Thursday Headlines: Montana to the Moon, School bus vape, Highway crashes

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1 week ago

April 2, 2026

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Thursday Headlines: Montana to the Moon, School bus vape, Highway crashes

Q2 Top Stories and Weather for Wednesday, April 2

Friends cheer as former Livingston woman makes history aboard Artemis II moon mission

Friends cheer as Livingston native makes history aboard Artemis II moon mission

BILLINGS – Artemis II is now more than 43,000 miles from Earth, continuing its 10-day mission around the moon and back.

The four-person crew includes Christina Koch, who will become the first woman to ever orbit the moon.

Koch also once lived in Livingston. Friends and students back in Montana gathered to watch Wednesday’s launch, which aims to test life-support systems ahead of future lunar landings.

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Authorities investigating after Shepherd mother says 6-year-old vaped on school bus

Authorities investigating after Shepherd mother says 6-year-old vaped on school bus

SHEPHERD – Law enforcement is investigating after a 6-year-old brought a nicotine vape onto a Shepherd school bus, used it, and shared it with another student.

The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office initially charged the child’s guardian with endangering a child.

Those charges have now been dropped as prosecutors review the case.

School officials are now working with law enforcement on what parents are calling a disturbing trend.

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Drivers trapped for hours after semi crashes shut down I-90 near Columbus

Multiple semi crashes shut down Interstate 90 traffic near Columbus

COLUMBUS – The latest wave of winter-like spring weather caused major problems on Interstate 90 on Wednesday, with similar conditions on the way.

Several semi crashes led to a highway closure between Big Timber and Columbus.

All was clear by Wednesday afternoon and no one was hurt, but the incidents led to long waits at truck stops on both ends of the closure.

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Billings Forecast Wednesday evening Apr 1, 2026

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Federal Approval of Montana Logging Project Survives Lawsuit

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2 hours ago

April 10, 2026

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Federal Approval of Montana Logging Project Survives Lawsuit

A 16,700-acre logging project outside Missoula, Mont. will continue after a federal judge ruled the US Bureau of Land Management adequately reviewed potential impacts to endangered grizzly bears and Canada lynx.

The agency properly calculated road density and the increased traffic through the Garnet Mountain range even if several routes have since become impassible through vegetation growth and will have to be cleared in critical habitat areas, according to an order issued Thursday by the US District Court for the District of Montana.

Judge Dana L Christensen granted summary judgment for the bureau in 2024 lawsuit over its approval of …

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Grizzly moved from Montana to Togwotee for genetics spotted with cubs in Teton Wilderness

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14 hours ago

April 10, 2026

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Grizzly moved from Montana to Togwotee for genetics spotted with cubs in Teton Wilderness

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Highway ad sign costs double, pricing out Montana business owners

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2026

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Highway ad sign costs double, pricing out Montana business owners

BILLINGS— Sponsorship of businesses on Montana highway exit signs have doubled in cost, pricing out some small business owners.

Montana Logos, which manages the signs, renegotiated its contract within the last year with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), which resulted in prices doubling for most customers. They refer to the signs as tourist-oriented directional signs (TODS).

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Highway ad sign costs double, pricing out Montana business owners

Transportation officials say they increased the costs to match rising costs. According to Bob Heiser, MDT Right of Way bureau chief, the department and Montana Logos have not increased costs for years.

“The contract was up for renewal this past year. And during that renewal process, we asked them to look at this program. And that’s when we discovered that there hadn’t been any rate changes in at least 21 years,” Heiser told MTN.

Heiser said the increased revenue will fund highway projects and other infrastructure.

“We feel it’s still an affordable way for some of those businesses to have some advertisement along our interstates,” he added.

Some business owners in Big Horn County disagree.

“I just don’t understand how a company can gouge small businesses. That wasn’t in my budget,” said Kristy Mastin, owner of the KOA campground in Hardin.

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Kristy Mastin

She received an invoice for $4,800 in February to keep her business on the exit signs. She paid $2,400 last year for the same service.

“I was dumbfounded,” said Mastin.

Other campground owners in the county shared Mastin’s shock.

Screen Shot 2026-04-09 at 6.24.45 PM.png — Mastin’s February invoice

“We can’t afford that as a small business to suddenly have one aspect of our advertising raised that much,” said Jamie Redger, owner of 7th Ranch RV Camp in Garryowen.

His costs quadrupled in a year, increasing from $1,200 to $4,800, after Montana Logos told him he had to pay to be on the signs for a full year. In the past, he had only paid for half the year.

“At this point, I’ve told Montana Logos that I don’t plan to renew with them,” said Redger.

Screen Shot 2026-04-09 at 6.23.21 PM.png — Jamie Redger

Another campground, Grandview Campground and RV Park, may be disappearing from the signs as well.

“We have to ask ourselves, what can we cut out? And Montana Logo is probably going to be it,” said the campground’s owner, Laurie Tschetter.

She is concerned about how the lack of advertising will affect the tourism industry in her community.

“We are kind of the backbone of bringing a lot of tourism dollars back into this state,” said Tschetter.

Screen Shot 2026-04-09 at 6.23.02 PM.png — Laurie Tschetter

The business owners are working with the Hardin Chamber of Commerce, in hopes the state will hear their voices and give them a grant.

“I want to support these businesses and our communities and whatever we need to do next, whether it’s a letter or taking it up a little higher. That’s all we can do,” said Alexandria Edwards, with the Hardin Chamber of Commerce.

The community is also starting to consider advertising alternatives.