As of Thursday, July 1, 2021, Montana reported 113,755 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 64 new cases reported in the last day: 18 new cases in Flathead County, 15 new cases in Yellowstone County, 7 new cases in Missoula County, and more new cases in 12 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 418. Currently, 51 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Yellowstone, Cascade, Flathead, and Missoula Counties. 1,666 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Another death has been reported in the last day. Nationwide, more than 605,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 33,600,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

The United States will add a third gender option to American passports. Nonbinary, intersex and gender-nonconforming Americans will be able to choose a gender option other than “male” or “female” when applying for a U.S. passport and will be able to self-select their gender without providing supporting medical documentation.

The state capitol city Helena has enacted Stage III water use restrictions, including mandatory lawn watering and irrigation restrictions for homes and businesses that use city water. The restrictions took effect Thursday, July 1, and will remain in effect until Sept. 1.

A ban on open burning, recreational fires and fireworks is in effect for Big Sky and West Yellowstone, effective immediately. West Yellowstone has prohibited ALL personal fireworks over the Fourth of July weekend due to high fire danger. The Gallatin County Commission followed West Yellowstone’s lead and passed an emergency county ordinance that includes Big Sky, but does not affect lands that are under state, federal or municipal control.

Drought conditions have triggered some full fishing closures and afternoon and evening fishing restrictions on a number of rivers around southwest Montana. Warm water temperatures, low flows and forecasts predicting hot temperatures prompted the closures. The evening “hoot owl” restrictions were adopted Monday on stretches of the Beaverhead River, Smith River, lower Big Hole River, the Sun River and the entirety of the Jefferson River.

A former Republican lawmaker from Kalispell has announced that he’s joining the race for Montana’s second U.S. House seat. Al Olszewski, who previously mounted unsuccessful runs for the U.S. Senate and for Montana governor, announced his bid Thursday.