Great Falls Tribune

3 days ago | greatfallstribune.com | Grady Higgins

With just a few weeks left in the prep sports season, it’s time again for the Tribune’s Athlete of the Week. Congratulations to last week’s winners of the polls, Dain McMann and Scarlet Harris of Great Falls High track and Field. Each week during competition, two girls and two boys will be nominated, with the audience choosing the winner via poll, which are both posted below.

6 days ago | greatfallstribune.com | Grady Higgins

If you’ve missed out on the opportunity to float in Montana’s Smith River State Park this year, you’re not the only one. The Smith River offers a unique floating experience as it stretches 59 miles of beautiful scenery through the Little Belt Mountains and is renowned for its fishing. Floaters can spend up to four nights on and along the river at designated camp sites from the launch point at Camp Baker north of White Sulphur Springs to the takeout point at Eden Bridge near Ulm.

1 week ago | greatfallstribune.com | George Petras

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV after the papal conclave elected him the Catholic Church's 267th pope – the first from the U.S. – on Thursday. The conclave's choice of Prevost surprised Catholics around the world, who are now wondering what lies ahead for the church, with an American pontiff as its leader.

1 week ago | greatfallstribune.com | John Bacon |Jorge Ortiz |Kim Hjelmgaard |Susan Miller |Phaedra Trethan

John Bacon Jorge L. Ortiz Kim Hjelmgaard Susan Miller Phaedra TrethanUSA TODAYCardinal Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday became the first ever pope from the United States, a surprise selection by 133 cardinals from across the globe on the second day of the papal conclave in Rome.  The new pontiff, who took the name Leo XIV, greeted the thousands of exuberant faithful and onlookers, many overcome with emotion as he spoke from the red velvet-draped central balcony at St. Peter’s Square.

1 week ago | greatfallstribune.com | Paul Davidson |Bailey Schulz |Rachel Barber |Andrea Riquier |Medora Lee

Paul Davidson Bailey Schulz Rachel Barber Andrea Riquier Medora LeeUSA TODAYWASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve is still firmly in wait-and-see mode. The Fed left its key interest rate unchanged again Wednesday and gave no hint it plans to lower it soon as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs raise the risks of both another inflation spike and recession. But officials signaled they're growing increasingly concerned about both hazards.