As of Wednesday, February 16, 2022. Montana reports 259,701 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 929 new cases of coronavirus infection reported since yesterday: 231 new cases in Cascade County, 207 new cases in Flathead County, 58 new cases in Missoula County, 56 new cases in Big Horn County, 50 new cases in Rosebud County, 50 new cases in Yellowstone County, and more new cases in 42 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 4,129. 52 of Montana’s 56 counties report active cases. Currently, 230 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. 3,091 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 924,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 78,000,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

On the US-Canadian border, the Coutts port of entry has resumed operations after a protest against vaccine mandates there had largely halted traffic for two weeks. The Alberta Royal Canadian Mounted Police made 11 arrests at the port and seized a cache of firearms and ammunition from “a small organized group within the larger Coutts protest.” Those arrested were Canadian citizens.

Less than two months after recreational marijuana sales kicked off in Montana, the Gallatin County Commission next week will consider a pair of resolutions to add two ballot questions to the June 7 primary ballots: to add a 3% local tax added on medical marijuana sales, and 3% local tax on recreational marijuana sales.

Dogsled musher Jessie Royer has won her sixth Race to the Sky dogsled race. Royer, of Seeley Lake, is the winningest musher in the race’s 37-year history.