As of Saturday, March 13, 2021, Montana reports 101,726 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 177 new cases reported in the last day: 35 in Gallatin County, 20 in Yellowstone County, 19 in Missoula County, 19 in Flathead County, 18 in Lewis & Clark County, 13 in Silver Bow County, and more new cases in 14 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 1,056. Currently, 51 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Missoula, Gallatin, Flathead, and Yellowstone Counties. 1,392 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 532,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 29,400,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Italy is facing another lockdown, as the government attempts to contain a recent surge of coronavirus cases, marred by the presence of new variants. Half of Italy’s 20 regions, which include the cities of Rome, Milan and Venice, will be entering new coronavirus restrictions on Monday, March 15. The measures will be effective through April 6. In regions demarcated as “red zones” people will be unable to leave their houses except for work or health reasons, with all non-essential shops closed. In “orange zones,” people will also be banned from leaving their town and their region — except for work or health reasons — and bars and restaurants will only be able to do delivery and take-away service. Regions that report weekly COVID-19 cases of more than 250 per 100,000 residents will automatically go into lockdown. Additionally, over Easter weekend, the entire country of Italy will be in a national lockdown from April 3 to 5.

Another Montana man has been charged in the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, when Congress was certifying the Electoral College vote in favor of President Joe Biden. Boyd Allen Camper made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Missoula on Friday morning. Camper faces charges including entering the Capitol and engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct along with parading, demonstrating or picketing in Capitol buildings. Charging documents include several images of Camper in the Capitol and a screenshot from a CBS News interview in which he was asked if he had been inside the Capitol. He responded: “I was on the front line. We’re going to take this damn place. If you haven’t heard it’s called the Insurrection Act and we the people are ready.” The Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy military forces to quell violent demonstrations. Four other Montana men are known to have been arrested or charged in the Capitol riot: Isaac Steve Sturgeon of Dillon was arrested last weekend, brothers Joshua and Jerod Hughes of East Helena were charged in late January and Dillon business owner Henry Philip Muntzer was charged Jan. 21.

Bozeman’s youngest city commissioner resigned Friday morning. Commissioner Michael Wallner said in an email to the city manager he has been thinking about resigning for several months. Wallner, 33, was elected in 2019 and took office at the beginning of 2020. Several of Wallner’s fellow city commissioners were taken by surprise by the announcement.
During Tuesday’s city commission meeting, Wallner gave no indication that it would be his last as a commissioner. The city confirmed Friday it is beginning the process to fill Wallner’s term, which would have been up for election in 2023. Commissioners said they anticipate the city will follow a similar process to what was used to fill the seat vacated after former Mayor Chris Mehl resigned last year. Elections are scheduled this November for other seats on the commission.