MONTANA — Jim Murphy, Montana’s chief epidemiologist, has heard the same stories most everyone in the state has heard about residents who’ve made unsuccessful attempts to get themselves tested for COVID-19. But even as national headlines worry over testing backlogs in some parts of the country, he says testing constraints haven’t hampered Montana’s coronavirus response. “I’m not aware of what I would consider valid access issues,” Murphy said in an April 7 interview. “I think the providers in Montana are testing the right people.” That distinction — targeting sometimes-scarce test kits for the “right people,...

LAKE COUNTY – Lake County Sheriff Don Bell is adjusting procedures in an effort to protect citizens and law enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Deputies are putting in extra time on patrol and attempting to limit in-person contact. “Our deputies continue to respond to and make arre...

News from the Office of the Governor  MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock extended through April 24 directives he issued to protect Montanans from COVID-19 by slowing the spread of the virus in Montana. The directives were set to expire on April 10. “We know that staying home will help ...

News from the Office of the Governor   MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock issued a directive designating the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, unicorns, friendly dragons and other magical creatures as essential ahead of the upcoming Easter holiday weekend. “I recognize this is a difficult t...

News from CSKT FLATHEAD RESERVATION – The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council passed a resolution to temporarily suspend non-resident recreation on tribally owned land and to also restrict residents to day use recreation only.   The modifications are similar to restrictions tha...

News from the Office of the Governor MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock announced a measure on April 7 that will allow first responders to be notified in advance of potential exposure to COVID-19 and ensure they can take appropriate measures to safely perform their duties and avoid exposing other pati...

RONAN – Heather Roan Robbins wishes she could go back in time and get off the plane that took her to New York for the trip where she contracted COVID-19.  Robbins, 64, was the second person diagnosed with the virus in Lake County. She received her diagnosis on March 28. Robbins did not spread t...

I have had the honor of serving the people of Montana as a State Representative for the past four years. One of my proudest accomplishments in this position is that we were finally able to change our law so that people can no longer share private or sexual images of another person without their permission. T...

LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of a law enforcement officer.  “It is with great sadness that I report that one of our Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies, Ross Holcomb, 32, of Ronan, was found deceased in his home,” Lake County Sheriff Do...

POLSON – Lake County voters will vote by mail instead of at the polls in the upcoming June 2 primary election in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the county.  The Lake County commissioners unanimously approved the election change during a public meeting streamed live through the Lake...