AGP Executive Report

Mental Health & Youth Support: Montana’s suicide crisis and rural barriers to care are driving fresh calls for better, safer help—while a new youth crisis resource, Youth Homes’ therapeutic shelter, aims to give kids a place to land when things fall apart. Teacher Shortage: Schools across the state are still grappling with a troubling educator shortage tied to pay, workload, and limited support. Public Safety & Wildlife: FWP is hosting a Hunter Education Field Day in Glasgow for ages 12–17, and Montana sealed 20 abandoned uranium mine hazards in the Pryor Mountains with bat-friendly gates to protect wildlife access. Justice & Community: The Montana Innocence Project is seeking a new trial for a Kalispell man convicted in his wife’s 2020 murder, arguing pretrial rulings blocked a fair defense. Immigration & Families: A Johnson County family says an ICE worksite arrest split them after 18 days in detention. Environment & Local Life: CSKT elders held an Elder Wellness Fair in Pablo, and the Tribes oppose a proposed opencut gravel pit near Pablo over water and community impacts. Education & Local Economy: A new Montana Institute of Esthetics is opening in Butte to fill the training gap left by a long-running beauty school closure. State Budget Watch: New financial data breaks down where Montana’s general fund went in FY26, with education and health and human services leading spending.

Indigenous Water & Land Fight: The CSKT is opposing a proposed 32-acre opencut gravel pit in Pablo, warning the Harding Pit could harm shallow groundwater, nearby homes, and water/sewer infrastructure, and that the permit application doesn’t adequately address local aquifer conditions. Community Health on the Rez: CSKT hosted its 2026 Elder Wellness Fair at Salish Kootenai College, with screenings, diabetes education, fitness demos, bison stew, and resource booths for elders and families. Native Pride in Sports: South Dakota and Eastern Washington will feature Indigenous-language helmet decals in a Sept. 12 matchup, including Lakota and Salish phrases tied to Native communities and translation work. Montana History Spotlight: A Prairie County Museum deep-dive is reviving the story of Ellenore Bridenstine, Montana’s first woman state senator, who entered the Senate in 1945 and later documented her experience. Public Safety: Montana officials are warning fentanyl is increasingly showing up as powder, with variable purity raising overdose risk, and they’re pushing prevention efforts aimed at kids. Local Culture & Arts: In Lincoln, artists are building new sculptures “in the wild,” using local materials and fire-informed ideas to create art that supports the surrounding landscape. 9/11 Remembered: Montana coverage continues marking the 25th anniversary with personal reflections and community remembrance.

Faith & Climate: A new push links climate action with religious stewardship, arguing faith communities can add hope and momentum to the climate movement. Voting Rights Fight: Kentucky AG Russell Coleman joined other attorneys general asking the U.S. Supreme Court to protect states’ power to require proof of citizenship to vote and to remove noncitizens from rolls quickly. Native History in Schools: A settlement in a long-running case says Montana schools must provide “authentic instruction” on tribal nations and Native history and culture. Maternal Health Alarm: A ProPublica analysis finds ectopic pregnancy deaths nearly doubled since 2020, with abortion restrictions flagged as a major concern. Education Watch: Montana schools face tougher standards under a revamped accountability framework focused on math/reading, attendance, and graduation. Local Schools Staffing: Wolf Point School District says changing OPI rules are making it harder to use Emergency Authorization of Employment instructors. Arts & Learning: Ronan High teacher Lauren Feese attended the Folger Teaching Shakespeare Institute, bringing intensive Shakespeare training back to Montana classrooms. Community & Culture: Bozeman’s Planned Parenthood says it’s opening a new clinic, expanding access to care. Montana Outdoors: A Wolf Point music teacher starts the year excited to grow choir and band programs, with plans for music festivals.

Public Safety: The FBI doubled the reward to $20,000 for Ronald Scott Watson, wanted for a 2020 arson attack on Atlanta’s ICE building; authorities say he may be in Montana and could be disguising his appearance. Health & Community: Montana State University Extension’s Mobile Memory Café is bringing free dementia education to Augusta Senior Center on Sept. 16, with practical brain-health tips and caregiving resources. Culture & Arts: Billings Symphony is adding a new Billings Symphony Youth Chorale (grades 9+), with rehearsals starting Sept. 14 and a first performance set for Dec. 8. Local Growth: Planned Parenthood of Montana is expanding to Bozeman, with renovations underway and a planned summer 2027 opening to offer a wider range of reproductive and gender-affirming care. Mental Health: Rural Resilience marked 988 Day in Park County, highlighting rural suicide prevention and access to the 988 hotline. Education & Heritage: Montana schools must teach Native history after a lawsuit settlement, with the state’s Indian Education for All program now required to show stronger statewide compliance. Arts Funding: Montana Community Foundation announced 2026 William B. Pratt Fund grants supporting traditional and folk art, plus media arts, including a Métis Heritage Festival in Choteau. Outdoors & Tradition: FWP is listing multiple in-person Hunter Education courses across south-central Montana, including a Big Timber session starting Sept. 21. Workforce & Broadband: 3 Rivers Communications named Tim Riley as CEO, continuing its push for rural connectivity in Montana.

Planned Parenthood Expansion: Planned Parenthood of Montana says a new Bozeman clinic is under renovation for summer 2027, aiming to bring reproductive care closer to home for the growing Gallatin County area. Reproductive Health Pressure: A ProPublica analysis finds ectopic pregnancy deaths nearly doubled from 2020–2025, with abortion bans contributing to dangerous delays in care. Bear Safety, Community Action: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Kalispell is running a fruit donation drive to reduce bear attractants as “Bear Aware Month” ramps up. Education & Accountability: Montana Superintendent Susie Hedalen announced updated school accountability standards for 2026–2027, with more weight on math/ELA, attendance, early literacy, and graduation readiness. Local Culture & Learning: MSU Billings student Lisa Blomquist is working to turn the historic Adams Hotel in Lavina into a cultural center for artists and musicians. Civic Life Calendar: Community events run Sept. 9–12, plus more listings through mid-September. Rural Legacy: Writers on the Range spotlights Wendell Berry’s lifelong focus on rural land, community, and protest.

Labor & Community: Picket lines held steady as a strike enters its first days at Sibanye’s Stillwater operations, with negotiations focused on an incentive dispute and East Boulder Mine still under a separate agreement. Conservation & Outdoors: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Kalispell is taking fruit donations to reduce bear attractants, aiming to curb fall conflicts as bears seek extra calories. Education & Accountability: Montana schools are rolling out updated accountability standards for 2026-2027, emphasizing math/ELA, attendance, early literacy, graduation, and college/career readiness. Arts & Local Culture: An MSU Billings student is working to turn the historic Adams Hotel in Lavina into a regional cultural center for artists and musicians. Reproductive Health Access: Planned Parenthood of Montana says a Bozeman clinic opening in summer 2027 will provide procedural abortion services, expanding options for patients who currently travel. Wildlife Awareness: September marks Montana’s “Bear Aware Month,” with groups urging residents to secure trash, fruit, and pet food to prevent human-bear conflicts. Faith & Community Tensions: A pastor apologized for Sundance-related comments, but protesters outside a church near Arapahoe say they’re not convinced.

Missoula Greek Fest: Missoula’s annual Greekfest returns Sept. 18–20 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (301 S. 6th St. W.), with Greek food and pastries, dancing, live music, church tours, a kid zone, and raffles—plus fellowship for anyone who wants a taste of Greek culture. 9/11 in Montana: A new look at how states teach 9/11 in schools spotlights what Montana families and educators can expect, while Billings’ Montana State University Billings 9/11 memorial story centers on a community-built steel I-beam and the meaning of remembering close to home. Labor Day, Montana-style: In Bozeman, a Workers Over Billionaires gathering put cost of living and worker concerns front and center; in Great Falls, union members marked Labor Day with a picnic celebrating the history of organizing and the push for fair wages and safer work. Outdoor mental health: Redside Foundation is expanding support for West’s outdoor guides, addressing loneliness, depression, substance use, and suicide risk. Arts & culture: A Missoula mural project is underway to celebrate Bitterroot Salish camas dig-and-bake traditions, supported by local arts funding and the Montana Natural History Center.

Arts & Education: Missoula artist Amanda Browder is seeking brightly colored fabric donations and volunteers for a community textile installation at UM and the historic Brunswick Building, aiming to turn students into “stewards” of the work. Indigenous Culture: A new Missoula mural, “Sx̣elí x̣èct u Ql̓epm” (Camas Dig & Bake), is taking shape at the Montana Natural History Center to spotlight Bitterroot Salish camas traditions as a living practice. Community & Labor: Great Falls union workers marked Labor Day with a picnic at Montana ExpoPark, tying today’s workplace rights to decades of organizing. Campus Life: Taylor students began moving into Gentile Hall as the newest dorm opens, with construction continuing on parts of the building through fall. Music & Storytelling: Jessica Lynn, in Nepal with the U.S. Embassy’s Arts & Music Envoy program, discussed discovering Nepali music and building sustainable careers in music. Outdoors & Trails: The Continental Divide Trail Coalition brought Trailfest to Steamboat, celebrating the CDT’s Montana-to-New Mexico connection and local trail community partnerships.

Community Service & Native Connections: College Place retiree Brenda Kirk returned for her second Global Volunteers mission on the Blackfeet Reservation, bringing her granddaughter to Browning and continuing nearly 30 years of weekly service there. Labor & Politics: On Labor Day, Montana’s federal race candidates leaned on union endorsements, with Democrats and Republicans alike backing collective bargaining rights. Archaeology in the Beartooths: A high-elevation Beartooth mystery is being revealed as researchers dig into what “shouldn’t exist” in the region’s ancient record. Workforce & Family Support: Gov. Gianforte highlighted the 406 JOBS push to expand pathways to work while tackling barriers like childcare, transportation, and housing. Fall Culture in the Flathead: A guide spotlights upcoming Flathead Valley events, including the Flathead Valley Celtic Festival. Youth & Social Media: Gianforte met with Billings students and families to discuss screen time and protections for minors online. Public Safety: A Montana DUI Reform Summit gathered lawmakers and advocates to push statewide legal and cultural changes. Arts & Heritage: A new book, “Land of the Buffalo,” pairs Yellowstone photography with the species’ history from migration to near-eradication.

Yellowstone Buffalo Story: Larry Laverty’s new book “Land of the Buffalo” pairs 200+ Yellowstone photos with a sweeping look at buffalo history, near-eradication, and what comes next for the herds. Education & Equity: Missoula County’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate hit 53.6% for students of two or more races by 2024, with UM as the key public four-year institution. Workforce & Youth Well-Being: Gov. Greg Gianforte met with Billings students and families to push stronger protections around social media’s impact on Montana kids. Public Safety Focus: Montana’s DUI Reform Summit at Flathead Valley Community College gathered advocates and judicial experts to push statewide road-safety changes for 2027. Local Wildlife Watch: Lincoln residents are tracking repeated juvenile grizzly sightings and reporting damage, with FWP responding. Culture & Community: Missoula’s IndigiPalooza celebrates Native resistance, while Helena’s Clay Arts Guild is set for a free Second Tuesday pottery program. Arts & Heritage: A presentation on how Chinese communities shaped western Montana’s restaurant culture is scheduled at the Butte-Silver Bow Archives.

Wolf Policy & Wildlife: President Trump signed an executive order pushing the Interior Department to consider stripping Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves and Mexican gray wolves, and to weaken standards tied to livestock predation—sparking backlash from conservation groups. Public Power Leadership: Detroit Lakes Public Utilities GM Vernell Roberts was honored by the American Public Power Association for modernizing the system and keeping rates among the lowest in Minnesota. Montana DUI Reform: A statewide DUI Reform Summit at Flathead Valley Community College drew advocates, lawmakers, and people with lived experience, calling for legal and cultural changes to curb impaired-driving deaths. Faith & Youth Culture: A Montana Movement Conference brought influencer-style Christian preaching to 1,300 middle and high school students, blending social media energy with Bible study. Community Safety: Lincoln residents are tracking repeated juvenile grizzly sightings and damage, urging caution as FWP responds. Workforce & Native Opportunity: Gov. Gianforte and tribal leaders launched the Workforce Warrior campaign spotlighting Native career paths in skilled trades, health care, education, and entrepreneurship. Arts & Community: Helena’s Clay Arts Guild will host a free Second Tuesday pottery program, with live throwing and a look at the city’s 1800s clay-and-lime boom.

Labor Day Culture: Billings’ Burn the Point classic car show rolled into its 22nd year, with hundreds of cars and a downtown parade bringing neighbors back to a beloved local cruising tradition. Road Safety & Community Values: A Montana DUI Reform Summit in the Flathead Valley pushed for statewide changes for the 2027 session, with speakers tying policy gaps to real-life loss and a broader shift in attitudes toward impaired driving. Wildlife Watch: In Lincoln, residents are tracking repeated sightings of three juvenile grizzlies and reporting damage, while FWP response and community updates keep attention on bear safety. Education & Opportunity: New data shows Gallatin County’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for Hispanic or Latino students at MSU reached 40% by 2024, while UM’s white-student rate in Missoula County was 52.4%. Arts & Hands-On Creativity: UM’s “Soft Monuments” is seeking fabric donations for two massive textile installations draped over campus and downtown buildings this fall. Sports: UM football opened with a comeback win over Southern Utah, and Montana volleyball topped Cal Baptist in a five-set match.

Community & Arts: Helena residents can sign up for a new FlashVote survey tool, and the Lewis and Clark County Historical Society’s free Sept. 8 “Second Tuesday” program brings live pottery demos from the Helena Clay Arts Guild. Workforce & Education: Governor Gianforte and DLI launched the Workforce Warrior campaign spotlighting Native career paths, while Miles Community College’s growing CDL program is helping fill a statewide driver shortage. Jobs & Local Economy: MSU’s Bracken Center is boosting student internships and hiring connections, and Flathead Electric’s Ribeye Raffle set a record for local food bank support. Public Health & Safety: A Billings candlelight vigil will remember victims of recent shootings, and Cherokee Nation citizen Sarah Wohlwend was named Montana’s 2026 Child Passenger Safety Technician of the Year. Culture & Community Care: UM’s “Soft Monuments” project is seeking fabric donations for massive textile installations in Missoula. Environment & Land: A federal judge blocked BLM from removing American Prairie bison from three northeastern Montana grazing allotments while the lawsuit proceeds. Sports & Lifestyle: Montana’s September guide highlights Griz home games, plus Missoula and Bozeman event picks.

Border & Courts: Billings United Way says Border Patrol detained families leaving a school-supply event, while a judge previously ruled a father and daughter’s Havre detention illegal and barred the government from detaining them again before immigration court. Community Safety & Remembrance: A Thursday candlelight vigil is set for eight victims of Billings shootings and a house fire, as officials continue to respond to the tragedy. Public Health & Caregiving: Logan Health nurse Sarah Wohlwend was named Montana’s 2026 Child Passenger Safety Technician of the Year for expanding car-seat education and support for lower-income families. Arts & Community Building: UM Missoula is asking for fabric donations for “Soft Monuments,” a building-sized textile project draped over campus and downtown spaces. Land & Wildlife: A federal court blocked BLM from forcing American Prairie to remove bison from three northeastern Montana grazing allotments while the lawsuit proceeds. Culture & Tradition: Montana Shakespeare in the Parks returns with performances in Anchor Park, bringing “Much Ado About Nothing” and more to outdoor audiences. Sports & Local Pride: Montana State’s Gold Rush tradition traces back to a dorm-room idea in 2006 and now fills Bobcat Stadium with gold. Wildlife in Towns: Bozeman police and FWP say bear calls are up, with residents urged to keep distance and manage attractants. Labor & Health Benefits: Miners at the Sibanye-Stillwater operation in Columbus began a strike over contract proposals affecting health care benefits and incentives.

Road Safety: Smart Start’s look at federal crash data finds Labor Day averages 133 fatal speeding-related crashes nationwide, with impaired driving close behind (about 90 fatal DUI crashes a year). Veterans & Community: Bozeman’s 8th annual Warriors & Quiet Waters Taste Fest is set for Sept. 11 at The Commons, raising funds to send post-9/11 vets through a 9-month healing program. Montana Arts & Neighborhood Life: Missoula’s Downtown Mural Project is expanding with a new large-scale dragon mural follow-up planned for the Leaf + Quiet building, adding Montana wildflowers and pollinators. Education & Health: Rossiter Elementary’s well testing confirmed PFAS/PFOA, and the district says specialized filters are already in place while more results are pending. Culture & Language: Hardin High School students are premiering an animated film that brings Crow language to the big screen, built with elders and language speakers. Wildlife Awareness: FWP is marking Bear Aware Month with events and drop-off options for old bear spray.

Education & Culture: Montana Shakespeare in the Parks brought a modernized “The Merchant of Venice” to UM’s Oval, using donation-based access to pull in big, mixed-age crowds. Youth & Health: Gov. Gianforte met in Billings on social media and phones in schools, pointing to sleep loss, online bullying, and the need for safer limits as districts vary in how they handle devices. Native Education: A landmark settlement strengthens Montana’s Indian Education for All mandate, tying IEFA into accreditation and monitoring while formalizing Tribal Nations’ role in shaping Indigenous curriculum. STEM & Workforce: UM is set to expand graduate STEM education with a $5M grant aimed at boosting hands-on training and mentoring for students from lower-income backgrounds. Rural Care: Montana’s first physician associate program at UMary began classes, targeting expanded health care access in rural areas. Community & Arts: Ninepipes Museum in Charlo hosts its First Saturday Artisan Event Sept. 5 with local authors, beadwork and live music. Public Safety: The Polson Police Foundation opened a new office and First Responder Wellness Center, adding decompression, training, and cybersecurity education space. Agriculture & Training: MSU Extension schedules an eastern Montana pest management tour (Sept. 28–Oct. 2) for applicators, covering weeds, pests, drift, water quality, and more. Policy Watch: Montana lawmakers voted to subpoena the Secretary of State over voter data handoff questions, as election oversight heats up.