Canadian Travel Drops as Domestic Tourism Remains Flat in Northwest Montana
As summer travel peaks businesses in Northwest Montana are reporting flat domestic tourism compared to 2024 and a 25% decline in Canadian travel amid a weak currency economic uncertainty and tense border relations. In June there was a 22% year-over-year drop in crossings from Canada at the Roosville border crossing near Eureka after a 25% drop in May. The drop in travel and the negative sentiment has prompted Montana’s tourism bureaus to temporarily cease marketing in Canada and have redirected efforts elsewhere.
Fourth Fatality Since 2021: Sibanye Stillwater Mine Worker Dies in Electrical Accident
A Sibanye Stillwater Mine worker died in an electrical accident on Saturday while conducting routine maintenance at the platinum mine near Nye. Mining operations were still closed as of today while the Mine Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident. Despite recent layoffs, about 350 people work in shifts at the South Africa-based Sibanye-Stillwater Mining Company. This marks the fourth fatality at Stillwater Mine since 2021, making it the only site of fatal mining accidents in Montana in recent years.
Governor Gianforte Seeks Applications for Two District Court Judge Vacancies in Yellowstone County
Governor Greg Gianforte is seeking applications and nominations to fill two district court judge vacancies in the Thirteenth Judicial District, Yellowstone County, following the passage of House Bill 913, which added two judges. Eligible lawyers must apply by August 26, 2025. Public feedback on candidates is invited from August 27 to September 26 at nominatejudges.mt.gov, and candidates need at least three support letters to be considered for appointment by the governor.
Veterans Affairs Cutting Nearly 30,000 Jobs
The Veterans Administration plans to reduce its staff by roughly 30,000 employees by September 30th. Montana’s congressional delegation has urged the VA to reverse any decision to cut staffing at VA Montana highlighting potential adverse effects on veterans’ access to care. While the exact number of VA cuts in Montana this fiscal year remains uncertain the state will likely experience some degree of impact from the planned nationwide workforce reductions.
Wildfire Insurance Act: Bridging the Political Divide
One-third of Americans live in wildfire-prone areas. Now Republican Montana Senator Tim Sheehy and Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico have introduced the Wildfire Insurance Coverage Study Act to uncover just how much wildfires are costing homeowners and why insurance companies are pulling back from high-risk areas. Homeowners in states including Montana and New Mexico are seeing their insurance costs skyrocket or are losing coverage entirely.
Montana Counties to receive $46.5 million in federal PILT funding
Counties in Montana will receive $46.5 million in federal payments this year to cover a lack of property tax revenue coming from federal lands that cannot be taxed. According to the Association of Montana Counties the 7.4% increase over 2024 is the largest state payment in the PILT program’s history. They are part of more than $644.8 million that will be distributed to 1,900 state and local governments this year.
Trump administration weighs new coal sales from public lands in Montana Wyoming
Federal officials are taking steps toward reopening 2,600 square miles of public lands in Montana and Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to new coal sales as part of President Donald Trump’s push to expand U.S. fossil fuel production. The bill lowered royalty payments from 12.5% to 7% for companies that mine coal on public lands and has a mandate to make 6,250 square miles available for leasing.
More Headlines:
Gallatin County Commissioners have approved a fee increase for the Fort Ellis Fire Service Area to fund a deal between that department and Hyalite Rural Fire that is an early step toward a potential merger. Because Fort Ellis is a fire area state law requires the fees be assessed as a flat cost for every unit rather than calibrating it based on a percentage of one’s property value which is how fire districts work.
The Stillwater Mine remains closed after a worker died following an electrical incident that occurred underground over the weekend and will resume on a shift-by-shift basis as the investigation continues. The employee was performing routine maintenance on the east side of the mine when the incident happened. Federal officials with the Mine Safety and Health Administration are investigating along with internal investigators.
According to a recent survey by Cheap car rental dot com Bozeman is the most expensive destination in the country to rent a car averaging around $156 a day. According to The Big Sky Business Journal Bozeman airport processes around 7,000 rental cars per day on peak weekends and since there is a 4% sales tax on rental cars that generates about $5 million in state revenues.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans for small businesses and private nonprofit organizations across several counties in Montana affected by drought. Loan amounts can reach up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for private nonprofits with terms extending up to 30 years.
Jay Wood Co-Founder and President of the Southwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry and Services in Deer Lodge has been named the recipient of the Veterans Navigation Network’s second quarter 2025 Salute to Service Award. It honors individuals who go above and beyond in their commitment to improving the lives of veterans and their families.
