10/22/2026
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Construction can move forward on the state’s $44 million forensic mental health facility near Laurel. Yellowstone County District Judge Ed Zink lifted his August halt on Tuesday, after the state released a revised environmental review that says Laurel’s water system can serve the site. The facility will evaluate whether defendants are mentally fit to stand trial. Right now, a growing waitlist leaves many of them in county jails, including 13 in Yellowstone County as of June. State agencies estimate every day of delay costs Montana $10,242. Opponents with Laurel CARED have filed a second motion to stop the project, and the judge says he’ll have to review 5,000 pages before ruling on it.
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