As of Tuesday, June 15, Montana reports 112,949 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 101 new cases reported in the last day: 27 new cases in Yellowstone County, 20 new cases in Flathead County, 17 new cases in Cascade County, 5 new cases in Silver Bow County, 5 new cases in Missoula County, 5 new cases in Lewis & Clark County, and more new cases in 11 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 531. Currently, 48 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Cascade and Flathead Counties. 1,647 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Four more deaths have been reported since Friday. Nationwide, more than 599,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 33,400,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalization from the Delta variant of the coronavirus, according to a new analysis from Public Health England. The Delta variant, first identified in India, has become the predominant strain in the United Kingdom and is prevalent in the US, prompting more cases and hospitalizations. The new analysis found that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine were 96 percent effective against hospitalization for COVID-19 from the Delta variant, and two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 92 percent effective.

The first state to shut down due to Covid-19 reopened Tuesday. California lifted most of its Covid-19 restrictions as part of a grand reopening in which the state will end capacity limits, physical distancing and — at least for those vaccinated — mask requirements. The new health orders put the state in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

$1.2 million worth of cocaine was found on a Florida beach during a turtle nesting survey. The drugs were discovered May 19 by Angy Chambers, a civil engineer and wildlife manager, who noticed the packages strewn about the beach while conducting a turtle nesting survey.

A litter of gray wolf pups has been spotted in Colorado for the first time in around 80 years. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said at least three pups of the endangered species were observed in June.

Gallatin County will receive $22 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, the relief act passed by Democratic members of Congress. No Republicans voted for the funding. The funding is part of the more than $207 million that will be doled out to Montana counties.