Fewer People Camping In Yellowstone National Park This Year
So far this year fewer campers are choosing to stay in Yellowstone National Park campgrounds according to the National Park Service’s online statistics page. The website shows a nearly 30% drop in recreational vehicle camping through this July when compared to July 2025. Overnight tent stays have declined by 21% compared to last year. Backcountry camping stays have fallen by almost 2%.
States With the Biggest Decreases in Unemployment Claims – WalletHub Study
New unemployment claims nationwide decreased by week-over-week on August 4th. They were also lower compared to the same week last year. The personal-finance website WalletHub has released updated rankings for the States Where Unemployment Claims Are Decreasing the Most. Montana ranks 4th on the list. Montana ranks 9th in claims per 100,000 people in the labor force.
VA staffing shortages impact veterans in Washington Idaho Montana
An audit by the Inspector General’s Office highlights severe staffing challenges within the Veterans Affairs system in key positions like psychology and psychiatry. The audit followed a series of deadly tragedies involving veterans facing mental health challenges. Combat veteran Michael Brown was arrested for a mass shooting at the Owl Bar in Butte August 1st that left four people dead. His niece Clare Boyle says Brown suffered from mental health issues following deployment.
Montana Supreme Court upholds fine for insurer’s policy transfer missteps
The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a $250,000 fine against Victory Insurance for mishandling workers’ comp policy transfers after officials determined it failed to properly notify policyholders during a business transfer. The penalty was imposed by the state’s Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown sending a clear message to the insurance industry about the importance of compliance.
Travel Boycott Cuts Canadian Visitors to Montana
Canadian tourism to Montana is on the decline with cross-border visits down more than 30% compared to last summer. Fewer people are crossing at high-traffic areas like Sweetgrass and Roosville which are down by almost a third. Americans are still coming to Glacier and booking hotel rooms but numbers are flat partially due to the lack of Canadians.
More Headlines:
Helena voters will decide the fate of a $283 million bond issue that could include a complete rebuild of Helena High School long criticized for leaking roofs freezing classrooms and outdated safety measures. District leaders say it isn’t just a fix but a chance to reimagine education in The Queen City for the next generation.
People paying off fines in Bozeman Municipal Court will have a chance to clear up what they owe soon through donating food items to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. The city’s first “food for fines” event will be held September 5th from 8 to 4 at the Public Safety Center. Defendants can bring in donations and receive $10 off their fines for each item for up to a $200 credit.
A petition submitted by Lincoln County commissioners to ease selenium standards in Lake Koocanusa met resistance at a public meeting held by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality this week. Several participants at the meeting though argued ongoing sampling proved the stricter standard was necessary to protect fisheries in Lake Koocanusa.
Last weekend Wardruna played at the Fire in the Mountains Festival at the Blackfeet Nation’s Red Eagle campground in the Montana wilderness. Through the sale of a limited-edition t-shirt designed by a student in the Blackfoot Nation the Norwegian metal band raised and donated $14,000 to Firekeeper Alliance to help address suicide rates within the indigenous population.
New workforce housing has opened behind Buck’s T-4 a longtime Big Sky establishment undergoing renovations by its current owner Lone Mountain Land Company. The Knight Building is named after Buck and Helen Knight who founded Buck’s T-4 Lodge in 1946.
