Montana education remains stable despite federal layoffs
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision is allowing President Donald Trump to proceed with laying off approximately 1,400 Department of Education employees but the Montana Office of Public Instruction says there are currently no known effects on local education. In the event federal funding becomes unavailable it will assess how best to support Montana school districts on an individual basis.
Canadian visits to the U.S. drop 33% in June impacting Montana tourism
Canadians account for about 8% of non-resident Montana visitors and they are still visiting but the numbers are declining. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection says Canadian crossings into Montana have declined at every port of entry. Citing Statistics Canada Forbes reports the number of Canadians visiting the United States declined 33% in June following a 38% decline in May.
Legislature overrides Gianforte’s veto of bill reimbursing county jails for holding state inmates
The Montana Legislature has voted to override Governor Greg Gianforte’s veto of House Bill 643 to reimburse local jails for holding inmates waiting for a bed at the state mental hospital. Currently the Department of Corrections does not reimburse counties at all for the cost of holding inmates waiting for a bed at the Montana State Hospital or other state facilities. HB 643 appropriates one-time funding of $6 million from the state’s Behavioral Health System for Future Generations fund to reimburse counties for Department of Public Health and Human Services inmates.
Measles case identified in Cascade County
Public health officials in Cascade County said Wednesday they’re investigating its first confirmed case of measles in an adult resident. Since April the state had reported 26 total cases in six counties and Cascade now makes seven.
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Avelo Airlines is pulling out of Glacier Park International Airport and the Flathead Valley transit hub will lose its connection to the Los Angeles area and Central California. Avelo started flying out of Glacier Park International Airport in May 2023 after becoming the first new airline in the U.S. in nearly 15 years in the Spring of 2021.
Three Jefferson County men have a chance to fill the vacant House District 75 seat after Representative Marta Bertoglio was tapped to lead the Department of Commerce. A final decision will be made at next Tuesday’s regular County Commission meeting and whomever is selected will represent around 10,800 residents. The Clancy Republican’s term would’ve lasted into 2026.
A Naturalization Ceremony took place Wednesday at the United States District Court in Billings and roughly 50 people became American citizens. They came from all six regularly inhabited continents including several from Mexico Canada Germany the Philippines and China. The ceremony was presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan.
Law enforcement agencies across Montana Idaho Washington Oregon and Alaska will be increasing patrols to try and catch speeding drivers from July 20th through July 26th. Coordinated patrols will take place across state lines during that time and drivers should expect to see an increased law enforcement presence wherever their summer travel plans may be.
The rainbow Pride flag can now fly over Bozeman City Hall after city commissioners voted to make the rainbow Pride flag an official city flag this week. It allows the mayor and city manager to choose when and where to fly it on city property. The resolution does not alter or replace the current city flag.
An unaccompanied veteran is someone who had no family to retrieve their remains or take care of them. Wednesday the Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel held its quarterly unaccompanied veteran memorial and four unaccompanied veterans were laid to rest. Richard Mundt Kevin Nelson David Hargett Sr. and Hugh Frankson.
