As of Friday, February 25, 2022, Montana reports 265,797 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 593 new cases of coronavirus infection reported since yesterday: 222 new cases in Cascade County, 156 new cases in Flathead County, and more new cases in 35 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 2,100. All but four of Montana’s 56 counties report active cases. Currently, 125 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. 3,172 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Ten more people’s deaths have been reported since yesterday. Nationwide, more than 943,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 78,700,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Montana National Guard officials are monitoring the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and at this time there are no changes to its readiness status or Force Protection Condition and no impacts to its operations. Maj. Ryan Finnegan, state public affairs officer, said, “We are standing by for any changes that may be ordered by higher headquarters as the situation develops.”

A Democratic candidate for Eastern Montana’s U.S. Congressional District, Jack Ballard, ended his campaign Thursday citing financial issues. The Red Lodge author thanked supporters and said he would continue to influence politics through his writing.

A half-mile of privately owned land on the Bridger Ridge Trail has been conserved for public use. Most of the Bridger Ridge Trail sits on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Now, a half mile of the trail near Mount Baldy owned privately by the Newhall family has gone into a conservation easement for public use, to keep the trail uninterrupted.

An Alabama man died while snowmobiling just a few miles west of West Yellowstone on Wednesday evening. Frank Crow, 65, was riding alongside his wife when the two became separated on the Little Snowy Trail about 2 miles west of town shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday. Crow’s wife returned to West Yellowstone and called for help. Search and Rescue volunteers found the man dead just north of Junction 13 outside of West Yellowstone.