As of Thursday, January 14, 2021, Montana reports 88,110 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 431 new cases reported in the last day: 72 in Gallatin County, 69 in Flathead County, 62 in Missoula County, 43 in Lewis & Clark County, 36 in Yellowstone County, 35 in Cascade County, and more new cases in 26 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 4,843. Statewide, 3,917 people have been hospitalized. Currently, 192 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Gallatin, and Cascade Counties. 1,077 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Eight more deaths have been reported since yesterday. Nationwide, more than 386,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 23,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

As law enforcement braces for more violence, state Capitols come into focus. Federal and state law enforcement agencies are bracing for violence planned by radical conservatives and extremists in Washington in the days before the inauguration. And while significant preparations have been put in place around the U.S. Capitol, there is growing concern that statehouses around the country will be targeted, many of which have already been the scene of armed protests, arrests and violence. More than a dozen flyers are circulating online advertising pro-Trump rallies at state Capitols. State Capitols, long seen as meeting places for activists to protest and sometimes clash with counterprotesters, are on alert. The FBI reportedly sent a memo to law enforcement agencies across the country warning of possible armed protests at all 50 state Capitols starting next week, citing in part chatter on social media. Social media platforms have taken unprecedented steps in recent days to keep their sites clear of content that might incite further violence — including the suspension of President Donald Trump’s Twitter and Facebook accounts— but threats of violence at upcoming events persist online. Now mostly relegated to less popular and alternative apps, the events are more difficult for other extremists to find but also for law enforcement and researchers to track. That may help stop another mass mobilization in Washington, but it is less effective for extremists at the state level who are now less reliant on online organizing and recruiting.

A California hospital is facing a potential $43,000 fine from county health officials for alleged delays in reporting a Covid-19 super-spreader event linked to an inflatable Christmas tree costume. Healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente on Tuesday denied any delay in reporting the Covid-19 cases connected to a Christmas party at its San Jose Medical Center’s emergency department.

A bill that aims to expand the list of locations where concealed firearms are allowed with and without a permit passed a vote by the Republican-controlled Montana House Thursday, less than two weeks after the Montana Legislature began its session. The bill would allow concealed carry of firearms without a permit in most places in the state. It would also allow concealed carry of firearms on public college and university campuses. The Montana university system Board of Regents is currently allowed to make rules regulating firearms on its campuses. Republican lawmakers have prioritized the bill after the state elected its first Republican governor in 16 years in November. Similar gun bills have passed votes by the Republican-controlled Legislature in previous years, only to be vetoed by Democratic governors. In a vote down party lines, 66 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 31 Democrats were opposed. Three House members did not vote. The bill now proceeds to the Montana Senate. Proponents of the bill have said that getting rid of “gun-free zones” would allow law-abiding citizens to defend themselves. Opponents of the bill have cited research showing that the presence of guns would make some places, including university campuses, less safe.

A Legislative contact tracer has been hired, and lawmakers discussed today seeking funding for staff paid sick leave if people contract coronavirus doing their jobs in the state capitol. Republican majorities have refused to pass public health protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus to legislators, the public, and legislative staff, spurring capitol management to direct staff to work remotely through the first two weeks of the session. The newly-formed COVID panel met for a second time today and failed to adopt public health protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus.