Good morning; on the Beacon today, we’ve got Q & A with the candidates for Whitefish City Council. Myers Reece looks at the vital role radio broadcasters play in keeping Montanans updated on sports, especially in rural areas. Downtown Kalispell’s Liberty Theater will now accommodate the rapidly growing congregation of the Fresh Life Church. And Dave Skinner wonders why Americans feel the need to hyphenate who they are, particularly in light of the White supremacy demonstration in downtown Kalispell.
Montana Republican Denny Rehberg says he is trying to make permanent a plan allowing guns on Amtrak trains with new legislation, but recognizes the idea faces a long road. The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a $21.4 million judgment against NorthWestern Corp. and several of its executives, in a case filed by 15 retired Montana Power Co. executives whose supplemental retirement benefits were cut off in 2005 without notice. Officials with Great Divide Ski Area say eager skiers can hit the slopes this weekend — the area’s earliest-ever opening date. The Stillwater Mining Company said precious metals prices had bounced back considerably since hitting bottom last year, mostly offsetting the loss of the GM contract. Two men both known as family men within their communities died Tuesday in a plane wreck during dangerous weather conditions in a remote area of the Pryor Mountains. The National Rifle Association wants to intervene in a lawsuit over the removal of wolves from the endangered species list in Montana and Idaho. Waded Cruzado on Wednesday accepted the Montana Board of Regent’s offer to be the next president of Montana State University.