AGP Executive Report

Labor & Politics: Union endorsements are crossing party lines in Montana’s federal races, with candidates backing collective bargaining rights and leaning on labor support as working-class voters become a key battleground. Energy Costs: Americans are staring at the most expensive Labor Day gas prices on record, with the national average topping about $4.14 a gallon as Middle East tensions keep crude prices elevated. Mining & Jobs: Sibanye-Stillwater miners at Montana palladium operations began a strike over health benefits and incentive pay, raising near-term production risk for the U.S.’s main primary palladium source. Workforce Development: Gov. Greg Gianforte highlighted Montana’s 406 JOBS initiative, focusing on pathways into good jobs and tackling barriers like childcare, transportation, and housing. Local Infrastructure: Whitefish City Council will discuss using federal community project funding for a Big Mountain Road/East Lakeshore Drive roundabout aimed at improving safety and traffic flow. Public Safety: Montana’s Workforce is Ready for What’s Next also ties into broader state efforts to protect youth and improve community wellbeing.

Energy & Costs: Americans are bracing for record Labor Day gas prices, with the national average projected around $4.03 a gallon and already near $4.14 amid Middle East-driven oil volatility. Workforce & Policy: Gov. Greg Gianforte is pushing stronger protections for Montana children from harmful social media effects, citing rising screen time and mental health concerns. Ranching & Water: Eastern Montana ranchers are getting creative as drought dries up cattle water, including using portable “sketchy” hauling tanks to keep livestock alive. Wildlife & Agriculture: A lightning strike killed 220 sheep in the Gravelly Mountains, prompting rapid carcass disposal and predator-deterrent fencing efforts across western Montana. Defense & Infrastructure: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers updated plans for a Sentinel missile underground communications network tied to Montana’s Malmstrom missile field. Local Health Training: Life Flight Network opened a new clinical training center in Idaho to strengthen air medical care across Montana and the region.

Energy & Costs: Americans head into Labor Day with record-high gasoline prices, with GasBuddy projecting the national average could hit about $4.03 a gallon as war-linked supply pressures keep fuel expensive. Federal Policy & Wildlife: President Trump signed an executive order pushing Interior to consider rolling back Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves and Mexican gray wolves, including changes aimed at livestock predation standards and state coordination. Defense Infrastructure: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers updated a Sentinel Utility Corridor plan for the underground communications network supporting the LGM-35A Sentinel missile system, estimated at $1.4B–$2B. Workforce & Training: Montana is highlighting 406 JOBS and a growing digital Talent Marketplace effort to connect workers with training and employers. Agriculture & Drought: Eastern Montana ranchers are improvising to keep cattle watered as drought deepens, including portable tank setups. Local Industry & Data Centers: Custer County zoning hearings drew calls for stronger rules or a moratorium on hyperscale data centers, with residents focused on water, power, noise, and unclear size thresholds. CDL Pipeline: Miles Community College is expanding its CDL program to meet ongoing demand for commercial drivers.

Workforce & Training: Montana’s Workforce Warrior campaign launched with tribal leaders and state officials to spotlight Native career paths in skilled trades, health care, education, public service, business, and entrepreneurship. Workforce & CDL Pipeline: Miles Community College is expanding its CDL program as trucking demand grows, aiming to close a national driver shortage. Energy & Cost Pressure: Labor Day is shaping up with record-high gasoline prices, with analysts projecting the U.S. average could hit about $4.03 a gallon as Middle East tensions keep fuel supplies tight. Local Industry & Permitting: Custer County zoning hearings put data centers under the microscope, with residents urging stronger rules or a moratorium over water, power, and noise impacts. Wildlife & Land Management: Yellowstone National Park is closing part of Buffalo Creek and using fish poison to remove invasive rainbow trout to protect native cutthroat trout. Agriculture & Food Safety: Montana and Washington are investigating a Salmonella outbreak tied to broccoli sprouts, with no recall issued so far. Economy & State Spending: Montana reported $9.8 billion in FY26 spending, with federal funds making up 43% of the total.

Workforce & Training: Montana is pushing wage growth and skills pipelines, spotlighting a new digital Talent Marketplace plus Registered Apprenticeship and industry credentials to match workers with jobs. CDL Pipeline: Miles Community College’s expanding CDL program is drawing both traditional and adult students as trucking demand keeps outpacing supply. Data Center Pressure: Custer County zoning talks drew heavy pushback over hyperscale data centers, with residents urging stronger rules or a two-year moratorium while questions linger on water, power, noise, and definitions. Energy Costs: Labor Day gasoline prices are projected to hit record highs near $4.03 a gallon as Middle East-related supply disruptions keep pressure on pumps. Agritourism: A u-pick sunflower event near Melrose is adding ranch income and giving visitors a hands-on Montana ranch experience. Wildlife & Ranching: Federal court action lets American Prairie’s bison stay on three Montana grazing allotments while its lawsuit challenges BLM’s “production-oriented” interpretation. Public Safety: FWP is monitoring mountain lion activity near homes in Helena’s South Hills and reminding residents how to reduce conflicts. Community Growth: A new nonprofit, Helping Us Build, is being planned around the restored Mountain Telephone Building in Miles City to drive downtown enrichment.

Wolf policy shift: A Trump order gives Interior 90 days to decide whether gray wolves and Mexican gray wolves can lose federal ESA protections, setting up a fresh fight over wolf management in the northern Rockies. Bison on federal land: A federal judge temporarily blocks BLM from forcing American Prairie to remove its bison from three northeastern Montana grazing allotments while the lawsuit over the Taylor Grazing Act plays out. Defense infrastructure: The new Sentinel missile system is moving toward conversion at F.E. Warren, with plans to replace Minuteman III and reshape missile-field operations. Agritourism: A u-pick sunflower event in Melrose is drawing visitors to a working ranch, pitching agritourism as a steadier income boost for Montana producers. Mining labor: Sibanye-Stillwater miners in south-central Montana begin a strike, citing health care and benefits in contract talks. Local governance/data centers: Butte-Silver Bow moves toward a temporary data center moratorium to buy time for rules and assess impacts. Agriculture processing: Trump signs an order aimed at letting small and medium farms process their own meat, challenging big processors. Energy/industry: Montana Farm Bureau warns retaliatory Canada tariffs could hit farm equipment and other goods as USMCA talks stall.

Energy & Transportation: AAA says Labor Day 2026 gas prices are on track for a record, with the national average at $4.1436 and volatility tied to Strait of Hormuz crude prices. Agriculture & Drought Response: Gov. Gianforte announced USDA drought disaster designations for Dawson, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan and Wibaux counties, opening the door to FSA emergency loans. Workforce & Education: Montana’s Workforce Warriors campaign spotlights Native career paths, while UM landed a $5M STEM grant to boost graduate education. Public Lands & Water: Missoula officials celebrated new Clark Fork River access points, tying river restoration to downtown trail connections. Defense & Partnerships: Montana National Guard troops joined Sri Lanka in Atlas Angel II, a disaster-response subject matter exchange covering landslides, urban search and rescue, medical response and incident command. Business & Community: Black Dog Creamery expanded in Uptown Butte with a new storefront for scratch-made ice cream and homemade pizza. Data Centers & Local Governance: A Butte judge ruled a data center ballot question missed deadlines, keeping it off the ballot.

Data Centers & AI Backlash: Yellowstone County’s data-center fight keeps spreading, with Montana Free Press reporting that Quantica’s Broadview project drew political donations before construction plans, and that three of four Montana data centers have stopped work as students and advocates push for voter approval. Local Ballot & Courts: A Butte-Silver Bow judge ruled a data-center ballot question missed statutory deadlines, so it won’t appear on the general election ballot—setting up an appeal. Water, Forests & Public Lands: The Trump administration’s plan to repeal the Roadless Rule is sparking debate in Montana, where millions of acres are covered; conservation groups are organizing postcard events to urge USDA to keep protections. Workforce & Training: Flathead Valley Community College received a $7M gift to expand its Trades Institute, adding lab space for electrical, HVAC, plumbing and machining. Consumer Watchdog: Montana’s State Auditor warned consumers about “self-funded,” limited partner health plans that may not comply with the ACA and can leave people on the hook for unpaid medical bills. Energy Skills: Mitchell Technical College dedicated a new underground powerline training facility, expanding hands-on utility workforce preparation.

Wildfire Tech: Bridger Aerospace and OroraTech are integrating satellite thermal intelligence into Bridger’s IGNIS wildfire software, aiming to spot threats earlier and give crews a shared operating picture. Data Center Fight: Yellowstone County residents pushed for a data center moratorium ballot, but commissioners took no action; meanwhile, a potential power deal for a McPherson County data center is on the Sept. 8 agenda. Consumer Protection & Cyber Scams: Montana AG Austin Knudsen warned of spoof website scams that mimic real businesses to steal payment and personal data. Agriculture Under Drought: USDA designated natural disaster areas in parts of Montana for emergency producer credit; Gov. Gianforte also temporarily eased hay-delivery hours-of-service rules to move feed faster. Livestock Policy: Ranchers and Montana lawmakers criticized Trump’s plan to import ground beef trimmings without a tariff quota, saying it could hurt herd rebuilding and long-term prices. Mining & Exploration: Silver Bow Mining reported high-grade silver-equivalent hits at its Rainbow Block Project; Transatlantic Mining advanced work at its Golden Jubilee project in Granite County. Workforce & Training: Montana’s DLI launched Workforce Warriors to spotlight Native career paths, and MSU Extension set a pest management tour across eastern Montana. Energy & Regulation: Gianforte received the licensing reform task force’s initial report with 37 recommendations, and the Unleashing American-Made Energy Task Force delivered its final recommendations.

Labor & Industry: Workers at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Stillwater Mine and Columbus Metallurgical Complex are planning a strike starting Sept. 3 after contract talks broke down, with the union citing failed bargaining over health benefits and pay incentives. Local Governance & Infrastructure: East Helena residents are getting a clearer map of who maintains which roads—city crews funded partly by gas tax dollars versus county and rural improvement district roads funded through property taxes and the road mill levy. Economic Development: Big Sky leaders are laying groundwork for a Targeted Economic Development District and tax increment financing talks, aiming to steer local taxes toward long-term infrastructure. Workforce & Policy: Gov. Greg Gianforte received the initial report from Montana’s Licensing Reform Task Force, which proposes 37 steps to reduce licensing burdens and expand access to professional careers. Energy & Data Centers: Butte-Silver Bow data center ballot organizers are appealing after a judge refused to place their initiative on the November ballot. Education & STEM: STARBASE Montana is expanding hands-on aquatic engineering and STEAM learning for students, while a new Bozeman school phone app policy is drawing privacy questions from parents. Agriculture: Drought and high input costs are squeezing Montana ranchers’ hay production, and the Montana Farmers Union Foundation awarded more than $83,000 to 34 ag-related projects statewide.

Diplomacy: The U.S. Senate confirmed Barron, Wisconsin native Chris Anderson as ambassador to Cambodia, with Montana Sen. Steve Daines backing his nomination. Public Works & Local Business: Missoula’s Downtown SAM project (Safety, Access, Mobility) is moving ahead with a $24M federal grant, and the city’s Downtown Foundation is launching grants to help businesses handle construction disruption. Courts & Health Infrastructure: A new public hearing is set for Montana’s planned forensic mental health facility near Laurel after a judge halted the project, with updated environmental analysis focused on water connections. Energy & Utilities: NorthWestern Energy’s power plan is under scrutiny after an independent review found gaps, and Montana regulators have ordered the company to redo its 20-year plan. Mining & Labor: A strike is looming at Sibanye Stillwater’s Stillwater mine after contract talks broke down, affecting about 750 workers. Food Supply Chain: The DOJ expanded its beef affordability antitrust probe to major grocery retailers, adding Walmart, Costco, Amazon and others. Communities & Infrastructure: Havre crews are working on a $3.5M pavement preservation project on U.S. 2, with traffic reduced to one lane in each direction and a pause for Labor Day. Invasive Species: Montana is seeing the spread of the Eastern Heath Snail, raising concerns for crops and livestock disease risk. Public Safety Equipment: A Town Pump Charitable Foundation grant is helping Montana fire departments buy new breathing gear as older SCBAs reach end of life. Regulatory Action: The FCC revoked a Montana radio station’s license over unpaid regulatory fees, ordering it to stop operating immediately.

Licensing Reform: A Montana task force delivered a 130-page set of recommendations aimed at making professional licensing more efficient and easier to enter—especially for rural and frontier workers—while preserving safeguards. Energy Oversight: The Montana Public Service Commission ordered NorthWestern Energy to redo its 20-year power plan after an independent review found gaps, including unclear reasons for new costly resources and concerns about modeling reliability. Agriculture Relief: Gov. Greg Gianforte temporarily suspended parts of hours-of-service and weight rules to speed hay deliveries as drought strains forage supplies, with the order set to expire Sept. 13. Wildlife Management: The Fish and Wildlife Commission approved 2026-2027 wolf and furbearer quotas, setting a statewide wolf harvest quota of 300 wolves by region for a season starting Sept. 5. Data Centers & AI: Montana U.S. Senate candidates are pressing for more transparency and guardrails as communities debate data centers and AI growth, with concerns ranging from costs and water to worker impacts and community control. Forensic Facility Fight: Montana’s Board of Investments scheduled a new public hearing on a revised environmental assessment plan for a proposed Laurel forensic mental health facility, after opponents challenged water access and testing denials. Transportation Leadership: MDT director Chris Dorrington is set to step down in October, as Gov. Gianforte prepares a replacement.

Hay Delivery Relief: Gov. Greg Gianforte suspended certain hours-of-service and load-weight limits to speed hay transport as drought squeezes forage supplies, aiming to keep Montana livestock operations running. Water & Housing: Flathead-area officials approved a Territory 1889 luxury development’s lease for about 40.7 million gallons of groundwater annually for 359 homes and amenities, with state review still ahead. Data Center Water Debate: Quantica/Big Sky Digital Infrastructure says its Broadview campus would use about 20,000 gallons per day in operations (up to 150,000 during construction) via the Deep Madison Group Aquifer, fueling fresh local scrutiny. Mining Updates: Silver Bow Mining reported high-grade silver-zinc-lead results from the Rainbow Block in Butte, including 994.2 g/t AgEq over 4.0 m. Agriculture Watch: MSU Extension confirmed a new Palmer amaranth detection in Cascade County and warned growers to scout for herbicide-resistant pigweed. State Government: Montana PSC commissioner Brad Molnar’s one-year suspension was upheld by a judge, while MDT director Chris Dorrington is set to leave Oct. 1 for the private sector.

U.S. Senate & Tech Policy: Montana Senate candidates are debating how to manage data centers and AI, with independent Seth Bodnar pushing a “Protect Montana” pledge that calls for local control, no cost-shifting to ratepayers, Montana labor, and tighter AI safety rules. Energy & Power Planning: A draft Northwest power plan says the region—including Montana—needs major new renewable generation plus battery storage, efficiency, and some natural gas to meet soaring demand. Insurance Oversight: Montana State Auditor James Brown has launched the first market conduct review of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana in more than a decade, focusing on compliance in marketing, underwriting, rating, policyholder services, and claims. Construction & Water: A judge paused construction of a forensic mental health facility near Laurel, ordering more analysis of required water use after community challenges. Agriculture Help: Farm Rescue is urging referrals for harvest assistance and launching Operation Hay Lift to move hay to drought-impacted Montana ranchers. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports show Montana regular prices mostly steady-to-up, with notable county lows like Big Horn at $4.14 and Gallatin premium at $4.77. Public Lands: Conservation groups are organizing postcard events urging the USDA to keep the Roadless Rule as a potential rollback heads toward a Sept. 21 comment deadline. Food Safety: FDA-linked recall: Hodo Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu (specific lots/best-by dates) has been recalled and includes distribution in Montana.

Climate & Wildfire Smoke: Missoula-area reporting ties back-to-school anxiety to lingering wildfire smoke and warns that hotter El Niño conditions could make smoky summers more common. Energy Prices: GasBuddy data says Montana’s average gasoline is down to about $4.38/gal, though still higher than a month and a year ago; diesel prices also remain elevated statewide. Yellowstone Snowpack: A new study finds human-caused climate change made Greater Yellowstone’s snow drought far more likely, with warming driving extreme low-snow conditions. Agriculture Economics: Record-low wheat production is pushing prices up, but Montana farmers say input costs are still outpacing returns, leaving many barely breaking even. Disaster Response Training: The U.S. and Sri Lanka launched Atlas Angel II, with Montana National Guard teams participating in drills covering search-and-rescue, incident command, engineering, landslide response, and hazardous-materials readiness. Fire Updates: Cooler, wetter weather helped slow several Montana fires, though crews continue work and some scenic byways and areas remain closed or in evacuation status. Local Food & Small Business: Billings’ Food Truck Battle drew large crowds and strong sales, showing how local events keep momentum for Montana’s food vendors.

Product Liability: A New Jersey family is suing Franklin Sports after a badminton racket shaft allegedly dislodged during a Maine vacation and pierced 6-year-old Lucy Morgan’s skull, raising fresh questions about sports equipment safety. Mining & Energy: Red Mountain Mining says its maiden RC drilling has started at the Armidale antimony-gold project in Australia, while Montana’s Pioneer Tungsten work is also expected to deliver results soon. Agriculture & Food Processing: Constellation Brands is investing $100 million over five years to support Montana and northern plains barley farmers, aiming to boost grower income and supply for beer production. Oil & Gas Costs: GasBuddy reports show Yellowstone County regular gas hitting $4.15 at some stations in the week ending Aug. 22, with Montana averages edging up. Power & Regulation: Kentucky AGs are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Biden-era EPA air quality rule, arguing it raises costs for manufacturers, utilities, and farmers. Rail & Logistics: A guest opinion argues a Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger could cut coast-to-coast rail inefficiencies and lower shipping costs for Montana shippers. Military Readiness: The Region VI Best Warrior Competition brought National Guard top performers from eight states together in North Dakota. Public Lands & Conservation: Montana’s roadless conservation debate continues as hunters and anglers push back on efforts to end the roadless rule. Tech & Finance: A report says Trump Jr. urged Montana’s AG to back off prediction-market regulation, setting up another fight over state versus federal oversight.