Politics & Government
The Daily Inter Lake’s Politics & Government section delivers updated local and national political coverage, featuring legislative developments, elections, policy debates, and government actions shaping Montana.
Kalispell Council reviews $189M budget proposal, weighs public safety and infrastructure spending
Kalispell City Council took its first look at the municipality’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget last week.
Kalispell City Council to vote on federal grant for pedestrian safety upgrades
Kalispell City Council is expected to vote Monday on whether to pursue a federal grant to improve pedestrian safety on Main Street — a grant it opted against a…
Counting machines add vote of confidence to elections security
The conference room of the Flathead County Elections Department whirred with noise. Volunteers rattled off strings of numbers to the beat of keyboards tapping …
Kalispell Planning Commission backs changes to city's public participation plan
The Kalispell Planning Commission on Tuesday endorsed updating city’s public participation plan to outline how residents can stay informed on development propo…
Trump administration cancels rule that made conservation a 'use' of public lands
The Interior Department is canceling a rule that put conservation on equal footing with development, as President Donald Trump's administration eases restricti…
Digitally altered political mailers spur lawsuit over Montana AI law
Two state lawmakers running in Republican primary elections have said that hundreds of mailers sent out depicting them waving a pride flag and wearing a button with pronouns on it violate a Montana law prohibiting …
Kalispell seeks input on how best to notify residents of proposed developments
Residents on Tuesday can weigh in on changes to Kalispell’s public participation plan, which will determine how the public can offer comment on site-specific d…
Kalispell proposes $189M budget for fiscal 2027
Kalispell City Hall has released a proposed $189.2 million budget for fiscal year 2027.
Republicans jockey for chance to represent western Montana in Congress
A May 4 candidate forum hosted by the Glacier Country Pachyderm provided attendees a glimpse at the politics and personalities that underline the GOP primary r…
Flathead Valley Reentry Center prepares to release first residents, plans to add more staff
The Flathead Valley Reentry Center is fully operational and on track to release its first resident offenders into the community this month.
Meet the candidates: House District 4 Republican primary
Ahead of Montana’s June 2 primary election, the Daily Inter Lake sent questionnaires to state Legislature candidates running in contested races in Northwest Montana.
Meet the candidates: House District 6 Republican primary
Ahead of Montana’s June 2 primary election, the Daily Inter Lake sent questionnaires to state Legislature candidates running in contested races in Northwest Montana.
Meet the candidates: House District 7 Republican primary
Ahead of Montana’s June 2 primary election, the Daily Inter Lake sent questionnaires to state Legislature candidates running in contested races in Northwest Montana.
Four Democrats battle for dominance in Montana's federal primary
It’s a dead heat between four Democrats vying for western Montana's U.S. House seat as the tightly packed primary election heads into the home stretch.
Meet the Candidates: Senate District 1 Republican primary
Ahead of Montana’s June 2 primary election, the Daily Inter Lake sent questionnaires to state Legislature candidates running in contested races in Northwest Mo…