Ever wonder why we always elect crooks to political office? One reason might be the way elections are bought. The way we fund our candidates is absolutely criminal. Here’s one example: A couple of years ago I was researching a zillionaire Californian that donates boodles to Montana environmentalists. I found the Federal Elections Commission alphabetical […]

HELENA (AP) – U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, on his first trip to Iraq, said Thursday that his position on the war has not changed following a tour of military operations in the region. The Montana Democrat, speaking by telephone with reporters, said the U.S. needs to develop a plan to get out of Iraq, and […]

You can race down to a box store for an artificial Christmas tree pre-strung with lights, or go for the real deal with needles that scent the house and drop when they dry out. Almost 50 percent of Christmas trees in homes and businesses are artificial coniferous-knock offs. But 30-35 million people in the country […]

HELENA (AP) – A committee of state lawmakers has begun looking into legislative rules governing the media, suggesting they might consider changing or perhaps limiting access reporters have to floor sessions, meetings and partisan caucus sessions. The Legislative Council — a joint committee that handles administrative issues — received a report Tuesday from its attorney […]

OTTAWA (AP) – A Canadian facing the death penalty in Montana is taking Canada’s Conservative government to court over its decision not to object to his execution. Lawyers representing double-murderer Ronald Allen Smith submitted an application Tuesday to the Federal Court of Canada for judicial review of a government decision last month to no longer […]

WHITEFISH – Successful business models are born in the strangest places – like in downtown storage rooms. The Loft, a members-only social and business club that opened three years ago in a storage room above Whitefish’s Toggery, began as a place where attorney Chad Wold could take clients to socialize and conduct business. Now Wold, […]

If you’ve been in the Town Pump or Mike’s lately, you might have noticed the change jars. A community member is ill, and the community is rising up to help. Tim Friske was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. This coming Saturday (Dec 1), the community comes together at the Columbia Falls Eagles […]

Good morning and happy Independence Day to our Albanian readers. The new Beacons are on the stands and there’s no putting it off. It’s time to start your holiday shopping and our staff guides you to some of the most creative local gift ideas in the valley. At a planning board hearing last night, plans […]

The proposed Glacier Town Center collided with Kalispell’s draft transportation plan at a city planning board meeting Tuesday night. The 485-acre commercial and residential development, being put forth by Wolford Development, would go up between U.S. Highway 93 North and Whitefish Stage Road, bordered by West Reserve Drive to the south. The development’s 191-acre first […]

Short on gift inspiration? Still too full of turkey leftovers to think about shopping? We’ve got you covered. From Bigfork to the Stillwater State Forest, the Beacon scoured the valley for the best unique, local gifts guaranteed to get you in good with your loved ones well into 2008. Music Lessons Price Range: $30+ If […]

Every day, I read about local businesses who want “protection” from big box stores and franchises, when the real problem is staring at them in the mirror. Wednesday night, my oldest was settling in from his return home for Thanksgiving break from the U. Apparently they don’t serve enough pizza at college, because he wanted […]

In a column last week, I wrote that Kalispell needed a nickname and asked for your ideas on a proper one. What followed was a history lesson in the origin of the word, some clever ideas, some sad (but equally clever), and a few that could actually work. So here is a sampling of your […]

Thanksgiving weekend marks the green light for Christmas decoration. Some people start pulling out the boxes of lights, electric candles, and nativity scenes on that first Friday. You’ll see moms and dads across the country up on ladders, trailing strands of lights into the arms of someone smaller standing below with their head craning up; […]

The Kalispell Police and Flathead County Sheriff’s reports for Tuesday included the following: 7:04 a.m. Deputies had to come to the aid of a parent who couldn’t get their 15-year-old boy to go to school. Shortly after the visit he went to school. 7:46 a.m. An Evergreen woman called the Sheriff’s Department because she thought […]

Identification requirements for citizens entering or leaving the United States via road will beef up next year, which could delay truckers, tourists and other travelers at border crossings. But in several Montana communities that share fire and ambulance services with towns in Canada, a border-crossing delay during an emergency could have serious consequences. As a […]