Good morning, Missoula.

Missoula County has opened applications for its $90,000 Parks and Recreation Grants that fund park upgrades for schools and rural areas.

Applicants can request up to $30,000 and must match 25% of project costs, with projects completed by June 1, 2028 and applications due by Oct. 30, 2026.

The Humane Society has four 8-week-old kittens including Auklet and Puffin available for adoption after spaying or neutering this week.

The society will hold a free vaccine and microchip event on Thursday, Sept. 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Silver Park near Ogren Park.

Area residents in Missoula can attend a wildfire preparedness workshop Monday, Aug.

31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Missoula County Elections Center — 140 N. Russell St. to learn how to protect their homes and sign up for a free wildfire risk check.

UM students began their new semester today with excitement and nerves as freshmen, pharmacy, and grad students settled in on campus in Missoula (including joining clubs and intramural sports) while preparing for classes and campus events.

Enrollment numbers will be finalized on the 15th academic day.

The EPA is sampling caddisflies, stoneflies and sediment from the Clark Fork, Blackfoot, and Bitterroot rivers to study PCB contamination in western Montana; crews are collecting samples at 64 sites through September — with results expected next summer.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is addressing increased bear encounters in the Bitterroot Valley as a food shortage draws black bears toward trash and gardens while occasional grizzly sightings occur.

The agency partners with community groups plus advises residents to secure attractants and use electric fences to reduce conflicts.

The U.S. Forest Service announced plans to amend the Travel Plan Rule to allow motorized vehicles on more national forest roads plus prepare an environmental impact statement and invite public comment until Sept.

23. Individual forests can decide which roads to close to protect wild areas.

Missoula County adopted a plan to manage Miller Creek's feral horses that grants residents the right to trap and remove them amid rising concerns and mixed community views, while the new rules provide clear guidance for handling the issue & aim to reduce ongoing challenges.

A Montana National Guard crew returned home after nearly two weeks fighting wildfires in Washington, completing 40 flight hours and 89 water drops (testing their training in challenging conditions).

They said the mission reinforces their readiness to assist as wildfire conditions evolve.

Montana will host Southern Utah this Saturday at 7 pm inside the Mecca of FCS Football, with the pregame show starting at 5 pm.

The Griz have led the series 8-2, with the last contest in Oct. 2021 ending at 20-19.

An analysis of the 2026 Montana Grizzlies football roster shows that Montana leads with 30 athletes, followed by Washington with 24 and California with 13 as players come from 16 states and three countries.