Montana

Montana looks to build up EV infrastructure

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2024

Montana looks to build up EV infrastructure

HELENA — Electric vehicles have been in national headlines, but where does Montana stand when it comes to EVs and infrastructure for them? According to data from the US Department of Energy, there are about 60,500 public access EV charging stations across the country and about 120 of them are located in Montana. Currently the state and local governments are working to bolster EV infrastructure.

Two of the newest EV charging stations in Montana are in Helena—one at Bill Roberts Golf Course and one at the Jackson Street parking garage.

“Right now, these are kind of our pilot projects,” City of Helena sustainability and recycling coordinator Miranda Griffis said. “We’re going to see how well the go, how well-receipted they are by the city, how well-used they are by residents. And then, if there is a need for more of them, we could plan to expand that.”

The two charging stations were funded a Charge Your Ride grant from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Money for the grant is from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Settlement.

The Charge Your Ride grant also helped fund a charger at the Mountain View Meadows subdivision. Like the chargers installed by the city, the one at Mountain View Meadows is a level 2 charger.

“This type of charger would probably take a few hours to fully charge your vehicle,” Montana DEQ energy resource professional Neal Ullman said. “But for my car right now, which is mostly charged, I could probably top it off in a couple of minutes.”

Ullman said level 2 chargers are helpful for people driving locally, but not ideal for long-distance travel.

“In terms of fast charging to mimic that long-distance travel experience of gas stations, there are 19 fast charging locations that would work on vehicles like mine—non-Teslas,” Ullman said.

There are about 16 Tesla super chargers across the state, and more fast chargers for Teslas and non-teslas planned across the state.

The federal government sent goals to make half of all new vehicles sold in the US in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, and create a network of 500-thousand chargers to make EVs more accessible for travelers.

According to the most recent data from the US Department of Energy, EVs make up just a small percentage of vehicles in Montana. In 2022, there were 999,600 light duty vehicles registered in the state and 3,300 were EVs. To put that number in perspective, 765,400 were gasoline vehicles.

Those numbers could change as more infrastructure is built for EVs in Montana. The Montana DEQ and Montana Department of Transportation have plans to do just that with funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Ullman said the goal is to create a “statewide network of fast-charging locations along certain designated alternative fuel corridors,” including all interstates, Highway 2 and Highway 93.

The city of Helena is also planning for more EV infrastructure.

“With the push for more electric both with residential and city-use vehicles, we do need the infrastructure in place for these EVs to support them,” Griffis said.

The US Department of Energy has an online map of EV chargers, and a smartphone app to locate chargers.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Big Sky Bonus results for April 14, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at April 14, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 14 drawing

17-21-24-57-69, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from April 14 drawing

02-04-30-31, Bonus: 16

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.
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

This Weekend is Huge for Music Lovers in Montana

Published

15 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

This Weekend is Huge for Music Lovers in Montana

There’s something special about a record or CD that feels nostalgic, and if you need another reason to support locally owned record stores in Montana, this is it.

This Saturday, April 18, is Record Store Day 2026, and independent record stores in Montana and across the country are gearing up for one of the biggest days of the year. It’s a one-day event where customers can find exclusive in-store only releases.

For record collectors, it’s a chance to find special releases that are in limited supply. I’m planning to get in line in hopes of scoring a copy of the Billy Strings NPR Tiny Desk concert on vinyl.

That’s just one of over 300 limited-edition releases that will be available on Record Store Day. You can find a complete list of 2026 releases on the Record Store Day website.

Records

Photo by Peixuan Yu

Record stores in Montana aren’t just a place to buy music. They’re a part of the fabric of the communities they serve. Cactus Records in Bozeman is considered a local landmark and the go-to spot for music lovers in town.

Sure, it’s much easier to stream music digitally, but it isn’t the same as holding a physical copy in your hands.

Record Store Day is about showing up and supporting local. Keeping these independent shops alive and thriving in a world that’s increasingly digital. Every purchase you make this Saturday goes directly back into those stores, and helps make sure they’re still here the next time you’re looking for something new.

If you plan on heading to a local record store on Saturday, don’t be surprised if you see people getting in line early. It’s a big day for vinyl lovers and music fans in Montana. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

The Ultimate Guide to 7 of Montana’s Best Record Stores

If you’re a music lover, you need to visit these awesome record stores in Montana.

Gallery Credit: Jesse James

The Best Places To Live In Montana In 2026

Find your perfect Montana city in 2026 with our guide to the state’s most livable and desirable places.

Gallery Credit: jessejames

The Most Iconic Small Town Bars and Saloons in Montana

From historic saloons to local dive bars, these are some of the best watering holes across Big Sky Country.

Gallery Credit: Jesse James

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Montana

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

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

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

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

Winning Powerball numbers from April 13 drawing

38-43-59-63-64, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from April 13 drawing

01-18-19-35-50, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from April 13 drawing

14-20-25-29, Bonus: 04

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.
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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