Flathead County

Western Montana experienced unusually high tectonic activity Wednesday. The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 3.7 magnitude earthquake occurred at 6:47 a.m. just a few miles southwest of St. Ignatius.

Local option sales taxes on recreational marijuana appear to have been favored during Montana’s midterm election. Efforts to ban recreational sales had a more mixed response.

State livestock officials announced this week they have confirmed cases of the avian flu in Flathead County. The highly contagious virus was found in a backyard poultry flock.

Montana’s Secretary of State has announced a recount will take place in the Republican primary for a seat on the state’s utility oversight board.

About two-thirds of Montana counties are seeing medium to high impacts on healthcare facilities as a result of rising COVID-19 cases.

Governor Greg Gianforte toured Flathead County on Monday to get an update on flooding in the area. Conditions on the ground, evacuation notices and orders keep shifting along with river levels.

Flathead County commissioners declared a state of emergency Wednesday due to flooding from recent heavy rains. The move will give county agencies access to emergency funding.

The COVID-19 Omicron variant is forcing changes to contract tracing in the state. It's also amplifying staff shortages at hospitals.

Interim Library Director Martha Furman says she resigned due to regular requests from some board members to oversee book selection and to be involved in the hiring of new staff.

Nationally, KHN and The Associated Press have documented that more than 300 public health leaders, weary of abuse and of their expertise being questioned, have resigned or retired as the country struggles to recover from the worst pandemic in a century. They have been replaced by people often inexperienced yet tasked with repairing the trust of a polarized and fatigued public.