Say Goodbye to Missoula’s Most Colorful Restaurant

Some sad news for Mexican food fans in Missoula. The colorful Elote Mexican Bar and Grill has announced its closing this weekend.

The restaurant, one of the most artistically designed in all of Montana, opened nearly two years ago in the Southgate Mall, featuring authentic Oaxacan dishes. However, the business struggled to operate without obtaining a full liquor license.

Yesterday on Facebook, the owners announced Sunday, January 4th, will be Elote's last day, saying trying to operate without that full license has been "unsustainable." They say they're "deeply grateful" to all the customers who've shown their support, and to the "incredible Elote team.

      🇲🇽 They'll offer a full menu through Saturday.

Feds investigate train deaths

Federal investigators are looking into the Tuesday accident near Browning, where a 43-year old man and a 7-year old boy, both from Browning, were killed by a passing Amtrak train.

Montana Highway Patrol says the accident happened on Spotted Robe Trail when the victim drove his car across the tracks, where it was struck by the train.

     Roads were snow-covered at the time, but there's been no mention of weather being a factor.

Fatal crashes plague Montana roads

That train accident was one in a string of fatal traffic accidents across the state over the holiday period. It started with a triple fatality accident on slick roads near Drummond and continued right through New Year's Day. Some, such as the crash that killed a Carbon County woman the day after Christmas, were caused by a combination of drugs, alcohol, and speed. Others have been weather-related.

Friends raise money for Kalispell fire victim

Friends have raised more than $8000 to help the Flathead County man who was critically injured in that fire at a mill outside Kalispell Tuesday night.

Aaron Walker was burned in the blaze, which consumed the Montana Timberline Firewood Company, resulting in millions of dollars worth of damage, according to the Daily Interlake.

Walker was taken to a specialized burn center in Salt Lake. He lived in an RV on the property.

Great Falls still dealing with fireworks fires

The City of Great Falls may have clamped down on fireworks in 2025, but problems continued over New Year's, including a house fire, which investigators say was caused by fireworks.

Firefighters were called to a house in the 700 block of 7th Avenue South on New Year's Eve with the report of fire and smoke coming from the roof of the house. Fortunately, fire crews were able to limit the damage, and the two people inside were unharmed.

     There were reports of aerial fireworks seen just before the blaze.