As of Sunday, March 28, 2021, Montana reports 104,128 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 30 new cases reported in the last day: 13 in Missoula County, 5 in Yellowstone County, 4 in Flathead County, 3 in Cascade County, 3 in Lewis & Clark County, and more new cases in 2 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 952. Currently, 40 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Gallatin, Missoula, and Yellowstone Counties. 1,436 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 548,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 30,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

An East Helena man being held for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., has asked to be released on bail pending trial, saying he is the sole means of support for his family. However, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia argued against the request, saying Jerod Wade Hughes and his brother, Joshua, had placed themselves at the “tip of the spear” that day, “actively engaged in the destruction of government property,” harassed and interfered with Capitol police and obstructed a joint session of Congress that had gathered to certify Electoral College results for the Nov. 3 presidential election in which Democrat Joe Biden ousted Republican incumbent Donald Trump. Five people died in the rioting. Jerod Hughes also argued he should not be detained because he was doing what he believed Trump wanted him to do.

Joshua Hughes, 37, is being detained as well on allegations related to the riot. In mid-February a District of Columbia grand jury returned nine counts each against them for their alleged roles in the riot. They were being held without bail. The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that video footage showed the Hughes brothers participated along with members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers to open windows and doors to force entry into the Capitol. They said Jerod Hughes can be seen kicking his way through the door, and he and Joshua and were among the first 10 rioters in the building. The brothers then joined in advancing toward Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who baited rioters into following him away from the Senate floor. The Hughes brothers eventually got to the Senate floor, which had been evacuated, and joined others who sat in chairs, opened desks and reviewed materials.

In Montana, the Blackfeet Nation has vaccinated more than 95% of its eligible population, and the tribe isn’t alone in its success. Every tribe in Montana is vaccinating its members at a fast pace, sometimes doubling or tripling the state’s vaccination rate. Native American tribes used incentives, a centralized health care system, and personalized outreach efforts to fast-track their vaccine rollout. Tribes have been so efficient that many tribal health clinics are vaccinating non-Natives who otherwise wouldn’t be eligible. Tribes in Montana, like Indigenous communities nationwide, were hit hard by COVID-19, as the virus exposed existing social and economic disparities. From March through October 2020, Native Americans in Montana accounted for 19% of the state’s COVID-19 cases and 32% of deaths related to the virus. Yet they comprise 6.7% of the state’s population. Indian tribes, who revere elders for their cultural knowledge, directly reached out to them to schedule vaccine appointments. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ (CSKT) said each elder received a call when it was their turn to be vaccinated, and they also had the option to schedule appointments online. The CSKT had, as of March 10, vaccinated more than 30% of their eligible population. The rollout was so successful that the tribes began vaccinating non-tribal members, including teachers and those who live with a Native American. The Crow Tribe has more than 30% of Tribe’s eligible population receiving at least one vaccine as of March 18 this year.

After months of being closed to patrons, the Bozeman Public Library is scheduled to reopen next week for in-person service. Capacity will be limited, and Masks, as will social distancing will be required. The library closed its interior operations to the public in November, when COVID-19 cases surged in Gallatin County. The library is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 30. The library plans to be open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both floors will be open and computers will be available for 30-minute time slots, according to library plans. Meeting and study rooms and other public seating will remain closed. Curbside pickup, which the library ramped up when it closed in November, will continue, though it will shift from the side entrance to the Main Street entrance.