Montana
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
“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.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
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.
Although newly minted GOP candidates for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have garnered heavyweight endorsements, the Montana Republican Party said Thursday it won’t throw its support behind any candidates for federal office in the primary.
“The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) stands behind its deep bench of qualified candidates seeking to represent Montanans and supports a competitive primary process to let voters pick their preferred candidates,” the Montana GOP said in a news release Thursday.
Monday, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced he was retiring due to health concerns once his term ends, and he immediately tapped talk-show host Aaron Flint as his preferred successor in Congress.
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Flathead County Republican Central Committee Chairperson Al Olszewski also filed for the U.S. House as Republicans, as did Ray Curtis of Bonner.
Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines withdrew, and in a statement the same night, announced an endorsement of former U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, who had filed the same day.
In the Senate, Lee Calhoun and Charles Walking Child also filed to run in the Republican primary.
Endorsements for Flint and Alme cascaded. U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed both candidates, and U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy and Gov. Greg Gianforte threw their weight behind Flint and Alme.
Late on Wednesday, the Montana GOP did not immediately have comment on the news Daines, Montana’s senior U.S. senator, had resigned, but Thursday, the party thanked Zinke and Daines for their service.
A news release said the party would not endorse any candidates in the federal primary and would leave the job in the hands of voters.
“The party hopes every candidate will make their case to the public, contrasting their Republican policies and principles with those of Democrats — as well as phony ‘Independents,’” the news release said.
Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar announced a run for the U.S. Senate as an independent this week.
A tension within the Republican party has emerged in recent years between hardline conservatives and more moderate members, and some legislative primaries illustrate the split.
This week, the state GOP said the number of primaries for state legislative seats shows a high interest from Montanans who want to serve the state and pass Republican policy, and the MTGOP “is glad to see so many Republicans being called to public service.”
In a brief call, MTGOP spokesperson Ethan Holmes said the party had not ruled out endorsements in legislative primaries.
In the news release, however, the MTGOP offered its view of the larger political debate.
“Montana voters know that beyond the primaries, there is a clear choice between Republican and Democratic governance; one path leads to lower taxes, less crime and stronger families, and the other leads to higher taxes, more crime, and social decay,” MTGOP Chairperson Art Wittich said in a statement.
The news release also said the state GOP is working “tirelessly to deliver a Bright Red Future” at both the state and federal level and looks forward to help candidates whom voters select win in November.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing
07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing
33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 4 drawing
01-07-08-27, Bonus: 12
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 4 drawing
05-10-26-53-59, Powerball: 06
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from March 4 drawing
03-04-06-08-10
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing
12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03
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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