In wide-open Montana, long drives on the highway are a way of life and, often, a source of danger. The state is ranked fifth for the number of fatal accidents per resident, with 90% of those fatalities happening on roads outside of city limits. Like many Montanans, MTFP’s staff puts in plenty of miles as we work to cover the state. On those drives, we sometimes wonder which stretches of the state’s vast highway network are the most prone to crashes. We analyzed public crash data from the Montana Department of Transportation to answer that question for the state and federal roads that connect Montana’s cities and towns. Statewide, the average crash rate on routes wher...

News from the Port Polson Players POLSON — The Port Polson Players kick off their 51st season with a regional premiere and out-of-this-world production, of “Closer.” A new play by Teresa Hu, part II of the Route 66 Trilogy is loosely based on the 1951 hit movie, “The Day The Eart...

New mayors have been elected for Polson and Ronan, according to the unofficial results of the nonpartisan municipal general election held Nov. 4. Both have a history of community involvement and serving in municipal government. Laura Dever, a Polson City commissioner, won the race for mayor against Marlow...

Have we ever seen anything like current climate change? It’s a fair question that geologists are often asked, but the answer isn’t straightforward.  In the past, very warm periods have been triggered by large-scale volcanic activity, releasing enormous amounts of greenhouse gases into the...

News from Senate Democratic Caucus MONTANA — After a hiatus following the conclusion of the legislative session, we are pleased to announce the return of the Montana Senate Democrats Monthly Newsletter. Every month, we will bring you updates on the hard work Montana’s Democratic senators are...

   POLSON -The government shut down is still on. No end in sight. I am enjoying the silence. Congress is enjoying the paid vacation from governing. So am I, except that I am paying them to do nothing, as usual.  See’s Candy is due at the Polson Senior Center this week. Pre-ordering be...

ST. IGNATIUS - Dixie will be here from the Area VI Agency on Aging on Friday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. to help with Medicare Open Enrollment. There are still appointments available. Bring a current medication list, email address, Medicare red/white/blue card, and cell phone. Call the St. Ignatius Senior C...

By Joyce Lobeck for the Valley Journal LAKE COUNTY — There’s a bumper sticker that says: “Pray for me. I drive Highway 93.” US Route 93 is a significant U.S. Highway that runs from the Canadian border in Montana to the Mexican border in Arizona. It is known for being a scenic ro...

News from Katherine Sears, MT Dept. of Natural Resources LEWISTOWN — In October 2020, the East Troublesome Fire tore through Colorado, burning 193,812 acres and destroying 366 homes and 189 commercial buildings. A recent bulletin from the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station highlig...

Montana homeowners have until Oct. 1 to apply for rebates of up to $400 on their 2024 property tax bills, relief that is one component of a bipartisan push by lawmakers and Gov. Greg Gianforte to address rising residential property taxes. According to the Montana Department of Revenue, the rebates are ava...