This week on News Now, Daily Inter Lake host Taylor Inman breaks down the biggest headlines shaping northwest Montana.

We begin in Flathead County, where a 34-year-old man faces a felony criminal endangerment charge after allegedly shooting out a vehicle window on U.S. Highway 2 near Hungry Horse. Court documents detail the arrest, the unusual weapons investigators say were found, and what comes next as the case heads to arraignment.

Next, we look at the devastating fire that destroyed the Cattle Baron Supper Club in Babb — a family-run landmark with more than a century of history just outside Glacier National Park. Owners Bob and Charlene Burns recount how the blaze spread during extreme winds, the massive regional firefighting response, and their hopes to rebuild after losing a piece of Blackfeet and community history.

We also examine the illegal killing of a federally protected grizzly bear in northern Idaho near the Montana border. With the Cabinet-Yaak grizzly population already among the most imperiled in the Lower 48, wildlife officials explain why the death of a single female could set recovery efforts back years — and why the reward for information now stands at $15,000.

Finally, state lawmakers grapple with how to regulate kratom in Montana. With no current statewide restrictions and growing concern over synthetic products, legislators debate public safety risks, failed legislation, and what — if anything — can be done before the 2027 session.

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

February in the Flathead Valley is anything but quiet. From horsepower-meets-ski power at the 20th anniversary of Whitefish Skijoring to the rowdy barstool races of Cabin Fever Days, this month delivers some of Montana’s most iconic winter traditions.

We break down everything happening across the valley in February — including the Whitefish Winter Carnival, live music, theater, speaker series, dance showcases, and community fundraisers. Whether you’re planning your weekends or looking for a reason to get out of the house, this guide has you covered with dates, highlights, and can’t-miss experiences that define winter in Northwest Montana.

The 20th annual Whitefish Skijoring weekend returns February 14–15, 2026, at 1530 W. Springcreek Road in Kalispell. Tickets are on sale now for one of Montana’s most electric winter traditions packed with speed, stunts, and spectacle. View the full schedule and purchase tickets at whitefishskijoring.org.

Find all the events listed in this episode (and more!) at dailyinterlake.com/events/ and flatheadtickets.com

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.

Join Daily Inter Lake reporter Taylor Inman as she goes over the week’s biggest headlines for Northwest Montana. A Columbia Falls teenager is fighting to recover after a high-speed crash involving an allegedly stolen vehicle on Highway 2, leaving the community rallying around one of its standout student-athletes.

Also in this episode, a former district court judge faces sentencing in a dramatic fall from grace tied to felony drug charges, and Flathead County officials approve a major upgrade for search-and-rescue operations with a new underwater drone.

We’ll hear what Flathead County officials are saying about the recent approval for the Sheriff’s Office to purchase a new underwater drone. Plus, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks moves forward with an aggressive plan to eradicate invasive goldfish from a Thompson Falls pond, part of a growing effort to protect native waterways across the region.

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st!

Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!

Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.