Voters Pick These People to Lead Montana’s Major Cities

Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis will be returning to the mayor's office to fill a full term of her own. Davis, who was picked in a special election to finish the remainder of former Mayor John Engen's term left by his untimely death in 2022, swept to an easy win last night with nearly 70% of the initial ballots.

Incumbent Great Falls Mayor Cory Reeves also won re-election with 73% of the initial ballots. The race for Billings mayor was still close, with Mike Nelson leading Jennifer Olsen. Emily Dean was leading the contest for Helena Mayor, Douglas Fisher was on top for Bozeman Mayor, with Ryan Hunter in front of the Kalispell mayor's race

New jail approved in the Flathead

Flathead County voters were in a spending mood heading up to the General Election, with yesterday's vote confirming that $105-million proposal to build a new Law and Justice Center was heading to approval with 57% of the vote.

The money would pay for a new jail with twice the capacity on the south side of Kalispell,  but also bring more space and an update for the operations of the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. It's taken more than a decade for the idea to become a reality.

Columbia Falls won't get a new high school

Meanwhile, in Columbia Falls, nearly 70% of the voters rejected a plan to raise $84-million for a new high school.

No bridge bills in Missoula

But the wallets of Missoula County voters were snapped shut firmly, as the idea of imposing a special levy to pay for bridge rehab and repair didn't even get off the starting line, with only 54% of the voters backing the idea in the first count.

     County officials hadn't lobbied hard for the proposal, but felt it was important to give residents an option, with several of the county's older bridges failing or in jeopardy in recent years.

READ MORE: Missoula's Problem Bridges

Great Falls will ban fireworks

The early ballot returns also show Great Falls heading toward approval of new restrictions on fireworks for the city. About 60% of the early returns were in approval of the year-round restrictions, which would include not only the 4th of July, but New Year's as well.

To be clear, the ban only includes aerial fireworks like bottle rockets and Roman candles. Novelty items like sparklers and fountains that don't explode are still allowed under state law.

Montana SNAP update

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is confirming it will be issuing "partial" SNAP benefits to help families and individuals with food this month, following the change in direction by the Trump Administration.

Two federal judges ordered the USDA to use emergency reserve funds to keep the benefits coming.

DPHHS says the SNAP payments will be issued "in the coming weeks", but didn't offer a specific date. According to the tables the agency released, the reduced allotments range from $149 for individuals to $497 for a family of four, with a scale for other household sizes.

     Full info is on the DPHHS website.

Corner crossing law continues in Montana

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is stressing that "corner crossing" remains illegal for sportsmen across Montana.

That info came after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the Wyoming case, which was challenging the ongoing prohibitions on "cutting across" private property corners to reach adjacent public lands.

FWP Director Christy Clark: "Montanans should continue to obtain permission from the adjoining landowners before crossing corners from one piece of public property to another."

“Warden will continue to report corner crossing cases to local county attorneys to exercise their prosecutorial discretion.” - FWP Director Christy Clark