MT marijuana providers, regulators assess industry as testing laboratories fall in numbers
Montana officials and marijuana providers gathered in Helena Wednesday to sort through the tenuous position of an industry with as much product as ever but only a single testing laboratory to verify it’s safely void of pesticides. The 2025 Legislature adjourned hardly a month ago but the meeting provided some material for lawmakers to begin mulling over as they work in the next 18 months to prepare for 2027.
Billings Bypass Nears Completion, Expected to Open by July 4th
The Billings bypass project has been a work in progress for years but the end may be near, at least for the I-90 to highway 312 in the heights section. Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund says he’s been told it might open July 4th. He explains what it is.
John Ostlund
Starting Monday, drivers should expect delays due to repaving near Johnson Lane and Coulson Road through June 13. The $127 million Billings Bypass Project, set for completion in 2029, will connect I-90 at Johnson Lane to Main Street in the Heights at the intersection of Highway 312 and U.S. 87.
Bipartisan PROTECT Act Aims to Fight Drug Trafficking in Tribal Communities
U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tina Smith of Minnesota, along with Representatives Ryan Zinke of Montana and Rick Larsen of Washinton, announced the bipartisan PROTECT Act to fight drug trafficking in tribal communities. The bill expands Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction to prosecute non-Native traffickers and allows tribal courts to execute warrants for electronic evidence. The goal is to strengthen efforts against tribal drug crimes.
A large western Montana wildfire is burning weeks earlier than normal
One of the biggest wildfires in the American west right now is burning about 4 miles north of Plains in western Montana’s Sanders County. As of Wednesday the Banana Lake Fire had scorched 929 acres and is 5% contained.
FAA issues temporary airspace restrictions for unnamed ‘VIP’ traveling to Missoula
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced airspace restrictions at the Missoula airport from Saturday to next Tuesday for an unnamed “VIP” a move generally reserved for people like the President of the United States or other high-ranking government officials. The airspace restrictions will not be a blanket closure for flying over Missoula but passenger aircraft could experience “minimal delays” of 5 to 10 minutes.
Wildfire season ‘could be significant’
According to WildfireRisk dot org Montana has a higher risk of wildfires this year than 74% of states in the U.S. Additionally more than half of all homes in Montana are at high risk of “direct exposure” which the organization defines as homes that “may be ignited by adjacent vegetation flying embers or nearby structures.”
Montana population growth slows though some hot spots remain
Montana’s population growth rate has declined from the rapid-fire increases of the COVID-19 pandemic but according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau Kalispell has kept its title as the state’s fastest growing city. Great Falls has been the only large Montana city to consistently lose population since the 2020 census. Migration has been the primary driver of Montana’s population growth in recent years.
More Headlines:
Kalispell may see a new workforce housing complex located alongside the Parkline Trail and within walking distance of downtown. Affordable housing developer Mach LLC is proposing a 24-unit apartment complex off Appleway Drive just south of U.S. 2. Three will be set aside for veterans victims of domestic violence or young people aging out of foster care and will be rented at roughly 30% below the average market rate.
The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a rise in illegal dumping incidents and is urging the community to help identify those responsible. If anyone sees someone dumping tires trash car parts or other items on the roads they should contact dispatch immediately. The community’s cooperation is essential in addressing the issue and holding the culprits accountable.
After recently holding public seminars around the state to hear from the public Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks wants to make sure everyone’s voice is heard when it develops its new Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan. Mule deer hunters and anyone else in the general public may post comments on FWP’s website through June 27th.
Data from about 40,000 people was stolen by hackers during a February cyberattack on Lee Enterprises. The company owns 72 papers in 25 states including the Billings Gazette Missoulian Helena Independent Record Ravalli Republic and 406mtsports dot com. Lee is offering affected individuals 12 months of credit monitoring services at no cost through a third-party vendor.
Bicyclists and hikers will be able to access and cross over the Missouri River at Cochrane Dam Saturday from 9 to 3. The dam is normally closed to public access but each summer NorthWestern Energy and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks team up to provide this opportunity for hikers and bikers to experience the trails along both sides of the Missouri River near Great Falls on National Trails Day.
