Traffic in Kalispell is a far cry from the daily gridlock that envelopes Manhattan, but since July, a modest institution of New York life has taken up residence along the curb of First Avenue West. And the product sold there is as real as the accents of the women who sell it. Liz Moors and […]

WASHINGTON – There are signs of a potential compromise to end the Bush administration’s standoff with states resisting new standards for driver’s licenses. For people who live in those holdout states, the dispute raises the specter of hassles at airports and federal buildings. At issue is a law known as Real ID that would require […]

COLUMBIA, S.C. – With a deadline looming for states to seek extensions on complying with stricter driver’s license requirements, South Carolina lawmakers urged the governor Thursday to ask for one so residents won’t be hampered when boarding airplanes or entering federal buildings. South Carolina, Maine and Montana are the only states that have not sought […]

HELENA – The final day for candidate filings brought optimism from both Democrats and Republicans that they will prevail in key races to control the state Legislature and the governor’s office. Republicans want to take control of the state Senate from Democrats, increase their margin in the House and topple incumbent Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Party […]

I am enormously grateful to all who have recently thanked me for my efforts to protect the doughnut residents of Whitefish. As always your stories have been sincere, heartfelt and full of the concern for your community that I have so long admired. For those who may question my commitment to your property values, rights […]

Good morning and happy NoRuz, the Persian New Year. On the Beacon this morning, our top story reports on the DNRC’s commencement of the water adjudication process in the Flathead Basin. In Kalispell, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore is selling used building materials, as a cheaper and greener alternative to buying something new. With the season […]

The vernal equinox occurred; spring is here and most of the valley floor’s snow is gone (except for what’s dumping down today). The warmth is welcome, but one particular aspect of the snow’s departure is not: several months’ worth of dog droppings have arisen where the snow has receded, and my walk to work is […]

BIGFORK – Out of water, stored in a large barn at Flathead Lake Lodge, it’s hard to imagine the Questa, a 1920s wooden sailing sloop, skimming across Flathead Lake, let alone competing in the America’s Cup. Peeling paint and rusted screws cover the boat’s 51-foot hull, and without its deck beams in place the overall […]

Why doesn’t Bigfork just incorporate? It’s a question asked across the Flathead Valley, and answered repeatedly here with a “we can’t afford it” or “we don’t want it.” Now, with the encouragement of the Bigfork Steering Committee, Flathead County Commissioner Joe Brenneman is pursuing another option. “One of the problems right now,” Brenneman said, “is […]

HELENA – The state attorney general says Montana will not seek an extension regarding the implementation of a national ID program. Attorney General Mike McGrath said Friday that state law prohibits Montana officials from complying with Real ID. That also means the state cannot apply for a March 31 extension set by the Department of […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Thursday included the following: 11:12 a.m. A woman called in after her home-schooled, 15-year-old son shoved her during an argument over the answer to a question on a test. 1:36 p.m. A Fish Wildlife and Parks employee found a safe in the river by Teakettle Bridge. […]

Live Music: Friday: Can’t Hardly Playboys at Red’s; Silver’s Platter at The Cottage; Bluestone Trio at Blue Canyon; Good Wood at Ricciardi’s; Rudy and Gena Mendez at Los Caporales; Wayne Murphy and John Patrick Williams at Scotty’s; Russ Nasset and the Revelators at Great Northern; Mobile Beat DJ at Red’s Saturday: Jay Hatt at Belton […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Tuesday included the following: 6:15 a.m. A man called in and said his wife hit him over the head with a phone after he choked her. 9:42 a.m. There was a significant rockslide on U.S. Highway 2 near West Glacier. 11:45 a.m. Signs, rocks and a […]

Law enforcement in Northwest Montana and across the state are preparing for the fight against illegal drugs to get tougher, with funding slashed for a federal grant that provides most of the money for the state’s seven drug task forces. A campaign is now underway to restore the funding to the Iraq War supplemental spending […]

BILLINGS – Energy companies and other business interests have launched a nationwide campaign to undermine climate change legislation pending in Congress, saying it could cost millions of jobs, drive gasoline prices sharply higher and suck thousands of dollars from household incomes. The effort comes as the Senate prepares to take up in coming months a […]