Bigfork hotel plan met with traffic, sewer concerns
Concerns about highway safety and available sewer infrastructure could stymie the development of a 65-room hotel in a new subdivision north of Bigfork.
Plans take shape for luxury golf club in Lakeside
The developers behind a proposed luxury golf club in Lakeside hope to begin construction as soon as next summer if the permit process goes as planned.
Voters to decide on bonds for school expansion, football stadium
Whitefish voters this fall will consider separate bond requests totaling $32.6 million to fund a high school expansion and remodel, and build an on-campus football stadium and track.
Three-story hotel proposed for Bigfork
A 64-room hotel is planned for a new subdivision on the north side of Bigfork.
Conceptual plans emerge for luxury resort in Lakeside
Four years ago, Glenn Housman invested in 100 acres at the end of Blacktail Heights Road atop a knob above Lakeside.
Kalispell hotel fire damage estimated at $4 million
A three-story hotel on Kalispell’s west side suffered extensive damage in a structure fire Wednesday afternoon that drew one of the largest firefighter responses in the valley in more than a decade.
Locals sour on tourism's impact on Whitefish
Local Whitefish residents are increasingly at odds with the tourism industry's impact on the city, even as visitation levels have tapered off since the frantic summers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Whitefish Mountain Resort wraps up season with dip in total skier visits
After shaking off a dreadfully slow start to winter, Whitefish Mountain Resort capped its ski season last weekend with plentiful powder alongside pond skim shenanigans.
Whitefish School Board to consider new plan for high school expansion, sports complex
The Whitefish School Board on Tuesday will consider whether the district should pursue two separate bonds totaling $32.6 million to fund a high school expansion and remodel, and build an on-campus athletic complex.
Temporary Bigfork pedestrian bridge deemed unworkable
The report released Wednesday ruled out seven alternatives that ranged from erecting a suspension bridge over the Swan River, to installing a rental kit bridge or prefabricated steel truss span.
Nate Chute races draw stacked field of shredders
Kyle Anderson took home the top prize in the mens open division the Nate Chute banked slalom and boardercross races last weekend at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Flathead Basin dam operators defend management decisions
Dam managers in Northwest Montana reiterated in a public presentation Thursday that reservoir operations during drought years require a delicate balance of competing objectives.
Whitefish hotelier plans 'food truck park' on vacant Central Avenue lot
A Whitefish hotelier is seeking permission to create an outdoor food truck park and event space on a prominent vacant lot downtown.
Lambrecht resigns as CEO of Logan Health-Billings Clinic
Logan Health-Billings Clinic CEO Craig Lambrecht resigned Monday, making way for new co-leadership roles atop the state’s largest hospital system.
DEQ reviews new septage land application site in Kalispell
Private property east of Glacier Park International Airport is under consideration for a septage land application site.
Disco skate nights on Whitefish Lake bring community together
When Gabriel Layton looks out across the ice at Whitefish’s City Beach, he sees the realization of his vision to bring a little slice of joy to the community.
Whitefish ski patrollers file petition to unionize
David Kerner is passionate about his work as a ski patroller at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Clocking in early, making the rounds to prep the slopes each morning, and helping guests have a fun and safe experience are all the parts of a job that keeps him coming back.
Injured skier rescued from avalanche near Essex
A skier was air-lifted from backcountry terrain near Essex on Saturday after they were seriously injured in a large avalanche set off by their partner from the slopes above.
Dewey skins, slides to Whitefish Whiteout victory
Cutting through the fog like a warm knife in butter, Jacob Dewey claimed the top of the podium in the annual Whitefish Whiteout skimo race Saturday at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Avalanche warning issued amid 'January thaw'
Dangerous backcountry avalanche conditions exist across Northwest Montana due to recent mountain rainfall and unseasonably warm temperatures.
Blizzard warning issued for Flathead Valley
The National Weather Service warned that Flathead Valley roads could become impassable by Thursday morning due to deep and drifting snow.
Heavy snow moves in as arctic air retreats
The records kept falling Monday as a stubborn arctic blast refused to retreat north.
Deep freeze delivers record lows to Flathead Valley
Saturday morning brought the kind of bitter cold to the Flathead Valley that saps car batteries, freezes pipes and takes your breath away.
Nordic skiing trails open in Whitefish, Bigfork, Columbia Falls
Glacier Nordic Center in Whitefish finally opened for the season this week after a winter storm dumped just enough snow to thoroughly blanket the trails at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.
Brutal cold, heavy snow bears down on Flathead Valley
Local emergency officials are advising residents to slow down on the roads and take extra precautions before heading out this week as a potentially historic winter storm bears down on the region.
Dangerous arctic outbreak to slam Flathead Valley
Travel will become difficult to impossible across Northwest Montana this week as a significant and potentially dangerous arctic outbreak sweeps across the region.
Kalispell's December snowfall near all-time low
As Northwest Montana caps one of its driest Decembers on record, a return to winter weather is within sight.
Fire destroys Evergreen home; 2 cats rescued
No one was injured in a structure fire Wednesday afternoon that destroyed a home in Evergreen.
Dry December challenges Montana ski areas
Weekend storm could deliver white Christmas
Ski areas across Western Montana are wishing for a Christmas miracle as the winter’s busiest week on the slopes approaches without much of the white stuff piled up, forcing some areas to change operations or postpone season openings until Mother Nature cooperates.
Whitefish Mountain Resort to open for season with Chair 7, East Rim terrain
Whitefish Mountain Resort will open for the winter season Thursday as planned, even as a round of undeveloped snow soaked the region.
‘Tis the ski-son: Big Mountain slopes set to open Thursday
Whitefish Mountain Resort employees were busy “braaaping” around the slopes on snowmobiles last week as they scurried to manage snow-making machines and wrap up final preparations before opening day Thursday, Dec. 7.
Winter storm to bury mountain passes this weekend
A round of winter weather will create tricky travel conditions across Western Montana beginning Friday through the weekend.
Northwest Montana hunters challenged by low snowfall
Scant snowfall presented Northwest Montana hunters with challenging conditions during the general rifle season, with harvest totals finishing slightly lower compared to last fall.
Council incumbents sweep in Kalispell and Whitefish
All four Kalispell City Council incumbents running for reelection on Nov. 7 retained their seats, according to unofficial results, though a county-level error that saw the wrong ballots sent to some Kalispell voters kept victory celebrations muted.
Timber project planned near Bob Marshall
A proposed timber project on about 5,400 acres in the Swan Valley is under review by the Flathead National Forest.
El Nino's return could spell dry, warm winter for Western Montana
Above normal temperatures and below average precipitation is projected for Western Montana this winter as a strengthening El Nino climate pattern takes hold for the first time in four years.
Explore Whitefish doubles funding to housing nonprofit
A nonprofit working on affordable and workforce housing issues in Whitefish is set to receive a substantial increase in funding from an optional fee collected at restaurants in the resort town.
Apartment project proposed at Whitefish's south entrance
Plans emerged Monday for a large mixed-use development at the south gateway to Whitefish that would include more than 200 apartment units.
Montana’s ‘choice school’ commission gets Flathead representatives
Two Flathead Valley women recently appointed to a new state commission that will authorize and oversee charter schools in Montana are optimistic that the “choice school” model will ultimately prove to be a valuable addition to the state’s public education system, even as the concept faces some initial legal hurdles and fierce criticism.
Whitefish Lake water level nears historic low
People with large boats are advised to consider taking their vessels out of Whitefish Lake early this summer as the water level nears an all-time low.
20,000 descend on Whitefish for country music festival
As darkness finally enveloped the main stage at Under the Big Sky in Whitefish on Friday night — smoky sunset hues giving way to sophisticated concert lighting design — Caamp frontman Taylor Meier offered praise to the behind-the-scenes crews that helped pull off opening night of the three-day folk and country music festival.
Wildfires crop up as conditions dry out
A few small wildfires cropped up in far Northwest Montana over the weekend, continuing an uptick in incidents over the last week as forest fuels begin to dry out.
Zinke wants water released from Hungry Horse Reservoir to fill Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake’s low water level this summer has drawn the attention of Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke, who called the situation an “oncoming crisis.”
Blacktail backpacking event proposed for fall
A multi-day backpacking event around Blacktail Mountain is among the two dozen special-use permits under consideration by the Flathead National Forest.
Alberta fires send ‘wall of smoke’ into Montana
Air quality deteriorated across much of Montana on Wednesday as smoke from wildfires in Alberta, Canada infiltrated the region overnight.
Rivers rise amid record spring heat wave
Area streams and rivers are expected to surge this week as record high spring temperatures bake the Northern Rockies for a few more days.
Sun Road plows beyond the Loop
Glacier National Park plow crews have reached the Loop on the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Tracks set to reopen following Paradise derailment
Montana Rail Link is set to reopen its tracks through Sanders County four days after a freight train derailed along the Clark Fork River.
Kalispell snow streak hits top-10 mark
While this winter in Northwest Montana has not been significantly snowy, it has been long.
Logan Health, Billings Clinic discuss potential deal
Logan Health and Billings Clinic, two of Montana’s largest hospital systems, have opened discussions about uniting as a single health-care organization. Billings Clinic announced the potential deal Wednesday.