As of Saturday, February 27, 2021, Montana reports 99,837 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 235 new cases reported in the last day: 99 in Flathead County, 29 in Gallatin County, 14 in Silver Bow County, 12 in Cascade County, 12 in Missoula County, and more new cases in 21 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 1,757. Currently, 68 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Flathead, and Gallatin Counties. 1,356 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Two more deaths have been reported since yesterday. Nationwide, more than 510,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 28,500,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

The US House of Representatives voted early Saturday to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package, a step to implementing his vision for bringing the pandemic under control just days after the U.S. crossed the tragic milestone of 500,000 deaths. The Democratic-controlled House voted 219 to 212 to approve the bill, which includes $1,400 direct payments, a $400-a-week federal unemployment bonus, a per-child allowance of up to $3,600 for one year and billions of dollars to distribute the coronavirus vaccines and to assist schools and local governments. The package is in good shape to pass as Democrats are using a process that doesn’t require Republican support. If enacted, it would be the sixth round of aid from the federal government. The economy is still reeling from widespread shutdowns, and most Americans continue to wait their turns to be vaccinated. Democratic leaders want the bill to become law by March 14, when jobless benefits expire.

The number of Yellowstone National Park bison outside the park’s boundaries remained low during the last weeks of Montana’s bison hunting season, but the herd’s annual migration and hunter activity recently picked up. Wildlife managers have seen some bison make their way out of the park over the last week. Two bison — a bull and a cow — were recently killed by tribal hunters. Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials watched more hunting parties travel toward Gardiner and West Yellowstone just before the state’s hunt ended on Feb. 15. This year’s hunting efforts were to little avail, as bison were largely still within the park. The state bison hunt ran from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15.

Montana cities working to cut carbon pollution from their energy supply are objecting to a pro-coal bill in the Montana Legislature that could jeopardize their efforts. Bozeman and Missoula officials testified this week against a bill banning local carbon taxes and other measures discouraging energy generated by burning fossil fuels. Busby Republican Senator Jason Small’s Senate Bill 257 was vague enough in what it banned that community leaders see it as a threat. The Senate Local Government Committee approved the bill on a partisan 6 to 4 vote Friday, with Democrats voting against it. The bill would stop local governments from imposing fees, taxes or penalties related to carbon use. Bozeman, Missoula and Helena have been attempting to reduce the amount of fossil-fuel energy used in their communities. They have expressed an interest in paying a “green tariff” to monopoly utility NorthWestern Energy in exchange for a substitution of renewable energy over power from coal and natural gas. Missoula County Commissioner Juanita Vero, said a county like Missoula is concerned about the bill’s potential overreach. “On its face, the bill appears intended to prevent local government from enacting a carbon tax, but to our knowledge a carbon tax has never been enacted or even contemplated by any local government in Montana,” Vero said. The bill seemed vague enough to prevent a community from improving the energy efficiency of government buildings, if it meant a decline in demand for fossil fuel electricity.