Good morning; on the Beacon today, a soldier from Whitefish, whose name has not yet been released, stationed at Fort Polk was killed in an attack at the Louisiana base last weekend, his mother said. A 48-year-old man, Baron Foster, accused of shooting his neighbor to death in Evergreen northeast of Kalispell has been convicted. The Montana Highway Patrol says an out-of-state motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 2 near Kalispell. Now in its eighth year, the roughly 50-mile Glacier Challenge has become one of the valley’s premiere fundraising – and outdoor racing – activities of the summer. Thursday nights in downtown Kalispell are about to get a lot more entertaining now that the popular Thursday!Fest series is back out of hibernation to celebrate summer in the valley. And Mick Holien comments on the misinformation that was flying everywhere as major college football conferences negotiated realignment.
Republicans on Thursday defeated Democrats’ showcase election-year jobs bill, including an extension of weekly unemployment benefits for millions of people out of work more than six months. Backers of a proposed constitutional initiative that blocks the government from ever imposing a certain type of real estate tax said Thursday that they have enough signatures to get on the ballot. Organizers of a controversial 100-mile trail race along the Swan Crest have done an end-run around permitting requirements, ensuring their event can take place without any environmental review. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens captured and killed the black bear on Thursday that was suspected of biting a camper in the ear near St. Regis. HELENA – Montana State Hospital officials are investigating an alleged attack on staff members by three patients, including one who had just been transferred to the hospital from the state prison. A paid signature-gatherer apparently submitted some fraudulent signatures on petitions for Initiative 161 in Cascade County, the measure’s author said Thursday. State government should save $4 million after auctioning off several hundred vehicles from its motor pool this weekend and not replacing them, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Thursday.