LGBTQ social media accounts, an unusually public commentary from the state’s highest elected official about confidential child welfare proceedings.

Iran threatens to respond to any US strikes as Biden weighs how to react to a base attack in Jordan

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran threatened Wednesday to "decisively respond" to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic following President Joe Biden's linking of Tehran to the killing of three U.S. soldiers at a military base in Jordan.

Backcountry Film Festival in Whitefish Feb. 6

The 19th annual Backcountry Film Festival is headed to Whitefish on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Whitefish Theatre Company. All proceeds will benefit Wild Montana’s Flathead-Kootenai Chapter.

State plans resurfacing project for Kalispell Bypass

The Montana Department of Transportation will undertake a large road improvement project to resurface about four miles of U.S. 93 Alternate, commonly known as the Kalispell Bypass.

Montana 35 section closed Feb. 1 for tree removal

The tree removal requiring the closure of Montana 35, previously scheduled for Jan. 29, has been rescheduled to Thursday, Feb. 1.

Columbia Falls takes Class A state title after undefeated season

Columbia Falls High School capped another undefeated season as the 2024 state champions on home turf.

Rosendale tours Montana with Gaetz ahead of decision on political future

Though he did not outright commit to it, Congressman Matt Rosendale’s “Truth Tour” with Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz across Montana over the weekend did little to quiet the notion that the eastern Montana Republican will decide to face off in a primary for the U.S. Senate seat with Tim Sheehy this year.

Boys Hoops: Vikings roll past Pirates

Eureka beats Troy boys

POLSON — Eli Thorness scored 19 points, 10 coming in the second quarter while Bigfork opened up a big lead on the way to a 61-41 Northwest A boys basketball win Tuesday over Polson.

Girls Roundup: Gunlock girls pace Valkyries

BIGFORK — Bigfork’s Braeden and Paeten Gunlock split six 3-pointers and combined for 46 points Tuesday, as the Valkyries thumped Northwest A girls basketball foe Polson 63-21.

Biden says he's decided on response to killing of 3 US troops, plans to attend dignified transfer

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday indicated he had decided how to respond after the killing of three American service members Sunday in a drone attack in Jordan that his administration has pinned on Iran-backed militia groups, saying he does not want to expand the war in the Middle East but demurring on specifics.

The US hasn't seen syphilis numbers this high since 1950. Other STD rates are down or flat

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. syphilis epidemic isn't abating, with the rate of infectious cases rising 9% in 2022, according to a new federal government report on sexually transmitted diseases in adults.

Trump stays on Illinois' ballot as election board declines to ban him over insurrection amendment

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois' election board on Tuesday kept former President Donald Trump on the state's primary ballot, a week before the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on whether the Republican's role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol disqualifies him from the presidency.

Gerald Reckin, 94

Gerald "Jerry" Reckin, 94, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 20, 2024, in Kalispell, Montana.

Legals for January, 30 2024

Flathead Electric raises alarm over proposal to breach lower Snake River dams

The Flathead Valley, heavily reliant on hydropower, will face an energy crisis if an agreement to remove four dams on the lower Snake River moves forward, according to officials with Flathead Electric Cooperative.

State signals intent to sue over federal wolverine protections

Montana notified the federal government Friday that it plans to file a lawsuit over the federal wildlife service’s November decision to designate wolverines as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Letters to the editor Jan. 29

Letters to the editor Jan. 29

New bike shop opens in downtown Columbia Falls

“I had a shop on my property and I just started telling some friends that I was working on bikes and it started slowly that way,” he said.

3 by Ronan's Edmo beats beats buzzer, Libby

RONAN — Tayen Edmo scored six points for Ronan Saturday and all of them were big: He hit back-to-back 3-pointers to lift the Chiefs over Libby 61-58 in Northwest A boys basketball.

Hellgate's hot start downs Braves

Missoula Hellgate hit Flathead’s floor firing Saturday, burying four 3-pointers in a 26-point first quarter that carried the Knights to a 70-49 Western AA boys basketball win.