AGP Executive Report

Road & Weather: Beartooth Highway is now open from the Montana side to Vista Point, with crews still clearing snow to finish the full reopening by the end of the day—after Yellowstone pushed the schedule to May 23. Highway Work: I-90’s Montana State Line/Ranchester project is in its second and final year, with landslide-related shoulder repairs and bridge work underway. Summer Safety: Montana AG Austin Knudsen and the Highway Patrol are ramping enforcement for the “100 Deadliest Days,” warning that alcohol- and drug-involved fatal crashes are up sharply even as overall fatalities are down. Tourism Pressure: Gas prices are climbing heading into Memorial Day, and officials warn higher fuel costs could shift where visitors spend. Privacy vs Safety: Montana travelers are also seeing growing debate over Flock-style license plate cameras, as communities weigh convenience against surveillance concerns. Wellness on the Go: Missoula’s Sky Cycle launched at the airport, betting on movement as a new travel amenity.

Travel Disruption: The Beartooth Highway’s Wyoming stretch into Yellowstone is delayed again after a winter storm, pushing the planned May 22 opening to Saturday (May 23 if conditions hold). Yellowstone road crews are clearing heavy drifts, and officials warn temporary closures or restrictions can pop up fast—so drivers should plan for winter driving and check Montana/Wyoming DOT updates. Memorial Day Reality Check: Gas prices are already reshaping holiday plans in Montana, with AAA reporting many travelers choosing shorter trips closer to home. Education & Homelessness: A San Diego parking-lot “lifeline” model is letting homeless students and families stay stable while they meet school and housing casework needs. Sports & Money: A debate is heating up over whether North Dakota State football should get more state support as it moves up—while the broader college football playoff conversation keeps expanding. Culture: Montana Tucker is bringing her Holocaust-memory dance advocacy to Toronto’s We CAN Dance Again event.

Beartooth Highway Delay: Winter weather is pushing back the Beartooth Highway opening on the Wyoming side of U.S. 212 (from Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to the Montana line) to May 23, with crews clearing heavy snowdrifts and warning that conditions could still trigger quick changes. Memorial Day Travel Pressure: Montana travelers are weighing plans as gas prices stay high—one Bozeman couple says a round trip to Colorado now costs about $400 in fuel, and they’re shifting toward local rides instead. Fuel Watch (Diesel): Diesel prices in Montana remain volatile, with Missoula County’s lowest reported at $5.17/gal and Flathead County’s low at $5.39/gal for the week ending May 16. Quick Culture & Community: Ashton is gearing up for a June 6 fundraiser to boost July 4 fireworks for the town’s 250th-anniversary celebration. Travel Rules Update: TSA has quietly updated its “What Can I Bring?” guidance to list medical marijuana as allowed in carry-on and checked baggage under certain conditions.

Airport Security Shake-Up: TSA is rolling out “Gold+,” a new public-private screening program that would expand the role of private contractors at more airports, with an “industry day” planned in Springfield, Va. Memorial Day Safety Push: Montana just unveiled new “Welcome to Montana” signs and the Montana Highway Patrol is warning the holiday kicks off the state’s “100 Deadliest Days,” urging sober driving and seatbelts. Bear Country Reality Check: Red Lodge is ramping up hands-on bear safety training as communities prep for active season, while a grizzly was killed near Yellowstone after a self-defense charge. Summer Travel Mood Shift: A new wave of travel coverage is pushing “luxury” as restoration and slower experiences—not checklists. Local Events & Culture: Woodtick Festival is set for July 17–18 near Darby, and K-pop fans in Butte get a live tribute show May 31. Road Changes: A Lincoln Road–Applegate Drive roundabout starts construction, aiming to cut crashes and improve flow.

Roundabout Rollout: Montana DOT has started building a new Lincoln Road–Applegate Drive roundabout in Great Falls, aiming to cut crashes and smooth traffic as the valley grows, with construction expected to wrap by October. Road-Planning Push: MDT is also asking Central Montana residents to weigh in on future transportation needs through a nine-county study, using an online map and corridor focus areas. Tourism & Outdoor Buzz: Teton Excursions opened its 2026 season with expanded private wildlife tours, including a new 4-day Bozeman-to-Jackson itinerary. Local Culture: K-pop fans in Butte and Southwest Montana get a live show May 31 with two performances. Travel Costs: GasBuddy says Memorial Day gas could jump to about $4.48 nationally, and summer road trips are still happening—just with more price-hunting. Food & Tech: Albertsons is rolling out AI produce checks to reduce “squishy fruit” waste.

Montana Travel & Outdoors: Yellowstone is gearing up for the summer crush with a fresh “Top 10” visitor checklist—no reservation needed to enter, but expect road-condition checks, wildlife rules, and more reminders to stay on paths. Local Infrastructure: Missoula County just landed an $838,722 federal grant to finish the funding gap for Marshall Mountain Park upgrades, including drinking water, shade, a main trailhead, accessibility improvements, and winter shelter work starting with design in 2026 and construction/renovations in 2027. Road Updates: Skalkaho Pass on Highway 38 is set to reopen Friday, May 22 at 10 a.m., and I-90 resurfacing between Saltese and Haugan is slated to begin the week of May 25, with slower speeds and lane bottlenecks. State Parks Tip: Montanans may already have their $9 annual state-park pass built into vehicle registration—so check before you pay at the gate.

Travel Wins: Door County, Wisconsin keeps racking up national buzz—Square Rigger Lodge took top honors for Best Roadside Motel and Fresh Coast Motel grabbed second, while the Door County Coastal Byway landed ninth for Best Scenic Drive. Local Projects: Missoula County secured an $838,722 federal grant to finish the Marshall Mountain Park base-area upgrades, with design work in 2026 and construction/renovations starting in 2027. Road & Park Updates: Skalkaho Pass is set to reopen May 22, and Yellowstone is reminding visitors that reservations aren’t required to enter—just plan ahead, check road conditions, and don’t mess with wildlife. Aviation Watch: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport was selected for a pilot program to transition its tower toward FAA-owned control. Politics & Ethics: Senators grilled Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over a road trip funded by companies his department regulates. Crime Crackdown: Feds say they dismantled an international gun smuggling ring tied to Akwesasne, with 13 people charged.

Bozeman Business Exit: A popular Bozeman plasma center is shutting down for good, with the Grifols Biomat USA location posting it will close May 4, 2026—an abrupt change for donors who relied on the service. Summer Travel Squeeze: A new national survey says 37% of Americans aren’t planning summer trips, mostly because costs are too high; even those traveling are shifting to shorter, cheaper, closer getaways. Montana Travel & Fun: Montana State fans can vote for the Gold Rush T-shirt design ahead of the Bobcats’ home opener, and a fresh guide highlights RV road trips built for families. Corrections Oversight: Advocates and lawmakers are pushing for an independent watchdog for Montana’s Department of Corrections, with an ombudsman idea getting serious discussion. Outdoor & Local Planning: Montana FWP is taking public comment on a proposed Yellowstone River fishing access site at Sisken Island, while Belgrade’s Main Street resurfacing is set to bring short-term lane changes.

Montana Road Work: Belgrade’s Main Street is set for a resurfacing run that should take about five days, with no parking and single-lane traffic while CK May Excavating removes pavement, adds a new surface, chip-seals, and updates markings. Local Infrastructure Delays: In East Helena, Valley Drive improvements are still stuck in the federal legal review stage—nearly two years after a $10.2 million RAISE grant announcement. Public Lands & Fishing: Montana FWP is taking public comment through May 21 on a proposed Sisken Island fishing access site on the Yellowstone River, a new 85-acre spot with float-in access, camping, and weapons-restricted hunting. Community Win: A federal judge ordered the release of Roberto Orozco-Ramirez from immigration detention, and residents in Froid welcomed him home with honks and signs. Health & Safety Watch: New disclosures raise fresh concerns about biosafety oversight at NIH’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton after a staff member was reportedly exposed to a deadly hemorrhagic fever virus.

Immigration Relief in Froid: A federal judge ordered Roberto Orozco-Ramirez’s release from immigration detention, and the tiny Montana town of fewer than 200 people turned out with horns and cheers as he came home after more than 100 days. Local Governance: Whitefish is weighing a deer management plan after years of rising conflicts, including collisions and chronic wasting disease concerns. Travel & Weather: Mountain West airports are topping “turbulence” lists—Bozeman is right up there—while another round of late-season snow and wind warnings threatens hazardous driving in parts of the region. Summer Stops: Livingston’s classic Mark’s In & Out is back for the season, and Butte’s Pekin Noodle Parlor may be closing after 115+ years. Wildlife & Safety: Controlled burns are restricted in Stutsman County as fire danger spikes.

Immigration Relief in Froid: A federal judge ordered the release of Roberto Orozco-Ramirez, a northeastern Montana mechanic and father of four, after ruling his months-long detention likely violated due process—then neighbors lined Main Street to welcome him home. Air Show Shock: Two Navy EA-18G Growler jets collided mid-air during Idaho’s Mountain Home air show; all four crew members ejected safely and the rest of the show was canceled as investigators work the scene. Aurora Watch: A geomagnetic storm could push northern lights farther south than usual this weekend, with Montana among the best bets if skies stay clear. Travel Disruption Ahead: Another round of heavy, late-season snow and hazardous driving is forecast for parts of the northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest, with warnings urging travelers to check conditions before heading out. Local Life & Leisure: Summer concert listings and a viral Montana coffee-shop moment (thanks to Starlink and Elon Musk resharing) are keeping the travel buzz going.

Northern Lights Watch: A geomagnetic storm could push aurora farther south than usual this weekend, with the best odds in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Montana—then a possible faint glow reaching as far as Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Vermont. Winter Weather: A late-season snow system is also lining up for parts of the northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest, with hazardous driving and near-whiteout conditions possible in higher elevations. Local Travel & Outdoors: Billings Logan’s aviation study points to major local economic impact, while the BLM is reshuffling campground access near Holter Lake and Log Gulch. Culture & Fun: Great Falls’ Mimosa Showdown returns Saturday, and Kalispell’s new Skydive Glacier Country opens at the city airport.

College Sports Crossroads: Clackamas Community College athletes are weighing whether to transfer as spring ends, with CCC guard Mollie Miller saying the “best fit” matters—especially if it means staying close to teammates like the Washington twins. Aviation & Local Economy: A new Billings airport study says Billings Logan supports about 4,585 jobs and $265M in payroll, with ripple effects for healthcare, tourism, and wildfire rescue. Land-Exchange Fight: Montana’s Land Board is set to consider changes that would let third-party consultants—paid by landowners—broker state trust land exchanges, drawing pushback over fairness. Big Sky Outdoors: Stutsman County faces “extreme” fire behavior risk as high winds and dry conditions trigger red-flag restrictions. Travel Watch: Northern lights could be visible Saturday night into Sunday across parts of Montana and the northern U.S. Community News: Butte braces for major bridge closures this summer, while the historic Pekin Noodle Parlor’s possible closure has locals mourning a long-running chapter.

Land-Exchange Fight: Montana’s State Auditor James Brown is set to push the Land Board to let third-party consultants—paid by a landowner—broker trades of private land for state trust land, but critics warn it could tilt access toward people with money. Fire Weather: Stutsman County is under a red-flag pattern with high winds and very dry air, and officials are urging residents to skip controlled burns and other open-flame activity. Winter Surprise: A Heavy Snow Warning is in play for parts of Washington, Montana, and Oregon, with mountain passes and backcountry areas facing slick, cold, fast-changing conditions. Aurora Watch: NOAA is forecasting a geomagnetic storm that could bring northern lights as far south as Montana and beyond on Saturday night, especially under a new moon. Wildlife Politics: Rep. Ryan Zinke is renewing calls to delist grizzly bears after recent park incidents, while park rules would still limit hunting and trapping inside national parks. Local Life: Sun River’s antler-season gates drew big crowds near Augusta, and Great Falls’ Mimosa Showdown returns Saturday.

Viral Montana Moment: Fishtail Coffee Cabin’s thank-you post to Starlink got reshared by Elon Musk, turning a rural internet nod into a million-plus view hit. Local Events: Great Falls’ Mimosa Showdown returns Saturday with 20+ spots pouring specialty mimosas all day. Education Support: An anonymous donor is funding a $150K scholarship at MSU Billings for Native American students starting this fall. Northern Lights Watch: NOAA issued a G2 geomagnetic storm tonight into tomorrow—aurora chances may dip as far south as parts of Montana and the Midwest. Travel Disruptions: BLM campground upgrades near Holter Lake and Log Gulch mean new closure dates and refunds for some reservations. Big Sky Outdoors: Skydive Glacier Country opens at Kalispell City Airport May 15, and Yellowstone hike guides keep rolling in as spring hikers plan their next trail.

Weather & Travel Disruption: Strong winds and dust storms are still snarling parts of Montana, with near-zero visibility on the Hi-Line and blow-over warnings in multiple corridors—plus a confirmed landspout tornado reported near Big Sandy. Public Safety: Officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads when possible as crashes and closures pile up. Crime & Courts: U.S. prosecutors say a gun-smuggling operation tied to Akwesasne funneled dozens of weapons into Canada, with 13 people charged and five pleading guilty—some guns allegedly linked to violent crimes. Culture & Community: Salisbury’s Maryland Folk Festival is pausing in 2026 after sponsorship and grant funding problems, while Montana’s Big Sky Reptile Expo returns to Billings this weekend. Northern Lights Watch: NOAA is forecasting a possible aurora “strike zone” for northern states overnight Friday into Saturday. Arts & Heritage: Oregon’s historic Steiner Church on Mount Hood hosts a free art and quilt show May 30.