Inside the Flathead County Jail, aging pipes leak sewage, officers walk 12-hour shifts through overcrowded cells, and inmates struggling with mental health have nowhere to turn. As Flathead County voters weigh a $105 million bond to build a new detention facility, the Daily Inter Lake goes behind bars for an unfiltered look at the conditions facing inmates and officers alike. Join reporters Taylor Inman and Hannah Shields as they spend a day inside the jail, talk with Sheriff Brian Heino and Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist, and uncover what’s truly at stake for the community.

Are you a Kalispell voter? Municipal ballots were mailed October 17th to registered voters. Eligible residents can confirm registration, find ballot return details, and learn about in-person voting options by visiting the Flathead County Election Department website - https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/election

Want the latest updates on local elections? Visit https://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local-elections/ for the latest developments.

A huge thank you to Vann Law Firm in Kalispell for sponsoring Season 5 of Deep Dive: Inside Flathead County Jail. Specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, they provide expert legal support across the Flathead Valley. Their team is committed to clear communication and personalized guidance, helping clients navigate legal challenges with confidence. For a free consultation, call 406-826-6529 or visit vannlawfirm.com.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us!

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In Part Two, the Brist siblings load up 22 animals and head to the Northwest Montana Fair. From nail-biting moments in the show ring to triumphant wins, heartbreaking goodbyes, and new plans for the future, this is the culmination of a summer’s hard work. Experience the joy, the tears, and the legacy of a Montana family carrying on generations of livestock tradition.

A huge thank you to Vann Law Firm in Kalispell for sponsoring this season of Deep Dive: From Farm to Fair! Specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, they provide expert legal support across the Flathead Valley. Their team is committed to clear communication and personalized guidance, helping clients navigate legal challenges with confidence. For a free consultation, call 406-826-6529 or visit vannlawfirm.com.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us!

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In Part One of this Daily Inter Lake special, step onto the gravel road leading to Lone Lake Farm, where the Brist children—fifth-generation ranchers—prepare sheep, goats, and steers for the Northwest Montana Fair. From 5:30 a.m. chores to training in the show ring, the Brist kids share the dedication, sacrifice, and deep bond that comes with raising livestock. This is more than farming—it’s family tradition, resilience, and lessons that last a lifetime.

A huge thank you to Vann Law Firm in Kalispell for sponsoring this season of Deep Dive: From Farm to Fair! Specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, they provide expert legal support across the Flathead Valley. Their team is committed to clear communication and personalized guidance, helping clients navigate legal challenges with confidence. For a free consultation, call 406-826-6529 or visit vannlawfirm.com.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us!

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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!

A huge thank you to Vann Law Firm in Kalispell for sponsoring this season of Deep Dive: From Farm to Fair! Specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, they provide expert legal support across the Flathead Valley. Their team is committed to clear communication and personalized guidance, helping clients navigate legal challenges with confidence. For a free consultation, call 406-826-6529 or visit vannlawfirm.com.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us!

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Months after the devastating fire that wiped out Noxon’s beloved businesses, the town is still searching for answers — and a way forward. In part two of this series, Daily Inter Lake News Editor Derrick Perkins hears from local business owners, firefighters, and longtime residents about the lasting impact of the fire and the uncertainty of what comes next. From the Hereford Bar’s relentless rebuild after two separate fires to the debate over whether new businesses will rise from the ashes, Noxon is at a crossroads. Will it bounce back, or will it become another forgotten town?

A huge thank you to Vann Law Firm in Kalispell for sponsoring this season of Deep Dive: From Farm to Fair! Specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, they provide expert legal support across the Flathead Valley. Their team is committed to clear communication and personalized guidance, helping clients navigate legal challenges with confidence. For a free consultation, call 406-826-6529 or visit vannlawfirm.com.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us!

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In the early hours of Feb. 27, 2024, a devastating fire tore through Noxon, Montana, reducing its historic downtown to ashes. First responders raced to contain the flames, but within hours, beloved local landmarks — the Angry Beaver General Store, the Mercantile and Café, and Toby’s Tavern — were gone. In part one of this two-part series, Daily Inter Lake News Editor Derrick Perkins hears firsthand accounts from firefighters, business owners and residents as they relive the chaos, heartbreak and resilience that followed. What caused the fire? Could anything have stopped it? And how did the town come together in the aftermath?

A huge thank you to Vann Law Firm in Kalispell for sponsoring this season of Deep Dive: From Farm to Fair! Specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, they provide expert legal support across the Flathead Valley. Their team is committed to clear communication and personalized guidance, helping clients navigate legal challenges with confidence. For a free consultation, call 406-826-6529 or visit vannlawfirm.com.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us!

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In Season 3 of Daily Inter Lake's Deep Dive podcast, reporter Derrick Perkins explores the devastating fire that struck the small town of Noxon, Montana. By the end of the day on February 27, 2024, three-quarters of the town’s business community were wiped out. Almost a year later, the town still wondered: Can Noxon recover? What will rise from the ashes?

Listen to the two-part story on any audio platform you prefer, or watch the series on our YouTube channel.

A huge thank you to Vann Law Firm in Kalispell for sponsoring this season of Deep Dive: From Farm to Fair! Specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, they provide expert legal support across the Flathead Valley. Their team is committed to clear communication and personalized guidance, helping clients navigate legal challenges with confidence. For a free consultation, call 406-826-6529 or visit vannlawfirm.com.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us!

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Join Kate Heston for our last episode of Season 2, as she explores Keith Hammer's decades-long battle to protect Montana’s iconic grizzly bears through the power of the Endangered Species Act. As president of the Swan View Coalition, Hammer has tirelessly fought against forest management practices that threaten wildlife, using litigation to halt projects impacting grizzly habitats. We delve into the legal and political challenges that have shaped—and continue to shape—conservation in Montana. From court victories to confrontations with state and federal agencies, this episode reveals the complexities and stakes of preserving Montana’s wild legacy for future generations.

Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and subscribe to us!

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!