Yellowstone visitation statistics for August 2025
Yellowstone National Park hosted 881,936 recreation visits in August up 2% from August 2024. So far in 2025 the park has hosted 3,547,967 recreation visits up 2% from 2024. The park’s record-breaking year was 2021 with over 4.8 million recreation visits. This August’s visitation showed a 4% decrease from August 2021.
District court judge temporarily blocks Governor Gianforte’s ability to suspend PSC president
Lewis and Clark County District Court judge Mike Menahan temporarily blocked Governor Greg Gianforte Thursday from being able to suspend Public Service Commission President Bad Molnar from the commission. Gianforte had yet to weigh in on PSC vice president Jennifer Fielder’s request for suspension during an internal human resource investigation concerning Molnar.
Montana’s unemployment rate lower than national average but job growth lags
New metrics released Thursday highlight the differences in employment trends between the national and local levels. Locally the Montana Department of Labor and Industry provided a comparison to the national situation. The U.S. unemployment rate currently stands at 4.3% while Montana’s rate is more favorable at 2.8%.
High-ranking tribal official resigns from state health department cites ‘recent events’ as reason
According to an email obtained by Montana Free Press the state health department’s highest-ranking official focused on American Indian health is resigning from her position. Stephanie Iron Shooter was the third person to hold the position since it was established in 2015 to address health disparities among Native Americans.
Montana court clarifies subrogation rights for insurers
The Montana Supreme court has clarified when insurers can recover payouts after an accident setting a clear standard for subrogation timing and policy coverage. The ruling highlights the importance of understanding policy terms coverage scope and the timing of key considerations for those managing claims and risk in today’s insurance and mortgage landscape.
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Bozeman-based American Prairie has purchased the Anchor Ranch in Blaine County from the Wilks Brothers and plans to reopen public access to nearly 50,000 acres of adjoining public land by allowing travel on the Bullwhacker Road. The nonprofit also announced the purchase of two other parcels Thursday boosting its total holdings to 603,657 acres in Montana.
The Human Resources Development Council in Bozeman is planning to open a new 130-person capacity homeless shelter Monday. Homeward Point on Griffin Drive will replace the current Warming Center on Wheat Drive. The shelter sits right behind Market Place and cost about $16.4 million.
Recent findings from Oxford Economics suggest higher unemployment among recent college graduates is linked to a structural shift in the tech sector with entry-level positions increasingly displaced by artificial intelligence. The good news is Montana ranks 36th among the 50 states in terms of AI exposure indicating jobs in Montana are less threatened by AI company than other states.
Wednesday’s Powerball drawing was for an estimated $1.4 billion but nobody won the big prize. One lucky Montanan did walk away with $2 million before a 24% federal tax is taken out along with a 5.9% state tax. According to CNN it was the sixth-largest jackpot in American history.
The Missoula Consolidated Planning Board has voted to recommend the city approve a Spokane developer’s plan for a 671-home subdivision called Paisley Park. The project would take place on 40 acres of former farmland southeast of the Missoula airport that is currently vacant.
