A violent road rage incident in Columbia Falls leads off this episode of News Now, after a man is charged with felony attempted homicide for allegedly firing a gun with a child inside the vehicle. Host Taylor Inman breaks down what investigators say happened and where the case now stands.

We also cover a federal sentencing tied to an illegal border crossing near Eureka, where a Canadian national received prison time after a failed attempt to evade law enforcement in northwest Montana.

Shifting gears, we take a closer look at Flathead Lake, which is sitting at unusually high levels for mid-winter. Experts explain what’s behind the numbers and what it could mean heading into spring runoff. And finally, Whitefish Mountain Resort reports a record-setting start to ski season, with skier visits surpassing previous highs as winter tourism fuels the Flathead Valley economy.

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 some of the week’s biggest headlines for Northwest Montana. A missing snowboarder was found safe on Christmas Day after taking shelter overnight on the backside of Whitefish Mountain Resort, capping a multi-agency search effort in Flathead County.

We get the inside scoop on what Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer calls a “turbulent year” for the park, as officials prepare for potential record-breaking visitation in 2025 and major changes to vehicle access, parking limits, shuttles, and international visitor fees in 2026.

We close with a look at the Flathead Valley’s tourism outlook heading into the new year, including strong local travel numbers, declining Canadian visitation, and how airport runway closures and global economic uncertainty could reshape the 2026 travel season.

Read more of this week’s stories:
Challenges ahead as Glacier unveils new vehicle management system, foreign-visitor fees and construction projects in 2026
Missing snowboarder found safe in survival cabin near Big Mountain
Strong tourism year in the Flathead Valley but economic uncertainty and airport closure loom

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.

Newly obtained footage shows a Whitefish police officer contacted Border Patrol less than two minutes into an April 24 traffic stop for a broken taillight. The driver, Beker Rengifo del Castillo, is a Venezuelan man who entered the United States legally under a humanitarian parole program. The call, and the weeklong detention that followed, are now the focus of a lawsuit alleging unconstitutional seizure, false arrest, and racial profiling. A preliminary pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 30 in Missoula. Watch the full video of the body cam footage here.

Next, we share the latest update on flood recovery efforts in Lincoln County, where at least nine bridges were washed out during mid-December storms. Officials say damage to county-owned roads, bridges, and culverts exceeds $5 million, and reconstruction timelines will depend on vendor availability and federal funding approvals.

We then turn to the Flathead Reservation, where voters filled five open seats on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Tribal Council. Three incumbents held their positions, while two seats changed hands. The newly elected council will be sworn in Jan. 2 and will soon select leadership roles.

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.

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.