The United States Postal service reports its network in Montana is operating effectively with no known issues. It is maintaining regular contact with the Montana Secretary of State’s office and local election boards to address any issues concerning ballots for the election Tuesday that may arise. It sent out a press release saying the USPS is committed to the timely delivery of Election Mail in Montana.
With Election Day coming up Tuesday because of House Bill 196 passed and signed into law during the 2023 legislative session counting votes will be different. Once counties start tabulating them on Election Day they must continue without adjournment until all available ballots that can be legally counted have been tabulated except for provisional ballots and military votes.
Republican Tim Sheehy and Democrat Jon Tester made final pitches to Montanans over the weekend as to who should serve as Montana Senator for the next six years in the seat currently held by Tester. They are locked in a dead heat according to the 37th annual Mountain States Poll conducted by Montana State University-Billings while other polls show a tight margin. Sheehy narrowly leads Tester 50% to 46%, with 3% undecided, according to Emerson College Polling and The Hill.
The U.S. Justice Department will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Blaine County for the November 5th general election. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.
The Butte Food Co-Op has been awarded $149,280 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The funding will support the development of a community-owned cooperative grocery store increasing access to fresh locally sourced food.
This evening the Whitefish City Council will hold a discussion regarding community housing as it provides feedback to the municipality’s housing committee. The roadmap is designed as a framework with a range of strategies to drive action to address community housing needs over the next five years.
Chronic wasting disease was recently detected in an elk on the north end of the Ruby Mountains south of Twin Bridges in Hunting District 322. Sampling from hunter-harvested animals indicates CWD prevalence likely remains low though in elk in the area.
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Lincoln County recently welcomed six new members to its CASA team. The volunteers completed 30 hours of pre-service training and took an oath to act in the best interest of children and to support and strengthen families who are before the court as a result of abuse and neglect.
Sierra will open in Helena’s Skyway Regional Shopping Center next Saturday. The multichannel off-price retailer that offers active and outdoor brands has made a $10,000 donation to Helena Food Share to celebrate.
In the Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park researchers estimated there are twice as many black bears when compared to any other area in the northern Rocky Mountains. Bordered to the south by the Yellowstone and Lamar river basins the Northern Range contains about 20 black bears for every 62 square miles of terrain. In comparison most other areas in the northern Rockies have six to 12 black bears per 62 square miles.
