Olivia Weitz
Bozeman ReporterOlivia Weitz covers Bozeman and surrounding communities in Southwest Montana for Yellowstone Public Radio. She has reported for Northwest News Network and Boise State Public Radio and previously worked at a daily print newspaper. She is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound and the Transom Story Workshop.
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Montana’s largest labor union filed a lawsuit today against Montana’s secretary of state over same-day voting registration restrictions passed during the 2021 legislative session. -
As COVID-19 cases overwhelm Montana hospitals, the state’s two largest universities announced expanded masking requirements.
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Some Montana schools saw COVID-19 outbreaks during the first few weeks of school. Yellowstone Public Radio’s Olivia Weitz spoke with Darren Strauch, the Superintendent of Monforton School in Bozeman, after the school decided to reverse its mask policy.
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As COVID cases continue to climb, the city of Bozeman is launching an incentive program this week to encourage more residents to get vaccinated. Gallatin County has been in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s high transmission category for COVID cases since early August.
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As farmers are wrapping up wheat harvest, they are seeing lower yields as a result of drought conditions. But higher wheat prices may help some producers offset the losses.
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Montana officials say the current drought may continue if we don’t see wetter, cooler months soon.
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Low rainfall and high temperatures during this year’s drought damaged hay crops and grazing pastures. Because of this, some ranchers in Montana are facing difficult decisions.
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More Montana livestock producers are now eligible for drought disaster assistance. The U.S. Drought Monitor was updated today and conditions in some parts of Montana are intensifying.
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Big Sky, like other Mountain West resort areas, is struggling to provide affordable housing. A nonprofit housing trust is paying vacation homeowners to rent their properties to local workers to address the shortage.
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Students are returning to fall classes at Montana Universities at a time when COVID cases are increasing. Mask mandates are now in place at Montana’s two largest universities.
