Montanastate

In the era of artificial intelligence data centers, the Public Service Commission could play an important role in regulating the amount customers pay for energy, as well as how data centers generate power or build out infrastructure. NorthWestern has already signed several agreements to power data centers. At a time of rising costs, affordability is a top-of-mind concern for Montana voters this election according to a MTFP-Eagleton poll. The post Republicans win Montana PSC races following delays in AP call appeared first on Montana Free Press .

The 50-year-old Kalispell man accused of killing a Eureka woman and a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputy, shooting dozens of rounds at law enforcement and leading authorities on a vehicle pursuit on Oct. 30 has died while in custody at the Missoula County Detention Center. Mathew David Dye on Nov. 4 was pronounced dead at […] The post Kalispell Man Accused of Killing Eureka Woman and Lincoln County Deputy Dies in Custody appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

Democratic candidates Debo Powers, House District 3, and Paula Koch, House District 4, secured comfortable victories on Election Day — marking the first time both districts will send Democrats to Helena in the ruby-red Flathead Valley following redistricting in 2024. Powers, the District 3 incumbent, defeated Republican challenger Derek Peachey, a technology entrepreneur and small-business […] The post Democratic Candidates Emerge Victorious in Competitive North Valley House District Races appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

A 42-year-old Kalispell man accused of killing a passenger in a November 2024 head-on collision on Montana Highway 35 near Bigfork while he had alcohol and THC in his system has pleaded not guilty to a count of felony vehicular homicide while under the influence. John Hunter Speier entered the plea in Flathead County District […] The post Kalispell Man Charged in 2024 Fatal Crash Near Bigfork Pleads Not Guilty appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

When my grandmother made her renowned pie crust, she always used the same simple ingredients, whether it would enclose a savory quiche or fruity dessert. I long did the same: I tweaked the fats in her version but otherwise left the ingredients basic and neutral. As I started making galettes, I discovered that hints of […] The post Cheese and Herb Pie Crust appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

In the wake of Republican Kurt Alme’s U.S. Senate win, social media is awash with what-ifs regarding Democrat Alani Bankhead and independent candidate Seth Bodnar. But a split vote count doesn’t tell the whole story. The post Independent Bodnar bid leaves Montana Democrats divided appeared first on Montana Free Press .

One person is dead and another is in custody following a shooting at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls last weekend. The post What to know about the Malmstrom Air Force Base shooting appeared first on Montana Free Press .

Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy has won an eight-year seat on the Montana Supreme Court, defeating fellow judge Dan Wilson.

It was opening day last weekend. I had time for a short hunt. Work called, and while you might ask, “What kind of a hunter listens to that siren song on opening day?” I can only say reasons, but the weather offered cover. Surely, by now you’ve seen the chaos in the Southwest caused by […] The post Fall Bliss appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

Several mining exploration projects in Montana have received a FAST-41 designation since Trump began his second term. What does that mean? And how could mining change now that the state has partnered with the federal government on the policy? The post Demystifying FAST-41: A guide to the designation fast-tracking some development projects appeared first on Montana Free Press .

Republican Kurt Alme has won Montana's open U.S. Senate seat, keeping it in Republican hands.

Republican Flathead County Commissioner Brad Abell won a second term representing the jurisdiction’s first district, which encompasses more than 2,000 square miles to the county’s northwest reaches and stretches to the Canadian border. He defeated his Democratic challenger with 62% of the vote. As of Wednesday afternoon, Abell had received 29,314 votes while Democrat Nathan […] The post Abell Wins Second Term on Flathead County Commission appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

“And this decision, to my mind, is just a tremendous vote of no confidence in our current county leadership,” said local taxpayer and expansion opponent Jack Hanson. The post Yellowstone County voters shoot down jail expansion by resounding margin appeared first on Montana Free Press .

The winning candidates will join three other Republicans, and be responsible for regulating monopoly utilities in the state. The post Republicans lead Montana PSC races, one seat still close appeared first on Montana Free Press .

Democrat Sam Forstag has claimed victory in Montana's Western U.S. House District race, the first Democratic win in the state in over 30 years.

The 2026 post-election period—mercifully—is upon us. We can now shake hands, offer each other congratulations, and get back to living together in harmony. Yeah, right. More accurately, we’ve just entered the biennial weeklong stretch psychologists label “the aftermath of elections,” when “voting results mount” until gradually sinking in. Electoral reckoning, so to speak, when mental […] The post When We Were Americans First appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

The Associated Press has called Montana’s Eastern U.S. House District race for Republican incumbent Troy Downing, who first won the seat in 2024. Downing defeated Democrat Brian Miller, independent Mike Eisenhauer and Libertarian Patrick McCracken. The post Troy Downing wins reelection to Montana’s Eastern U.S. House District appeared first on Montana Free Press .

Downtown Kalispell will receive some new street furniture with the Kalispell City Council’s approval of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds for the project Monday night. TIF dollars are property taxes earmarked for use improving blighted properties and other development projects within a district. The city’s 25-year-old furniture is far past its prime, with the paint […] The post Kalispell Councilors Approve TIF Funds for Replacing Downtown Street Furniture appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

A 23-year-old Browning man who strangled his girlfriend using a lanyard and attacked a different girlfriend a year later was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Jeremiah James Harwood in August 2026 pleaded guilty to strangulation, assault resulting in […] The post Browning Man Sentenced to Prison on Federal Strangulation, Assault Charges appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) confirmed the presence of a nonviable invasive mussel larva at Whitefish Lake, marking the first detection of invasive mussel species in the state for nearly a decade. The discovered larva was not yet cause for concern, FWP officials said, as monitoring has not revealed further evidence of invasive mussel […] The post Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to Increase Surveying Efforts After Invasive Mussel Larva Detected in Whitefish Lake appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

A nearly decade-long journey to bring workforce housing to a parcel of land formerly known as the “Snow Lot” took another step forward on Monday following almost two years of legal limbo. Whitefish city councilors at their regular meeting Monday night unanimously voted to authorize City Manager Dana Meeker to enter a consultant agreement with […] The post Whitefish Moving Forward with Depot Park Townhomes After Lien Is Cleared appeared first on Flathead Beacon .

Montana held its general election on 3 November, with voters deciding federal and state races and three ballot measures.