As of Friday, March 18, 2022. Montana reports 272,105 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 63 new cases of coronavirus infection reported since yesterday: 18 new cases in Yellowstone County, 13 new cases in Lewis & Clark County, 10 new cases in Cascade County, 9 new cases in Missoula County, and more new cases in 14 more Montana counties. 40 of Montana’s 56 counties report active cases. The number of active coronavirus cases in Montana is 625. Currently, 45 people are being treated in Montana hospitals for COVID-19. 3,234 people have died in Montana of COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 969,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. There have been 79,600,000 cases of coronavirus in the US, and counting.

Ten far-right wing Montana Republicans are trying again for a special session to investigate alleged election fraud and perpetuate former President Trump’s Big Lie. All 150 of Montana’s lawmakers will be officially polled over the next month on calling a special session to appoint and fund
a committee to investigate the state’s election security.

The Eight Mile Ford Fishing Access Site just south of Ennis has been reopened. Part of the site was closed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
last week after ice jams caused flooding at the site.

The USS Montana, the newest Virginia-class fast-attack nuclear submarine, has been delivered to the U.S. Navy and the commissioning ceremony has been
scheduled for June 25 at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. The 7,800-ton submarine, also known as SSN 794, was delivered to the Navy Friday by
Huntington Ingalls Industries, America’s largest ship builder.