Where Are The Montana Measles?

While many states are struggling with measles cases this summer, including Utah, which is #2 in the nation for measles cases this summer, Montana officials are reporting NO measles cases in the state as we pass the mid-point of summer.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is showing no active measles cases in the state this summer, which is a sharp contrast from last summer, when there was a surge in cases in some counties between April and August of 2025.

There were a few more cases in November, and then reported cases in Lewis & Clark County in March. However, there have been no cases reported since then.

That's a sharp contrast from larger states, such as Utah, where 518 cases have been reported year-to-date, mainly from a major outbreak along the Utah-Arizona border. Washington State has had between 45 and 53 cases, with 33 to 34 cases in Oregon. Wyoming also has been tracking some cases in the Jackson area in recent weeks.

      Montana has tracked a total of 31-measles cases since DPHHS began tracking the problem last year, but nearly all of those were last year.

Hands off foster kids' money

Montana is joining a growing list of states moving to end the practice of taking federal benefits from children in foster care to cover the cost of their state care.

Governor Greg Gianforte is announcing that Montana will eliminate what’s known as the “Orphan Tax.”

For over two decades, the state child welfare agency has collected federal Social Security survivor benefits earned by deceased parents and placed them into a state account to pay for a child's foster care. Under the new plan, the governor will include budget language this November to preserve those funds for foster youth starting July 1st, 2027, helping provide a financial foundation as they age out of care.

Montana fire updates

A backcountry blaze in the Bob Marshall Wilderness is now one of the largest fires of the year in Montana, now mapping at just over 4,000 acres.

The lightning-caused Silvertip Fire was spotted over the weekend and has been growing because of the warm weather and winds in the area. That's prompted the Forest Service to close some of the trails in that section of the backcountry.

The other blaze that's been growing is the Elder 1 Fire, burning in the Rock Creek drainage of the Lolo National Forest southwest of Frenchtown, which is now over 9-hundred acres. Aircraft have been working to fold the ridge line between Rock Creek and Albert Point, with a fire protection specialist scouting the area in case the fire expands and threatens any homes or structures, which hasn't happened so far.

Elsewhere, Montana DNRC says the Twin Sisters Fire in the Judith Basin is now 50-percent contained. Also, the "716 2" Fire, which had started in Treasure County in the middle of July, is now fully contained after burning over 600 acres.

a reel and a spool of water sitting on a rock next to a river

More fishing restrictions

Rising water temperatures and low flows are prompting fresh fishing restrictions across western and southwestern Montana.

Effective yesterday, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has expanded hoot-owl restrictions, prohibiting fishing daily between 2 p.m. and midnight on key stretches of the Big Hole, Blackfoot, Bitterroot, and Clark Fork rivers, along with several tributaries.

      Full closures are also now in effect within 100 yards of the mouths of Fish Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, and the St. Regis River to protect vulnerable bull trout.

Meanwhile, as we reported yesterday, Yellowstone National Park has instituted its own hoot-owl rules from 2 p.m. to sunrise on all park rivers, alongside full closures on the Madison, Firehole, and lower Gibbon rivers. Officials say the limits will remain in place until water temperatures drop and conditions improve.