Our civilization – especially in Montana – simply cannot function without a strong transportation infrastructure. Our Sen. Max Baucus knows this. With a deadline of June 30, Baucus was one of a handful of lawmakers given the job of coming up with a compromise before the transportation bill expired. Given all the headlines highlighting extreme […]

Racecar driving is a lot like poker. A lot of it has to do with luck. A streak, good or bad, can last one or two races or an entire summer. Bodie Morton has had his fair share of both throughout his lifelong racing career. This summer, though, he’s riding a hot streak. The Kalispell […]

HELENA — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation removed the name of Olaus J. Murie from a conservation award after the family of the man known as the father of modern elk management objected to what they called an all-out war against wolves. The demand came after the foundation backed removing federal protections for wolves, donated […]

Monday 7/16 6:32 a.m. Someone in Bigfork claimed that a vicious pit bull was lodged in their breezeway. 8:59 a.m. Reportedly, a bald Kalispell man beat on a little dog. 9:49 a.m. A mom called in complaining that her 16-year-old son wouldn’t listen to her. 10:14 a.m. A Bigfork resident received a disturbing letter composed […]

There are plenty of reasons to hike Whitefish’s Big Mountain in the summer: the views, the trails and the exercise are a few. Flathead Industries, a local nonprofit that works with people with disabilities and veterans, has another big reason to hit the hill this Saturday. On July 21, Flathead Industries hosts the 22nd annual […]

Two days after a series of dramatic rock and mud slides closed Going-to-the-Sun Road between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pass, the National Park Service reopened the road on Thursday afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, a powerful rain storm caused 12 mud and rock slides on Going-to-the-Sun Road, trapping almost 150 vehicles and damaging one car. That […]

HELENA — The Montana Republican Party told a judge Thursday that Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Bullock wrongly raised campaign money without declaring the office he was seeking on compliance forms. The GOP asked Judge Wayne Phillips to force the commissioner of political practices, who previously dismissed the complaint, to reconsider the matter. […]

Somers Lakeside School District 29 is working with a smaller budget after a levy failed earlier this spring. New Superintendent Paul Jenkins said some teachers will be laid off and courses reduced in an effort to save about $75,000 during the 2012 – 2013 school year. The budget will be finalized next month. Although budget […]

SPOTTED BEAR RANGER DISTRICT – Driving along the Hungry Horse Reservoir on a weekday morning gives visitors the distinct feeling they’re not on Flathead or Whitefish lake, despite the big body of water and beautiful scenery. Few boats dot the open water while secluded bays hold pockets of recreationists, though not in huge crowds. Vehicles […]

WEST GLACIER – Two Glacier National Park visitors suffered minor injuries when heavy rains triggered mud and rock slides on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Park officials say the slides along a five-mile stretch of the road Tuesday afternoon trapped about 10 vehicles. One vehicle was damaged and was to be towed out of the area while […]

BILLINGS – Members of an interim legislative committee said Tuesday that they want to increase transparency within Montana’s rural electric cooperatives after one went bankrupt following the construction of a new power plant. Sen. Alan Olson, who chairs the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee, said the intent is to prevent a recurrence of problems seen […]

Like everyone else, I’m glad the Going-to-the-Sun Highway is open and the years of reconstruction are almost over. The crews should be proud of their work. My Dad and I took a spin over Logan Pass a couple of weeks ago, and will punch his Golden Age pass a few more times this year if […]

Though Northwest Montana has fared well, this summer is already being called one of the worst fire seasons on record in the West. Driven by severe drought conditions and the hottest average temperatures ever recorded, wildfires are scorching the parts of the United States. The situation is likely going to worsen, according to the latest […]

GLASGOW — BNSF Railway crews worked Wednesday to clean up a freight train derailment in northeastern Montana and repair the tracks. Company spokesman Gus Melonas says about a dozen cars from a train headed from Chicago to Portland, Ore., derailed about 20 miles east of Glasgow on Tuesday afternoon. The derailed cars, the equivalent of […]

My twin daughters are teenagers, and high school graduation is imminent. For me, the era of day-to-day parenting is nearing its end. I’m sometimes surprised at how my “parenting inputs” manifest themselves in my nearly adult children. One thing I’m quite pleased with is that they’ve developed a love for the outdoors. They better. Some […]