Flathead Beacon Podcasts Flathead Beacon

On June 12, the lawsuit Held v. State of Montana will go to trial in Helena's district court. In the lawsuit, brought by 16 youth plaintiffs from across Montana,  allege that Montana, through its executive agencies, has knowingly approved projects and implemented policies that support a fossil-fuel based energy system that adds dangerous levels of greenhouse gas pollution to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change, damaging Montana’s environment and harming the state’s youth. The lawsuit is predicated on the Montana Constitution, written in 1972, which enshrines the right to a clean and healthful environment for present and future generations.
The Flathead Beacon has produced a comprehensive reporting package on the lawsuit's background, constitutional underpinnings and some of the young plaintiffs. All the reporting, including updates from the two-week trial that begins June 12, can be read at mtclimatecase.flatheadbeacon.com.
Later, Micah runs through the news of the week.
RELATED LINKS
Montana Youth Prepare for Trial in Bellwether Climate Case Against State
Who is ‘Held’ of Held v. State of Montana?
'To a Clean and Healthful Environment'
Temporary Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance Approved in Kalispell
Bear Injures Raft Guide Camping Along Middle Fork Flathead River
Waterton-Glacier Announces Reopening of Goat Haunt 
Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter.
The introductory music in this this episode is “Thinking Music” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, The episode also features songs from Montana singer/songwriter Mike Murray's album We Are Like Warriors, "The Good Ol' Days You're In" and "Moment of Time," used with permission.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Northwest Montana has produced its fair share of singers and songwriters, including the indie-folk duo Big Sky City Lights, made up of Whitefish's Nick Spear and New York City's Susan O'Dea. The two met more than a decade ago, and during the pandemic began remotely writing and recording together. That remote relationship eventually turned into a full length album in 2021 and the duo is hard at work developing a new body of work that will become a second album. In addition, Big Sky City Lights will be touring this summer with a June 3 stop in Kalispell. Host Micah Drew spoke to Nick and Susan about their meeting in Whitefish, the effect living two timezones apart has on their creative process and how performing live shows has played into their newer music.
Later, Micah runs through the news of the week.
RELATED LINKS
Big Sky City Lights Looks Ahead to June Show at FVCC’s Wachholz Center
68th Montana Legislature Adjourns
Two Incumbents, One Newcomer Win Trustee Positions in Columbia Falls School Election
Kalispell Voters Retain One Incumbent Trustee, Pass Elementary and Reject High School Levy
Conservation District Appoints Hearing Officer in McDonald Creek Home Dispute
Follow Big Sky City Lights on Spotify, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter.
The introductory music in this this episode is “Thinking Music” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, The episode also features songs from Montana singer/songwriter Mike Murray's album We Are Like Warriors, "The Good Ol' Days You're In" and "Moment of Time," used with permission.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spring isn't normally thought of as election season, but in the education world it is. May 2 is election day for municipal elections in the Flathead Valley, including school board and school levy elections in Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish and several other districts around the valley. Flathead Beacon reporter Denali Sagner joins host Micah to offer a preview of the various races that will show up on school ballots this spring.
Later, Micah runs through the news of the week.
RELATED LINKS
Kalispell School District No. 5 2023 Election: Voter Guide
Columbia Falls District No. 6 2023 Election: Voter Guide
Kalispell Public Schools to Hire Interim Superintendent
Columbia Falls City Council Rejects 7030 Highway 2 Residences Development
Kalispell Approves Property Acquisition Next to Parkline Trail
Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter.
The introductory music in this this episode is “Thinking Music” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, The episode also features songs from Montana singer/songwriter Mike Murray's album We Are Like Warriors, "The Good Ol' Days You're In" and "Moment of Time," used with permission.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the Montana constitution was crafted in 1972, there have only been 34 changes made to the state’s governing document, a rate of less than one per year. However over the last three months of the 68th legislative session, Montana Republicans have introduced a record 67 constitutional amendments. This week, Flathead Beacon reporter Denali Sagner wrote about the crossroads the state constitution is facing with multiple efforts, almost all unsuccessful, to alter it. To gain additional insight, host Micah Drew reached out to political analyst and director of the University of Montana School of Journalism Lee Banville, who joins the podcast to share some of his observations from the legislative session.
Later, Micah runs through the news of the week.
RELATED LINKS
A Constitution at a Crossroads
U.S. Census: Flathead County Adds Most Residents in Montana
Baseball Teams Face Delays, lingering Snow with Start of Inaugural Season
Gianforte Discusses Work-Based Learning at Kalispell Roundtable
Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter.
The introductory music in this this episode is “Thinking Music” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, The episode also features songs from Montana singer/songwriter Mike Murray's album We Are Like Warriors, "The Good Ol' Days You're In" and "Moment of Time," used with permission.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 8 a.m. on March 15, Glacier National Park’s advance online reservation window opened to a groundswell of prospective backpackers eager to nab a prized wilderness campground permit. Within 10 minutes, however, the park’s most coveted campsites had filled, and the reservation window slammed shut on a host of highly sought-after multi-day itineraries.The new online system is part of a nationwide shift toward online, contact-less reservations to access outdoor spaces.
Will Rice, the head of the Wildland and Recreation Management Research Lab at the University of Montana uses social science to help wildland recreation managers improve the experiences of all visitors while preserving the ecosystems that support those experiences, and has published studies on different access strategies for recreation spaces like campgrounds. Dr. Rice joined host Micah Drew to talk about his research, how an online system can be exclusionary and what the solutions to managing access to popular outdoor spaces may look like in the future.
Later, Micah runs through the news of the week.
RELATED LINKS
March 29 E-Edition
Are Online Reservations the Key to Solving Montana’s Campground Crunch?
MDT Announces Roadway Safety Improvements Planned in Flathead County
Doctors Warn Abortion Bill Would Restrict Montana Obstetric Care
Glacier Symphony and Virtuoso Violinist Midori to Perform at McClaren Hall
Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter.
The introductory music in this this episode is “Thinking Music” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, The episode also features songs from Montana singer/songwriter Mike Murray's album We Are Like Warriors, "The Good Ol' Days You're In" and "Moment of Time," used with permission.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On May 23, 2007, with the newspaper industry in steep decline, the Flathead Valley awoke to an unlikely new resident: a 24-page tabloid called the Flathead Beacon. The weekly paper, owned by television personality and part-time Bigfork resident Maury Povich, has produced 823 issues over the last 16 years, and on March 28th, the final print issue of the Beacon will hit newsstands in the Flathead Valley.
However, the Flathead Beacon news organization isn't going away — it's shifting to a digital-only focus, with more, faster, and innovative ways of bringing breaking and in depth news to our readers. The Beacon will also retain a few print products in the form of its flagship magazine Flathead Living (on stands this week).
Beacon editor in chief Kellyn Brown joined the podcast to talk about the state of the news industry, the decision to stop printing the newspaper and what readers and supporters of the Flathead Beacon can expect from now on.
Later, host Micah Drew runs through the news of the week.
Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter.
RELATED LINKS
March 22 E-Edition
After 16 Years Printing a Weekly Newspaper, Flathead Beacon to Switch to Online-Only Format
Amid Extensive Opposition, Bill to Ban Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Passes Second Reading in Montana House
Low-cost Airline Carrier to Offer Seasonal Direct Flight to Los Angeles
Summer Construction Projects will Cause Delays, Closures in Glacier National Park
The introductory music in this this episode is “Thinking Music” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, The episode also features songs from Montana singer/songwriter Mike Murray's album We Are Like Warriors, "The Good Ol' Days You're In" and "Moment of Time," used with permission.
Read more about all of this week's stories and get the latest breaking news at flatheadbeacon.com and sign up for our new daily newsletter at flatheadbeacon.com/newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.