AGP Executive Report

Western Governors: Gov. Josh Green took over as chair of the Western Governors’ Association, pitching a “Health Beyond Healthcare” focus and planning a December Hawaii meeting tied to Pearl Harbor commemorations. Immigration & mental health: New reporting on Camp East Montana describes “systemic neglect” in how a detainee’s mental health crisis was handled, including suicide-related details. Local immigration policy in Helena: Helena Democratic lawmakers urged the City Commission to pass a revised immigration resolution, after the city rescinded an earlier version amid pressure from the state AG. Data centers & growth: Yellowstone County Democrats are seeking a two-year moratorium on large data centers, arguing Montana lacks targeted rules and that the rush may not benefit communities. Wildfire prevention partnerships: CitroTech expanded its certified wildfire-defense partner network to 13 organizations, adding Montana as part of its growth. Montana culture & community: The Montana Tapestry Project is spotlighting state history at the Red Lodge Carnegie Library, with banners designed to broaden who gets featured. Higher ed leadership: UM’s new president, Jeremiah Shinn, says his priority is making campus life easier for students as he begins his tenure. National parks travel: A roundup looks at all 63 national parks and how 2026 changes could affect visits.

University Leadership: Jeremiah Shinn officially takes the helm of the University of Montana, promising a smoother student experience from classrooms to residence halls. Public Health & Education: Terry Public Schools is moving to update its social studies curriculum for grades 6-12, starting with new materials and a pilot approach for younger students. Higher Ed Access: Carroll College names Ollis director of its Master of Social Work program, highlighting an online, clinically focused path aimed at boosting behavioral health professionals. Animal Health: U.S. Rep. Troy Downing toured Rocky Vista University’s future veterinary college site, targeting a summer 2027 opening and about 125 students. Food & Community: Abundant Montana pushes to raise the share of food grown in Montana to one-third by 2033, while Roberts celebrates Schuyler Commons, a rural workforce housing project for teachers. Culture & Civic Life: “United in Coffee” in Stillwater County is building bridges through a weekly, nonpartisan conversation. Environment: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks stopped a zebra mussel–fouled boat from launching near Georgetown Lake. Indigenous History: Montana marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Greasy Grass with major gatherings and music, including a Victory Day 2026 Indigenous punk benefit. Arts & Events: Helena’s Around the Town roundup spotlights local art, book events, and live music.

Medicaid in Montana: July 1 marked the start of new community engagement requirements for Medicaid expansion. Most adults ages 19–64 must document 80 hours a month of approved activities (work, school, training, volunteering) to keep coverage, with exemptions and a process for handling them. Local politics & transparency: A Missoulian review digs into “dark money” spending tied to A Better Big Sky, a 501(c)(4) that funds other groups while keeping donors off public tax returns. Public safety: A Helena-area case highlights a skate park assault that led to a 12-year prison sentence and a no-contact order. Environment & access: The Forest Service plans to fast-track salvage logging after wind storms in western Montana, aiming to address blowdown impacts while navigating wilderness limits. Culture & community: Montana’s Great American State Fair booth is drawing visitors with an interactive dinosaur fossil dig, tying state history and outdoor identity to the nation’s 250th celebration. Immigration updates: Reports of ICE activity and detentions continue around Gallatin County, with local groups providing support to families. Community life: Choteau’s July 4 plans are packed with parades, concerts, races, and fireworks benefiting local programs.

Water & Community Legacy: Singley Drilling in Central Montana marked 115 years of finding water, tracing its start in 1911 to today’s fourth-generation leadership. Rural Food Security: A University of Montana report highlights how rural families face barriers to SNAP/WIC, while local food markets and community “hub” efforts try to close the gap. Local Funding Boost: AARP Montana awarded nearly $180,000 in Community Challenge grants for trails, parks, sidewalks, public spaces, aging-in-place housing ideas, and telehealth training. Civic Youth Spotlight: Students from Glendive, Terry, and Fallon attended Montana American Legion Boys State, running mock elections and court cases at Carroll College and the Capitol. Small-Town Culture: Choteau’s Independence Day plans are packed with parades, rodeo events, fireworks fundraisers, and community band and festival activities for the nation’s 250th. Immigration Enforcement Watch: Reports of ICE activity and detentions continue in Gallatin County, with local groups estimating dozens of detentions in the past week. Arts & Montana Pride: Archie Bray’s 75th anniversary celebrates how Helena’s clay community has shaped artists for decades.

Rural Education & Opportunity: A Helena High grad is among Smithsonian’s first rural internship class, with hands-on work at the National Zoo and plans to bring early childhood programming back to Montana. STEM & Workforce: Montana Tech outlined new energy, environmental, broadband, and behavioral health training expansions under incoming chancellor Dr. Johnny MacLean. Campus Recognition: UM named its 25 Under 25 alumni honorees for 2026, spotlighting young Montanans building careers and community impact. Local Arts & Community: Livingston’s Festival of the Arts returns July 2–4 with 100+ artists, plus a spotlight on local painter Jamie Thompson. Indigenous History: Thousands gathered at the Little Bighorn battlefield for the 150th anniversary, with tribal horse rides and renewed focus on sovereignty and memory. Health & Youth Programs: Bozeman-based Bridgercare lost a $1M federal teen pregnancy prevention grant, threatening evidence-based sex ed for adolescents. Sports & Pride: Montana State University awarded Cameron Presidential Scholarships, while UM’s Bobby Kennedy agreed to a new four-year contract through 2029. Culture Calendar: Community Calendar listings run July 1–4, including library events and local meetings.

University of Montana & Community Pride: UM’s Alumni Association named 25 Under 25 honorees for 2026, spotlighting young grads already shaping communities from Missoula to beyond. Sports & Local Identity: Bobby Kennedy and the Montana Grizzlies agreed to a new four-year contract through the 2029 season, keeping him in Missoula and doubling down on recruiting and outreach. Women’s Rights in the Spotlight: Montana AG Austin Knudsen praised a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding state bans on transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s school sports. Health & Safer Care: Sidney Health Center earned a 2026 Quality Improvement Award for infection-prevention work, including standardized isolation room turnover. Arts & Summer Plans: Livingston’s Festival of the Arts returns for its 38th year July 2–4, with 100+ artists and a debut by local painter Jamie Thompson. Native History Milestone: Montana marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Greasy Grass/Little Bighorn, revisiting how different communities remember the same turning point. Community Giving: Livingston HealthCare Foundation’s Alpenglow Gala raised support for rural healthcare needs, honoring local philanthropic leaders. Education & Creativity: Newberry High School in Montana added a dedicated art teacher, with an AP Art course planned next year. Tech for Kids: NSF-backed teams advanced in the Presidential AI Challenge, showing how mentored, hands-on AI learning can turn into real classroom problem-solving. Local Business Growth: U.S. Critical Materials Corp. relocated its headquarters to Darby and launched its Sheep Creek Project website.

School Funding Fight: A Montana School Funding Interim Commission meeting drew sharp criticism over “successful” district stats and a statewide proficiency picture that still sits around 37%, while advocates argue for big new revenue and others warn proposals could shift tax burdens in uneven ways. Homelessness in Rural Montana: A new HUD-linked report shows Montana’s chronic homelessness rising dramatically, with small towns relying on churches, social services, and law enforcement for short-term help. Entrepreneurship & Gigs: Montana’s side-job and small-business boom is opening doors for workers, with net-positive business creation continuing year over year since 2014. Community Sports & Youth: Belgrade Scouts honored a teen for lifesaving bravery, and Great Falls hosted Montana’s free kicking camp—spotlighting how local coaching builds skills and confidence. Local Food & Lifestyle: Bozeman welcomed a dedicated vegan comfort-food spot, while Missoula’s Lighthouse Espresso story shows how community roots can turn into new small-business energy. Culture & Identity: An AP-NORC poll finds Americans’ views on flying the American flag split sharply by politics, age, and race.

Montana Public Safety & Justice: Attorney General Austin Knudsen appointed Kimberly Kutch as the Montana Department of Justice Forensic Science Division administrator, aiming to keep the state crime lab’s work running at “high standards.” Wildfire Readiness: Montana fire officials are preparing for the 2026 season as federal firefighting resources consolidate into a new United States Wildland Fire Service, with an emphasis on faster response and protecting homes, communities, and cultural resources. Local Culture & Community: Missoula Children’s Theatre is returning to the West Side with “The Tortoise and the Hare,” plus auditions for local students. Books & Lifestyle: Great Falls welcomed a new independent bookstore, Bound To Be Good Books, focused entirely on romance, with a grand opening set for July 3–4. Civic Life: A Mountain West opinion piece argues Montana needs more than awareness to rebuild civic participation—especially pathways for younger people to stay involved. Education & Work: Livingston Public Schools is headed to mediation in a discrimination lawsuit brought by a former IT worker.

Montana Legal Showdown: Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell says she won’t rescind her stance in her dispute with Montana AG Austin Knudsen over whether her office should recognize ICE as a criminal justice agency, insisting Knudsen must issue a formal legal opinion. Behavioral Health Fallout: A Montana behavioral health “mend” plan is under fresh scrutiny after a 13-year-old boy was reportedly left with a traumatic brain injury at Provo Canyon School, raising questions about the state’s outsourcing and placement pipeline. Education Accountability: Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction race centers on funding and oversight after a legislative audit flagged more than $67 million in questionable federal education spending and widespread confusion under the current office. Winter Safety: NorthWestern Energy urges Montanans to prepare for heavy snow and stay clear of downed power lines as crews ready for outages. Culture Spotlight: The 2026 BET Awards crowned Teyana Taylor (Icon of the Year, plus multiple wins) and Clipse, with Druski hosting and Cardi B leading nominations—another reminder of how big music moments travel far beyond Montana. Immigration & Dignity: Catholic leaders held a U.S.-Mexico border procession calling for humane treatment of migrants.

Native History & Culture: Crazy Horse Memorial marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn) with a major donation tied to David Humphreys Miller’s rare “Custer Survivors” paintings and battle interviews. Community & Education: A Missoula judge permanently blocked a 2023 Montana law defining “sex” as binary, calling it unconstitutional under the state constitution. Health & Accountability: AbleChild reports Montana’s behavioral health “reform” plan—handed to a China-linked consulting firm—followed by a 13-year-old’s traumatic brain injury at Provo Canyon School. Public Safety: NorthWestern Energy urged winter readiness, warning customers to stay 30 feet from downed lines and report hazards fast. Civic Life: More than 300 people protested Gallatin County’s 287(g) ICE agreement outside the courthouse. Local Spotlight: Northern Montana Health Care Foundation announced nursing scholarships up to $7,500 annually for up to two years. Arts & Entertainment: Druski hosts the 2026 BET Awards tonight in Los Angeles, with Cardi B leading nominations.

Nicotine & vaping warning: Montana health voices are urging families to talk early with teens about nicotine vapes and nicotine pouches, calling out how “smoke-free” products still carry addictive nicotine and can harm developing brains. Trans rights in court: A Missoula judge permanently blocked a 2023 Montana law that defined sex as binary, saying it violated privacy and discriminated against transgender, intersex, and Two Spirit Montanans. Public media funding at risk: Trump’s proposal to rescind $9.4 billion could cut Montana’s public radio/TV and alt station funding, threatening local services and emergency alerts. Elections reform debate: Guest opinion argues ranked voting initiatives could reshape Montana’s constitutional election rules in ways that don’t fix deeper party hardening. Immigration enforcement protest: More than 300 people protested a Gallatin County 287(g) ICE agreement outside the courthouse. Culture & history, alive: Crow Agency drew thousands for the Real Bird family’s Little Bighorn reenactment, while a medieval siege-weapon company brought trebuchets and catapults to the region. School funding focus: The School Funding Interim Commission meets June 17–18, weighing inflation gaps, special education costs, and facilities and mental health needs. Community calendar: Libraries and local events keep rolling, including a Belgrade poet laureate evening and summer reading programs. Rural health training: SIM-MT and partners delivered burn-focused simulation training in Red Lodge to help rural teams prepare for rare, high-acuity emergencies.

Community & Youth Sports: Grass Range senior Aliya Freed is turning her lifelong love of animals into rodeo goals, balancing barrel racing and pole bending with classes in ag and anatomy. Inclusion Through Horses: Moore student Ali Erickson helped restart Montana’s Special Olympics Equestrian program in Central Montana after the COVID shutdown, lining up safe horses, insurance funding, and summer practices. Local Scholarships: Absarokee’s Class of 2026 secured $356,000 in scholarships, with two seniors earning “Outstanding Senior” honors. Arts & Learning: Belgrade Library invites the public to an evening with Montana Poet Laureate Allen Morris Jones as part of Montana Conversations and America 250 programming. Health & Access: A $25 million gift to UW’s medical student program will expand primary-care training for rural and Indigenous communities across the WWAMI region, including Montana. Public Safety & Outdoors: Budget cuts are already affecting wildfire suppression and water quality efforts, while Montana’s hunter numbers remain below long-term averages. Elections & Civic Life: Montana saw more than 1,000 rally at the Capitol tied to federal workforce and LGBTQ+ concerns, as protests spread nationwide.

Youth Soccer & Community: Lewistown Soccer Club is bringing back the Montana Classic Cup for U13 to U19 teams June 13-14, aiming for a more even playing field with no tryouts and co-ed matchups. Agriculture Leadership: Glendive native Alexis Canen joined Montana ag and natural resource leaders on a 10-day Morocco study tour through REAL Montana, exploring agriculture, public policy, and culture. Catholic Church & Migrants: More than 100 Catholic bishops and parishioners marched across the U.S.-Mexico border near Nogales, urging humane treatment of migrants during America’s 250th anniversary commemorations. Volunteer Firefighting: Town Pump Charitable Foundation will award $750,000 in grants to Montana volunteer fire departments for training, equipment, and tools, with applications open through July 17. Native History in Focus: A Little Bighorn 150th anniversary film festival in Billings highlights Cheyenne, Lakota, and Arapaho stories, with a Montana actor honored for contributions to Native cinema. Arts & Learning: The Museum of the Rockies’ “Haunted Mountain Theater” returns with a 360-degree planetarium show and lantern-lit museum tours.

Education & Pay Pressure: Montana teachers and staff packed Helena for a “day of action,” describing violence in classrooms, chronic understaffing, and how low wages and nurse shortages are forcing educators to cover for medical needs. Public Transit Push: A new survey tied to a legislative study shows Montanans want more passenger transit, as lawmakers weigh state funding beyond the current limited bus support. School Funding Fight: A dispute over “school equalization” mills is heading toward court, with counties arguing the state must “float” mills as property values rise. Culture & Community: Montana 4-H Foundation hired Gillette Vaira as director and development officer, strengthening youth programs statewide. Local Heritage: Lewistown’s Métis ancestors will be recognized Sept. 1 with a monument after ground-penetrating radar helped locate graves. Health & Aging: DPHHS will honor Montana centenarians at a Governor’s Conference on Aging Oct. 7, with submissions due Sept. 1. Arts & Film: A Blackfeet filmmaker is directing a documentary on Indian boarding schools, aiming to bring Native voices to a national audience.

Montana at the Great American State Fair: Montana is taking center stage on the National Mall for the Great American State Fair, part of Freedom 250, with a multi-region exhibit spotlighting eastern fossils, central agriculture and mining, and western outdoor life—plus educators volunteering on-site. Little Bighorn 150th: Thousands gathered at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument for the 150th anniversary, with Native riders and descendants marking the Battle of the Greasy Grass as survival and cultural continuity. Park Service signage fight: A federal judge ordered the National Park Service to restore Little Bighorn monument signs flagged after the administration targeted “divisive” references, keeping the debate over how the battle is told front and center. UM River Shuttle: The University of Montana launched a free Clark Fork River shuttle running June 25 through July 26, offering easy access to popular river stops. Local sports & community: Hoopfest returns with Shadle Park alum Markieth Brown Jr. aiming to defend his elite title, while Billings Central freshman Addison Kegel earned Montana Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Immigration oversight: DHS’s inspector general announced new investigations into ICE detainee deaths and use-of-force practices.

Public Lands & Stewardship: Montana Sen. Steve Daines’ America the Beautiful Act is moving through Congress to renew a $2 billion public lands maintenance push, aiming for a presidential signature by July 4. Immigration Detention Oversight: A DHS watchdog announced new reviews into ICE detainee deaths and whether facilities follow proper use-of-force standards. 150 Years of the Little Bighorn: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is set for a June 25-27 observance drawing thousands, with interpretation increasingly centered on Native perspectives. Montana Culture & Education: Humanities Montana’s leadership update highlights a new executive director appointment and board changes as the organization rebuilds and strengthens programs statewide. Community Support: Town Pump Charitable Foundation is awarding $750,000 in grants to Montana volunteer fire departments for training, equipment, and tools. Food Security: SUN Bucks summer benefits are rolling out in Montana, providing $120 per eligible child for groceries for 120 days. Local Demographics: New data shows white students are the largest ethnic group at Gallatin County universities, with Hispanic and multiracial students next. Arts & Storytelling: A Native Lights feature spotlights Dr. Samantha Majhor and a Dakota/Lakota story map project built to protect oral narratives from AI search reach.