Swan River Levy Passes, Columbia Falls Bond Fails
Voters approved a $1.5 million building reserve levy for the rural K-8 school but rejected a $75.9 million high school bond for the second time
By Mariah Thomas
Newsletter
The Daily Roundup: Montana EMS Agencies Receive First Funds from Federal Health Program
The state awarded $8.7 million to 78 rural agencies including Blackfeet Tribal EMS for purchasing new equipment
By Zoë BuhrmasterThe Latest
Flathead Living
A New Age of Montana Politics
The Flathead has six members of Generation Z running for office this fall — the highest number anywhere in the state. Their experiences running for office, serving as leaders, and the issues they’re focused on, help illustrate how the next generation could shape Montana’s future
By Mariah Thomas
The Finest of Fall
Glacier Park’s classic Dawson-Pitamakan Loop encapsulates the best elements of autumn
By Hunter D'Antuono
Glacier’s Historian, One More Volume Deep
Ray Djuff's new book, co-authored with Scott Tanner and Bill Lundgren, digs into the park's stranger corners.
By Tristan ScottNEWS & FEATURES
Montana Supreme Court Denies New Trial for Kila Man Convicted in 2022 Martin City Murder
Del Orrin Crawford argued that Flathead County District Court Judge Dan Wilson erroneously admitted statements during trial that violated his due process rights
Floor Space: What You Can Buy for About $650,000
Flathead County Library Celebrates ‘Give Like Dolly Day’
Kalispell Chamber Backs Ballot Issue to Keep Courts Nonpartisan
State Committee Votes to Replace Iconic ‘Montana’ Statue
Commissioners Table Final Plat for Luxury Golf Club in Lakeside
OUTDOORS
Elk-Kootenai Study Board Postpones Draft Report on Transboundary Coal Pollution
Draft now planned for late November, with a one-month comment period; final report to the IJC pushed back to February 2027
Training Time
A History Runs Through It: Zinke Public Lands Bill Follows Long Trail
Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission Moves to Draft Predator Management Policy
Federal Memo Would Exempt Accidental Killings from Endangered Species Act
Whitefish Trail Blazer Debuts New Legacy Center and New Trail
Sponsored Content
Sponsored by Piton Wealth
Questions to Ask of Financial Advisors
The questions clients actually ask, from fees and fiduciary duty to succession planning
Sponsored by Flathead Valley Community College
Come Enjoy the Flavors of FVCC’s Grand Wine Tasting and Help Make College Possible
FVCC’s largest scholarship fundraiser takes place on Oct. 30 at Wachholz College Center on its Kalispell campus. Tickets go on sale Sept. 15.
Sponsored by Flathead Beacon Productions
Bring Glacier Home: Vintage-Inspired Prints Make Perfect Gifts
Local artists create curated collection of iconic park posters that celebrate the beauty and spirit of Glacier National Park
NEWSLETTERS
SPORTS
Whitefish Volleyball Program to Commemorate Nearly Half-Century Legacy
The historic program will celebrate its legacy, which includes six state titles, with a reunion open to former players, coaches, managers and fans at the Bulldogs’ game against Ronan on Thursday, Sept. 17.
Glacier High School Flag Football to Represent Montana on National Stage
2026 Flathead Valley Fall Sports Preview
How Two Kalispell Women in Their 50s Became Record-setting Powerlifters
Glacier Park College Showcase Returns for Third Year in Columbia Falls
Ryggs Johnston, Jonny Cielak Win 18th Flathead Beacon Pro-Scratch Invitational
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Whitefish Native Selected as Finalist in Nationwide Songwriter Festival Contest
Tim Torgerson will perform alongside nine other finalists as part of the Whitefish Songwriter Festival’s first-ever “It’s All About the Song” Songwriting Contest on Sept. 18 at the O’Shaughnessy Center
Fresh Pear and Plum Cake
Marinated Dried Tomatoes
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Can’t-Miss 2026 Fall Events in the Flathead Valley
Grilled Pepper Pancakes with Goat Cheese
OPINION
Last Six Years
For us dirt farmers, grunts, and clock-punchers, finding an extra grand per month to pay the man remains painful
Keep Partisan Politics Out of Montana’s Courtrooms
Montanans value fair, unbiased courts and judges who interpret our laws and Constitution consistently and reliably
Saving Democracy One Vote at a Time!
Vote the person, not the party
Share a letter or guest column with the Flathead Beacon.
Editor's Picks
Salmon Prairie School Closure Reflects Growing Strain on Small Montana Districts
The rural Seeley-Swan Valley school has long struggled to make ends meet, but school board members and the county superintendent say a 2023 law requiring tuition payments was the final blow. It's one of at least nine small Montana districts to go non-operational since the law passed.
As Record-low Wheat Crop Boosts Prices, Montana Farmers Barely Break Even
Commodity prices are up despite drought and the geopolitical climate contributing to the lowest U.S. wheat production since the 1970s. But Montana farmers say it’s not enough as input costs rise and tight margins persist.
Trail Crossing Ahead: Montana’s E-Bike Debate Picks Up Speed
As e-bikes explode in popularity, the mountain biking community continues to grapple with whether the new technology should be shunned or embraced
Police Blotter
Recent Podcasts
Project 7
A six-part series on notorious Flathead Valley militia leader David Burgert, who vanished into the wilderness after a shootout with sheriff's deputies in 2011
