News

MONTANA — Montana’s 2024 ballot will host a suite of consequential elections — among them a race that could decide the balance of the U.S. Senate, two open seats on the Montana Supreme Court, two U.S. House races, the governorship, and a bevy of other statewide offices. And, for good measure, there may be some major ballot measures thrown in too. With less than a year to election day, campaign announcements are coming fast and furious from seasoned politicians and grassroots activists alike. It’s enough to bewilder a political junkie, much less a more casual observer. So Montana Free Press combed through our notes, email inboxes and press clippings in an eff...
PABLO — On Nov. 20, 2023, the Lake County Board of Commissioners notified Montana Governor Greg Gianforte that Lake County has withdrawn its consent to enforce Public Law 280 (PL 280) jurisdiction on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Under Montana law, Governor Gianforte now has six months, until May 20...
Officials in Lake County have said there are more questions than answers after they informed the state that they were pulling out of a decades-old agreement because it can no longer afford to pay for law enforcement on the Flathead Indian Reservation. In November, the Lake County Commission sent a l...

POLSON — The Polson Loaves & Fish Pantry volunteers are busy four days a week. They collect donations all four days and are open to give out food on Tuesday and Friday. “We always appreciate food donations, but money is the best help since it allows us to go out and buy whatever we are cur...
News from the Mission Valley Children’s Choir RONAN — The Mission Valley Children’s Choir will present its Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church located at 406 5th Ave. SW in Ronan. The children will sing a variety of sacred and secular Christmas m...
News from Sloane Stinson Big Sky Public Relations RONAN — The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Riverside Contracting Inc. have paused construction activity on the Ronan-North project for the winter. Thank you for your patience and support during the busy construction s...
News from Upper Seven Law MISSOULA — On Nov. 21, a federal court gave final approval to a settlement between the inmates of Lake County Jail and jail administrators. The jail agreed to several major changes, including adopting new policies and procedures and building both an outdoor recreati...
News from Upper Seven Law HELENA — On Nov. 29, 2023, Montana voters and the nonprofit Montana Conservation Voters filed a motion for preliminary injunction to prevent the State from holding the next Public Service Commission (“PSC”) election under a gerrymandered map. During ...

By Brittany Cathey, Mission Valley Youth Foundation MISSION VALLEY — In the spirit of Thanksgiving we’d like to take the time to say a very special “Thank You” to all of the businesses, individuals, and families that donated to the MVYF and Festival of Trees in 2022. Thanks to yo...

News from the Mission Valley Elks MISSION VALLEY — Mission Valley Elks along with Elks National Foundation Grant money has been giving back to the community to the local school district, $2,500 for clothing and shoes. We helped the Polson, Ronan and St. Ignatius food banks with $2,500 and a ...