As of Tuesday, August 3, 2021, Montana reports 117,033 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 402 new cases reported since yesterday: 91 new cases in Flathead County, 62 new cases in Yellowstone County, 52 new cases in Missoula County, 45 new cases in Gallatin County, 22 new cases in Cascade County, 21 new cases in Lewis & Clark County, and more new cases in 30 more Montana counties. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 1,580. Currently, 112 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. The most active cases are in Flathead, Yellowstone, Cascade, Missoula, and Gallatin Counties. 1,716 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Eight more deaths have been reported in the last day. Nationwide, more than 613,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 35,200,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, Elon Musk’s company, now serves about 90,000 users in 12 countries. Starlink is an internet network with thousands of satellites, known in the space industry as a constellation, designed to deliver high-speed internet to consumers anywhere on the planet.

Another Democrat has joined the race as a U.S. House candidate for Montana. Jack Ballard, 58, an author and photographer from Red Lodge, has filed for office in what is expected to become the eastern district in the state.

Montana State Senator Jason Ellsworth, a Republican from Hamilton, pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor charge for obstructing an officer at a traffic stop in May during which he tried to use his status as a state senator as an excuse to be let go.

A 12-year-old boy from Butte was injured by an otter while floating on the Big Hole River west of Divide on Friday. Two boys were floating on inner tubes about a half mile upstream from the Powerhouse Fishing Access Site when they saw several otters downstream. They tried to keep their distance from the otters, but one of the otters approached and attacked one of the boys.