AGP Executive Report

Montana Water Rights: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes cleared the last legal hurdle for the CSKT-Montana Water Compact, getting final approval from the Montana Water Court that folds about 300 tribal water rights into the state system. Wildfire Readiness: State and federal officials briefed Gov. Greg Gianforte on a wildfire outlook that’s improving in some areas thanks to rain, but still could “turn on a dime,” with eastern and southwestern Montana facing different risk windows. Ranching & Water Law: A court challenge to Montana’s exempt-well rules could reshape stockwater access by forcing more wells into the full permitting process, raising costs and delays for ranchers. Community Support: Valley Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank awarded $8,574 grants to seven Western Montana nonprofits, backing housing, youth programs, healthcare access and rural economic development. Local Health Tech: Kootenai Health in North Idaho installed the da Vinci 5 surgical robot, expanding specialized care and adding another robotic platform to its campus. Workforce Pipeline: Boise State was named lead for a nine-state semiconductor education network (including Montana) aimed at building a regional microelectronics workforce.

Montana Election Watch: CBS projects Democrat Sam Forstag won the primary in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, setting up a November bid to flip the open seat held by GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke. Road Safety: Gov. Greg Gianforte urged drivers to slow down and follow construction signs during a U.S. Highway 89 bridge replacement project south of Choteau. Outdoor & Agriculture Relief: A multi-day rain event brought moisture to parched pasture and hay in parts of north-central Montana, though some winter wheat damage may already be done. Land Use Politics: A new Montana Land Board approach is speeding up state land exchanges, shifting more power to the five-member board and raising concerns about public influence. Local History: A new sign honors the “forgotten five” U.S. Forest Service firefighters who died in the 1931 Waldron Creek Fire. Business in Montana: Janicki Industries selected Great Falls for an $800 million manufacturing campus expansion. Community & Health: A WalletHub study ranked Louisiana among the worst states for nurses, highlighting staffing pressures nationwide.

Montana Politics: Aaron Flint is projected to win the Republican primary for Montana’s 1st Congressional District, setting up a November matchup against the winner of a four-way Democratic race that includes Ryan Busse and smokejumper Sam Forstag. Montana Primaries: In the state’s U.S. Senate race, Republican Kurt Alme has been declared the GOP nominee after Steve Daines withdrew earlier this year, with Alme leading early vote counts. Local Growth & Housing: Columbia Falls city council approved a 421-unit subdivision on former aluminum company land, despite concerns about wildlife impacts and health/safety issues near an EPA Superfund site. Big Jobs in Montana: Janicki Industries selected Great Falls for an $800 million manufacturing expansion, aiming to add major production space and create more than 1,000 jobs over time. Food Security: Montana Superintendent Susie Hedalen announced the 2026 Summer Food Service Program, with free meals for kids 18 and under at participating sites statewide. Community & Health: A chiropractic clinic expanded to Plains, and a Broadview woman delivered petitions to challenge a proposed Quantica data center and related energy plans.

Big Jobs for Montana: Janicki Industries picked Great Falls for an $800 million manufacturing campus, aiming to create 1,000 jobs in five years and more than 2,000 total, with construction starting July 2026 and the first phase expected by end of 2027. Foster Care Push: Montana will join a Trump administration effort to expand foster homes, targeting a shortage of licensed placements for children in care. Public Lands Access: A new Trump executive order rescinds older limits on off-road vehicle use on federal lands, potentially reshaping recreation rules across national forests and parks. Fertilizer Hauling Relief: A federal waiver lets drivers hauling fertilizer in 34 states drive up to 16 hours in 24, easing Hours of Service limits during the summer. Food Recall Alert: Shoppers are urged to check freezers for recalled Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread due to possible salmonella contamination. Local Courts: A judge rejected Missoula County’s bid to enforce a gravel pit settlement, saying the county lacked a signed written agreement. Business & Compliance: Montana regulators proposed steep fines and license revocations for Mr. Bail and its Billings manager after a fatal Missoula-area shooting investigation. Wildlife Conservation: USDA unveiled a framework to help states coordinate big game migration conservation across the West, including Montana.

UM Athletics: A local couple’s $1 million bitcoin donation to the University of Montana Foundation will fund major renovations to Dahlberg Arena’s auxiliary gyms. EPA Cleanup: The EPA proposes cutting the lead cleanup level in Butte residential soils and dust and expanding the sampling/remediation boundary, a move Butte Watchdogs say still drags cleanup too long. Politics: Tuesday’s primaries in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota set up key November matchups, with Montana’s races drawing attention as open seats shape the map. Health & Jobs: PacificSource plans to exit Montana’s individual health insurance market and lay off 97 Oregon workers. Arts in Butte: The Covellite launches the Bell Tower Club, a $20-a-month membership to support live events and preserve the historic venue. Foster Care: Montana will join a federal push to increase the number of foster homes, aiming for more licensed placements for kids entering care. Energy & Economy: AAA reports Montana gas prices still above the national average as oil-market jitters linger.

Montana Politics: Voters head to the polls Tuesday for the 2026 primary, with coverage spotlighting Jeannette Rankin’s legacy as the nation’s first woman elected to Congress and what her story means for Montana today. Public Lands & Wildlife: Federal agencies finalized a long-term management plan for the Flathead River’s wild and scenic “three forks,” moving the decade-long process toward a new conservation-and-recreation era. Energy & Industry: American Pacific Mining has started a 15,000-meter drill program at its Madison copper/gold project in Montana, targeting shallow skarn and deeper porphyry zones. Local Communities: Hardin Public Schools unveiled a new alternative high school facility with a wellness center partnership designed to support students’ academic, emotional, and health needs. Business & Jobs: Montana’s State Auditor is hosting an Investing in Montana Summit in Bozeman aimed at connecting small businesses and startups with investors and regulators.

Montana Health Care: PacificSource is shutting down all Montana operations, leaving about 42,000 members to choose between just two carriers in 2027 after the insurer exits ACA and other plans. Local Housing & Growth: Whitefish City Council will vote on annexing about 18 acres near U.S. 93 and Montana 40, a move tied to a proposed development of up to 256 homes plus commercial space and affordable units. Agriculture & Drought: Montana Ag Network reports drought pressure is forcing ranchers to make tough hay decisions, including lining up feed earlier and weighing selling cattle versus buying carryover hay. Energy & Mining: American Pacific Mining has started a 15,000-metre drill program at its Madison copper-gold project in Montana, targeting shallow skarn and deeper porphyry zones. Wildlife & Safety: New state laws funding wildlife crossings aim to cut animal-vehicle crashes, with Montana listed among states seeing frequent collisions. Culture: Rimrock Opera marks its 40th mainstage production with “La Bohème” in Billings.

Montana Health Care: PacificSource says it’s shutting down all Montana operations—ACA marketplace, employer plans, and Medicare Advantage—leaving about 42,000 members to choose between just two carriers in 2027. Public Safety: The Montana 250th Commission highlighted May public safety, justice and law enforcement, honoring injured Trooper Lewis Johnson and fallen peace officers. Agriculture: Drought pressure is forcing north-central Montana ranchers into tougher hay decisions, including buying carryover feed earlier than normal. Infrastructure & Energy: A major Albeni Falls Dam spillway gate replacement contract aims to speed delivery and improve flood control and recreation management. Business & Consumer Costs: Washington state marketplace insurance premiums could jump more than 20% next year as insurers seek rate increases. Culture & Local Life: Bozeman’s Garden of Beadin’ marked 22 years, leaning on in-person custom work as sales “go gangbusters.” National Politics: States are balking at Medicaid work requirements amid budget crunches, with Republicans acknowledging cuts elsewhere.

Gianforte’s Hi-Line Ag Push: Gov. Greg Gianforte kept his 56 County Tour rolling with stops highlighting rural agriculture, including a Big Sandy poultry operation expanding with a Growth Through Agriculture grant and Liberty County wheat and pulse producers selling globally. Public Lands Hunting Expansion: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says more than 95% of national refuge lands could be open to hunting and fishing, with new opportunities in parts of the Mountain West. Montana Water Rights Fight: Montana’s Supreme Judicial Court ruled abutting landowners lack standing to challenge a cranberry bog sale under Chapter 61A, reinforcing limits on private challenges in agricultural preservation disputes. ICE Detention Scrutiny: A new lawsuit targets conditions at Camp East Montana in El Paso, while reporting continues to raise alarms about suicides among ICE detainees. Healthcare Costs Update: VA data shows Montana saw fewer VA home purchase loans in Q1 2026 than the prior quarter, signaling tighter demand. Rural Power & Data Centers: A proposed Billings-area data center is drawing fresh environmental questions as states debate how to make big projects pay their full utility costs. Local Politics: Montana’s Democratic primary is set to test progressive power, with mailers and ad spending already fueling speculation.

Data Center Debate in Yellowstone County: Quantica Infrastructure says it wants to build a massive Broadview data-center project tied to two large gas-fired power plants, but the plan is raising alarms about water use and environmental impacts. Montana Politics Ahead of Tuesday’s Primary: With Election Day set for June 2, Montana voters face a crowded slate of races, including the western U.S. House seat now open after Ryan Zinke’s retirement. Public Service Commission Race: Five Republicans are competing for two PSC seats, where control over utility regulation could shape power bills—especially as data centers ramp up demand. Local Land-Use Fight in Frenchtown: Missoula County commissioners approved citizen-proposed zoning north of I-90, aimed at limiting a planned Town Pump travel plaza near the high school. Ag on the Hi-Line: Gov. Greg Gianforte continued his 56-county tour highlighting Montana producers, including poultry and wheat operations. Community & Culture: UM’s Grizzly football added Montana Knife Company as an official partner, and a new storm is expected to bring much-needed moisture to parts of southwest Montana.

Montana Politics & Elections: Protesters packed Helena, Missoula, Billings and other towns for the third “No Kings” rally, targeting Trump’s immigration enforcement and broader agenda. Public Safety & Health: Billings KOA Holiday renewed its IBCCES Certified Autism Center designation, adding a Sensory Safe Cabin for autistic and sensory-sensitive campers. Water & Tribes: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes won final approval of the CSKT–Montana Water Compact in Montana Water Court, ending years of negotiations and litigation. Education & Community: Friends of the Children–Western Montana is nearing its goal for a permanent Ronan clubhouse, with $250,000 still needed to expand long-term mentoring for youth and families. Research & Montana Pride: MSU researcher Josias Agustin Mendez received a Distinctive Collections Travel and Access Award to study Indigenous bison stewardship using MSU archives. Weather Watch: Southwest Montana residents brace for a prolonged “soaker” storm bringing widespread rain and possible mountain snow. Business & Energy: A federal fight over who regulates prediction markets is escalating as states challenge the CFTC’s push for enforcement.

Summer Safety Push: AAA is urging Montana drivers to commit to “100 Days of Safe Driving” from Memorial Day to Labor Day, citing that a big share of teen-driver and impaired-driving deaths happen during summer travel. ICE Detention Scrutiny: A report and new details highlight ongoing health concerns at ICE facilities, including overdoses at El Paso’s Camp East Montana and broader alarms about suicides and medical care. Montana Outdoors Under Strain: River guides say climate change is hitting their work and mental health, with “eco-grief” and financial pressure tied to shorter ski seasons and shifting river conditions. Public Lands vs. Logging: Conservation groups are challenging renewed U.S. Forest Service logging and fuels projects around Red Lodge and Burnt Mountain, arguing habitat harm and flawed planning. Elections Watch: Flathead County election officials say early ballots are being rejected for multi-party voting, urging voters to follow instructions closely. Local Health Access: The Humane Society of Western Montana is expanding veterinary clinics on Blackfeet Nation with support from the Slootman Family Fund. Campaign Trail: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rallied in Missoula for Democratic U.S. House candidate Sam Forstag, focusing on affordability and taking on corporate power.

Rail & Regulation: The federal Surface Transportation Board paused the Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, asking for more details by July 27 and pressing for added public input on competition, passenger rail impacts, and environmental review. Montana Agriculture & Water: Drought is worsening across the Great Plains, with Montana in the hardest-hit region for winter wheat, while severe drought designations were extended to 10 Montana counties. Local Economy & Workforce: Gov. Greg Gianforte kept up his 56-county Hi-Line tour, spotlighting Montana beef producers and a Certified Medical Assistant apprenticeship program that just graduated its first cohort. Immigration & Public Health: An AP investigation reports an alarming surge in suicides among ICE detainees, raising questions about oversight as deaths outpace detainee growth. Outdoors & Rights: A proposed Oregon ballot measure would tighten animal-cruelty rules in ways that could criminalize hunting and fishing, a direct concern for Montana’s outdoor culture. Business Moves: United Flow Technologies is buying Belgrade, Montana-based Peak Group Companies to expand water and wastewater services across the Northern Rockies and Plains. Media Access: YouTube TV viewers in western Montana lost access to KPAX, with other outages also hitting KRTV and KXLF.

Montana Economy: Montana’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in April, with payroll jobs up and construction and healthcare leading gains, even as total employment dipped slightly. Critical Minerals & Mining: Red Mountain Mining exercised its option to take 100% ownership of the Pioneer tungsten project in Montana, moving toward rapid exploration near Almonty’s Gentung deposit as tungsten prices surge. Public Lands & Conservation: The Greater Yellowstone Coalition is pushing a new TV ad for the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act, arguing it would designate wilderness in the Gallatin Range while critics say it would cut protections and boost recreation. Healthcare Access: Aaniiih Nakoda College in Harlem will host Montana’s first American Indian Area Health Education Center, expanding culturally grounded training and recruitment for Indigenous healthcare workers. Rural Life & Water: FIIP farmers in Hot Springs protested a proposed fee increase tied to water shortages, saying quotas have left them unable to water crops enough. Community & Culture: Missoula’s River Pines Horse Sanctuary is using horsemanship to help foster kids build self-regulation and confidence. Local Sports: Great Falls’ 2026 horse racing season at ExpoPark was canceled due to budget shortfalls, with organizers seeking partnerships to bring racing back.

Immigration Update: After more than 100 days in detention, Froid resident Roberto Orozco-Ramirez is set to return home after a federal judge ordered his release, though his immigration case could drag on for years. Education & Politics: A GOP chair candidate is drawing scrutiny for claiming membership in the “Founders Club” of a conservative education group tied to scholarship and school-choice efforts. Montana Agriculture: Arlee’s Thunder Road Farm is spotlighted for its sustainable cattle approach, using rotational grazing and avoiding industrial feedlots. Health Insurance: PacificSource says it’s exiting the ACA individual market and leaving Montana entirely, with existing contracts honored but more layoffs expected. Local Culture: Montana-based filmmakers can apply for a Lone Peak Film Festival fellowship, adding mentors including Lily Gladstone. Community Events: Billings is hosting “Barks, Brews, and BBQ” with a dog adoption push this Sunday at 1889 Brewing. Public Safety/Justice: An AP investigation reports ICE detainees are dying by suicide at an “alarming” rate, raising new questions about detention oversight.

ICE Suicide Crisis: An AP investigation says ICE detainees are dying by suicide at an “alarming” pace, with records and inspection reports pointing to failures in mental health care and oversight, including one Missouri case where a detainee’s requests were delayed before he was found unconscious. Wildfire Prep: In Montana and beyond, officials say slash piles left from mitigation projects are still in place after a mild, dry winter limited controlled burns—meant to reduce hazardous vegetation even if they’re inconvenient. Montana Food Policy: USDA approved Montana’s SNAP waiver to block soda, energy drinks, candy, and other “junk food” purchases, joining similar moves in Idaho. Water Court Fight: Crazy Mountain Ranch is asking a judge for “exclusive authority” to run a ditch tied to its golf course, setting up a June 3 hearing amid accusations of past illegal water use. Local Help for Ranchers: Missoula County’s pasture evaluation program is offering free site visits, soil and forage testing, and grazing plan guidance. Politics & Ballots: Independent Senate candidate Seth Bodnar outraised Kurt Alme in pre-primary filings and says it submitted far more signatures than required.