Election Watch (Gallatin County): Gallatin County received 18,304 absentee ballots by 12:30 p.m. June 1, with 15,579 accepted so far; ballots can’t be opened until 8 p.m. June 2, and voters have until 5 p.m. June 3 to fix issues like missing four-digit birth years or returning more than one party ballot. Local Elections (Missoula): Missoula County tested its ballot-counting machines ahead of the primary, using dummy ballots and keeping devices offline, with observers and a post-election random sample audit planned. Montana Foster Care Push: Gov. Greg Gianforte says Montana will join a national effort to expand foster homes, citing a drop in kids in foster care from 3,300 in early 2021 to 1,749 now. Education & Access (Great Falls): Touro University is adding a law school and nursing program in Great Falls, with Touro Law Center recruiting for an August 2027 start. Arts in Butte: The Covellite launches the Bell Tower Club, a $20/month membership to support arts and preserve the historic venue. Conservation Concern (Yellowstone region): A proposed emergency logging project near Yellowstone is drawing backlash over potential impacts to wildlife habitat and tourism. Immigration Detention Lawsuit: The ACLU and allies filed suit over alleged “civil rights catastrophe” conditions at Camp East Montana in Texas. Sports (Montana ties): Montana receiver Samori Toure signed with the Eagles, continuing a Montana-to-NFL pipeline.