Host Taylor Inman details the major shifts coming to Northwest Montana this year, starting with a significant overhaul of visitor access in Glacier National Park. As the park officially ends its vehicle reservation system, officials are introducing a new ticketed shuttle service and a three-hour parking limit at Logan Pass to manage congestion. We also look at the extensive construction schedule for 2026, including utility and road projects at Two Medicine and St. Mary that will result in seasonal closures.

The episode also breaks down the 2026 Economic Outlook for the region. Despite a national "no hire, no fire" economy, Flathead County continues to lead Montana in employment growth, fueled by persistent in-migration and a rebounding multi-family housing market. Finally, we cover a $2.3 million jury award in a personal injury lawsuit against BNSF Railway involving a longtime Whitefish engineer, marking a major legal conclusion to a three-year battle.

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.

This week on News Now, reporter Taylor Inman breaks down six of the Flathead Valley’s biggest and most talked-about stories, from the world stage in Italy to the banks of the Flathead River. We celebrate Libby native Konnor Ralph’s incredible 9th-place finish at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics and preview his upcoming Big Air qualifiers.

We also dive into the first major update to the Flathead River Management Plan in 40 years, which includes a new mandatory permit system. Plus, we cover the Ronan High School student walkout, the historic sale of the Majestic Valley Arena (and an upcoming Paul Cauthen concert!), the dismissal of the Cheyenne Autumn Leaf felony case, and a critical update on our local snowpack levels.

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.

This week on News Now, reporter Taylor Inman breaks down six of the Flathead Valley’s biggest and most talked-about stories — from federal policy changes at Glacier National Park to heated local land-use decisions and community highlights.

We begin with Glacier National Park removing interpretive displays following a federal directive, raising questions about how public lands tell history and whose voices are represented. From there, we dive into a controversial decision approving a Lakeside marina dock extension, despite widespread public opposition, and examine why county officials moved forward anyway.

The episode also covers a Montana Supreme Court ruling that clears the way for the Happy’s Inn RV park, along with a proposed lease at Polson Bay Golf Course that could reshape public access and future development. We then shift gears to community news, including the Whitefish Winter Carnival parade, featuring a surprise appearance by a NASA astronaut, before closing with standout performances at the Class AA State Speech and Debate Tournament.

Read these full stories on dailyinterlake.com:

Glacier National Park podcast, displays axed under Trump directive | Hungry Horse News

Word for word: Flathead wins second, Glacier third at state speech championship | Daily Inter Lake

Flathead County OKs resort's 159-foot marina dock in Lakeside | Daily Inter Lake

State Supreme Court rules in favor of county, developer | Western News

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.