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49°Light rainHigh 53° · Low 27° · 98% rain

7:56 a.m. 6:22 p.m.

Forecast: National Weather Service

See this week
  1. Today53°27°
  2. Sat48°25°
  3. Sun44°25°
  4. Mon45°29°
  5. Tue48°29°

7:56 a.m. 6:22 p.m.

Friday, October 23, 2026

Rain to snow and 60 mph gust potential hit north central Montana today

Plus, a Great Falls dispensary opens after winning its court case against the city.

The Good Day Great Falls team2 stories16 sources5 min read

WeatherTop story

A rain-to-snow storm brings wind warnings and mountain snow to north central Montana today

Snow could reach 5 inches in four ranges and 3 inches at two passes

Source: NonStop Local Billings

View as table
Value
Little Belt, Highwood, Judith, Bears Paw5 inches
MacDonald and Homestake passes3 inches

If you're driving Friday, give yourself extra time. KTVH says an intense storm will bring heavy rain that turns to heavy, wet snow through the afternoon and evening, with a little accumulation possible in the lower elevations. A high wind warning also covers Glacier, Pondera, Hill, Toole, Liberty, and Fergus counties, according to NonStop Local.

Mountain passes will be slippery, and whiteout conditions are possible when heavy snow and wind cut visibility. NonStop Local's Friday morning update says 1 to 6 inches is possible in the mountains of southwest and north central Montana. General hunting season opens Saturday, and KTVH says it will be a little wet and sloppy.

  • Friday highs: 40s to around 50, falling in the afternoon
  • Saturday: partly cloudy and blustery, highs in the 40s and low 50s
  • Sunday: light flurries possible just north of Great Falls
  • Sunday night lows: 10s and 20s

Wind and snow alerts run from Friday morning into early Saturday

60 mph
gust potential in six counties Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Noon
is when most winter weather advisories start Friday
3 a.m.
is when most advisories expire early Saturday

Source: NonStop Local Billings

Politics

Bankhead says she was offered a DNC job to leave the Senate race, and the DNC says no.

Montana's U.S. Senate race got a jolt this week. Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead told Montana PBS she was offered a job as "the DNC's head of female veteran candidates or something like that" if she dropped out. Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, said on X that his office will reach out to Bankhead, independent Seth Bodnar, and the , KRTV reported.

Each side tells the job-offer story differently

WhoWhat they say
Alani BankheadShe was offered a DNC job
DNCNo job offer was ever extended
Bodnar campaignSeth never asked her to drop out
AG KnudsenHis office will reach out to investigate

Sources: KRTV, NonStop Local Billings

A DNC official told KRTV no job offer was ever extended to Bankhead. NonStop Local asked her campaign for evidence and was told the information went to reporting outlets for their own verification. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports her campaign said a Montana-based Bodnar supporter made the approach the weekend before the Aug. 10 deadline, without naming anyone.

  • Law cited: Montana Code Annotated 13-35-221, a misdemeanor if violated
  • Bankhead campaign: will cooperate with any legitimate investigation
  • Aug. 11: Bankhead said no one directly asked her to step aside

Calls for Bankhead to step aside came from legislators, a governor, and others

22
Democratic state legislators signed a letter asking her to step aside
Over 200
others emailed asking her to step aside
1
Democratic governor also called for her to step aside

Source: NonStop Local Billings

News Notes

Leaf pickup

The city's boulevard-district leaf pickup begins Tues., Oct. 27, in Zone 1 on the east end of town, then moves zone by zone. Rake leaves to the boulevard by 7 a.m. Monday of your zone's week, because crews won't make second passes. The Electric

Police

Great Falls police arrested Trei Lehnerz, 31, for falsely identifying "as a law enforcement officer during contact with members of the public." If you had contact with him, call 406-799-8322 or report anonymously at p3tips.com, and police say no one who did is in trouble for reporting it. Montana Talks

Dispensary

Emma Albers is opening Montana Dispensary at 1427 3rd Ave. N. after District Court Judge Elizabeth Best ruled the city must approve her and pay her reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. Albers and the city are still negotiating other aspects of the case, according to City Attorney David Dennis. The Electric

District 12

Republican George Nikolakakos, a two-term state House member, faces Democrat Mindy Leach for Senate District 12, the seat Republican Wendy McKamey is leaving. Ballots were mailed Oct. 9, and Election Day is Nov. 3. KRTV

Art show

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art holds a free public reception at 5:30 p.m. today for Empowered, an exhibition of 93 works by participants in its Free Art Programs. The Electric

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Art

93works in the Empowered exhibition at Paris Gibson Square

They come from participants in the museum's Free Art Programs.

Source: The Electric

Around Montana

Liberty County

Liberty County Sheriff Nickolas Erickson is charged with one misdemeanor count of unsworn falsification to authorities, filed Oct. 14 in Liberty County Justice Court. Charging documents allege he made false statements to other law enforcement in connection with a 2025 assault case. KRTV

Senate race

Republican Senate nominee Kurt Alme was born in Great Falls and graduated from high school in Miles City. He's favored in a four-way race against Democrat Alani Bankhead, independent Seth Bodnar, and Libertarian Kyle Austin. Fairfield Sun Times

The Liberty County case moved from a 2025 investigation to a charge on Oct. 14

  1. June 2025Sheriff's office begins investigating alleged strangulation and assault involving juveniles.
  2. Oct. 2025Victim's father files a complaint with the .
  3. Feb. 26Bureau Chief Derek Malhum makes an unannounced stop at the sheriff's office.
  4. April 7Erickson brings his case files to state investigators in Great Falls.
  5. Oct. 14A misdemeanor charge is filed against Erickson in Liberty County Justice Court.

Source: KRTV

Quoted

Man is condemned to be free.

— Jean-Paul Sartre

The Buy

Asked

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Asked

What are your plans for Saturday's general hunting season opener?

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Things to Do

Things to Do

Great Falls, MT

Friday, Oct. 23

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The Wrap

Rivalry night is here. The GFH Bison and CMR meet tonight, Fri., Oct. 23, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at GFHS Memorial Stadium, and tickets start at $5. It's the annual crosstown game in the final week of the regular season. Snow is in the forecast, so bring layers and a blanket.

Which side of the stands are you sitting on?

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Ironman is coming to Great Falls on Aug. 15, 2027

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Every source in this edition16 links · 10 outlets
  1. National Weather Serviceforecast.weather.gov
  2. KTVHktvh.com
  3. NonStop Local Billingskulr8.com
  4. NonStop Local Billingskulr8.com
  5. KRTVkrtv.com
  6. KECInbcmontana.com
  7. NonStop Local Billingskulr8.com
  8. Bozeman Daily Chroniclebozemandailychronicle.com
  9. The Electrictheelectricgf.com
  10. Montana Talksmontanatalks.com
  11. The Electrictheelectricgf.com
  12. KRTVkrtv.com
  13. The Electrictheelectricgf.com
  14. KRTVkrtv.com
  15. Fairfield Sun Timesfairfieldsuntimes.com
  16. Great Falls events calendargooddaygreatfalls.com

Past issues

  1. Sat., Nov. 7Montana Millionaire sales restart Thu., Nov. 12
  2. Fri., Nov. 6CMR volleyball is headed to state, and a former Great Falls school hits the market
  3. Thurs., Nov. 5MDT wants your input on 10th Avenue South signals
  4. Wed., Nov. 4Benefis will restructure Great Falls services starting Dec. 19
  5. Tues., Nov. 3CMR hosts a volleyball playoff match Wednesday; county awards road contract
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Good Day Great Fallsto me · Fri., Oct. 236:00 a.m.

Rain to snow and 60 mph gust potential hit north central Montana today

Plus, a Great Falls dispensary opens after winning its court case against the city.

The TLDR

  1. Rain turns to heavy, wet snow Friday, with wind warnings in six counties
  2. Bankhead says the DNC offered her a job to quit the Senate race; the DNC says no
  3. City leaf pickup starts Tues., Oct. 27, in Zone 1
Read this edition

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