As of Friday, April 30, 2021, Montana reports 108,817 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 156 new cases reported in the last day: 26 in Yellowstone County, 23 in Gallatin County, 13 in Flathead County, 12 in Big Horn County, 12 in Lewis & Clark County, and more new cases in 21 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 1,045. Currently, 50 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Gallatin, Yellowstone, Flathead, and Cascade Counties. 1,571 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 575,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 32,300,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday it will begin the process of banning menthol tobacco cigarettes, as well as all flavored cigars — a move heralded as one expected to improve the health of groups most likely to smoke menthol products, including children and Black Americans.

Former congressman and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Friday that he’s running for Montana’s newly awarded U.S. House seat. Zinke told The Associated Press that he was running, a day after filing paperwork to organize a campaign committee.

Bicyclists will no longer be allowed to ride into Yellowstone National Park through the south gate before the road opens for motorized vehicles each spring. The park recently announced a permanent ban on bikes between the South Entrance and Grant Village during the spring shoulder season. Yellowstone National Park will open the south gate to all traffic May 14.