When journalism matters most
Last week was gut-wrenching as images and stories emerged from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
Mann Mortgage to merge with national lender
After 35 years of operating as a family-owned business, Kalispell-based Mann Mortgage is on the cusp of finalizing a deal to merge with a national lending company.
In search of Glacier's Upper Snyder Lake
Turns out, Snyder Lake isn't the main attraction of Glacier National Park's Snyder Lake Trail.
Whitefish voters approve bonds for school expansion, new football stadium
Whitefish voters on Tuesday approved two bonds that will fund an expansion and remodel of Whitefish High School and construction of a new on-campus football stadium.
$20k in equipment stolen from Whitefish sports fields
The nonprofit that maintains Whitefish's baseball and soccer fields is asking residents to keep an eye out for its missing utility golf cart and a plethora of other tools stolen from the complex over the weekend.
Former housing authority director accused of embezzling $106k
The former executive director of the Whitefish Housing Authority is accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from the nonprofit during his brief tenure with the organization.
Suspect shot at Two Bear Air during standoff, sheriff says
A Flathead County K9 unit was used to apprehend a suspect involved in a standoff early Wednesday morning after he allegedly shot at multiple people and the Two Bear Air helicopter.
Star Meadow, Tally Lake forest project up for review
The Flathead Forest on Thursday released its environmental assessment for a 41,000-acre forest project west of Whitefish.
Healthy rainfall eases fire restrictions in Glacier Park
Campfires will once again be allowed in Glacier National Park and on the Flathead Forest beginning Friday.
Tuesday rainfall could end Kalispell's dry streak
Northwest Montana is expected to receive its first wetting rain in nearly three weeks with the arrival of a cold front on Tuesday.
Celebration of life planned for former Kalispell teacher of the year
Joyce Banzet kept each of the handwritten notes she accumulated over her decades of teaching at Kalispell's Elrod Elementary.
Flathead Forest OKs 3 projects to reduce wildfire risks
Work is expected to begin this fall on projects aimed at reducing the severity of wildfires at three locations around the Flathead Valley.
Heat dome intensifies, elevating Montana fire danger
A dangerous heat dome that continues to smother much of the West intensifies this weekend with triple-digit thermometer readings expected for many western Montana valleys.
Wildflower walkers: Spencer Mountain in full bloom
Father’s Day morning began with a fart joke. “Happy Farters ... I mean Father’s Day” the card my three daughters gave me read. “You’re a gassy ... I mean classy guy.”
Whitefish rally takes aim at Biden’s Title IX revisions
Former NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines headlined a rally in Whitefish on Monday blasting looming changes to federal regulations that prohibit sex-based discrimination at public schools.
Northwest Montana mountain snowpack rebounds in May
High-elevation snowpack in the Swan Range has remained near or above historical averages for most of May thanks to a series of cold storms that dumped snow and rain across the region.
Bigfork hotel plan met with traffic, sewer concerns
Concerns about highway safety and available sewer infrastructure could stymie the development of a 65-room hotel in a new subdivision north of Bigfork.
Plans take shape for luxury golf club in Lakeside
The developers behind a proposed luxury golf club in Lakeside hope to begin construction as soon as next summer if the permit process goes as planned.
Voters to decide on bonds for school expansion, football stadium
Whitefish voters this fall will consider separate bond requests totaling $32.6 million to fund a high school expansion and remodel, and build an on-campus football stadium and track.
Three-story hotel proposed for Bigfork
A 64-room hotel is planned for a new subdivision on the north side of Bigfork.
Conceptual plans emerge for luxury resort in Lakeside
Four years ago, Glenn Housman invested in 100 acres at the end of Blacktail Heights Road atop a knob above Lakeside.
Kalispell hotel fire damage estimated at $4 million
A three-story hotel on Kalispell’s west side suffered extensive damage in a structure fire Wednesday afternoon that drew one of the largest firefighter responses in the valley in more than a decade.
Locals sour on tourism's impact on Whitefish
Local Whitefish residents are increasingly at odds with the tourism industry's impact on the city, even as visitation levels have tapered off since the frantic summers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Whitefish Mountain Resort wraps up season with dip in total skier visits
After shaking off a dreadfully slow start to winter, Whitefish Mountain Resort capped its ski season last weekend with plentiful powder alongside pond skim shenanigans.
Whitefish School Board to consider new plan for high school expansion, sports complex
The Whitefish School Board on Tuesday will consider whether the district should pursue two separate bonds totaling $32.6 million to fund a high school expansion and remodel, and build an on-campus athletic complex.
Temporary Bigfork pedestrian bridge deemed unworkable
The report released Wednesday ruled out seven alternatives that ranged from erecting a suspension bridge over the Swan River, to installing a rental kit bridge or prefabricated steel truss span.
Nate Chute races draw stacked field of shredders
Kyle Anderson took home the top prize in the mens open division the Nate Chute banked slalom and boardercross races last weekend at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Flathead Basin dam operators defend management decisions
Dam managers in Northwest Montana reiterated in a public presentation Thursday that reservoir operations during drought years require a delicate balance of competing objectives.
Whitefish hotelier plans 'food truck park' on vacant Central Avenue lot
A Whitefish hotelier is seeking permission to create an outdoor food truck park and event space on a prominent vacant lot downtown.
Lambrecht resigns as CEO of Logan Health-Billings Clinic
Logan Health-Billings Clinic CEO Craig Lambrecht resigned Monday, making way for new co-leadership roles atop the state’s largest hospital system.
DEQ reviews new septage land application site in Kalispell
Private property east of Glacier Park International Airport is under consideration for a septage land application site.
Disco skate nights on Whitefish Lake bring community together
When Gabriel Layton looks out across the ice at Whitefish’s City Beach, he sees the realization of his vision to bring a little slice of joy to the community.
Whitefish ski patrollers file petition to unionize
David Kerner is passionate about his work as a ski patroller at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Clocking in early, making the rounds to prep the slopes each morning, and helping guests have a fun and safe experience are all the parts of a job that keeps him coming back.
Injured skier rescued from avalanche near Essex
A skier was air-lifted from backcountry terrain near Essex on Saturday after they were seriously injured in a large avalanche set off by their partner from the slopes above.
Dewey skins, slides to Whitefish Whiteout victory
Cutting through the fog like a warm knife in butter, Jacob Dewey claimed the top of the podium in the annual Whitefish Whiteout skimo race Saturday at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Avalanche warning issued amid 'January thaw'
Dangerous backcountry avalanche conditions exist across Northwest Montana due to recent mountain rainfall and unseasonably warm temperatures.
Blizzard warning issued for Flathead Valley
The National Weather Service warned that Flathead Valley roads could become impassable by Thursday morning due to deep and drifting snow.
Heavy snow moves in as arctic air retreats
The records kept falling Monday as a stubborn arctic blast refused to retreat north.
Deep freeze delivers record lows to Flathead Valley
Saturday morning brought the kind of bitter cold to the Flathead Valley that saps car batteries, freezes pipes and takes your breath away.
Nordic skiing trails open in Whitefish, Bigfork, Columbia Falls
Glacier Nordic Center in Whitefish finally opened for the season this week after a winter storm dumped just enough snow to thoroughly blanket the trails at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.
Brutal cold, heavy snow bears down on Flathead Valley
Local emergency officials are advising residents to slow down on the roads and take extra precautions before heading out this week as a potentially historic winter storm bears down on the region.
Dangerous arctic outbreak to slam Flathead Valley
Travel will become difficult to impossible across Northwest Montana this week as a significant and potentially dangerous arctic outbreak sweeps across the region.
Kalispell's December snowfall near all-time low
As Northwest Montana caps one of its driest Decembers on record, a return to winter weather is within sight.
Fire destroys Evergreen home; 2 cats rescued
No one was injured in a structure fire Wednesday afternoon that destroyed a home in Evergreen.
Dry December challenges Montana ski areas
Weekend storm could deliver white Christmas
Ski areas across Western Montana are wishing for a Christmas miracle as the winter’s busiest week on the slopes approaches without much of the white stuff piled up, forcing some areas to change operations or postpone season openings until Mother Nature cooperates.
Whitefish Mountain Resort to open for season with Chair 7, East Rim terrain
Whitefish Mountain Resort will open for the winter season Thursday as planned, even as a round of undeveloped snow soaked the region.
‘Tis the ski-son: Big Mountain slopes set to open Thursday
Whitefish Mountain Resort employees were busy “braaaping” around the slopes on snowmobiles last week as they scurried to manage snow-making machines and wrap up final preparations before opening day Thursday, Dec. 7.
Winter storm to bury mountain passes this weekend
A round of winter weather will create tricky travel conditions across Western Montana beginning Friday through the weekend.
Northwest Montana hunters challenged by low snowfall
Scant snowfall presented Northwest Montana hunters with challenging conditions during the general rifle season, with harvest totals finishing slightly lower compared to last fall.
Council incumbents sweep in Kalispell and Whitefish
All four Kalispell City Council incumbents running for reelection on Nov. 7 retained their seats, according to unofficial results, though a county-level error that saw the wrong ballots sent to some Kalispell voters kept victory celebrations muted.