Aaron Bolton

Employees of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes went back to work Monday as a stay-at-home order on the reservation was lifted. There are still restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The CSKT Tribal Council decided back in late June that the stay-at-home order would be lifted July 13, but a spike in COVID-19 cases throughout Lake County following the July 4 holiday delayed the rollback.

An independent and assisted living facility in Kalispell announced one of its residents has tested positive for COVID-19. A female resident at Immanuel Lutheran tested positive for the novel coronavirus Tuesday. All residents and staff are now being tested for the respiratory virus.

Fire season is getting underway in northwest Montana: The Magpie Rock Fire 8 miles west of Dixon tripled in size since Tuesday, and is now estimated at 1,000 acres.

Firefighters remain on scene at the roughly 300-acre Magpie Rock Fire. Located near Dixon on the Flathead Indian Reservation, the fire was 0% contained Tuesday morning.

The Montana University System’s Board of Regents finalized COVID-19 guidelines for public higher education across the state Tuesday. Figuring out how to apply those rules in-person is still being worked out.

At least two public health workers across the state have resigned due to disagreements with elected officials and the public over restrictions aimed at keeping the coronavirus pandemic in check. Lori Drumm is a family practitioner at the Deer Lodge Medical clinic and for about another week, Powell County’s public health officer. MTPR’s Aaron Bolton spoke with Drumm about her resignation.

Work to prevent harmful sediment from flowing into the Flathead River from a former aluminum plant will begin this fall. This is the first remediation project to take place at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund site.

Glacier National Park officials have decided against putting in place a reservation system for Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Earlier this month, Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow held a series of meetings to discuss the idea of a reservation system for the park’s main attraction, Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Veterans suffering from three health conditions related to Agent Orange exposure are closer to receiving expanded benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.