WASHINGTON – Barack Obama was elected the nation’s first black president Tuesday night in a historic triumph that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his victory by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in […]

WASHINGTON – Montana Sen. Max Baucus has defeated GOP challenger Bob Kelleher to win his sixth term in the U.S. Senate. The call was based on an analysis of voter interviews, conducted for The Associated Press by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. Baucus has been in the Senate for 30 years and serves as […]

HELENA – Democrat Brian Schweitzer has won a second term as governor of Montana, defeating Republican state Sen. Roy Brown. The call was based on an analysis of voter interviews, conducted for The Associated Press by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. Also on the ballot was Libertarian Stan Jones. Schweitzer, whose national profile soared […]

HELENA – Republican US Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana wins re-election to 5th term.

HELENA – Mike McGrath, who has served as state attorney general for the past eight years, is the new chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court. With 58 percent of precincts reporting, McGrath had 75 percent of the vote to Helena lawyer Ron Waterman’s 25 percent. The two were vying for the nonpartisan post held […]

WHITEFISH – Your life is full of labels. Look around. They’re on your food, your shampoo bottles, everywhere. And there’s a chance at least one of those labels was made right here in the Flathead at Total Label USA. In five years, Total Label has grown from a small family-run business with a handful of […]

HELENA – Republican John McCain won Montana in a close battle with Barack Obama on a night when the Democrat coasted to victory nationally. In Montana, with 85 percent of precincts reporting, McCain was leading 51 percent to Obama’s 46 percent. Third-party candidate Ron Paul was drawing 2 percent of the vote. The state has […]

A 66-year-old Ohio man died while hunting north of Whitefish on Tuesday. His name will be released after his family has been notified. The man was found dead behind the steering wheel of a vehicle that he and his hunting partners were using at the end of Striker Ridge Road west of Olney. According to […]

One of the ways I find new businesses to help is by picking up brochure while I’m in their business, or when I see them around town. Brochures are your little sales dudes, sitting there on the counter, trying to get a date (generate interest enough to make a sale). They’re critical. They introduce your […]

Good morning. Happy post-election day, everyone! And happy birthday to musician Art Garfunkel. On the Beacon this morning, political results rule the day. Democrats made enormous gains on the national stage last night, winning the presidency and a number of Congressional seats. But in Flathead County, the night belonged mostly to Republicans, who won several […]

On an Election night where Democrats made enormous gains on the national stage – winning the presidency and a number of Congressional seats – in Flathead County, the night belonged mostly to Republicans, who won several decisive victories in several local races. Democrats held onto one House seat, while a downtown Kalispell district looks poised […]

The final statistics are in for Class AA football and it was a fine year for Kalispell’s two quarterbacks. Flathead High’s Brock Osweiler, who will take his quarterback skills to Arizona State University next year, led the state for the second straight year in passing yards and touchdowns. The 6-foot-8 senior also led the state, […]

5:05 a.m. A trucker hit several horses on US Highway 93. 8:05 a.m. A dog was pestering elk at an elk farm. 8:23 a.m. Horses on the loose left a mess on another man’s property. 9:33 a.m. A 36-year-old man was convulsing; he stopped using his drug of choice. 11:32 a.m. A horse that was […]

HELENA – Democrats held onto the statewide offices of superintendent of public instruction and auditor while the race for secretary of state remained close Wednesday. Denise Juneau was elected state superintendent and Democrat Monica Lindeen won the race for state auditor. Juneau defeated Republican Elaine Sollie Herman by a margin of 51 percent to 44 […]

BILLINGS – Steve Bullock won the race for Montana attorney general early Wednesday, defeating Republican Tim Fox in a close race that ensured Democratic control of the statewide office. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Bullock was leading 52 percent to Fox’s 48 percent. The difference was about 20,700 votes, according to unofficial results. Fox […]