Ahead of the 2026 Maccabiah Games, an event often called the “Jewish Olympics” and the largest Jewish sporting competition in the world, which are set to begin next week, social media influencer, dancer, and singer, Montana Tucker expressed her excitement to be hosting the delegation parade at the event and said that the games were taking place at a critical point for the global Jewish community.
Montana
Public lands emerge as flashpoint for Montana U.S. senators in Big, Beautiful Bill debate
BILLINGS — The battle over public lands is intensifying as President Donald Trump’s proposed budget, referred to as the “One, Big Beautiful” bill, faces scrutiny from wilderness advocates.
Watch advocates make their case in the video below:
Daines, Sheehy reiterate support for public lands during budget debate
A significant concern is the reintroduction of language authorizing federal public land sales, which was initially removed from the budget just hours before the House Budget Committee approved the package. Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, has indicated plans to reintegrate such provisions into the bill, causing alarm among public land advocates, including former Bureau of Land Management Montana director Mike Penfold.
“Once that public land is gone. It is gone forever. We never have it back,” Penfold said on Wednesday. “These guys who want to take this public land away from us, take that heritage away from us, know that the rich people in this country are the ones who would benefit from it. It’s not going to be the people who use it right now, it’s going to be somebody else. So this is a mistake.”
MTN News
During a Wednesday Senate and Natural Resources Committee hearing, senators questioned Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about which states might be affected by the proposed sales. Burgum named Nevada, Alaska, Idaho, and Utah as states with considerable federal land.
While Montana Republican U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy support the budget bill, they have sidestepped questions about whether they would endorse the bill should it include provisions for public land sales.
MTN News
MTN News requested interviews with both senators but was given prepared statements.
“There’s no question that public lands belong in public hands. That’s not just a slogan, it’s a way of life and one thing most Montanans agree on regardless of party. I will always fight to protect our right to hunt, fish, and recreate on our public lands,” Sheehy said.
A spokesperson for Daines has sent conflicting statements in the last week. On June 5, the senator’s spokesperson said, “Sen. Steve Daines is in talks with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee to minimize or prevent public land sales in the Republicans’ tax cut, energy and national security megabill.”
MTN News
On June 11, that same spokesperson told MTN News, “Senator Daines is against the sale of public lands and is making his strong concerns clear to his colleagues.”
During the committee hearing, Daines did not mention the sale of federal public lands. Instead, he spoke about delisting grizzlies and Montana energy.
Burgum confirmed ongoing discussions regarding the potential sale of up to 2 million acres of public land, which he argues would create affordable housing.
Critics warn that such sales could set a dangerous precedent. Penfold cautioned that any movement toward privatizing public lands could lead to further encroachments.
“You know, it’s going to be coming here. Once they get their foot in the door they will never stop,” Penfold said. “It’s the biggest public asset that exists and they can’t wait to get their hands on it.”
ELK PARK — A father and his four sons reported missing near Elk Park were found safe after their vehicle became disabled, according to Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff Ed Lester.
They were found walking along a roadway around 5 p.m. north of Maney Lake, according to Lester.
Rescuers from 15-90 Search and Rescue, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were able to reach the group and transport them to safety.
“We are very happy that everyone is safe. We appreciate the hard work of the rescuers and the coordination among Jefferson, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Powell, and Silver Bow counties,” Lester said in a statement.
(original report) Law enforcement and search and rescue teams are searching for a missing father and his four sons near Elk Park, just off Interstate 15, after the group failed to return from a fishing trip north of Butte.
The group has been missing for nearly 24 hours. Three of the four boys are Type 1 diabetics in need of insulin.
WATCH: Law enforcement and search and rescue teams near Butte, Montana are searching for a missing father and four sons. Three of the boys are Type 1 diabetics in urgent need of insulin
Search expands for missing Butte family as friend reveals 3 of 4 boys are Type 1 diabetics
Courtney Mosier, a family friend who drove from Helena to assist in the search, said the urgency of the situation is critical.
“There (are) four little boys that range from ages 14 to 10. Three of the little boys are Type 1 diabetics. They need their insulin. They need their sugar. They need to be found immediately,” Mosier said.
Mosier has known the father, Paul Klimpel, her whole life and said his outdoor experience is a reassuring factor.
“Paul is an avid outdoorsman. Like I said, I’ve known him my whole life. If the truck broke down, Paul would be able to fix it. So, luckily they’re with a really, really, really good adult. We just need to find these children,” Mosier said.
Meagan Thompson
According to a press release from Butte Sheriff Ed Lester, police are searching for the group in the Brown’s Gulch, American Gulch, Flume Gulch, and Bernice area north of Butte. Officials are also searching the Homestake and Delome Lake areas.
The last known location of the group came from a cell phone ping near Maney Lake.
“The last ping from one of the little boys’ cell phone was up near Maney Lake so that’s where the family is at currently right now,” Mosier said.
Butte-Silver Bow County Sheriff’s Office Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff’s Office
Anyone who spots a white Ford Ranger flatbed pickup is encouraged to call law enforcement at 406-497-1120.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Montana
Social media star Montana Tucker to host Maccabiah Games delegation parade | The Jerusalem Post
“Israel has gone through a lot, Israelis have gone through a lot, Jews have gone through a lot around the world,” Tucker told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. “What’s going on is not just happening in Israel; it’s really happening all around the world with our Jewish community. So, an event like the Maccabiah Games is showing the world that we are strong, we are united, and we don’t give up, and we keep fighting.”
According to Maccabiah, the games bring together more than 10,000 athletes from at least 80 countries in Israel every four years to compete in over 45 sports. The Maccabi World Union says the games are the second-largest sporting event in the world after the Olympics.
The 2026 Maccabiah Games, the 22nd of their kind, were initially scheduled for last year but were postponed due to the security situation involving Iran and its regional proxies.
“This was supposed to happen last year, and about a month away, we had to cancel it due to the war,” Tucker recalled. “And so I am so grateful that it is happening this year, because we truly do need this now more than ever.”
She also said she was excited to debut her new song “We’re Not Strangers” at the event.
“It’s all about unity and building bridges and bringing people together. And some of the lyrics say ‘we may pray to different saviors, but we’re not strangers,’” she told the Post. “Our world is so divided right now. I think that we really just need to come together and have more unity and compassion and understanding of one another. And if we really talk to people who look differently than us, act differently than us, have a different religion than us, we’ll realize we’re actually more similar than we think.”
Montana Tucker: Sport ‘truly unites the world’
Sports, she said, was an ideal method to build these bridges, adding she viewed it as something that “truly unites the world.”
The Maccabiah Games this year, though, will be the first since the Hamas-led massacres in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The attacks sparked a regional eruption with Israel fighting wars against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Islamic regime in Iran.
“We always have to talk about what happened on October 7,” Tucker said. “We should never stop talking about it. And I think it is so important that Maccabiah is utilizing this platform to talk about it. I know they actually have a former hostage, Daniella Gilboa, who’s going to be performing, which is so powerful.”
Tucker also highlighted the value of the games, saying they were a powerful tool to dispel disinformation about the Jewish state.
“What’s shown on the news nowadays is just all the negativity. Most of it is just propaganda and lies about what Israel is, and I think the Maccabiah just debunks every possible propaganda and lie about Israel,” she said. “When people say the word ‘Israel,’ it comes with so many different connotations, and I think we can show them this. This is Israel. This is what being Jewish means.”
A key element in showing the world what Israel and being Jewish mean, she reiterated, meant showcasing Jewish unity at a time when, in the wake of the October 7, the global Jewish community has faced a worldwide rise in antisemitism.
The games themselves are being held under the slogan, “More Than Ever,” according to Maccabiah, to emphasize “the importance of strengthening the bond between [Jewish] communities worldwide and the State of Israel.”
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 23, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 23 drawing
48-51-60-63-66, Mega Ball: 20
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 23 drawing
06-21-22-31, Bonus: 13
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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