HELENA – With energy prices among the top concerns, voters in the Billings, Bozeman and Missoula areas will be electing members to the Public Service Commission, the five-member board that oversees utilities. “The job that the PSC does in the state is pretty technical and obscure,” said Doug Mood of Seeley Lake, a Republican seeking […]

Step into the O’Shaughnessy Center, and you’ve waltzed back into the 1950s. Dingy gold walls, Coca Cola sign, and oilskin tablecloths transport the audience back into a small Midwestern town diner. Before one character walks on stage for Bus Stop, the mood is set for the Ward and June Cleaver era. The bittersweet romantic comedy […]

Good morning; on this date in 1845 the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis was established. On the Beacon today, Whitefish cross country runner Drew Coco is demolishing school records this season and has his sights set on breaking some state records. A man died Thursday night in a crash involving four vehicles on Montana Highway […]

Once again, Columbia Falls is leading Northwestern A in rushing yards by a large margin. The Wildcats are undeniably fast and shifty. But speed needs structure, a system to maximize that swiftness. That’s why coach John Thompson has turned to the “fly” offense, a close cousin to the well-known Wing-T formation. It’s a growing phenomenon […]

We’ve had some unexpected guests in the house lately, which just happened to coincide with the cold weather. They’re on the kitchen counter, windowsills, in flowerpots, on the bathroom mirror, crawling up the curtains, and on the washing machine. In short, they’re everywhere, and I have just learned that these bugs are known as Boisea […]

WASHINGTON – Amtrak has set another ridership record, with 28.7 million people taking its trains last year. That’s an 11 percent increase over the 25.8 million passengers that the national passenger railroad carried in fiscal year 2007. Total ticket revenue for the year that ended Sept. 30 reached $1.7 billion, a 14 percent increase over […]

MISSOULA – The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has authorized destruction of the Skalkaho wolf pack after repeated wolf attacks on cattle southwest of Philipsburg. The agency says the pack was responsible for two confirmed livestock losses and another probable in the past few weeks. FWP authorized two lethal removals of wolves in […]

HELENA – The Montana Department of Livestock is extending the public comment period on its draft brucellosis action plan by three weeks through Saturday, Nov. 1. State veterinarian Dr. Martin Zaluski said the public has expressed “significant interest” in the plan and is asking for more time to comment. The draft plan is required by […]

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the month devoted to bringing attention to the impact this epidemic has on our community. It is hoped that awareness will elicit responsiveness and, ultimately, change. It’s a difficult task. At the Violence Free Crisis Line, most of our interaction with the community is working directly with people already […]

The Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, along with the Montana Urban & Community Forestry Association, selected Columbia Falls as one of two recipients of this year’s Urban Forestry Excellence Awards. Forsyth, located southeast of Billings on Interstate 94, also received the award. According to John Grassy, spokesman for the state DNRC, the Excellence […]

WASHINGTON – Congressional investigators have flagged potential problems with a proposed road access agreement between the Forest Service and the nation’s largest private landowner — a deal that could lead to increased development on Montana forestland and possibly around the country. The Government Accountability Office, Congress’s investigative arm, looked into private negotiations between Plum Creek […]

A man who died Thursday evening when his van veered into oncoming traffic on Montana Highway 82 and sideswiped a tractor-trailer hauling apples has been identified as Trenton Thornton, 24. The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. The accident is under investigation by the Montana Highway Patrol. […]

MISSOULA – Consumer advocate and independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is scheduled to speak at the University of Montana on Oct. 22. Nader will speak about the Wall Street bailout, health care, the Iraq war, the environment and his exclusion from presidential debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. His press conference is scheduled […]

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) _ Montana Democrats dropped their federal lawsuit Friday against Republicans who challenged the registrations of nearly 6,000 voters because they might have changed their address. The Montana Republican Party withdrew those challenges earlier this week, after being stung by accusations it was trying to suppress the vote in seven Democratic-leaning counties. Democrats […]

DEER LODGE – Sun Mountain Lumber of Deer Lodge has laid off 23 employees who worked in the finger joint and planer operations. The layoffs were effective Thursday. Owner Sherman Anderson says poor market conditions led to the decision. Mills in Bonner, St. Regis, Columbia Falls and Libby have announced layoffs totaling nearly 180 workers […]