January Drought Thaws Northwest Montana’s Snowpack
Abnormally warm temperatures and minimal precipitation last month has dropped snow water equivalent levels in the Northern Rockies to below normal
By Maggie Dresser
Environment
Lawsuit Accuses Lincoln County Officials of Rebuffing Public Records Requests Seeking Information on Petition to Loosen Cap on Canadian Mining Waste
Lincoln County commissioners filed a petition last year to undo safeguards protecting Lake Koocanusa from the mining contaminant selenium. Plaintiffs accused local officials of "doing the bidding for a foreign mining company."
By Tristan ScottThe Latest
Flathead Living
Letting the Mountains Speak
As homeowners, builders and architects embrace Northwest Montana’s natural contours — ridge lines, dense alpine forests, crystalline lakes, and the ever-changing theater of weather rolling in from the Continental Divide — the region is experiencing a design renaissance
By Colton Martini
‘Daring to be Different,’ Accordion Bob Found a Full Life in Northwest Montana
Bob Mislivec has played the accordion since he was 10, carrying on a cultural tradition and finding serendipitous connections. Over the last couple decades, he’s become a staple of the North Fork and Badrock Canyon music community.
By Zoë Buhrmaster
Changing Montana’s Drunk Driving Culture, One Coffee Card at a Time
Behind lawmakers’ efforts to curb drunk driving in a state with the highest rates in the nation is a nonprofit that started with a simple solution: handing out coffee cards to those who choose not to drive home drunk. The impact has been wider than the Montana Bar Fairies’ founders imagined.
By Mariah ThomasNEWS & FEATURES
Lawsuit Accuses Department of Revenue of Conducting Unlawful Property Assessments
The lawsuit highlights two cases in which the DOR used comparable sales data from outside a designated 12-month valuation period for 2025 to determine property assessments, which resulted in heightened valuations and tax bills
Columbia Falls Awards $9.4 Million Construction Contract for ‘Gateway to Glacier’ Infrastructure Project
Kalispell’s Plan to Eliminate PFAS Advances Under DEQ Review
During National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week, College Leaders Emphasize Importance of Federal Funding Support for the Future
IRS Issues Tax Relief, Extends Deadlines for Northwest Montana Residents Impacted by December Flooding
Despite Public Opposition, Flathead County Commissioners Approve 159-foot Dock Variance for Lakeside Marina
OUTDOORS
FWP Investigating Illegal Pike Introduction at Kalispell’s Pine Grove Pond
After an angler hooked a pike at the popular family fishing site last fall, officials are trying to determine how the nonnative species ended up there. Tipsters with information about the illegal introduction could be eligible for a $3,500 reward.
Reeling in the Years
Federal Lawsuit Challenges Repeal of Montana Water Quality Standards
Conservation Easement Protects 105 Acres Near Glacier National Park
End of the Season
Vestigial Parts
Sponsored Content
Sponsored by Humane Society of Northwest Montana
Warm Hearts for Cold Noses
How a simple ticket can change everything
Sponsored by Flathead Valley Family
All In On Family
Advertise in Flathead Valley Family magazine, which includes a range of parenting and family resources
Sponsored by Flathead Beacon Productions
Bring Glacier Home: Vintage-Inspired Prints Make Perfect Gifts
Local artists create curated collection of iconic park posters that celebrate the beauty and spirit of Glacier National Park
NEWSLETTERS
SPORTS
Bobby Hauck Steps Down as Montana Grizzlies Head Football Coach
Hauck, the Big Sky's all-time leader in overall wins and conference victories, announced his retirement at a Wednesday morning press conference
Former Glacier Range Riders Pitcher Signs MLB Contract
Glacier High School Hires First-Ever Baseball Coach Ahead of Inaugural Season
Kalispell Flathead Soccer Coach Resigns After Investigation into December Dispute with Official
Montana State Bobcats Beat Illinois State Redbirds in OT for First FCS Title in 41 Years
Whitefish’s Jake Sanderson Selected for USA Olympic Hockey Team
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A Decade of Spotted Bear Spirits
The local craft distillery has doubled its staff and has grown to distribute vodka, gin, agave and whiskey across the state and in northern Colorado while curating specialty cocktails at its tasting room in downtown Whitefish over the last 10 years
Tangy Pickle Dip
Sourdough Rye Bread
Parmesan Sourdough Bagel Chips
Whitefish Winter Carnival to Name New King and Queen this Weekend
Sourdough Bagels
OPINION
Hot Air or Helping Montanans?
At a time when many Montanans are struggling, Republicans offering empty words is just a whole lot of nothing
Protecting Our Lakes, Public Access and Marinas
Our public lakes are slowly being treated as private amenities for those fortunate enough to own shoreline property
Real Concern Over Whitefish’s Growth Policy Update
For decades I have seen a small group of people have undue influence on Whitefish
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Editor's Picks
For 50 Years, the Abbie Shelter has Been a Voice for Domestic Violence Survivors ‘Suffering in Silence’
Launching in 1976 with a 24-hour Rape Crisis Line, the Abbie Shelter has evolved into a six-bed facility, providing resources and court advocacy for domestic violence survivors while educating the community
Federal Lawsuit Challenges Repeal of Montana Water Quality Standards
The Flathead Lakers, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes sued the EPA for adopting "arbitrary" and "reactive" standards for nutrient pollution, alleging it violated the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act
University of Montana President Stepping Down Amid Speculation About U.S. Senate Bid
Seth Bodnar said that he would be considering "a new way to serve our state and nation." The leadership transition for the university will begin immediately.
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Recent Podcasts
Project 7
A six-part series on notorious Flathead Valley militia leader David Burgert, who vanished into the wilderness after a shootout with sheriff's deputies in 2011
