Montana
Montana Ag Network: Research finds sheep grazing benefits bees
LAVINA— Sheep grazing has been helping bee populations thrive at a Lavina sheep and cattle ranch.
Entomologist Hayes Goosey, who works as the Montana State University Extension forage specialist, said grazing reveals dirt patches, where bees can dig nests.
Watch how sheep are part of a bigger picture:
Montana Ag Network: Research finds sheep grazing benefits bees
He studied sheep and cattle grazing effects on the environment at Lehfeldt Land and Livestock in Lavina.
“Most bees are solitary, and they nest in the soil, and they need bare patches of ground to identify nest locations. And so periodic grazing then opens up that canopy of that detritus and gives native bees places to nest,” said Goosey.
Abi Saeed/ MSU Extension
“We found greater numbers of bees associated with areas where cattle grazing was present compared to places where a long-term idling or lack of grazing had been the dominant land management for about a decade,” he added.
Grazing also balances animal populations that have been there for years.
“To maintain historically what the range looked like, it requires grazing at varying levels,” added Goosey.
Vanessa Willardson/Q2
Fifth-generation rancher Ben Lehfeldt, whose property Goosey studied, said taking care of sheep is a lot of work, but it is worth it.
“Sheep, cattle, agriculture, the whole is essential to the whole wildlife picture. Everything works together,” said Lehfeldt.
This week, Lehfeldt is working with a team of five shearers, two wool handlers and his family to shear 2,000 sheep, producing 20,000 pounds of wool.
Vanessa Willardson/Q2
“It just kind of gives them a fresh start for the year to grow that coat,” said Lehfeldt.
Shearing sheep is also an important step before lambs are born because sheared sheep will be more likely to seek shelter during bad weather, meaning lambs will get the shelter they need too.
“If they had a big coat on, they wouldn’t want to go to a shelter if it’s raining. That lamb needs protection. So now… when they feel that rain, they’ll head and take their lamb for protection,” said Lehfeldt.
Vanessa Willardson/Q2
Working hard to maintain sheep populations in Montana, such as the work behind sheep shearing, contributes to a bigger picture.
“Not only does it help with the sheep and the grazing, but it also adds to the environment and the wildlife and the insects as a whole,” added Lehfeldt.
Montana
Semi-truck shot at, destroyed by fire on Montana Highway
Fergus County – A Montana semi-truck driver is lucky to be alive after his truck was shot at early Sunday morning and erupted in fire, according to a social media post from the Fergus County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident happened on Highway 191, south of Eddies Corner.
The driver called dispatch for shots being fired, but before first responders arrived, the truck started on fire.
All occupants in the semi were able to escape to a nearby field, but the truck was completely destroyed.
Deputies later found the vehicle matching the suspect’s description and the person was arrested at gunpoint.
Investigators say there is no on-going threat to the public and the investigation continues.
Montana
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for April 4, 2026
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 4 drawing
03-06-13-41-65, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from April 4 drawing
06-31-35-36-40, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from April 4 drawing
02-10-23-29, Bonus: 09
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 4 drawing
20-38-45-58-63, Powerball: 05
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from April 4 drawing
04-07-13-17-29
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 4 drawing
20-30-31-38-49, Bonus: 05
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.
Montana
The Best Small Town In Montana For Seniors
With a growing number of seniors moving to Montana, Butte is an affordable town oriented around community and ideal for retirees. Montana is among the most culturally and artistically rich states in the nation, with 687 arts and recreation venues per 100,000 older adults. Combined with the tax-friendly economy, Butte remains a place with top dining options, such as Uptown Café, and reputable healthcare at St. James Hospital, which has earned recognition through awards. For these reasons and more, including a low cost of living, seniors are sure to find the perfect place to call home in the small Montana town of Butte.
Making Money Stretch in Butte
By many metrics, life in Montana is one of the more affordable states, and Butte can be especially helpful for spreading out retirement savings. Using the Economic Research Institute’s cost of living data, Butte is 8% lower than the national average and 3% lower than the average in Montana.
Where a senior decides to live plays a big role in their financial stability, and that choice is easier when living in Butte. Zillow’s Home Value Index indicates an average home value of $271,700, a tremendous value, far lower than similar mountain towns in Colorado and Idaho. Montana’s average typical home sells for $460,700, so a homebuyer in Butte is saving almost $180,000 compared to the state average.
Dining
Dining here offers a range of cuisines and specialties, making options diverse and keeping things fresh for residents and visitors. To tour a couple of the community’s favorites, begin at Uptown Café on East Broadway. With a reputation for serving “civilized dining in the Wild West,” the restaurant offers upscale comfort food such as beef wellington, chicken piccata, and melt-in-your-mouth desserts. Just a short distance from the Uptown Café lies Casagranda’s Steakhouse inside the 1900 Bertoglio Warehouse on Utah Avenue. Here, premium Rocky Mountain steak cuts vie for the spotlight alongside Italian pasta dishes and fresh seafood. With the famous Guido’s Bar inside, the eatery has earned a place among the best dining experiences in Southwestern Montana, thanks to its food and historical location.
Things to Do
The mining history that formed and sustained Butte for decades was not forgotten here. The town pays homage to these days, and guests or locals can learn all about the copper mining through the World Museum of Mining. This historical center is located on the grounds of the original Orphan Girl Mine, a rare site built directly over an old mine yard. Walk through Hell Roarin’ Gulch, an authentic recreation of a 1890s mining town with original or reconstructed buildings, and then take a guided tour 100 feet underground to see one of the few publicly accessible exposed veins of minerals in North America.
For those looking to see what sort of entertainment can be found in Butte, begin this search at Mother Lode Theatre. Originally a Masonic Temple, the renovated space now hosts the Butte Symphony, various concerts, touring productions, and Montana Repertory Theatre in a warm and lively acoustic environment. The schedule is full most of the year, making this a common place for seniors in the community to frequent for regular entertainment.
Accessible Healthcare
At the heart of Butte’s appeal to seniors is Intermountain Health St. James Hospital, a full-service acute care facility on South Clark Street that is part of a prestigious nonprofit health system serving the American West. It offers a complete spectrum of specialty care services, including cancer care, emergency care, heart care, rehabilitation services, surgical care, and care for women’s health. Its goal is to see all patients within 30 minutes of their arrival. St. James has been honored as a recipient of the Chartis Center for Rural Health Performance Leadership Award for excellence in clinical outcomes in both 2022 and 2023. This is the highest level of performance for rural hospitals nationwide in quality, outcomes, and patient experience.
Nearby Towns to Explore
One of the advantages of living in such a prime position along Interstate 90 is how accessible nearby towns become when you settle in Butte. This region of Montana does a lot to preserve its history and heritage, so nearby communities have much to explore.
Anaconda
Twenty-five miles northwest of Butte on Interstate 90, Anaconda is another community that does a lot to preserve the memory of Montana’s copper era, with a downtown area still offering a glimpse of certain facades from days long gone. The thing most people come to see in Anaconda is the Washoe Theater, one of a small number of remaining Art Deco-era movie palaces in the United States, where ornate decoration and lighting envelop a constant schedule of movies and live acts. Golfers head to Old Works Golf Course, Montana’s only public Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, built on the site of Anaconda’s old copper smelter. It’s known for its spectacular black sand traps made from copper smelting waste and views of Anaconda’s famous Anaconda Stack.
Deer Lodge
About 35 miles northeast of Butte via Interstate 90, Deer Lodge offers the chance to dig deeper into the state’s frontier past. The main attraction is the Old Montana Prison Complex, one of the state’s most visited historic sites. Here, you can visit the original territorial prison built in 1871 as well as several satellite museums, including a collection of classic cars and a frontier town. Just outside the downtown area, the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site preserves one of the most important cattle empires of the West, with National Park Service-guided tours available at no charge anytime of the year. Back in the downtown area, Deer Lodge’s pedestrian-friendly historic main street makes exploration a breeze, with plenty of antiquing and dining to discover, the most popular of which is the Broken Arrow Steakhouse and Casino right on Main Street.
Montana’s wide swath of undeveloped farmland has helped keep costs affordable for seniors looking to retire somewhere new. Butte, Montana, especially has a lot to offer those wanting to stretch fixed incomes further, with a cost of living that is 8% lower than the national average. With Montana’s reputation as a cultural and artistic hub of the nation, the historic significance of Butte, and the natural wonder of the Continental Divide, this small town might be the best place for seniors.
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