Bridger Brewing, a staple in the Montana craft beer scene since 2013, has recently garnered attention after winning Best Large Brewery at the 2026 Montana Beer Awards. The brewery, which produces around 1 million cans of beer annually, earned a remarkable 10 medals at the event, including five gold medals. Jason Brenden, the owner, expressed his pride, stating, “We’ve been cranking away, and to get that just makes it feel like all your hard work is paying off.”
In a separate yet equally pressing development, Montana election officials are reminding voters about a new law that requires a birth year and signature on mail ballot envelopes. This law, known as House Bill 719, was passed during the 2025 Legislature and took effect in October 2025. The implementation of this law has been crucial in addressing the initial rejection rate for ballots in Yellowstone County, which was nearly 4.5%. After outreach efforts, this rate has dropped to 2.03%, a significant improvement aimed at ensuring voter participation.
Angie Paulsen, a representative of the election officials, emphasized the importance of these changes, saying, “These laws impact every voter using mail ballots, and we want to ensure that people are aware of this requirement before they send in their ballots to help set our voters up for success.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has selected military installations in Aurora, Colorado, and Cascade County, Montana, for its microreactor program. Nancy Balkus, a spokesperson for the DOD, stated, “This initiative represents a critical step in ensuring the department remains the world’s premier air force and space force.”
As these developments unfold, observers are keenly watching how the new election laws will affect voter turnout in the upcoming elections. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full impact of these changes on future voting procedures in Montana.