HELENA – Lawmakers chipped away at global warming recommendations again Monday, giving a nod to some of the less controversial items coming out of a task force appointed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. The legislative Environmental Quality Council agreed to tackle legislation that promotes, with minimal expenditure, the use of local food, recycling and energy efficiency […]

From minimum wage employee to Vice President of $4.4 billion dollar QVC, Mountain Works Communications President Nan Russell knows what it takes to survive and thrive in this what-have-you-done-for-me-today world. In roles from transforming a corporate culture to heading a new subsidiary, she offers real-world experience with a motivational and business context. Nan has spent […]

Good morning and happy birthday to Stevie Wonder. Our top local story this morning is predictable. Unless you’ve had your head under a rock, you probably already know former President Bill Clinton will be speaking tonight at Flathead Valley Community College at 7:30 p.m. to stump for his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Stick […]

BOZEMAN – Housing prices may be plummeting elsewhere, but a strong state economy means prices aren’t dropping as much in Montana, Revenue Director Dan Bucks said. “On the whole, Montana’s economy, Bozeman’s economy, are strong, and that helps weather the effects of national trends,” Bucks said Monday, during a meeting with about 20 real estate […]

By the time the waters relented, the landscape of my childhood had been permanently altered. The summer flood of 1997 in Park County was a seminal moment for me, though I only fully understand this now. At the time, all I knew was that I suddenly lived in a larger-than-life water world, a place of […]

When musician Alex Athy moved from Los Angeles back to Kalispell, he was greeted by a neighbor’s bumper sticker: “Keep Cali out of Kalispell.” The 2000 Flathead High School graduate wasn’t totally surprised – “There’s a definite stigma here toward that state,” he said – and in many ways he doesn’t disagree. After all, he […]

What’s the story with the purple potty? Its graced the entrances of several businesses around Bigfork, and continues to make the rounds. The cost for removal starts at $5. It’s part of the Glacier Bank’s Team fundraiser for Relay for Life. Team leader Whitney Warren says it costs $5 for a business to get the […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Monday included the following: 8:18 a.m. A Columbia Falls woman called in because she thinks her bitter ex-husband damaged her truck and threw nails in her driveway. 11:04 a.m. Someone called in to report that his Dodge Caravan was stolen. The owner of the vehicle was […]

The Family Forestry Expo’s Sunday afternoon FVCC logging sports demo competitions and logging machinery demonstrations are always a Mother’s Day staple, so I thought I’d take a few photos to share them with those who couldn’t make it. Daniel Pickar caught in mid-swing during a logging sports demo. A young fan of chainsaw carving gives […]

LOS ANGELES – Parvati Shallow was the last woman standing on “Survivor: Micronesia — Fans vs. Favorites.” The 25-year-old boxer and charity organizer from Los Angeles outwitted, outlasted and outplayed her competitors — both “favorite” former castaways and “fan” contestants — to claim the title of “Sole Survivor” and the CBS reality show’s $1 million […]

Good morning and happy 100th birthday to the late Katharine Hepburn. It’s a gray, rainy day in the Flathead, but the weatherman promises sunny skies by this weekend. On the Beacon this morning, Katrin Frye profiles John Dunnigan, one of the busiest musicians in the business. Myers Reece talks to the Glacier Knights’ Steve Biggs, […]

While the National Weather Service predicts Northwest Montana rivers to swell to flood stage by later this week, those on the Whitefish and Stillwater Rivers can breathe easy. At least for this week. The National Weather Service River Forecast Center takes its reading for those two rivers at the mouth of the Whitefish River and […]

At a work session tonight, the Kalispell City Council will discuss a request to change a city ordinance to allow alcohol in Depot Park during Arts in the Park. Kalispell resident Bill Goodman recently asked the city to allow the sale, consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages in the park during the Hockaday Center for […]

HELENA – Former President Bill Clinton will be back in Montana on Tuesday night, campaigning for his wife in Kalispell. The former president will attend a “Solutions for America” event at 7:30 p.m. outdoors behind Blake Hall at Flathead Valley Community College’s Arboretum. The campaign trip will be Bill Clinton’s third to Montana this year. […]

In 1972, Title IX, the federal law mandating equal opportunity in sports, opened new doors for women interested in athletic competition, spawning subsequent generations of girls who believe they are every bit as tough and capable as any of their male counterparts. Pre-Title IX about 300,000 girls participated in high school sports; today, there’s three […]