‘Green tariff’ won’t help the climate crisis

Bozeman and Missoula have reached an agreement with Northwestern Energy that will allow people to voluntarily pay more for “green” solar and wind energy. But the question that’s going unanswered is: Why NorthWestern’s customers should pay more for solar and wind generated electricity when they are far cheaper to generate than its antiquated coal-fired plants at Colstrip?

Chess the newest craze at Bigfork Middle School

Move over basketball, football and volleyball, there is a new activity taking the Bigfork Middle School by storm - chess.

Donation helps Chief Cliff Fire Service Area secure new truck

The Chief Cliff Fire Service Area added a significant new tool to its firefighting arsenal recently, thanks to a generous grant from the James J. Pomajevich and Donna M. Pomajevich Fund of the Montana Community Foundation.

We call it, 'Bison': Another Griz win highlighted by special teams

Another Griz win is highlighted by special teams plays

MISSOULA — This is getting to be ridiculous, how special teams, and especially the punt returns of Junior Bergen, keep tilting games in the Montana Grizzlies’ favor.

Boys roundup: C-Falls and Whitefish victorious

COLUMBIA FALLS — Cody Schweikert’s 14 points led four Columbia Falls players in double figures, and the Wildcats downed Frenchtown 54-36 in boys basketball Tuesday.

Legals for December, 20 2023

Sandra Day O'Connor called a pioneer and 'iconic jurist' as she is memorialized by Biden, Roberts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the Arizona rancher's daughter who became a voice of moderate conservatism as the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, was memorialized by President Joe Biden on Tuesday as a pioneer in the legal world who inspired generations of women.

Biden administration moves to protect oldest trees as climate change brings more fires, pests

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration moved on Tuesday to conserve groves of old-growth trees on national forests across the U.S. as climate change amplifies the threats they face from wildfires, insects and disease.

Great Falls working to counteract hate after white supremacist propaganda spread at library

Great Falls organizations have partnered to stamp out hate in the Electric City following the discovery of White Lives Matter propaganda in at least 18 books in the Great Falls Library earlier this month.

Therese Corbett, 97

Therese M. (Biesen) Corbett, 97 of Polson, passed away peacefully on Dec. 9, 2023, at the St. Joseph Assisted Living Facility in Polson, Montana.

Legals for December, 19 2023

Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples if they don't resemble marriage

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to "an exhaustive moral analysis" to receive it.

Legals for December, 18 2023

Grizzlies topple Bison 31-29 in double OT

MISSOULA — For the first time to Frisco go the Montana Grizzlies, who needed two overtimes to get past North Dakota State 31-29 in a wild FCS semifinal game Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Slow start dooms Flathead against Bozeman

Junior Lyric Ersland knocked down two 3-pointers and scored 14 points for Flathead, but the Braves lost 71-49 at home to Bozeman in boys basketball.

Flathead Business Watercooler

Business events, trainings and seminars

Bigfork company begins selling products on global level

Though the Bigfork company has shipped to individuals internationally before, this will be the first time that they distribute wholesale.

Millions in opioid settlement funds sit untouched as overdose deaths rise

Nearly a year after Montana began receiving millions of dollars to invest in efforts to combat the opioid crisis, much of that money remains untouched. Meanwhile, the state’s opioid overdose and death counts continue to rise.

Top 5 local headlines from 2023

A look back at some of the top local stories in 2023 and what lies ahead in the new year:

Ski bum culture hits reality

Nearly two decades ago, I moved to the mountains to be a ski bum, chasing snow. I was a stereotype — an East Coast kid pulled west by the promise of bigger adventures and higher mountain ranges. I was also part of a counterculture that rejected social norms in favor of 100-day ski seasons.