A new documentary by filmmakers David and Jessica King shines a light on Polson’s famous Lake City Bakery and Eatery, its history and its special way of giving people a second chance. “Baked by Grace” is set to premiere Friday, May 13, 2022 at Polson’s Showboat Cinema 6. In this Spotlight Montana, watch the trailer and hear from David King on the making of the film, its message and what it means for the community. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com ....
Apr 29, 2022•10 min
Spring is here, and that means it’s time for young children and their families to celebrate after a long winter dealing with the pandemic. Missoula's annual Week of the Child offers families a chance to do that. The week-long event offers fun activities for families, training programs and events to recognize early childhood champions. Events kick off this Saturday and continue through April 8. In this Spotlight Montana, Healthy Start coordinator Anna Semple shares with us what's planned and talk...
Apr 01, 2022•12 min
The M&M Bar and Cafe in Butte is reopening on St. Patrick’s Day with new sign and a new location 10 months after a devastating fire destroyed the original building. In this Spotlight Montana owner, Selina Pankovich shares with us an update and explains what it took to make the reopening possible. We also talk about the day the fire broke out, the items that survived the blaze and what the future holds for the original site.
Mar 16, 2022•17 min
In this Spotlight Montana, University of Montana associate professor Clint Walker, with the Department of World Languages and Cultures, provides new insight and perspective on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the man behind it, President Vladimir Putin. He explains the history and how what’s happening now is impacting his students at UM. He also shares stories about his experience living in Russia, its people and culture. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana...
Mar 04, 2022•23 min
Butte native and former NFL player Colt Anderson is headed to Super Bowl LVI as a special teams assistant coach for the Bengals. NBC Montana’s Laurel Staples talked to Anderson before he left for the big game. In this Spotlight Montana, Anderson discusses how the team is preparing for the game against the Los Angeles Rams and what the experience has been like for him. Anderson also talks about how his football career started in Butte and the work he and his family are now doing with the Colt And...
Feb 08, 2022•7 min
Brad Wilson of Butte is getting ready to compete in his third Olympic games in men's moguls. In this Spotlight Montana, NBC Montana's Robbie Whittle sits down with Wilson to talk about what he's doing to prepare and how the Olympic games will be a different experience for him this time. Wilson also talks about how his Olympic journey started in Butte and what it's like to experience this with his brother, Olympic bronze medalist Bryon Wilson, by his side. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTune...
Jan 29, 2022•20 min
In this Spotlight Montana, Whitefish native Maggie Voisin talks about how she's preparing for the Winter Olympics in Beijing, what's next after the games and how COVID-19 restrictions could impact the experience. Voisin also discusses life's ups and downs from injury and tremendous heartbreak to healing and how it's changed her. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.
Jan 25, 2022•11 min
NBC Montana is working for you answering your questions about the omicron variant of COVID-19 now detected in the Treasure State. In this Spotlight Montana, hear from Dr. Neil Ku, an epidemiologist at Billings Clinic. From vaccines and booster shots to flu season and back-to-school concerns, Ku breaks it all down. Ku also talks about what concerns him the most going forward and what that means for you. You can catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com....
Jan 07, 2022•21 min
The Flathead Lake International Cinemafest is getting ready to celebrate it's10th anniversary in Polson. The festival will take place the weekend of January 28 to 30. This year's festival features a broad range of films including an academy award nominated short, a documentary that offers a fascinating look at women's professional football and a stunning music video. Special guests include producer Gerald Molen, known for Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Rain Man and more. So grab the popcorn be...
Dec 16, 2021•12 min
Giving Tuesday is a day reserved for generosity and giving back to nonprofits and organizations known for helping others. In this Spotlight Montana we hear from Susan Hay Patrick of the United Way of Missoula on ways to help. Hay Patrick highlights some of the biggest issues facing the community right now, the work being done to address those issues and how you can help. If you or someone you know is in need of help this holiday season, you can call 211. It’s a 24-hour link to all of the social ...
Nov 30, 2021•16 min
From the Silvertip Skydivers to working as a James Bond stunt double, Whitefish native B.J. Worth is a legend in the world of skydiving. In this Spotlight Montana, Worth talks about everything from his phenomenal skydiving career to his current work in bird conservation, research and film production. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbmontana.com . Submit your content
Nov 16, 2021•30 min
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but for the Missoula YWCA, raising awareness, acknowledging survivors and being a voice for victims continues year-round. In this Spotlight Montana, hear from Pathways program manager Lyndayle Mattis on just out how prevalent domestic violence is locally, where victims can go for help and what challenges the program is facing at this time. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com.
Oct 28, 2021•9 min
Stephanie Land's memoir “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive” is a raw account of her experience as a single mom dealing with poverty after surviving domestic violence. The bestselling book is now a hit Netflix series. In this in-depth Spotlight Montana interview, Land talks about the series, her book, what she experienced, how she’s helping others, her life in Missoula and what she's working on next. Catch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com . S...
Oct 13, 2021•23 min
From the Big Sky to the big screen -- “Return to the Big Skies” documents the restoration of Miss Montana, a historic World War II-era airplane, and its Atlantic crossing to the beaches of Normandy to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. In this Spotlight Montana, hear from Eric Komberec, president of the Museum of Mountain Flying, on the making of the film, what moviegoers can expect and what’s next for Miss Montana. Watch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbc...
Sep 10, 2021•12 min
The Pentagon announcing that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is now complete, bringing to an end the 20-year war. In this Spotlight Montana hear from University of Montana professor, Dr. Mehrdad Kia. He weighs in on the withdrawal and the far-reaching impacts. Watch Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and nbcmontana.com .
Aug 31, 2021•27 min
A surge in the COVID-19 delta variant is happening just as students prepare to go back to school for in-person learning. So what do parents need to know to keep their kids safe and healthy in the classroom? In this Spotlight Montana hear from pediatricians in Missoula and Billings. Dr. Lauren Wilson of Missoula and Dr. Kathryn Lysinger of Billings describe what they’re seeing as cases spike, especially in children and in expectant unvaccinated moms who get the virus. Critical information you nee...
Aug 19, 2021•23 min
It's a journey from the streets of Belize to the Olympic Games -- twice. In this Spotlight Montana, UM track and field sprint coach Paul Reneau shares with us his memories of competing in the games, what it was like racing against legend Carl Lewis and how he's now helping young athletes accomplish their goals. Find Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, our NBC Montana Facebook page and on our website.
Jul 23, 2021•29 min
New information and a new call for help in solving the cold case murder of Gallatin Gateway nurse Donna Lemon. July 9, 2021, marks the 48th anniversary of her death. On this day in 1973, her body was found near Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she had been murdered. Montana author Brian D’Ambrosio has been following this case for years. In this Spotlight Montana, D’Ambrosio breaks down new information in the case and explains how you can help solve it. Find Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube...
Jul 09, 2021•28 min
A major heat wave is headed to Montana, a region already experiencing significant drought conditions. In this Spotlight Montana, experts from the National Weather Service in Missoula breakdown Montana’s heat wave forecast, drought outlook and fire weather forecast. Warning coordination meteorologist Marty Whitmore and hydrologist Ray Nickless explain the impacts, what you should prepare for, safety precautions to take and how you can help. They also share new data on Montana’s weather trends, sn...
Jun 24, 2021•26 min
The Western Montana Mental Health Center is currently transitioning to a new model of care thanks to a two-year grant making it the first certified community behavioral health center in Montana. In this Spotlight Montana, we follow up on the center’s transition and find out exactly what the new model of care means for those seeking help. Also hear about the center’s new crisis hotline, Lifeline. You can find Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, our NBC Montana Facebook page and on our ...
Jun 02, 2021•18 min
The Pekin Noodle Parlor in Butte is the oldest continually operating family Chinese restaurant in America. In this Spotlight Montana, the Pekin’s current owner, Jerry Tam, talks about the restaurant’s rich history, his family’s legacy, the famous customers known to dine there, what’s next for the restaurant and much more. Find Spotlight Montana on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, our NBC Montana Facebook page and on our website at https://nbcmontana.com/news/spotlight-montana ....
May 24, 2021•24 min
In this Spotlight Montana, we hear once again from award winning author Brian D'Ambrosio. He talks about some of Montana’s most notorious murders from 1903 to 2013, which are highlighted in his recent book, “Montana Murders: Notorious and Unsolved.” The list includes “Dynamite” Ike's campaign of terror, the murders of actor Patrick Duffy's parents and the Unabomber. D’Ambrosio also talks about unsolved murder cases in Livingston, the Florence beauty parlor murders and the unsolved murder of repo...
Apr 22, 2021•24 min
October 17, 1991 -- that's when a Missoula teenager vanished in Deming, New Mexico, after using a pay phone at a gas station to talk to her mother. Fast forward to 2021. On April 4, Jennifer Pentilla would have turned 48. Now, on this 30TH anniversary of her disappearance, Montana author Brian D’Ambrosio dives into the case. He just got back from New Mexico, where he retraced her footsteps. In this Spotlight Montana, D’Ambrosio shares with us what he discovered in New Mexico and how he hopes off...
Apr 09, 2021•33 min
In this week's Spotlight Montana Traolach O’Riordain, the director of the Irish Studies program at the University of Montana, introduces us to some very special guests. They share with us a performance featuring traditional Irish songs, including one song with a special link to Butte. Also, hear about Montana’s Irish history, a new class being offered in the Irish Studies program and plans for a Montana St. Patrick’s Day virtual concert. Watch Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com or listen to it ...
Mar 04, 2021•21 min
Big news for Western Montana Mental Health Center in Missoula. The center will become the first Certified Community Behavioral Health Center after being awarded a two-year grant supporting the center’s transition to a new model of care. Hear from Levi Anderson, CEO of Western Montana Mental Health Center on what this means for the center, patients and the economy.
Feb 17, 2021•13 min
In this Spotlight Montana, hear from longtime Missoula news broadcaster Jim Harmon on the 1956 fire that ripped through the American Legion Hall in Missoula. The building later became a broadcasting station, where Harmon worked for 30 years until he retired. He bring us a behind the scenes look at what it was like in the early days of broadcasting in Missoula. The American Legion Hall fire is featured in his new book, titled “The ‘Sneakin’est’ Man That Ever Was,” a collection of 46 headline stor...
Feb 04, 2021•22 min
Hear from Robert Saldin, Political Science Professor at the University of Montana and director of the Mansfield Center's Ethics and Public Affairs program, on the future of the GOP party last week's riots in our nation's Capitol, what's next and how Montana is being impacted. Watch Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com or listen to it on Spotify and iTunes.
Jan 14, 2021•27 min
This holiday season carries extra weight for many due to the pandemic, and in this Spotlight Montana the focus is on mental health during this time. Hear from Levi Anderson, CEO of Western Montana Mental Health Center, on ways to cope, services available and how the pandemic is impacting those services. Watch Spotlight Montana at nbcmontana.com or listen to it on Spotify and iTunes.
Dec 02, 2020•9 min
Missoula writer and musician Ednor Therriault, also known as Bob Wire, talks about his new book “Haunted Montana: Ghosts and Strange Phenomema of the Treasure State.” The book is a collection of ghostly tales, legends and unexplained phenomena from across the state. Hear about a haunted hiking trail, strange happenings at a popular lake, phantom cowboys and much more.
Oct 07, 2020•20 min
Are you a firefighter looking for a safety zone while battling a fire? Or a resident or city leader searching for real-time information on an approaching wildfire? The Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory rolled out some new tools packed with critical real-time fire information to help keep you safe. In this Spotlight Montana, hear from a team of experts who created two new apps and a website. You'll also learn about the research behind creating those tools and why experts traveled from Missoula al...
Jul 30, 2020•24 min
