🌱 Patch AM: Why is Montana ranked deadliest for COVID in new study?

Hey there, Missoula! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why is Montana ranked deadliest for COVID in new study?
• What investigators say about deadly holiday crashes involving Missoula residents
• How did Missoula Loyola cap a dominant three-peat season?

Also on today's calendar: The Ancient Connection Between Siberia & the Rocky Mountains.

Today's riddle: What two things can you never eat for breakfast? . 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Periods of sun; not as cold, with a high of 33 and low of 21 degrees.
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 39, low: 27.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 45 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Study Says Montana is the Deadliest State During COVID Pandemic (weareshelby.com) — From a Missoula-based perspective, new WalletHub data ranks Montana last in COVID safety, with one of the nation’s highest death rates and lowest vaccination rates. An analyst explains how poor vaccination uptake and ongoing deaths dragged the state to 51st place, urging residents to reconsider getting vaccinated or boosted.
   

• Missoula man killed in Libby crash; Post Falls man injured (cdapress.com) — A 62-year-old Missoula man died in a single-vehicle crash near Libby the day after Christmas, and a Post Falls passenger was injured. In a separate I-90 wreck near Drummond, a 40-year-old Missoula woman and two others were killed when their car slid into a tractor trailer on wet, icy roads, prompting renewed warnings to slow down.
   

• Year in review: MTN Sports' top stories of 2025 (montanasports.com) — Missoula sports fans can celebrate Missoula Loyola’s boys winning a third straight state basketball title, one of many standout Montana sports moments in 2025. From college tournament runs to underdog football wins and inspiring human-interest stories, MTN Sports recaps the statewide achievements that defined the year.
   

📸 Around Missoula

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Missoula

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday December 30

• New Year’s Eve Midnight Ball – Missoula On Main
  Elks Lodge, 112 N Pattee St, Missoula
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday January 7

• The Ancient Connection Between Siberia & the Rocky Mountains
  Xplorer Maps , 1245 S 3rd St W , Missoula
  6:30 pm

📣 Missoula Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Monday December 29

• Cultures in Concert
  The George & Jane Dennison Theatre , Maurice Ave , Missoula
  5:00 pm
• Team Trivia Monday Nights at KT’s Hayloft Saloon
  KT's Hayloft Saloon , 11885 US-93 , Lolo
  7:00 pm
• Trivia Monday Nights at KT’s Hayloft Saloon
  KT's Hayloft Saloon , 11885 US-93 , Lolo
  7:00 pm

Tuesday December 30

• The Rhythm Experience with Drum Brothers
  Missoula Public Library , 455 E Main St , Missoula
  5:00 pm
• Home Resource ReUSE Ring Toss and Jenga
  Missoula Public Library , 455 E Main St , Missoula
  5:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• New Year's Eve Events at the Library! - Missoula on Main
  Missoula Public Library , 455 E Main St , Missoula
  12:00 pm
• Pole Development - Community Class — Willow Moon Movement
  Willow Moon Studio , 126 E Broadway St suite b2 , Missoula
  5:30 pm
• Trivia Wednesday Night at Cranky Sam Public House
  Cranky Sam Public House , 233 W Main St , Missoula
  7:00 pm
• Caity & Cody North Duo
  Lolo Hot Springs , 38500 US-12 , Lolo
  8:30 pm

Sunday June 14

• MKA Knife Show - Home Arts Building (35) — Missoula Fairgrounds
  Missoula County Fairgrounds , 1101 South Ave W , Missoula
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Missoula PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Running around at the end of Laurie Drive.
  Probably came from closer to the river. Has a lump on its chest and a pink and blue zig zag collar. Trying to get it on a leash but not succeeding… (Nextdoor Reserve/37th Ave)
• Friends ..
  my dog Joey was hit by a car and then ran. I live on Sycamore Street in the Rattlesnake off of Duncan. I’ve been looking for her for 3 hours. … (Nextdoor Rattlesnake)

• Arby's, LLC posted a job opening for Team Member in Missoula. Apply here.
• The Home Depot, Inc. posted a job opening for Cashier in Missoula. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Missoula here.

🗞 Nearby News

Frenchtown

• Gallatin High's Hunter Chandler to coach East in Montana East-West Shrine Game (bozemandailychronicle.com)
• Special Weather Statement until SAT 8:30 AM MST (wvnews.com)

Ok Missoula! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Lunch and dinner. (From Norine S.)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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