Montana

Inmates at Montana Women's Prison receive breast cancer screenings from mobile clinic

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2024

Inmates at Montana Women's Prison receive breast cancer screenings from mobile clinic

BILLINGS — Inmates at the Montana Women’s Prison are receiving regular breast exams as a way to help detect cancer early.

Intermountain Health’s 3-D mammography program brings its mobile bus to the prison quarterly and services roughly 30 women per visit. Women over the age of 40 are scheduled as well as those that require follow-up appointments.

“We’re so lucky with the science and the technology that we have today. Early detection is saving lives,” said Carly May, the medical services manager at the prison.

This bus helps highlight the importance of access to healthcare while still incarcerated. For many of these inmates, an early diagnosis can be the difference between life and death.

Isabel Spartz/MTN News

Intermountain Health has brought the 3D mammography bus to the Montana Women’s Prison since 2016.

“We have to sometimes encourage some of our population to do it, and oftentimes those are the women that we find out they do need further care or treatment,” said May. “We are happy to report that we have cancer survivors within the system that was detected from the bus.”

The bus has been coming to the prison since 2016 and has seen many success stories.

One inmate, Rebecca Gun Hammer, has had multiple exams from the clinic and felt that it would encourage her to keep up healthy habits after being released.

“Being in prison, I like that they offer the services to us so that we can get it done something we would have neglected otherwise,“ said Gun Hammer. “When I walk out of here, I will be a healthier person.”

Another inmate, Shannon LaMere, recently experienced a situation where doctors found something concerning during an exam.

“This year I had to go for one, and they found some abnormalities. In June, I was told that I possibly had breast cancer,” said LaMere. “I went through this whole month like being sad, mad, every emotion you could think of that I was going through.”

LaMere was scared of what that would mean for her. She had surgery two weeks ago to remove precancerous cells from her breast, and the experience has now changed her perspective on life.

“It was an eye-opener to see how much life would take for granted. It just made me want to become a better person to do better for not only myself, but my children and my grandchildren,” said LaMere.

LAMERE_2.28.1.jpg — Shannon LaMere recently had surgery to remove precancerous cells that were found in her breast during one of the exams. She is grateful that they caught it early and that it did not develop into something worse for her.

The program is also showing the importance of having access to healthcare not only in prison, but once released. For many women, this is the first time they are completing routine check-ups for their health.

“I think if you’re healthy physically and mentally once you’re released from here, you’re armed with that knowledge, and that’s one less hurdle that you have to try to deal with when you leave here,” said May.

That information will also help them advocate for themselves in a healthcare setting. Before receiving their first exam, many women in the prison were not aware of how to ask questions surrounding their health or conditions, and the quick, 10-minute exam is helping them take steps forward.

“It’s embarrassing for them, for some people, to ask a question that they’re not sure how to ask. They just don’t have the knowledge, so to have that comfortable setting where you can openly talk about your health care needs or discover what those needs may be, that’s also empowering,” said May.

LaMere’s success story is another reason why the prison is urging the importance of getting screened early, and to take the help that is being given.

“No matter how it’s offered, take it because your health is the most important thing to you and that’s the only way you’re going to stay alive,” said Gun Hammer.

These screenings serve as a reminder for these women to continue seeking healthcare after being released and take precautions in their care.

“I’m grateful that I had to go through this opportunity so that because if I would have been out, I wouldn’t have known. Being incarcerated, it saved me from myself,” said LaMere.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for May 13, 2026

Published

4 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 13, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 13 drawing

22-31-52-56-67, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from May 13 drawing

17-18-28-37-42, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 13 drawing

02-06-10-16, Bonus: 16

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 13 drawing

08-13-39-63-66, Powerball: 02

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from May 13 drawing

02-04-13-17-32

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 13 drawing

21-24-29-42-49, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life 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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Montana

Public Meeting at Hub on Smith Concerning Montana Water Call Prompting Priority Administration in Tongue Basin

Published

16 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

Public Meeting at Hub on Smith Concerning Montana Water Call Prompting Priority Administration in Tongue Basin

Wyoming State Engineer Brandon Gebhart announced that on May 5, 2026, the State of Montana placed a call under Article V(A) of the Yellowstone River Compact to fill Tongue River Reservoir in Montana. As a result, priority administration is in effect on post-1950 water rights in Wyoming that divert water from the Tongue River and its tributaries and are not excluded from the compact.

A public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, in the dining room of The Hub on Smith. Attendees are asked to enter on the north side of the building.

The Tongue River Basin has been experiencing drought conditions over the past year with historically low winter snowpack and streamflow conditions. According to the release, those conditions led to Montana’s interstate call and prompted the administration of the Tongue River Basin in Wyoming.

The priority administration will affect post-1950 water rights within the Tongue River Basin, including reservoir storage, stream diversions and groundwater withdrawals, all of which affect river flows. Post-1950 water rights will be regulated off or prevented from turning on. Wyoming hydrographer-commissioners will continue to administer reservoir storage and post-1950 diversions throughout the spring and work with affected water users until the administration is lifted.

As provided in the compact, domestic uses less than one-half acre in area and livestock uses, including stock reservoirs less than 20 acre-feet in capacity, are excluded from this administration. The release noted these excluded rights could be subject to future regulation to satisfy priority calls by senior Wyoming water rights.

Beginning May 5, 2026, Wyoming hydrographer-commissioners have worked to record the current storage levels of reservoirs with post-1950 water rights. Going forward, those reservoirs can continue to accrue storage so long as post-1950 storage gained after the interstate call on May 5 remains in storage until either the water is released to satisfy the Montana call or Montana lifts the call because Tongue River Reservoir will fill.

Reservoirs with unfulfilled pre-1950 water rights can continue to store water and that storage will not be subject to release to satisfy Montana’s call. However, that storage and other direct flow rights could be subject to regulation to satisfy priority calls by senior Wyoming water rights.

The priority administration will be carried out pursuant to state law by hydrographer-commissioners assigned to various portions of the Tongue River Basin, working under the direction of Division II Superintendent David Schroeder.

The Wyoming State Engineer’s Office can be contacted at:

Jack Morey, deputy state engineer, 307-777-5032, jack.morey2@wyo.gov

David Schroeder, Division II superintendent, 307-674-7012, d.schroeder@wyo.gov

Jeff Cowley, interstate streams administrator, 307-777-1942, jeff.cowley@wyo.gov

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Montana

Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Big Sky Bonus results for May 12, 2026

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 12, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 12 drawing

17-32-35-40-47, Mega Ball: 17

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 12 drawing

04-12-17-24, Bonus: 11

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 12 drawing

19-21-35-38-53, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life 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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