In this episode of News Now, Taylor Inman breaks down the biggest stories shaping Northwest Montana this week, from a major land conservation agreement to changes in Kalispell city leadership and community efforts to honor local veterans.

We begin with a landmark conservation deal that permanently protects more than 53,000 acres of Montana land, a move with long-term implications for wildlife habitat, public access, and regional land use. The episode also covers Kalispell’s decision to name a new city manager, outlining what the leadership change means for the city moving forward.

Finally, we highlight local events honoring veterans across the Flathead Valley, including community participation in remembrance efforts that underscore the region’s commitment to service members past and present.

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

High winds slammed Northwest Montana this week, knocking out power to tens of thousands of residents from Libby to the Flathead Valley and forcing emergency responses across the region. On this episode of News Now, we break down how damaging wind gusts — topping 67 mph in Kalispell and nearly 100 mph in the Swan Range — led to widespread outages, downed trees, road closures, and emergency shelter operations as utility crews worked through the night to restore service.

The episode also takes a closer look at the ongoing boil advisory in Libby, now entering its second week after catastrophic flooding compromised the city’s drinking water system. We explain what caused the advisory, why state officials are testing for heavy metals, what residents should know about water safety, and how emergency crews are prioritizing both infrastructure repairs and public health. This episode provides essential context for residents navigating storm impacts, infrastructure concerns, and recovery efforts across Northwest Montana.

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

On this episode of News Now, reporter Taylor Inman breaks down four major stories impacting Northwest Montana. Glacier National Park is preparing to end its vehicle reservation system for the 2026 summer season, shifting to new parking limits, shuttle reservations, and targeted closures in overcrowded areas. Habitat for Humanity outlines its push to build 40 homes by 2030, but acquiring buildable land remains the organization’s biggest challenge.

Columbia Falls moves forward with a new accessible fishing pier at River’s Edge Park, supported by an FWP grant. And after a confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease south of Ninepipes Lodge, CSKT’s Wildlife Program expands sampling and emphasizes safe handling for hunters.

Read more of this week’s stories:
Glacier National Park hits brakes on vehicle reservation system
Habitat for Humanity needs property to keep building homes
FWP pitches in $70,000 toward fishing pier
Confirmed CWD leads to more sampling on the reservation

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

Join Daily Inter Lake reporter Taylor Inman as she goes over the week’s biggest headlines for Northwest Montana. A mercury exposure in Libby sparks an urgent EPA response as officials investigate how toxic metal spread into multiple homes. Columbia Falls pushes new restrictions on electric bikes and motorized devices after a high-speed sidewalk crash, Polson deals with a pickup truck plowing into Bunker’s Bar & Grill, and Kalispell announces a major workforce housing project aimed at easing the region’s affordability crisis.

Read more from this week’s show:
Three Libby families affected by exposure to mercury
Law would restrict e-bikes, e-motorcycles in Columbia Falls
Car crashes into Bunker's restaurant
Developer lands $8.3M for new workforce housing complex along Parkline Trail

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

Whitefish Mountain Resort kicked off the 2025/2026 ski season with a fresh blanket of powder - and reporter Jack Underhill was on the mountain to capture opening day! From early-morning mimosa tailgates to overnight campouts under Chair 1, skiers and snowboarders showed up to catch the year’s first turns. Resort officials also share updates on snowpack, safety reminders, and what skiers can expect in the coming days as more storms are predicted to roll in.

For the latest conditions, trail openings, and mountain updates, visit Whitefish Mountain Resort’s website.

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

This week on News Now, host Taylor Inman breaks down the biggest stories shaping northwest Montana. Logan Health announces a major leadership transition as Dr. Clint Seger becomes the sole CEO of the Billings Clinic–Logan Health system, impacting thousands of employees across Montana and Wyoming. In Whitefish, new owner Justin Meccia shares his plans to rebrand Whitefish Handcrafted Spirits into Hidden Lake Distillery while expanding distribution and revamping its menu.

We also dig into the escalating dispute between Kalispell city officials and the Flathead Warming Center as a proposed ordinance could change how conditional use permits are revoked citywide. With legal tensions rising and community impact on the line, we break down what the amendment would mean for businesses, property owners and the shelter’s future.

Read more of these stories:
Dr. Clint Seger named Billings Clinic – Logan Health CEO
Spirits, smashburgers and a vision: Distillery enters new era
Flathead Warming Center lawyers say proposed permit rule violates settlement agreement, threatens property rights

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

December is packed with concerts, festivals, holiday performances, and community traditions across the Flathead Valley — and this month’s episode of the Daily Inter Lake’s Events Podcast is your complete guide. From high-energy DJ nights at the O’Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center to the Banff Mountain Film Festival at Wachholz, host Melissa Wells highlights the can’t-miss happenings lighting up Whitefish, Kalispell, and Bigfork.

We preview the Showcase of the Chefs, the Whitefish Christmas Stroll, the Big Band Christmas Ball, radio-style performances of A Christmas Carol at the Conrad Mansion, holiday comedy at the Whitefish Theatre Company, and cozy seasonal concerts at 101 Central. Plus, we spotlight local gift markets, boutique shopping, and community traditions that make December unforgettable in northwest Montana.

Whether you're planning family outings, looking for holiday entertainment or supporting local businesses, this episode is your go-to guide for everything happening in December across the Flathead. Discover more about all events mentioned in the episode at https://www.dailyinterlake.com/events

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

This week on News Now, host Taylor Inman breaks down the biggest stories shaping northwest Montana — beginning with a Mexican national and accused drug trafficker who pleaded guilty in federal court after a high-speed chase through Kalispell this summer. We look at his criminal history, the charges still ahead, and what federal prosecutors say about the case.

Then, Somers-Lakeside School District is preparing to issue a special tax assessment after a data error slashed property tax collections by nearly 25%, draining reserve funds and forcing emergency budget amendments. We explain what families can expect in February, how the district is trying to rebuild trust, and what went wrong in the first place.

Finally, Glacier National Park is set to receive more than $4 million in project funding from the Glacier National Park Conservancy — supporting everything from student-built housing and dark-sky programs to wildlife research, trail work and whitebark pine restoration. We break down where the money is going and what it means as the park faces potential federal budget cuts.

Read more from this week’s stories:
Mexican man who launched a high-speed chase in Kalispell pleads guilty to illegal reentry
Conservancy now supports 25% of Glacier National Park's budget
Somers School District to recoup lost tax dollars after data entry error

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.