Author: Brian Bennett

The state’s public health laboratory ran 2,193 tests by Wednesday evening and is currently running more than 300 a day submitted from all over the state. The number  of test kits in the state is hard to quantify because health care providers are constantly using what’s available but 3,000 test kits from the CDC were received last week.

Bus drivers are protesting the Bozeman School District’s decision not to pay their bus company First Student while schools are closed for the coronavirus emergency complaining Bozeman is the only district in Montana not paying drivers. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 381 represents some 46 Bozeman drivers and school bus monitors.

Flathead County residents can expect changes to local public transportation now through April 13th due to a shortage of drivers the department is experiencing amid the coronavirus outbreak. All Eagle Transit Kalispell City and Tri-City Commuter routes have been canceled.

Governor Steve Bullock told counties Wednesday they can choose to conduct an all-mail election in the June 2nd primary. Bullock said he made the decision in consultation with Secretary of State Corey Stapleton, County Election Administrators, Public Health Experts, Emergency Management Professionals, and Political Leaders from both parties.

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation has awarded $450,000 to 86 organizations that provide basic needs to our communities in response to  the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants in varying amounts will be distributed to community net safety programs statewide. For More Information Visit: The Dennis and Phyllis Foundation Website

Governor Steve Bullock has requested a waiver from the federal government to streamline frontline health care providers’ ability to access much-needed health services available through Medicare Medicaid and CHIP to respond to COVID-19. The waiver will give Montana the regulatory flexibility to implement changes to expand capacity as needed to ...

Flathead Valley residents are taking advantage of spring open burning season to get outside and practice social-distancing with COVID-19 in mind. They are completing annual fuels-reduction work around their homes and property burning branches and making progress with cleanup. Multiple widespread high wind events over the  past winter resulted ...

Attorney General Tim Fox and other attorneys general urged Amazon Facebook eBay Walmart and Craigslist to more rigorously monitor price gouging practices by online sellers using their services. Anyone with coronavirus-related consumer complaints should call the Montana Department of Justice’s Office of  Consumer Protection.

Coronavirus may be keeping children from their classrooms but this week in Butte   The classroom is being taken to the students online. The approximately 400 students in Butte’s Catholic schools will be learning from home as all K through 12 classes will be taught over the internet.

The Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard Major General Matt Quinn has ordered that it institute a closed base policy to protect all employees in accordance with the national and state declarations of emergency concerning COVID-19.  The new policy limits access go Montana National Guard installations and facilities.