Good morning, Missoula.

Montana tribes are working with local nonprofits to feed members who lost SNAP benefits when federal funding was frozen due to the shutdown, with Tescha Hawley loading cattle on Fort Belknap for local pantries.

Hawley said the plan will support families for the next two months—though tribes remain challenged by uncertain federal funds.

KPAX completed a major transmitter upgrade on TV Mountain north of Missoula this weekend—over-the-air viewers must now rescan their TVs to continue receiving programming, and the channel may appear as 25.1.

In Lolo, community volunteers are delivering groceries to families who rely on SNAP as federal funding uncertainty grows — a Facebook post initiated a sponsorship program that led dozens to step forward.

Local healthcare workers and residents are helping neighbors amid the ongoing government shutdown — showing strong local commitment to food stability.

Montana Millionaire tickets sold out in 6.5 hours as nearly 620,000 tickets were purchased and long lines formed at local stores with many people beginning to wait at 5:15 a.m.—the game offers five million-dollar jackpots and instant wins with an early-bird drawing on December 1 and jackpot drawings on December 26.

Farmer John Ployhar will take apart the historic Dougherty Ranch buildings (dating to 1863) off Flynn Lane to rebuild and preserve them on his Potomac property.

Project aide Tom Rich will help number and move the logs as the work gets done (ensuring the structure's history lives on).

UM assistant professor Mahdieh Tourani uses camera traps that take pictures when animals move to study local wildlife near Missoula—students in the Wilderness and Civilization program have collected over 5,000 images showing species like mountain lions and black bears.

The new Wildlife Insights software will help answer key questions about animal numbers, movement and their interactions with humans.

The Missoula Fire Department will soon install a baby safe haven box at its downtown station — the box will let mothers drop off unwanted newborns to be cared for by the state.

The City of Missoula began leaf collection on Monday—service will run until early December—and residents must rake leaves into narrow curb piles—one day before pickup—and keep streets clear of bike lanes and parked cars.

Tim Montana—a Montana-born rock musician whose new album Savage is on the radio—saw a friend suffer from delayed EMS care and is now urging a fix for the broken system.

He will speak at the state capitol in Helena tomorrow at 4:15 p.m. during a Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Committee meeting to call for better funding for rural emergency services.

Missoula developer Cole Bergquist announced the Higgins Waterfront project will use a 4-story design to address community concerns about an 11-story building along the river—this plan will include condos, townhomes, a 155-room hotel, restaurants, and shops to guide downtown growth under the Master Plan.

Since July, new owner Eric Jacobsen has been cleaning and repairing Holland Lake Lodge and its six lakeside cabins, and he hopes to open the property in the spring pending safety fixes and code upgrades—Rebecca Ramsey has been named the new general manager to help guide future plans.

A tax code mistake raised the rate on multifamily homes from 1.35% to 1.89%, which may force landlords to raise rents and increase costs for renters — one property owner has seen up to a 40% jump in his tax bill.

Lawmakers, including Rep. Llew Jones who admitted the error, will consider rebates or incentives before a lower 1.1% rate takes effect in the 2026 cycle.

The University of Montana Athletics released a list of the top 10 all-time scorers in Montana Grizzlies men’s basketball with Larry Krystkowiak leading at 2,017 points—the ranking spans players from the 1940s to today and includes names such as M.R.

Richardson, Bob Cope, and Brandon Whitney.

Sally Joe and Matt Heckler Performance

7-10 p.m. — Monk's Bar — Refunds available up to 7 days prior — Experience a captivating evening of music with Sally Joe and Matt Heckler on stage.

First Friday Celebration at Missoula Symphony Association

Evening — Missoula Symphony Association — Free entry — Celebrate the vibrant arts community with music, local art, and handcrafted creations.

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

7:00-8:30 p.m. — University of Montana - Dennison Theatre — Cost info not provided — Experience the magic of the beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, this Christmas season.

Lost & Found

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Missoula Art Museum — Pick-What-You-Pay (Suggested $25) — Experience a dynamic performance featuring four new plays exploring loss and discovery within an art museum setting.

Lost & Found: Plays on Tap

3-5 p.m. — Missoula Art Museum — Pick-What-You-Pay — Experience four new plays exploring themes of loss and discovery within an art museum setting.

Nurse Blake: Comedy and Advocacy

8-9:30 p.m. — University of Montana - Dennison Theatre — Tickets available — Experience the humor and heartfelt storytelling of Nurse Blake, a beloved figure in the healthcare community.

Stayin Alive - Bee Gees Tribute

7:30-9 p.m. — University of Montana - Dennison Theatre — Cost not specified — Relive the magic of the Bee Gees with their iconic hits in this captivating tribute show.

Hacks and Hops Montana

2:30-6:30 p.m. — Tamarack Brewing Co — Free entry — Network with security professionals while enjoying craft brews in Missoula.

Montana Grizzlies vs. Montana State Bobcats

12:00 – 1:30 PM — Washington-Grizzly Stadium — Check local listings for ticket prices — Experience the excitement of college football rivalry on the field.

Operations and Lending Team Member

Bank of Montana is looking for a highly motivated individual to join our small, but high-performing team! You will work in a progressive work environment that is challenging, allows for inspiration, and makes work fun, all while maintaining a positive, work-life balance. We are dynamic, collaborative, intense professionals who are passionate about finance and creative solutions.