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Bigfork library temporarily closes for move to new building
The Bigfork branch of Flathead County Library will be closed for a month while staff move into their new Bridge Street building. A release from Flathead County Library on Monday said the Bigfork branch, currently located inside the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center, will be closed starting July 6. At a recent Flathead County Library Board meeting, trustees approved a closure for the branch that will run until Aug. 6. Library Director Teri Dugan said the next four weeks will be busy for staff as they move materials and equipment into the new library building. The last day to pick up holds or return library books at the current Bigfork library location is July 5. After that date, patrons can pick up holds at other Flathead County library locations until the new Bigfork library opens. The Bigfork branch will reopen in August at the newly remodeled building located at 186 Bridge St. Officials encouraged library patrons to keep tabs on the Flathead County Library website at imagineiflibraries.org and the library’s social media accounts for updates on a grand opening celebration.
Fire Grants and Safety Act passes Senate
Both of Montana’s senators in June voted for legislation that reauthorizes funding for local fire departments and programs, a step toward supporting first responders and keeping communities safe, supporters say. The Fire Grants and Safety Act, sponsored by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., passed the Senate, 88-2, at the end of June. The bill authorizes $750 million for grant programs and authorizes $95 million for the U.S. Fire Administration to fund the National Emergency Response Information System. The programs supported by the legislation are aimed at helping with recruitment, retention and other challenges facing first responders. “Montana firefighters have our backs...
Sheriffs support Cory Swanson for chief justice
Law enforcement officers dedicate their lives to protecting public safety, maintaining order, and upholding justice. Our jobs are intrinsically tied to Montana’s judiciary. When law enforcement and prosecutors can trust that the courts will handle criminal cases fairly, it gives us and the public confidence that we can keep our communities safe and achieve justice. In pursuit of that goal, we are proud to endorse Cory Swanson for chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court. Swanson is the best candidate because he will be fair in criminal cases, keep politics out of the courtroom, and uphold the rule of law.Swanson...
Kalispell man facing felony charges after pursuit
A motorist fleeing law enforcement on Saturday night crashed into a parked pickup truck on Kelly Road near Kalispell after Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies employed a maneuver designed to make suspects lose control of their vehicles. The suspect, later identified as Derek Bruce Bigman, 34, of Kalispell, later attempted to flee on foot, Sheriff Brian Heino said in a press release. Deputies arrested him after deploying a Taser, he said. Bigman is being held in the county jail on pending felony charges of criminal endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs as well as a probation violation. He also faces...
Trump ally Steve Bannon surrenders to federal prison to serve 4-month sentence on contempt charges
DANBURY, Conn. (AP) — Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon was taken into custody Monday after surrendering at a federal prison to begin a four-month sentence on contempt charges for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack.Bannon arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, around noon and was formally taken into federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons said.Speaking to reporters, Bannon called himself a "political prisoner," said former President Donald Trump was "very supportive" of him and slammed Democrats, including Attorney General Merrick Garland."I am proud of going to prison," Bannon said, adding he...
Supreme Court rules ex-presidents have broad immunity, dimming chance of a pre-election Trump trial
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday ruled for the first time that former presidents have some immunity from prosecution, extending the delay in the Washington criminal case against Donald Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss and all but ending prospects the former president could be tried before the November election.In a historic 6-3 ruling, the justices returned Trump's case to the trial court to determine what is left of special counsel Jack Smith's indictment of Trump. The outcome means additional delay before Trump could face trial.The court's decision in a second major...
Powerful rain drenches parts of Flathead Valley
A drenching rain Sunday afternoon caused some localized ponding across the Flathead Valley.The Columbia Falls area took the brunt of the impressive storm that developed around 5 p.m., with 2.17 inches of rain recorded at a site 1 mile southwest of the city.Some parts of Kalispell picked up 1.37 inches of precipitation and Bigfork saw 1.26 inches. Most valley locations reported at least 0.50 to 1 inch of rain.The official weather station at Glacier Park International Airport recorded 0.83 of rain to bring the June precipitation total to 2.54 inches. That's just shy of the 2.84 monthly average.Overall temperatures in...
Economic turmoil in Bolivia fuels distrust in government and its claim of a 'failed coup'
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Signs reading "I'm buying dollars" line the doors of Víctor Vargas' shoe shop in the heart of Bolivia's biggest city, a desperate attempt to keep his family business alive.Just a few years ago, the 45-year-old Vargas would unlock the doors at 8 a.m. to a crush of customers already waiting to buy tennis shoes imported from China. Now, his shop sits hopelessly empty."Right now, we're in a dreadful crisis," he said. "No one buys anything anymore. … We don't know what's going to happen."Bolivians like Vargas have been hit hard by economic turmoil in the...
Surveys show Chinese economy growing but at modest pace
BANGKOK (AP) — Surveys of Chinese factory managers showed a mixed outlook for the world's second-largest economy in June, with growth steady but not picking up much steam.The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing's official purchasing managers index, or PMI, remained at 49.5, the same as in May, on a scale up to 100 where 50 marks the cut off for expansion."From the perspective of output, China's economy is maintaining expansion, but the momentum of recovery still needs to be consolidated," the official Xinhua News Agency cited Zhao Qinghe, senior statistician for the National Bureau of Statistics, as saying.The PMI...
Under pressure on plane safety, Boeing is buying stressed supplier Spirit for $4.7 billion
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Boeing announced plans to acquire key supplier Spirit AeroSystems for $4.7 billion, a move that it says will improve plane quality and safety amid increasing scrutiny by Congress, airlines and the Department of Justice.Boeing previously owned Spirit, and the purchase would reverse a longtime Boeing strategy of outsourcing key work on its passenger planes. That approach has been criticized as problems at Spirit disrupted production and delivery of popular Boeing jetliners, including 737s and 787s."We believe this deal is in the best interest of the flying public, our airline customers, the employees of Spirit and Boeing,...
Whitefish Council looks at hangar for airport
Whitefish City Council on Monday will consider a request to add an airplane hangar to the Whitefish airport. The state Department of Transportation is requesting a conditional use permit to construct a 5,400-square-foot building along with an e-bike rental building attached to the hanger. City Council meets at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E Second St. Public comments on the proposal were split during the community development board meeting. Some thought the hangar would be an attribute for the airport while others were against adding a structure that would obstruct scenic views, particularly from the adjacent WAG dog park. The...
Riders hold off Missoula for second straight win
MISSOULA - Gabe Howell and Ty Penner both homered in a six-run third inning to help the Range Riders defeat Missoula 14-12 to round out their six-game series Sunday. Nick Block also sent one over the fence in the fifth inning to put Glacier (22-14) up 11-4. Glacier ends the series 2-4 against the first-place PaddleHeads (27-9) and now sit five games behind, second in the Pioneer League standings The Range Riders jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning after Penner hit an RBI single to right field. Missoula answered back in the bottom of the second...
Kalispell author hopes to inspire perseverance through her stories
Author Lorrie Grosfield and Hallie, the turtle, the main character in her new children’s book, have something in common — both are devoted mothers. A retired educator, Grosfield sought teaching as a career that would allow her to devote time to raising her children. In the book, “Hallie the Hero,” the turtle embarks on an adventure testing her bravery amidst a raging wildlife while on a mission to protect her offspring. Decades in the making, Grosfield recently released the self-published book after writing the story and creating the illustrations for it using chalk pastel drawings. It was a story she’d...
Stock market today: Wall Street drifts after French market jumps on election results
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are drifting Monday after the French market rallied, as elections continue to drive swings in financial markets worldwide.The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in midday trading as it kicked off a shortened, four-day week that includes the Fourth of July holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 33 points, or 0.1%, as of 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.3% higher.Some of the world's strongest action was across the Atlantic, where the CAC 40 index in Paris jumped as much as 2.8% before settling to a gain of 1.5%. Results...
Celebrate the Fourth of July with a weekend full of events
The Flathead Valley and beyond will be busy with events for the weekend leading up to and through the Fourth of July holiday.Kalispell The annual Fourth of July Parade in Kalispell is a favorite for the holiday. The Flathead Marines host the parade through downtown beginning at 10 a.m. The parade travels from Center Street down Main Street past the Flathead County Historic Courthouse. The Flathead Valley Community Band presents “An American Celebration” concert on July 4 at Depot Park. The program begins at about 10:30 a.m. following the parade. The band, under the direction of Allen Slater, will play music from Sousa...
Kalispell Sluggers claim Badrock Invitational crown
The Kalispell Sluggers scored 10 runs over the final three innings to claim the inaugural Badrock Invitational championship Sunday at Glacier Bank Park. A Tyce VanOrden triple broke a 5-5 tie in the fifth inning and put the Sluggers ahead for good. Cullen Wallace started on the mound for Badrock, giving up five runs on five hits in 3 1-3 innings. Eli Coopman got the nod for the Sluggers, going 4 1-3 innings and allowing five runs on one hit. He fanned nine. Badrock earned their spot in the championship game by defeating Federal Way in the third-place game 3-2.
Film and TV crews spent $334 million in Montana during last two years, legislators told
Film and TV companies spent $334 million in Montana over the past two years, according to numbers released to state legislators on Monday. Television, including the filming of the “Yellowstone” franchise, was the big contributor with $275.7 million spent between July 2022 and May 2024. “Obviously very big numbers,” said Gina Lavery, of Econsult Solutions, Inc., an analyst hired by the state. “These are honestly double what we saw the previous cycle, which makes sense because of the number of large television series that had taken place here.” Roughly $60 million went to payroll for Montana employees. Over two years 510 full-time Montana...
A Lakers finish 2-2 in Palouse
PULLMAN, Wash. — A 7-3 loss to Moundtime out of Hillsboro, Oregon, on Saturday concluded the Kalispell A Lakers’ competition at the WSU Summer Palouse Tournament. The Lakers (23-19) went 2-2 in the Palouse, with a 7-6 win over Gonzaga Prep AAA and a 3-1 verdict over Merchants 16U on Thursday. They fell to the Northwest Bandits on Friday. Against Moundtime, the Lakers fell behind 5-0 and 7-1, before pushing a couple runs in the seventh, using a walk, a base hit by Tanner Vojta, an error and a wild pitch. Kalispell managed four hits in the game, two of them by...
Letters to the editor July 1
Dear President BidenI’m a retired neurologist in my eighties. Thank you for attempting to “debate” Donald Trump, which is impossible since he doesn’t stick to the facts. Thanks to you and your administration for creating the strongest economy in the world, lowering drug costs, protecting democracy and Ukraine, and making big progress against global warming, a very real threat we Montanans will soon struggle with during fire season. Given that the median age at inauguration for U.S. presidents is 55 years, both you at 81 and Trump at 78 are simply too old for the job. Everybody — including myself —...
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The Daily Inter Lake has been serving Northwest Montana since 1889. We were founded by Clayton and Emma Ingalls as a weekly newspaper in Demersville, and two years later the entire operation moved north to Kalispell. As the largest news-gathering operation in the region, we strive to connect all our readers to the people, places and institutions which make Northwest Montana home.
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