Round Star Project Upheld: The Flathead National Forest reaffirmed approval for the 9,466-acre project near Whitefish following court-ordered environmental reviews.

Kalispell Downtown Safety: The city accepted a $720,000 federal grant (matching $180,000 local funds) to add traffic circles, flashing beacons, and pedestrian head-start light timings to key intersections.

Logan Health Labor Dispute: Unionized primary care providers issued a vote of no confidence against hospital management over operational decisions; leadership dismissed the move as a disruptive labor tactic.

Kalispell Shooting Arrest: Quinn Heath, 51, was booked on a felony charge of assault on a peace officer after an officer-involved shooting near Highway 93 North and Reserve Drive.

Dry Riverside Project Approved: A wildfire resilience plan near Hungry Horse Reservoir—covering 7,400 total acres of logging, prescribed burning, and pine restoration—was approved, with work set to begin in 2027.

The news this week in the Flathead Valley and surrounding areas!

Bear Attack Near Columbia Falls: A surprise defensive attack by a female grizzly with a cub left a woman injured; officials closed the trail and will not hunt the bear.

School Bond Vote: Columbia Falls residents vote September 9 on a revised $75.9M high school remodel bond following a failed $84.4M levy in 2025.

License Reader Cut: Kalispell City Council dropped $70,000 for license plate readers over public privacy concerns, drawing backlash from downtown businesses.

Conviction Upheld: The state Supreme Court affirmed a life sentence for Jason Allen Miller, who severely injured a state trooper in 2023.

Court Data Breach: A vendor system breach exposed some Montana Supreme Court case files and personal data; affected individuals will get free credit monitoring.