AGP Executive Report

Helena Schools: The Helena school board unanimously approved adding high school baseball next spring, with local organizers raising $115,000 to cover startup costs—Helena will be among the last AA schools to join the sport. Missoula Cold Case: Prosecutors filed deliberate homicide charges in a 1990 nursing home double murder after modern DNA testing linked a suspect to two victims, decades later. Mental Health Access: A new Missoula summer program from Partnership Health Center aims to keep kids engaged in camp while providing behavioral health support for families. Wildfire Smoke Ready Week: Montana health officials urged residents to protect against PM2.5, recommending HEPA air cleaners or DIY box fans with MERV 13+ filters. Montana Courts/Immigration: Montana’s attorney general asked the state Supreme Court to dismiss a dispute with Gallatin County over access to court records tied to immigration enforcement. Sports & Community: Fort Benton unveiled a mural honoring the 1904 “World Basket Ball Champions” girls basketball team, part of a broader tourism and history push.

Immigration Oversight: A new federal watchdog report says the ICE-run Camp East Montana detention facility in Texas was plagued by unsafe conditions, missing use-of-force reporting, inadequate medical care, and wasteful spending—after rushed contracting and failures to inspect before detainees arrived. Local Courts: Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell asked the Montana Supreme Court to keep her dispute with Attorney General Austin Knudsen moving, arguing it’s a statutory-interpretation fight, not a political question. Public Safety & Wildlife: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks relocated a black bear east of Billings, with officials saying the public stayed safe during the operation. Missoula Infrastructure: The city is planning major road work, including a South 14th Street water main replacement starting June 15, expected to last about 10 weeks. Health & Community: A $25 million endowment will boost rural- and Indigenous-focused medical training through the WWAMI program, adding tuition support for eligible students across Montana and neighboring states. Wildfire Smoke Prep: Gov. Gianforte proclaimed Wildfire Smoke Ready Week, urging Montanans to monitor air quality and prepare for smoke impacts. Missoula Cold Case: A 69-year-old man was charged with deliberate homicide in connection with two murders at a Missoula nursing home more than 30 years ago.

Wildfire Smoke Ready Week: Gov. Greg Gianforte has proclaimed June 8-12 as Montana Wildfire Smoke Ready Week, urging families to check air-quality sources, plan for cleaner indoor air, and protect higher-risk groups as smoke can drift far beyond where fires burn. Behavioral Health Funding: Montana was selected for a four-year Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration, aiming to expand access to mental health and substance-use care with steadier long-term funding. Jobs & Industry: Janicki Industries will build an $800 million manufacturing campus in Great Falls, with plans for about 1,000 jobs in five years and more than 2,000 after completion, prompting both excitement and housing questions. Eastern Montana Storm Damage: Baseball-sized hail battered parts of eastern Montana, shattering windows and damaging ranches and livestock. Grizzly Attack Survivor: A hiker in Glacier National Park says he feels “extremely lucky” after a grizzly charged, bit his forearm, and dragged him about 20 feet. Legal Fight in Gallatin County: A Gallatin County attorney asked the Montana Supreme Court to weigh whether AG Austin Knudsen can take over her office.

Montana Politics: The Montana Senate race is taking shape after Democratic primary upset-winner Alani Bankhead beat Reilly Neill, setting up a fall matchup with Republican Kurt Alme and independent Seth Bodnar. Wildlife & Public Lands: DNRC is weighing whether to permanently close two state trust land parcels near Gallatin Gateway over years of unsafe, unregulated shooting; conservation groups are also appealing BLM’s decision to revoke bison grazing permits on federal land. Grizzlies & Forest Service: A federal court fight is underway over a Helena Ranger District logging/burning project that opponents say would harm grizzly connectivity; meanwhile, a California man is recovering after a Glacier National Park grizzly attack. Wildfire Planning: Missoula County is updating its Community Wildfire Protection Plan, emphasizing living with fire reality and shifting from total suppression to mitigation and safer homes. Health & Cost Pressures: A $3.2 million grant aims to help rural hospitals avoid generic drug shortages by pooling purchasing power for cheaper meds. Statewide Preparedness: A new disaster readiness report ranks Montana 40th overall. Business & Community: Bozeman’s I-Ho Pomeroy Peace Park is set to open in summer 2026, honoring a longtime community leader.

Montana Public Safety: A crash near Wolf Point on U.S. 2 killed one person and sent two others to the hospital with serious injuries; investigators cited alcohol, marijuana, and not wearing a seat belt. Wildlife & Outdoor Safety: A black bear drew a crowd in Lockwood after roaming near homes and schools before authorities responded. Grizzly Attack Aftermath: A San Diego man recovering after a grizzly bear attack at Glacier National Park described how the bear charged and dragged him, leaving major injuries. Online Child Safety: Montana AG Austin Knudsen urged parents to talk with kids about online dangers during Internet Crimes Against Children Prevention Month, citing thousands of cyber tips received by the state. Accessibility Outdoors: A Montana nonprofit is helping people with disabilities access rivers through adaptive equipment and guided outings. Local Economy Watch: GasBuddy reports show midgrade and diesel prices remain volatile across Montana counties, with some of the lowest midgrade and diesel rates clustered in specific areas. Business/Tech in Montana: Mobix Labs signed a binding letter of intent to acquire Montana-based drone maker Vision Aerial, aiming to expand in defense and public-safety aerial intelligence.

Montana Military Exchange: A German Army exchange officer trained with Montana National Guard soldiers at Fort Harrison and earned the U.S. Army Marksman Qualification Badge on his first M4 carbine qualification. Severe Weather Watch: A Level 3 severe storm threat is in play for parts of Montana and the Northern Plains Sunday, with hail and damaging winds possible. Wildlife Update: Yellowstone’s wolf count fell to 84 wolves in eight packs for 2025, down from 108 the year before, with low pup survival and disease suspected; hunting outside the park also took wolves. Local Agriculture in Schools: Helena-area students at Jim Darcy Elementary took part in an Ag Day with hands-on stations on livestock and crops, aimed at building future interest in farming. Health & Safety Spotlight: A watchdog report says solitary confinement continues in prisons, immigration detention centers, jails, and even schools, including allegations tied to Camp East Montana. Sports Honors: Havre’s Kari Fillius was named Class A girls track coach of the year after leading the Blue Ponies to a state title.

Montana Land Swaps: A new Montana Land Board approach is making land exchanges “more political,” shifting authority away from DNRC and speeding up trades of isolated state parcels—raising questions about fair deals for the public. Missoula LDS Temple: Construction has begun on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ first western Montana temple in Missoula, with hundreds attending a groundbreaking ceremony. Weather Watch: Severe storm risk remains in the region, including a Sunday First Alert Weather Day for parts of the northern Plains and southeast Montana, with damaging wind and large hail possible. Public Safety—Baby Box: A Safe Haven Baby Box is coming to the Miles City fire station, offering parents in crisis a safe, anonymous surrender option. Sports—Clev 8-Man All-Stars: The Blue Team beat the Red Team 24-22 in the 42nd Bob Cleverley 8-man All-Star Game in Butte. Opinion: A Montana-focused opinion piece argues the “Cyprus problem” is met with growing apathy, especially among younger residents.

Border & Courts: An Associated Press investigation says the Trump administration has re-separated dozens of children from parents again, despite a landmark settlement meant to reunify families. SNAP: A federal judge halted Trump SNAP funding conditions tied to “gender ideology,” immigration and other requirements, blocking the plan for now. Montana Politics: Democrats in Montana are rallying behind Alani Bankhead after her upset win in the U.S. Senate primary; she’ll face GOP nominee Kurt Alme and independent Seth Bodnar. Wildfire Outlook: Montana officials warn parts of the state face above-normal wildfire risk from drought, wind and warmer-than-average conditions, stressing local volunteer capacity. Local Schools: Helena High and Kumamoto Tamana High formalized their sister-school partnership with a visit from the Kumamoto principal. Tech & Power: Groups in Missoula warned data centers could drive huge electricity demand, with plans cited for hundreds of megawatts by 2030. Public Safety: Montana officials also flagged rising online threats to children during Internet Crimes Against Children Prevention Month.

Federal Courts & Montana Politics: The U.S. Senate confirmed Katie Lane as a new federal district judge for Montana in a 52-46 party-line vote, with Democrats citing an ABA “Not Qualified” rating. Public Safety: Montana officials warned parents during Internet Crimes Against Children Prevention Month as the state’s task force continues to act on online exploitation tips. Wildfire & Forest Health: Montana expanded its Shared Stewardship forest management partnership, adding a third landscape in the Lolo National Forest and bringing nearly one million acres under shared management. Economy & Energy Costs: A new national look shows residential electricity prices rising fastest in many states, with Montana up about 13% year over year. Animal Health: Montana issued emergency import restrictions after New World Screwworm was confirmed in Texas. Local Community: Bozeman opened a new accessible trail in Lindley Park ahead of a busy summer of events. Sports & Community Pride: The Bob Cleverley 8-man All-Star “Clev” returns to Butte tonight, and a historic Engine 25 bell was restored after 68 years.

Western Montana Politics: Aaron Flint, the Trump-endorsed Republican, cruised to victory in the GOP primary and attacked Democratic rivals as “left-wing crazies,” while the Democratic race is set with Sam Forstag after Ryan Busse withdrew. Public Health: The CDC reports U.S. measles cases have topped 2,000 for the second straight year, with Montana among the states seeing confirmed cases. Local Relief for Storm Damage: The SBA says low-interest disaster loans are available for Crow Tribe and Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes businesses, nonprofits, and residents hit by the Dec. 2025 winter storm and straight-line winds. Montana Economy & Agriculture: Montana farm bankruptcies under Chapter 12 tripled in 2025, and economists warn it could get worse without more support. Accessibility in Bozeman: Ability Montana and the city broke ground on a new wheelchair-friendly trail loop at Lindley Park. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports diesel prices in Roosevelt County hit a low of $4.66 for the week ending May 30.

Coal & Jobs: President Trump announced nearly $700M to support coal plants and exports, using a Cold War-era defense law to back 13 plants and build new capacity, with claims of 14,000+ jobs. Montana Politics: Montana’s GOP legislative primaries ended with eight incumbent lawmakers losing, showing a bruising fight between factions and heavy outside spending. ADA Access: Helena will install 50+ ADA ramps in the 6th Ward, funded by a grant plus a city match, with construction running through August. Public Safety & Health: Missoula officers completed behavioral-health crisis response training to help de-escalate mental health emergencies. ICE Lawsuit: Legal groups sued ICE over alleged inhumane conditions at Camp East Montana, including a measles outbreak and medical neglect. Local Business: A Billings boutique opened with a youth program mixing fashion with financial literacy and leadership. Energy & Industry: Sibanye-Stillwater says it’s restarting Montana platinum operations after curtailment, aiming to restore output by late 2026. Weather Watch: Montanans were urged to review severe weather plans as storms move in.

Shared Stewardship: Montana is nearly doubling its forest-management partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, adding a third Shared Stewardship site on the Lolo National Forest for 345,000 acres and bringing the total to about 745,000 acres statewide. Wildfire Prep: State and federal officials met on the 2026 fire outlook, warning that eastern Montana could still see above-normal large-fire potential even as some early-season rain has helped. Foster Care Push: Gov. Greg Gianforte met with federal child-welfare officials to announce a new national initiative aimed at improving foster care outcomes and boosting the availability of licensed foster homes. Aurora Watch: NOAA forecasts a better-than-usual chance to see the northern lights in Montana and much of the northern U.S. Thursday night into Friday. Public Safety & Health: The Board of Public Education suspended a former Clinton teacher’s license after criminal charges in a child sexual abuse case; separate federal charges allege NIH researchers tried to smuggle mpox-related vials into the U.S. Community: Montana residents 55+ are being invited to weigh in on senior services through a confidential statewide survey.

Montana Water Rights: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Montana Water Compact won final approval from the Montana Water Court, formally folding about 300 tribal water rights into the state system and ending years of objections and litigation. Public Safety & Health: A federal lawsuit by the ACLU targets ICE’s Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss, alleging inhumane conditions including a months-long measles outbreak, violent force, solitary confinement, and unsafe living and food conditions. Wildlife & Land Use: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking proposals for conservation groups to run auctions or lotteries for 2027 hunting licenses, including mule deer, elk, mountain goat, antelope, swan, plus competitive auctions for bighorn sheep and Shiras moose. Local Government: Laurel’s mayoral transition continues after Mayor Dave Waggoner’s resignation; Council President Tom Canape will serve until the council fills the vacancy. Community Notes: Billings’ Amend Recreation Campus courts are nearing opening, with sealant curing underway and tournaments already scheduled. Sports & Culture: Montana’s Cleverley eight-man All-Star Game is set for June 6 in Butte, featuring five Seeley-Swan players (with one replacement due to injury).

Montana Politics: Missoula smokejumper Sam Forstag won the Democratic nomination for Montana’s 1st Congressional District, setting up a November matchup with Republican Aaron Flint. Federal Courts & Reproductive Rights: Sen. Susan Collins voted to confirm NIH District of Montana judge nominee Katie Lane, whose record includes efforts to restrict abortion access. Public Safety & Health: Federal prosecutors charged two NIH Rocky Mountain Laboratory researchers in Hamilton with allegedly smuggling deactivated mpox vials into the U.S. through Detroit Metro and lying to investigators. Land & Access: A new Montana land-exchange policy shifts more power to the state Land Board, raising concerns that swaps could favor wealthy interests and reduce public protections. Energy & Reliability: The Montana Public Service Commission is taking public comment on NorthWestern Energy’s 2026 electric plan, which flags a winter 2027 capacity need. Defense Training: CENTCOM launched its 30th “Regional Cooperation” exercise at Fort Harrison in Montana, involving troops from 10 countries.

Montana Politics: Alani Bankhead won the Democratic primary for Montana’s open U.S. Senate seat, beating Reilly Neill, as voters also chose Brian Miller as the Democratic nominee for the eastern U.S. House district and projected Aaron Flint as the GOP nominee for the western district. Local Elections Watch: Early returns showed a tight Republican race for the Public Service Commissioner seat, with Annie Bukacek clinging to a narrow lead while not all precincts were counted. Public Safety: Little Big Horn College in Big Horn County went into lockdown after an anonymous “threat of violence” call, with multiple agencies responding; officials later said there was no ongoing threat. Health & Science: Federal charges were filed against two NIH researchers accused of smuggling deactivated mpox virus into the U.S. from the Republic of Congo and lying to investigators. Community & Kids: Montana’s 2026 Summer Food Service Program launched to provide free meals for kids and teens statewide during summer break. Business/Tech: McDonald’s is testing drive-thru voice AI again in select locations.

Montana Politics & Housing: A Missoula affordable housing project, Franklin Crossing (192 units), advanced at the Montana Board of Housing as it pursues housing tax credits, with the city donating land and other local funding lined up. Public Lands & Recreation: The Trump administration rescinded older executive orders that limited motorized vehicle use on federal lands, a move that could reshape rules across national forests, parks, and other public areas. Foster Care Push: Gov. Greg Gianforte says Montana will join a national collaboration aimed at strengthening foster care, building on the state’s progress in reducing the number of children in care. Economy & Jobs: Janicki Industries selected Great Falls for an $800 million manufacturing campus, targeting 1,000 jobs in five years and more than 2,000 overall. Road Safety: A Fourth of July travel study flags Montana as among the most dangerous states on July 4, with the state also ranking high for the broader holiday period. Wildlife & Courts: A judge rejected a Missoula County attempt to enforce a gravel pit settlement, saying the county lacked a signed written agreement. Food Safety: Montanans are urged to check freezers for a salmonella recall tied to Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese bread sold at Costco.