Montana
Many searching for answers as southwest Montana sees highest property tax estimates in the state

BOZEMAN — Throughout the past few weeks, MTN News has been covering property tax appraisal town halls hosted by the Montana Department of Revenue. Many homeowners have felt shocked when they opened their new property tax assessments recently.
“You expect to go up. You don’t expect it to go up that much,” says Gallatin County Resident Maureen Holt.
Holt was left speechless when she saw her property tax estimate. She says seeing that tax hike makes planning for the future a lot harder.
“Well, you think of going into retirement or something—or you plan and budget and going out, you think, okay, I have this much money to pay this,” says Holt.
Holt says she had questions which is why she decided to attend several of the town halls hosted by the Dept of Revenue across our area. Chad Elser, Region 4 Property Assessment Manager for the Department of Revenue says these town halls are a first for the department.
“I’ve been with the Department of Revenue for ten and a half years, and this is the first time in my tenure of the department that we’ve had these,” he says.
Elser says the reason for the assessment increases is because the department’s estimates are based on home values as of January 1, 2022.
“That’s made it taxes on our assessment notice and those are just estimate-based on last year’s mill levies,” says Elser.
According to the Montana Department of Revenue, the median house price went up 46 percent statewide.
Elser says our nine-county region saw some of the highest increases in the state. Park and Beaverhead counties saw an increase of 48 percent. Madison County increased 58 percent, and Gallatin County, 59 percent .
Topping our region and the state is Granite County at a 67 percent increase.
“We’ve seen anywhere from a 40 to a 67 percent increase in values from 2020,” says Elser.
Elser says because of these high numbers his office expects more appeals this time around than what they saw for the last appraisal cycle.
“We roughly saw about 2,500 informal appeals filed in Region Four. But I’m anticipating a higher rate,” says Elser.
Holt says that an appeal for her property tax assessment is likely her next step.
“We’re probably, we’re right now debating whether we’re going to protest, pay our taxes under protest,” says Holt.
The appeal deadline is coming up fast. Appeals must be turned in by the end of July.

Montana
Where is Sa’Wade Birdinground ? Missing Montana teen’s last-known location revealed

A $10,000 reward is being offered for any information that helps find 13-year-old Sa’Wade Birdinground. She went missing from her grandparents’ home in Montana last October.
The FBI’s Salt Lake City office is offering $5,000, and the Crow Tribe, which Sa’Wade belongs to, is giving another $5,000.
After a press conference on Friday, people from the community walked together and released red balloons at Little Big Horn College. This was a way to show their hope and support to bring Sa’Wade back home, according to Yellowstone Public Radio.
Sa’Wade’s case is part of a bigger problem in the U.S.—many Indigenous people, especially women and girls, go missing or are murdered. In states like Montana, where there are big Native communities, this happens more often.
The group Native Hope says Indigenous women are killed at a rate 10 times higher than other women who live on reservations. Murder is the third top cause of death for Native women.
The Department of Justice has a program called “Operation Not Forgotten” that tries to help by giving more support to investigate these cases and fix the unfair treatment Native people often face.
Sa’Wade was last seen on….
Sa’Wade was last seen on the night of October 6, 2024, at her grandparents’ house on the Crow Indian Reservation in Garryowen, Montana. She hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
The reservation is about 65 miles southeast of Billings. It’s near where Sitting Bull’s camp used to be and close to the Little Bighorn River. Long ago, the area was used by Plains Indian tribes for summer hunting, and one of the biggest Native gatherings in North America happened there.
Also Read: 5 bodies appearing to be missing musicians of Mexican regional music band found near Texas border
At the time she went missing, Sa’Wade was around 5’4” to 5’5” tall, weighed between 130–140 pounds, had curly brown hair and brown eyes. She often wore an elk tooth necklace.
That night, she was wearing a black hoodie with mushrooms on it, an anime T-shirt, basketball shorts, and purple slip-on Skechers. She might also have had a black and purple Adidas backpack, according to the FBI.
So far, searches by the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, local police, the Montana National Guard, and community volunteers haven’t found any solid leads or sightings, local news station KTVQ reported.
Officials say this case stands out because of Sa’Wade’s young age and the situation around her disappearance. They also pointed out that many Native families go through this every year, with loved ones going missing and not enough answers.
Montana
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for June 7, 2025
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 7, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 7 drawing
31-36-43-48-62, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from June 7 drawing
02-04-28-34-45, Lucky Ball: 02
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 7 drawing
01-17-19-36-43, Star Ball: 03, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 7 drawing
07-08-13-27, Bonus: 02
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from June 7 drawing
06-07-16-22-28, Powerball: 17
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from June 7 drawing
06-23-29-33-40
Check Montana Cash 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.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
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.
Montana
Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for June 6, 2025
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 6, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 6 drawing
16-40-54-56-57, Mega Ball: 03
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from June 6 drawing
10-15-38-41-45, Lucky Ball: 18
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 6 drawing
03-16-18-26, 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.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
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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