Deep Dive

Inside Flathead County Jail: The Crisis Behind Montana’s $105 Million Bond

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0600

Inside the Flathead County Jail, aging pipes leak sewage, officers walk 12-hour shifts through overcrowded cells, and inmates struggling with mental health have nowhere to turn. As Flathead County voters weigh a $105 million bond to build a new detention facility, the Daily Inter Lake goes behind bars for an unfiltered look at the conditions facing inmates and officers alike. Join reporters Taylor Inman and Hannah Shields as they spend a day inside the jail, talk with Sheriff Brian Heino and Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist, and uncover what’s truly at stake for the community.

Are you a Kalispell voter? Municipal ballots were mailed October 17th to registered voters. Eligible residents can confirm registration, find ballot return details, and learn about in-person voting options by visiting the Flathead County Election Department website - https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/election

Want the latest updates on local elections? Visit https://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local-elections/ for the latest developments.

A huge thank you to Vann Law Firm in Kalispell for sponsoring Season 5 of Deep Dive: Inside Flathead County Jail. Specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, they provide expert legal support across the Flathead Valley. Their team is committed to clear communication and personalized guidance, helping clients navigate legal challenges with confidence. For a free consultation, call 406-826-6529 or visit vannlawfirm.com.

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Part Two | From Farm to Fair: Show Ring Highs and Goodbyes

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0600

In Part Two, the Brist siblings load up 22 animals and head to the Northwest Montana Fair. From nail-biting moments in the show ring to triumphant wins, heartbreaking goodbyes, and new plans for the future, this is the culmination of a summer’s hard work. Experience the joy, the tears, and the legacy of a Montana family carrying on generations of livestock tradition.

Part One | From Farm to Fair: The Brist Family’s Livestock Journey

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0600

In Part One of this Daily Inter Lake special, step onto the gravel road leading to Lone Lake Farm, where the Brist children—fifth-generation ranchers—prepare sheep, goats, and steers for the Northwest Montana Fair. From 5:30 a.m. chores to training in the show ring, the Brist kids share the dedication, sacrifice, and deep bond that comes with raising livestock. This is more than farming—it’s family tradition, resilience, and lessons that last a lifetime.

Introducing Season 4 of Deep Dive: From Farm to Fair

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:00:00 -0600

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!

Part Two | Can Noxon Rebuild? Life After the Fire & the Fight to Save a Small Town

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0700

Months after the devastating fire that wiped out Noxon’s beloved businesses, the town is still searching for answers — and a way forward. In part two of this series, Daily Inter Lake News Editor Derrick Perkins hears from local business owners, firefighters, and longtime residents about the lasting impact of the fire and the uncertainty of what comes next. From the Hereford Bar’s relentless rebuild after two separate fires to the debate over whether new businesses will rise from the ashes, Noxon is at a crossroads. Will it bounce back, or will it become another forgotten town?

Part One | Disaster in Noxon: The Fire That Changed a Montana Town Forever

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 22:00:00 -0700

In the early hours of Feb. 27, 2024, a devastating fire tore through Noxon, Montana, reducing its historic downtown to ashes. First responders raced to contain the flames, but within hours, beloved local landmarks — the Angry Beaver General Store, the Mercantile and Café, and Toby’s Tavern — were gone. In part one of this two-part series, Daily Inter Lake News Editor Derrick Perkins hears firsthand accounts from firefighters, business owners and residents as they relive the chaos, heartbreak and resilience that followed. What caused the fire? Could anything have stopped it? And how did the town come together in the aftermath?

Introducing Season 3 of Deep Dive: From the Ashes

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0700

In Season 3 of Daily Inter Lake's Deep Dive podcast, reporter Derrick Perkins explores the devastating fire that struck the small town of Noxon, Montana. By the end of the day on February 27, 2024, three-quarters of the town’s business community were wiped out. Almost a year later, the town still wondered: Can Noxon recover? What will rise from the ashes?

Listen to the two-part story on any audio platform you prefer, or watch the series on our YouTube channel.

Episode 4: Using the ESA to Defend Montana’s Grizzlies and Their Habitat

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Join Kate Heston for our last episode of Season 2, as she explores Keith Hammer's decades-long battle to protect Montana’s iconic grizzly bears through the power of the Endangered Species Act. As president of the Swan View Coalition, Hammer has tirelessly fought against forest management practices that threaten wildlife, using litigation to halt projects impacting grizzly habitats. We delve into the legal and political challenges that have shaped—and continue to shape—conservation in Montana. From court victories to confrontations with state and federal agencies, this episode reveals the complexities and stakes of preserving Montana’s wild legacy for future generations.

Episode 3: How One Wolf Sparked a Conservation Revolution in Montana

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 22:00:00 -0600

The third episode of Deep Dive's Season 2 explores the 50-year legacy of the Endangered Species Act, highlighting the remarkable resurgence of gray wolves in northwest Montana. Daily Inter Lake reporter Kate Heston dives into the captivating story of Kishinena, the pioneering wolf whose journey from Canada to Montana ignited one of the most successful wildlife recovery efforts in history.

Join us as we unravel the complex interplay between federal and state protections, the challenges of wolf management, and the passionate individuals dedicated to preserving these majestic creatures. Featuring insights from renowned wolf biologist Dr. Diane Boyd, this episode is a testament to the resilience of nature and the power of conservation.

Read Dr. Diane Boyd's book 'Woman Among Wolves' - https://greystonebooks.com/products/a-woman-among-wolves

Episode 2: The Fight to Protect Endangered White Sturgeon, Montana's Living Dinosaurs

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0600

In the second episode of Season 2 of Deep Dive, Daily Inter Lake reporter Kate Heston explores the fascinating story of Montana’s prehistoric white sturgeon, often dubbed 'living dinosaurs,' which have roamed North American waters for millions of years. Despite their remarkable resilience, the Kootenai white sturgeon was declared endangered in 1994, with its population steadily declining due to habitat loss and human interference.

Conservation efforts, spearheaded by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, focus on hatchery breeding and habitat restoration. While progress is slow—sturgeon take decades to reach maturity—dedicated conservationists are determined to prevent this ancient species from slipping into extinction.

Learn more about the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho's conservation aquaculture program: www.kootenai.org

Episode 1: Why Saving Montana’s Hidden Wildlife Matters Now

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 20:00:00 -0600

In the first episode of Season 2 of Deep Dive, Daily Inter Lake reporter Kate Heston explores the hidden world of Northwest Montana's rare and fascinating creatures whose survival is vital to their ecosystems. With species like the northern alligator lizard and black swift facing threats, the Montana Natural Heritage Program is on the front lines, monitoring 86 species of concern. Kate speaks with David Tevs on the urgent conservation efforts underway to protect these unique animals from habitat loss, human impact, and climate change, and why preserving biodiversity is more critical than ever.

iNaturalist - https://www.inaturalist.org/

Introducing Season 2 of Deep Dive: Endangered Species Act

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0600

Season 2 of Daily Inter Lake's Deep Dive podcast is coming 10/27/24! Reporter Kate Heston presents a four-part series on the Endangered Species Act, exploring the species most at-risk in northwest Montana. Discover how the law has helped some recover from near extinction and the challenges when federal and state protections overlap.

Glacier National Park's Going to the Sun Road Plowing

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0600

Despite spring's arrival in the valley, Logan Pass in Glacier National Park remains buried under the deepest snowpack in over a decade, presenting significant challenges for road crews. With plows working through snowbanks as tall as 80 feet on the Big Drift, the park's roads supervisor anticipates weeks of effort before passage is fully cleared for visitors. The unprecedented accumulation marks the most substantial early spring snowfall since 2011, underscoring the ongoing battle against winter's grip in the high mountain passes.

Read Taylor Inmans's full article here.

For more information about snow plowing operations along the Going-to-the-Sun road, visit www.nps.gov/glac/

Trailer for Season One: Maritime Mysteries of the Flathead

Wed, 22 May 2024 10:00:00 -0600

Maritime Mysteries of the Flathead is podcast brought to you by Bigfork Eagle and the Flathead Maritime Archeology Project. They will adventure on some deep sea diving escapades to uncover some of the great mysteries lying on the bottom of the lakes and rivers in the Flathead Valley.

The entire season is available now!

Logan Health Medical Center's Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Thomas Wright

Wed, 01 May 2024 11:00:00 -0600

Reporter Taylor Inman meets with Columbia Falls local, Dr. Thomas Wright, who has returned home bringing top-of-the-line care to the area where he grew up. Dr. Wright specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery, with an emphasis on breast reconstruction.

Read the full article here.
Learn more about Wright and find contact information for his office online.

Steitzhof Farm's Regenerative Sheep Operation

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 19:00:00 -0700

John Steitz and Carol Treadway Steitz have an award winning herd of merino sheep on their farm just outside of Kalispell. The couple have worked together over the years to hone in on their best practices for maintaining the herd while also working to restore the soil on their property.

Read the full article - here.
Steitzhof Farm's website - https://steitzhof.com/

Indigikitchen connects native communities with traditional foods

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0700

Online cooking show Indigikitchen is the product of Mariah Gladstone, a Blackfeet and Cherokee woman who is dedicated to educating native communities about their traditional food sources and how they can connect with them. Taylor and Mariah talk about these sustainable food practices and how she found and developed some very yummy recipes.

Maritime Mysteries of the Flathead - Kee O Mee ep 1

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0600

Maritime Mysteries of the Flathead is a new podcast hosted by Jeremy Weber. He and his crew will adventure on some deep sea diving escapades to uncover some of the great mysteries lying on the bottom of the lakes and rivers in the Flathead Valley. In this podcast's premiere episode, Jeremy and his crew discuss their plans for the podcast and their recent underwater dive.

#diving #underwater #flatheadlake #flatheadvalley #kalispellmontana #underwaterphotography

Deep Dive: Steep Canyon Rangers

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:00:00 -0600

Taylor chats over Zoom with two members of the Grammy award winning bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers, who are playing a show in Kalispell this Friday, July 7 at 8 p.m.

The Steep Canyon Rangers have been together for more than 20 years and are frequent collaborators of comedian Steve Martin, who can also play a mean banjo. The band is excited to get back to the Rocky Mountains, a place they say has always welcomed them with open arms. Singer/guitarist Aaron Burdett and bass player/singer Barrett Smith give us a look into their new album 'Morning Shift' which they will be playing songs from at Friday night's show.

For more information about their show at the Waccholz College Center, visit www.wachholzcollegecenter.org and look under "schedule of events." To learn more about the Steep Canyon Rangers, visit www.steepcanyon.com.

Maritime Mysteries of the Flathead - Wins and losses: The challenges of surveying beneath Flathead Lake

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:00:00 -0600

Jeremy and Kyren discuss the unique challenges facing the Flathead Marine Archaeology Project as crews survey underwater sites at Woods Bay, Painted Rocks and the Kee-O-Mee.

Maritime Mysteries of the Flathead - What Mysteries Lie at the Bottom of the Flathead Lakes and Rivers?

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0600

Maritime Mysteries of the Flathead is a new podcast hosted by Jeremy Weber. He and his crew will adventure on some deep sea diving escapades to uncover some of the great mysteries lying on the bottom of the lakes and rivers in the Flathead Valley. In this podcast's premiere episode, Jeremy and his crew discuss their plans for the podcast and their recent underwater dive.

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