AGP Executive Report

Montana Sports on National TV: ESPN and The CW announced multiple 2026 broadcasts for Montana State and Montana, including MSU’s Sept. 12 opener at Nevada (CW), Sept. 26 vs. Northern Arizona (ESPN2), and Oct. 2 at Idaho (ESPN), plus Montana hosting Idaho State Nov. 14 on ESPN networks and a USA Network national slot for Montana’s Sept. 19 game at Oregon State. Local Libraries & Community Health: Darby Community Public Library installed an AED and added emergency supplies like Narcan and “Stop-the-Bleed” kits through a statewide effort by The Trust for Montana Libraries. Business & Tech: Bozeman Public Library hosted a discussion on how Montana workplaces are using AI and the concerns around AI-generated content. Great Falls Horse Racing: The Great Falls Turf Club canceled the 2026 ExpoPark horse racing season due to budget shortfalls, saying it’s restructuring finances to bring racing back. State Economy: Montana’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in April, with payroll jobs up and construction and healthcare leading gains. Weather Watch: Billings-area forecasts call for hot conditions through Friday, then a cooler, wetter pattern with storms over the weekend.

Local Traffic & Construction: Missoula is gearing up for a busy summer with MDT resurfacing and pavement work on Reserve Street (39th to Brooks) starting June 1, plus projects on Mullan Road, South 3rd, Toole, Broadway, Beckwith, and Madison—expect lane limits and delays. Public Safety & Health: Montana’s DOJ issued a Missing Endangered Person advisory for 31-year-old Heather Louise Howell, last seen in Missoula May 26, 2025; officials say she may be in danger during a mental health crisis. Wildfire Readiness: A new report warns the West could face a dangerous 2026 wildfire season as national response capacity has eroded, with fewer fully staffed complex incident teams. Sports & Community: UM is selling pieces of Washington-Grizzly Stadium turf from the recent field replacement, and Darby’s Xtreme Bareback event is teaming with NILE in Billings for a $100,000 bonus for riders who win both. Policy & Montana Economy: Montana is moving to adopt Trump’s Medicaid work rules amid budget strain, raising concerns about access to care and department capacity.

Montana Sports: The Grizzlies are rebuilding fast—Missoula added Carroll transfer offensive lineman Wyatt Sandford, a First-Team All-Frontier starter who allowed just two sacks last season. Public Safety: Memorial Day weekend brought a reminder that road design matters—Idaho’s I-84 lane paint near the Idaho Center exit confused drivers and triggered near-miss reports before ITD corrected it. ICE Oversight: An AP investigation says ICE detainee suicides are happening at an “alarming” rate, with officials pointing to failures in mental health care and detention oversight. Food Policy: Montana’s SNAP waiver is approved, blocking purchases of soda, energy drinks, candy and other “junk food.” Wildfire Readiness: Fire officials say slash piles left from last winter’s mild conditions will remain longer than planned, even as they work to reduce wildfire risk. Local Life: East Helena is still processing a student bike hit that reignited crosswalk and traffic-safety concerns near Prickly Pear Elementary.

Water Rights Showdown: Montana ranchers are bracing for a court fight over “exempt wells,” with a Lewis and Clark case raising the stakes for stockwater and small wells if the statute is struck. Health Access: Sidney student Josh Pollari landed a full scholarship to the MedStart Camp in Billings, a grant-funded program built around job-shadowing across medical fields. Fire Weather: Richland County commissioners approved Stage One burn restrictions, tightening what residents can light on non-municipal lands. Community Spotlight: Sidney’s Veterans Memorial Pillars project got a $10,000 America 250 grant and is pushing toward a July 5 dedication. Outdoor Plans: Cochrane Dam will briefly open for a public hike-and-bike crossing loop on June 6, with no water on the route. Sports & Culture: Sam Barber’s grassroots surge earned him Breakthrough Country Artist at the 2026 AMAs. Big Picture: Montana’s unemployment dipped to 3.5% while inflation pressures persist.

Memorial Day Heat & Safety: Montanans marked the holiday under summer-like temperatures, with heat advisories in parts of eastern Montana and a red flag warning tied to hot, dry air and gusty winds—plus daily chances of showers and thunderstorms that could bring damaging gusts and lightning. Rivers Watch: Lower-than-usual flows are already showing up on the Clark Fork and Yellowstone, raising the odds of shallow spots and rougher launches for floaters later in the season. Tourism vs. Wallet: Billings-area travelers say rising fuel and lodging costs are forcing some to cancel summer plans, even as roads toward the Beartooth Highway look busy. Local Government: The Montana Land Board approved a new process for trading state trust land parcels, aiming to better handle landlocked parcels and boost revenue for schools. Community & Remembrance: Memorial Day ceremonies drew crowds across the state, while Great Falls marked the Montana Veterans Memorial’s ongoing mission to honor service.

Native Program Cuts: Senators grilled the administration over proposed FY2027 cuts that would slash Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education funding, eliminate parts of welfare and climate resilience support, and reduce tribal court, law enforcement, and human services—raising fresh treaty-and-trust obligation concerns. Legal Fight Over Water: A federal jury dismissed the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center’s latest bid against Big Sky’s Yellowstone Club, ruling the club wasn’t unlawfully discharging pollutants into the Gallatin River system; Cottonwood says it will appeal. Mental Health Demand: Netcare says mental healthcare demand is still climbing, with patient paid days up 3.4% and new Akeso hospital openings planned, including one in Montana next year. Weather & Safety: Memorial Day brings heat and strong thunderstorms across Montana, with fire danger flagged in parts of the northeast; vets also warn tick season is starting early. Helena Sports Dollars: New federal data show UM, Montana State, and Carroll College each spent well above state averages on women’s basketball in 2024.

Marshals Finale Fallout: CBS’s Yellowstone spinoff wrapped its first season with a brutal cliffhanger—Kayce’s team races to stop an assassination plot tied to Broken Rock, but the finale ends with Cal and Belle ambushed and Tate pulled into the chaos, setting up major danger and possible cast shakeups for Season 2. Public Health: Montana DPHHS says it has equipped every licensed EMS agency statewide with 472 autism-focused Carter Kits so first responders have specialized tools for kids during emergencies. Wildlife Watch: Western painted turtles are crossing busy Montana roads during spring nesting, and Highway 93 near Nine Pipes Reservoir is putting them at high risk—officials say plans for safer crossings have been delayed by funding cuts. Politics: JD Vance is in Iowa, but the trip is being read by supporters as groundwork for a 2028 presidential run. Lottery: Montana Lottery results rolled in May 24 for Big Sky Bonus and Millionaire for Life.

NFL Focus: Patriots QB Drake Maye is set for a bigger look in full-team drills this week, with veteran Hunter Henry betting his Year 2 in the same system will show up fast—especially as New England’s schedule starts with seven road games. Local Watch: In Montana, diesel prices dipped again, with Gallatin County’s lowest reported at $5.32 a gallon for the week ending May 16. Public Lands: The federal Public Lands Rule has been rescinded, a major shift after years of fights over how conservation and other uses are balanced on Bureau of Land Management ground. Health & Growth: Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City is expanding its proton therapy center after a former patient—now 14—broke ground on a project meant to double capacity for patients across the region. Community & Environment: Tribes are suing to stop exploratory graphite drilling in the Black Hills near a sacred meadow used for ceremonies, prayer, and youth camps.

Montana Politics: PacificSource is ending its Montana insurance business and exiting the marketplace by year’s end, leaving about 11,000 individual members and thousands more in other plan categories scrambling for new coverage. Local Public Safety: Bozeman police are asking for help finding 10-year-old Kathleen Lopez, last seen near Rosa Way in rollerblades. State Land Rules: The Montana Land Board voted to change land-exchange rules for the first time in over 20 years, including limits on DNRC’s ability to block deals. Infrastructure & Growth: Livingston is moving toward a Love’s Travel Stop, with details still under review. Sports & Community: A Billings Memorial Day parade drew hundreds of veterans and supporters, while a Freeman high jumper cleared 7 feet to break a school record. Odds & Ends: Powerball and other lottery results rolled in Saturday, and Montana diesel prices were reported near $5.33–$5.49 in several counties.

Hollywood Spotlight: Miley Cyrus got emotional as she unveiled her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, calling it an “accumulation of devotion” and thanking fans, family, and her team—while online chatter also swirled around her fiancé Maxx Morando after a clip of him being asked to step out for photos. Public Safety: Montana’s auditor-linked proposal would tighten rules for bail bond agents, requiring temporary-license agents to have a fully licensed agent present during apprehensions after a Missoula fatal shooting tied to unsupervised temporary agents. Housing Pressure: In Missoula, residents of Katoonah Lodges formed a tenants union after an out-of-state owner raised rents twice in a year, pushing new lot rents far above what current residents pay. Environment & Land Use: The BLM rescinded a rule that had treated conservation as a legitimate public-lands use on par with development, undoing a system that could have funded restoration or protection. Energy & Weather: A U.S. Space Force nighttime Minuteman III deterrence test reaffirmed nuclear readiness, while NOAA’s summer outlook points to widespread above-average heat across much of the West, including Montana.

Hollywood Spotlight: Miley Cyrus got emotional as she unveiled her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, calling it “an accumulation of devotion” and thanking family and fans. Housing Pressure: New data keeps showing how home prices are outpacing pay—Idaho, Washington, Nevada, California, Oregon, and others logged huge decade gains, with Montana-area readers likely feeling the squeeze. Montana Roads & Travel: Beartooth Highway is partially open to Vista Point, with crews pushing to clear the rest after a winter-storm delay. Local Infrastructure: MDT is proposing to replace six bridges on Old US Highway 10 between Greycliff and Big Timber, with construction tentatively set for 2027. Public Safety: Montana’s “100 Deadliest Days” is underway, and officials say impaired-driving fatalities are rising even as overall crash numbers are down. Energy Watch: Yellowstone County heard plans for a battery energy storage project near Billings, part of a broader wave of power-demand and development proposals.

Health Insurance Shake-Up: PacificSource says it’s exiting the ACA market and will pull out of Montana entirely, affecting about 42,000 members, with no coverage changes through the end of 2026. Public Safety: Missoula County prosecutors filed 12 new felony complaints this week, including violent crimes, sex assault cases, and multiple felony DUIs tied to repeat offenders. Corrections & Reentry: Gov. Gianforte toured the Flathead Valley Reentry Center in Evergreen, a DOC-run facility meant to help people transition back into the community. Local Justice: A Missoula case describes a probationer accused of meth possession after a “hand-to-hand” tip. Housing & Cost Pressure: New reporting highlights how home prices have surged far faster than wages over the past decade, worsening affordability. Wildfire Readiness: A wildfire preparedness column warns evacuations can happen fast—especially when communities aren’t ready. Tech & Power Debate: Records show a proposed Broadview AI data center is considering multiple power sources, including natural gas.

Data Center Debate: Missoula residents heard a warning that proposed Montana data centers could strain power and local infrastructure, with NorthWestern Energy letters of intent tied to plans for 850–1,400 megawatts by 2030—enough to power about a million homes at the high end. Public Safety & Courts: A Missoula deputy found not guilty in a speeding case tied to a deadly convoy crash is arguing the law used is outdated. Corrections Update: Gov. Gianforte toured Montana’s new Flathead Valley reentry facility, now operating for six months and graduating its first residents. Native Education: Montana is expanding American Indian tuition waivers starting July 1, removing a blood-quantum requirement and widening eligibility—drawing mixed reactions. Local Governance: Stevensville saw its third official resignation in months, citing unclear direction. Tech/Connectivity: AT&T outages hit parts of Montana, including Great Falls offices, with 911 still working.

Drought Watch: A new U.S. Drought Monitor map shows “extreme” to “exceptional” drought stretching across the West, High Plains, South and parts of the Southeast, with some areas hitting the worst category. Montana Relief Effort: Governor Gianforte says USDA has designated ten Montana counties for drought disaster aid, opening the door to emergency Farm Service Agency loans for eligible farmers. Roads & Safety: A new transportation study flags U.S. 191 in Gallatin Canyon as Montana’s No. 2 priority, estimating $350 million in needed improvements for the busy corridor. Politics: A Montana Free Press-Eagleton poll finds Ryan Busse leading favorability among Democrats in the Western District primary, while Christi Jacobsen tops Republicans. Local Life: Great Falls residents reported phone and internet trouble tied to an AT&T outage that also hit city non-emergency dispatch—officials urged people to use an alternate number. Community & Culture: The Missoula Marathon is sold out early, with 1,700 runners registered.

Deadliest-Drive Warning: Montana is rolling out fresh “Welcome to Montana” signs just as Memorial Day kicks off the state’s “100 Deadliest Days,” and the Montana Highway Patrol is urging sober rides, seat belts, and speed discipline. Local Enforcement: Bozeman police are adding Memorial Day patrols across Gallatin County to curb impaired driving. Public Safety Beyond Roads: In New Mexico, three people died and first responders were sickened after exposure to an unidentified substance at a rural overdose call. Food Policy: Montana’s SNAP waiver is now approved, banning soft drinks, candy, and junk food purchases. Roadwork & Planning: MDT is asking Montanans to map future transportation needs, while I-90 resurfacing and new roundabout construction are set to bring summer delays. Community Notes: Butte’s Chinatown carwash debate continues, and a Laurel mayor resignation triggers a special Sept. 3 election.

AI in the Produce Aisle: Albertsons is rolling out AI-powered produce checks across thousands of stores, aiming to flag bruising, overripeness, discoloration, and freshness issues before “squishy fruit” hits shelves—good news for anyone who’s bought strawberries that didn’t make it home. Water Worries: Montana’s drought pressure is still building, with federal data showing much of the state’s snowpack well below normal and melting far ahead of schedule. SNAP Crackdown: Montana is set to restrict SNAP purchases on junk-food items, joining a growing list of states tightening what people can buy with benefits. Road and Bridge Work: Crews are actively repairing bridges in Butte and Southwest Montana, as aging infrastructure and funding gaps keep piling up. Local Spotlight: A Butte attorney, Ivy Newman Fredrickson, was named “Best Attorney” in a community contest, while Montana’s nursing homes continue to see CMS ratings and fines in the background.