Edward O'Brien

Critics have complained that Western Montana’s veterans have had to make do with an undersized clinic, but that’s about to change. Friday in Missoula was the groundbreaking for a vastly updated outpatient veteran’s clinic in Missoula.

Missoula County health officials Thursday mandated mask use in almost all indoor public settings. The rule, designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, takes effect immediately.

The new mask requirement doesn’t mean Missoulians have to put on a face covering the moment they leave the house, but they should keep one handy.

The Missoula County Search and Rescue team helps people who are usually in big trouble. It’s also in charge of recovering the remains of those for whom it’s too late.

For the past two years, Dave Howe, a founding member of Search and Rescue’s K9 Team, has built a network of people willing to donate pieces of their own bodies to help train his dogs to find human remains. Howe’s team is now asking for larger body part donations to hone those canine skills.

Missoula’s recent warm and dry conditions have prompted officials to push local fire danger from low to moderate. According to the Missoula County Fire Protection Association that means outdoor debris burning season closes June 7.

A state legislative committee this week voted to formally object to a Montana health department proposal permanently banning the sale of almost all flavored e-cigarette products.

On Monday, Montana reported a total of 919 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 56 new cases since Sunday. That’s the biggest one-day spike since the pandemic started in March.

This spike has prompted some hospitals to tighten visitor guidelines.

A wet, chilly weather system is moving into Montana this weekend, and for the foreseeable future, it could make the season feel a lot more like autumn than summer.

Fire officials say they now know how a wildfire started last weekend roughly 13 miles south of Helena.