Loss of federal funding doesn’t spells end for all library hotspot programs
A federal grant that allowed for hotspots in libraries that provide wireless internet access became available in 2020 from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration in response to the Covid-19 pandemic but Monday the money stopped. A total of 54 Montana counties participated in the program over the past five years and 54% of the participating libraries plan to continue the program without the federal funding. The devices can keep a library open during a temporary loss of internet.
Education Department freezes cash for school districts teacher training migrant students
According to notices sent Monday to federal grantees the Trump administration will withhold billions of federal education dollars from states and local schools that were expected to be available today. For Montana that includes 8.4% of the total Department of K through 12th grade education money. The U.S. Department of Education has not yet made decisions about awards for the upcoming academic year and will not obligate their funds before that review is complete.
Montana Gas Prices Rise For Third Straight Week
Average gas prices in Montana have increased three weeks in a row up 4.8 cents a gallon in the last week averaging $3.28 today for regular unleaded. According to Gas Buddy dot com prices in Montana are 8.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago but 15.5 cents lower than a year ago. Montana is currently ranked 11th in the U.S. when it comes to the average price of gas the same as last week.
Montana State Hospital ends 40 travel nurse contracts amid push for change
The Montana State Hospital let 40 individual nurse traveler contracts naturally expire Monday now that the facility in Deer Lodge has successfully recruited permanent state employee registered nurses. The Department of Public Health and Human Services is focusing on strengthening ties to local nursing programs across the state and relying less on traveler nurses. At the start 2025 the Montana State Hospital lowered the registered nurse vacancy rate by about 34 percent and now has only 23 vacancies for registered nurses.
Montana Asthma Control Program Earns Prestigious EPA National Environmental Leadership Award
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2025 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management is going to the Montana Asthma Control Program. The national recognition celebrates its whole-community approach to coordinating public health housing environment clinical care and community partners to deliver comprehensive asthma care and improve Montanans’ health outcomes. Approximately 100,000 Montana residents live with asthma.
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$400,000 in grants have been awarded to support the renovation and expansion campaign of the Carter County Museum in Ekalaka. A $100,000 gift is from the Bank of Baker and a $300,000 award is from the State of Montana Historical Preservation Grant which ranked the museum’s application number one among all applicants. These funds will go toward realizing the museum’s vision to nearly triple its size.
A major construction project in Billings is nearing completion with the opening of a new railway overpass as part of a larger initiative that connects the Magic City and crosses the Yellowstone River. As part of the Billings Bypass Corridor it promises to offer new pathways and alleviate traffic pressure on Billings Heights and Main Street and is set to open this weekend just in time for holiday travelers to experience the new infrastructure.
Pyrotechnics are a big seller across America to the tune of more than $2 billion last year. This year Billy Jo and Brian Gonzales who own Gonzo’s Fireworks in Butte purchased July 4th fireworks early to avoid potential tariffs. China is America’s main source for consumer and professional fireworks. Gonzo’s Fireworks average sales are about $200 per customer although some have spent upward of $2,000.
The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman has launched a new exhibit titled “Cretaceous Crossroads” showcasing the rich paleontological history of Montana through mounted skeletons and interactive displays. With a collection spanning over 40 years and containing approximately 400,000 individual fossils, museum staff decided it was time to put more things on display especially larger mounted skeletons allowing visitors to appreciate the scale of the ancient animals.
The Helena City Commission plans to have an agreement signed within the next two months to be able to proceed with a $1.3 million federal grant to fund plans for area highway improvements. The process had been put on pause earlier in the year by the Trump administration. The planning phase is estimated to take about two years.
