Montana
Measles case identified in Cascade County
Public health officials in Cascade County said Wednesday they are investigating one case of measles in a local adult resident who spent time at a local business when they were likely contagious.
As of publication time, the county website listed several locations for public exposure, including the Great Falls Walmart at 5320 10th Ave. S, the Rib & Chop House at 21 Third St. N, and the Great Falls Clinic Walk-in at 3000 15th Ave. S. Any individual who frequented those locations during the listed times “is considered to have been exposed to measles,” the website said.
The incident is the county’s first confirmed case of measles, a highly contagious and deadly disease that resurfaced in Montana this year for the first time in three decades amid a nationwide outbreak.
The state has reported 26 total cases since April across six counties: Gallatin, Flathead, Yellowstone, Lewis and Clark, Hill and now Cascade. Two people have been hospitalized for the disease and no deaths have been reported.
A person who has been exposed to measles can spread the virus four days before they develop a rash — one of the first physical signs of infection — and can remain contagious for several weeks. Symptoms may not appear for up to 21 days after exposure, giving a person’s transmissibility a long tail.
Health experts in Montana and elsewhere in the U.S. have stressed that the best protection against the measles virus for adults and children is the MMR vaccine, a long-lasting immunization that is typically recommended for infants between 12 and 15 months of age. In some circumstances of community transmission, health officials in Montana have recommended an earlier vaccination schedule for young infants.
In a Wednesday press release, the Cascade City-County Health Department said the newly confirmed case is an adult who is reportedly vaccinated, but that their immunization history had not been confirmed.
The health department reiterated that vaccination or other forms of protection are critical for preventing illness.
“Individuals who are immune to measles through vaccination, laboratory evidence of immunity, laboratory confirmation of disease, or were born before 1957 are not considered at risk for infection. Individuals without prior measles infection or vaccination have a 90% likelihood of contracting the disease if exposed,” the release said.
If a person is not sure about their MMR vaccination status, the health department suggested requesting vaccination records from their former high schools, colleges, universities, doctor’s offices, pediatricians, or the health departments for the towns in which they grew up.
Montana is the only state in the nation that does not publicly share data about county-by-county vaccination levels, particularly among young children who are most at risk for adverse effects from measles. An existing data collection program was scrapped after the state legislators passed a law striking that language from code in 2021.
A recent federal survey of 127 Montana children born in 2021 put the state’s estimated measles vaccination rate among toddlers at 85.5%, one of the lowest figures in the country.
Montana
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Feb. 16, 2026
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Feb. 16, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 16 drawing
16-18-19-56-58, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 16 drawing
06-29-36-43-46, Lucky Ball: 17
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Feb. 16 drawing
01-07-18-36-40, Star Ball: 03, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Feb. 16 drawing
01-16-17-19, Bonus: 08
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana
Montana governor launches sanctuary crackdown, probes capital city over ICE limits
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A western state’s governor and attorney general are launching an investigation into potential violations of a statewide ban on sanctuary cities and sanctuary-jurisdictional policies, pledging zero tolerance for failure to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte told Fox News Digital that he and Attorney General Austin Knudsen, both Republicans, will investigate the capital city of Helena under SB 200, which permits civil legal action and enforcement of fines against jurisdictions found in violation.
“In Montana, we don’t tolerate defiance and we support our law enforcement officers,” Gianforte told Fox News Digital.
DEM GOVERNOR IN DEEP-RED STATE CALLS FOR ICE PULLOUT, TRIGGERING CLASH OVER ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY
Montana Republican Governor Greg Gianforte speaks at the ceremony to honor the four airmen killed in a 1962 B-47 crash at 8,500 feet on Emigrant Peak, on July 24, 2021 in Emigrant, Montana. (William Campbell/Getty Images)
“While the attorney general’s initial investigation will focus on the city of Helena, we’re really sending a message to all local governments across the state: If you are found to be in violation of state law, there will be penalties.”
In response to Helena City Commissioners’ vote to prevent local coordination with federal immigration enforcement, Gianforte and Knudsen announced the decision will be investigated as a potential violation of the sanctuary city ban originally authored by state Rep. Kenneth Holmlund, R-Miles City.
Gianforte said he has “serious concerns” about the resolution’s compliance with state law and said that under the sanctuary city ban, no state or local agency may refuse to cooperate with DHS.
THIS IS HOW TRUMP CAN BREAK DEFIANT SANCTUARY CITIES
In a letter to Knudsen formally requesting his office’s cooperation, Gianforte laid out how “securing the border has been a top priority of President Donald J. Trump after the previous administration let nearly 11 million illegal immigrants enter freely into the United States under their watch.”
He referenced Trump’s mass deportation efforts and said that it is unfortunate to see “recent events” elsewhere in the U.S. that have put immigration agents in danger.
In that regard, he described a recent Helena City Council vote as ordering local officers not to get involved in actions to assist other agencies nor to detain or stop a person based on suspicion of immigration law or status infractions.
JD VANCE, ICE FLIP SCRIPT ON SANCTUARY CITY LEADERS AS ‘CHAOS’ ERUPTS ACROSS MN: ‘THIS IS DANGEROUS’
ICE agents, left; Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and President Donald Trump, right. (John Moore/Getty Images; William Campbell/Getty Images)
“This resolution is clearly designed to obstruct federal law enforcement operations,” Gianforte said.
Knudsen told the Flathead Beacon that Helena appears to be “thumbing its nose to the Montana Legislature” and must understand it does not make state law.
“I encourage [the city] to retain counsel [and] get a lobbyist…” he said in part.
A spokeswoman for the city of Helena told Fox News Digital it had not received any formal communication on the matter from Gianforte, and added that “as a general practice, the City does not provide comment on pending or potential litigation matters.”
“[Helena’s] resolution was drafted with careful consideration of applicable local, state, and federal law, and the City believes the resolution is consistent with those legal requirements,” she said.
“The City remains committed to upholding all applicable federal and state laws.
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Knudsen’s office signaled it is only officially looking at Helena, but local reports also pointed to concerns about Missoula — the state’s second-largest behind Billings.
A spokesperson for Missoula told the Montana Free Press it has never been and is not currently a sanctuary city, while adding that its police officers do not inquire about immigration status in public interactions.
Montana
Montana State swept Montana, but postseason positioning looms large in Big Sky
MISSOULA — It’s officially less than three weeks until Starch Madness in Boise, Idaho, and Saturday’s Brawl of the Wild matchup between Montana State and Montana had huge implications in the standings for all four programs.
The doubleheader began with the women’s matchup, with Montana State setting the tone with a big lead early on the way to a 72-55 victory.
Montana State’s Tricia Binford said whether you get a great start or not, as a coach you want your team to play a complete game for four quarters. This was especially important in Saturday’s game.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
Montana State completes regular season sweep in doubleheader against Montana
“For us, we were just making sure we were rotating, keeping some fresh legs. We were able to get Brooke (Fatupaito) some early minutes back (in) her first game back,” Binford said. “So that gave us another experienced kid into the rotation, I think that really helped.”
With the win, the Bobcats remain in second in the Big Sky women’s basketball standings behind Idaho.
Montana State’s men’s program had a back and forth game before pulling away in the final few minutes for an 82-71 win.
Senior guard Jed Miller knew the impact the crowd would have on the game, and what the Bobcats had to do to control the tempo.
“We knew it was going to be a hostile environment, like every rivalry game is,” Miller said. “So we had to calm down a little bit after the beginning.”
Miller gave credit to Montana for its hot start.
“They came out the gates firing and shot the ball really well,” Miller said. “We had to just settle in and do what we do best.”
Montana State now maintains sole possession of the second spot in the Big Sky men’s basketball standings behind Portland State.
Montana’s men’s program fell to third place with the loss, but Griz coach Travis DeCuire believes the team had takeaways from this game that can be implemented moving forward.
“It’s a game of adjustments, but you’re always going to take positives from games and believe that if you do the things that you see worked consistently within that game you win,” DeCuire said. “That’s how we’ll feel the next time going in, I’ll find those things, and then we’ll try to execute them for 40 minutes.”
As for the Lady Griz, they dropped to eighth in the standings, coach Nate Harris is still focused on continuing to play their way into a better position as the conference tournament approaches.
“It’s all really important,” Harris said. “Every game is the biggest game of the year, but there is a week in March where you have to be really good. And so we’ve just got to keep building towards that.”
Harris thought his team had positives to draw on from the final two and a half quarters of the game.
“We (had) some really positive things that we can lean on and really get better at them,” Harris said. “Where do we go (from here)? We go to practice on Monday, to try and get better, and then turn around and play five more conference games, and try to win every single one of them, so that we can put ourselves in the best situation possible to win games in Boise.”
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