Montana

Whiskey is for drinking, water for fighting

Published

2 years ago

May 21, 2024

In the West, “whiskey is for drinking, water for fighting.” The fight over the water that flows in and out of Flathead Lake is just beginning. These waters deserve fighting for and over.

The Flathead watershed includes all the land that drains into Flathead Lake and the Flathead River — a vast area stretching west from the Continental Divide, east to the Salish Mountains, north into Canada, and south to the Clark Fork River to the south.

Waters from the headwaters in Glacier National Park, the “Bob,” and other wild lands flow together, nourishing our communities, forests, and farms and providing endless recreational opportunities. Flathead, Stillwater, Whitefish and Swan rivers contribute to creating the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Great Lakes. This watershed drains 6 million acres of some of the most scenic landscapes imaginable.

The various valleys of the Flathead watershed were scoured by recurring glaciers, leaving a trail of alluvial and outwash deposits and glacial till. The glaciers formed many lakes, wetlands, floodplains, and wonderful Glacier National Park. The glaciers are almost gone as yearly snowpacks continue their downward spiral.

A healthy and viable Flathead watershed relies upon a feasible and healthy snowpack. The 2022-23 snowpack was neither. The 2023-24 snowpack is well below average as yearly precipitation continues to fall as rain rather than snow.

Besides lower water levels throughout the Flathead watershed, wildfire conflagration increasingly threatens the basin and northwest Montana. While not an exceptionally old man at 72, I remember the summers of my youth as relatively smoke-free and pleasant. Growing up in Whitefish, I cannot recall one house having air conditioning. Spring high school sports were played in cool, rainy weather. Baseball games throughout the spring and early summer were often played in the rain, with low, grey cover.

These cool springs and summers resulted in a viable snowpack that gradually released moisture through the summer into the watershed. Our streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes were healthy

The Montana summers of my old age are increasingly hot and smoky seasons spent indoors. My grandchildren are frequently forced indoors due to poor air quality. While we have plenty of whiskey nowadays, water in our snowpack continues to dwindle.

Rather than recognizing and collectively addressing or fighting this together, good-meaning people are taking sides and positions, often at odds with one another. The value of a full Flathead Lake in the summer is something that all of us want, but it will become more and more challenging to achieve unless meaningful solutions are forthcoming.

As the glaciers dwindle and snowpacks grow smaller each year, with less and less water stored in mountain snows throughout the Flathead watershed, fighting will grow. Rancor is already developing amongst Montanans and our communities. We must not let facts and science become the first casualty of this fight.

Two Montana newspapers, the Missoulian and The Daily Inter Lake, have provided timely and informative articles addressing these crucial issues. I write to encourage continuing this coverage as best they can, with limited staffing issues.

All Montanans need to be in this fight. As the Bible reminds us, fighting the good fight is one of the bravest and noblest of life’s experiences.

Tom Muri lives in Whitefish.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 27, 2026

Published

8 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Jan. 27, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 27 drawing

04-20-38-56-66, Mega Ball: 05

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 27 drawing

01-10-32-37-48, Lucky Ball: 09

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Jan. 27 drawing

09-21-27-28, Bonus: 06

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Montana

Montana app development teams from Code Girls United win Congressional App Challenge

Published

20 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Montana app development teams from Code Girls United win Congressional App Challenge

KALISPELL, Mont. — Two app development teams from Code Girls United won the Congressional App Challenge in both Montana districts.

A team with Lily Kirkaldie, Charlie Kotthoff, and Danica Sabo from Great Falls won with their app ‘Cursive Create’.

The app helps teach cursive writing, which the team said is important since cursive is no longer taught in schools.

Three senior students from Browning High School, Aiyahna Green, Kalani Sun Rhodes, and Keesha Guerrero-Gobert, won with their app ‘Sspomo’.

This app provides awareness and resources for people facing mental health challenges, and was inspired by the Blackfeet tribe.

“They were really thoughtful about their community and what was affecting the people that they knew on the reservation, and what they could actually do to help them,” said Code Girls United CEO Marianne Smith.

“What they were seeing in the community was depression and other mental health issues, so they specifically wanted to create an app that would be able to help people that were in that same situation,” said Smith.

Both teams will travel to Washington D.C. for the National Science Fair’s ‘House of Code’, where they will showcase their apps in the U.S. Capitol.

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The event is scheduled for April 21 and 22.

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Montana

Montana state auditor staff heads to Libby to address property questions

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

Montana state auditor staff heads to Libby to address property questions

LIBBY, Mont. — Residents impacted by last December’s flooding and windstorms had the opportunity to get answers Monday as the Montana State Auditor’s Office hosted an open house in Libby.

The event was aimed at helping homeowners across Libby, Troy and the surrounding areas surrounding in Lincoln County navigate insurance claims and recovery efforts following the severe weather that caused widespread damage.

Staff from the Montana State Auditor’s Office were on hand to answer questions from residents dealing with property and casualty insurance claims tied to the storms.

“People here in Libby and Troy and all across Lincoln County were victims of these horrible weather events that we’ve had,” said David Sanders, chief of staff for the Montana State Auditor’s Office. “A lot of people had property and casualty claims on their homes.”

According to the Auditor’s Office, consumer protection and education are key components of the recovery process.

In addition to speaking directly with residents, officials also met with community leaders and toured damaged areas to better understand the impact of the storms.

“We just wanted to make sure that we could pull people together and show them that they are not alone,” Sanders said. “The state government can help them with some of the information they require to put their lives back together.”

The Montana State Auditor’s Office says events like this help connect residents with valuable resources as communities continue to recover from natural disasters.

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Residents are encouraged to contact the office directly for additional insurance guidance.

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