Ahead of the 2026 Maccabiah Games, an event often called the “Jewish Olympics” and the largest Jewish sporting competition in the world, which are set to begin next week, social media influencer, dancer, and singer, Montana Tucker expressed her excitement to be hosting the delegation parade at the event and said that the games were taking place at a critical point for the global Jewish community.
Montana
Wednesday Headlines: Belgrade Statue, Anaconda Americana and Miss MT
Here’s a quick look at our top stories for the morning of Wednesday, June 25, 2025:
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Looking at average temps, drops of rain
TOP HEADLINES:
Belgrade Unveils Monumental Statue by Local Artist T.D. Kelsey at New Roundabout
Belgrade Unveils Monumental Statue by Local Artist T.D. Kelsey at New Roundabout
A new 14.5-foot bronze sculpture, “Touching the Big Sky,” created by local artist T.D. Kelsey, stands at a Belgrade roundabout, celebrating Montana’s beauty.
Anaconda Hosts Unique Americana Music Festival at Smitty’s Barn
Anaconda Hosts Unique Americana Music Festival at Smitty’s Barn
Join local talent in Anaconda on June 29 for a special Americana music festival at Smitty’s Barn, featuring seven singer-songwriters celebrating Montana’s spirit.
Miss Missoula crowned 2025 Miss Montana in Butte
Miss Missoula crowned 2025 Miss Montana in Butte
There she is … the new Miss Montana and Miss Montana Teen were selected in Butte Saturday evening.
THAT’S INTERESTING:
Here are some interesting historical facts about June 25th:
- The Battle of Little Bighorn (1876): One of the most famous battles in American history took place on June 25, 1876, where Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his troops of the 7th Cavalry were defeated by a coalition of Native American tribes, including the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne. This battle is often referred to as Custer’s Last Stand.
- The Birth of a Nation (1915): The film “The Birth of a Nation,” directed by D.W. Griffith, premiered on June 25, 1915. This silent film was controversial for its portrayal of African Americans and its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan.
- The Establishment of the United Nations (1945): On June 25, 1945, representatives from 50 nations signed the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, creating the foundation for the international organization dedicated to promoting peace and cooperation among countries following World War II.
- The Start of the Korean War (1950): The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea. This conflict would last until 1953, leading to a significant military and political impact in the region.
- U.S. Supreme Court Ruling (1973): On June 25, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of “Miller v. California,” establishing the Miller test for obscenity, which set standards for what could be considered obscene material under the First Amendment.
- Bill Gates’ Birth (1955): Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was born on June 25, 1955. He would go on to become one of the wealthiest individuals in the world and a prominent philanthropist.
- National Canoe Day (Canada): June 25 marks National Canoe Day in Canada, celebrating the importance of the canoe in Canadian history and its role in cultural heritage and outdoor recreation.
Parts of this story were converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Montana
Social media star Montana Tucker to host Maccabiah Games delegation parade | The Jerusalem Post
“Israel has gone through a lot, Israelis have gone through a lot, Jews have gone through a lot around the world,” Tucker told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. “What’s going on is not just happening in Israel; it’s really happening all around the world with our Jewish community. So, an event like the Maccabiah Games is showing the world that we are strong, we are united, and we don’t give up, and we keep fighting.”
According to Maccabiah, the games bring together more than 10,000 athletes from at least 80 countries in Israel every four years to compete in over 45 sports. The Maccabi World Union says the games are the second-largest sporting event in the world after the Olympics.
The 2026 Maccabiah Games, the 22nd of their kind, were initially scheduled for last year but were postponed due to the security situation involving Iran and its regional proxies.
“This was supposed to happen last year, and about a month away, we had to cancel it due to the war,” Tucker recalled. “And so I am so grateful that it is happening this year, because we truly do need this now more than ever.”
She also said she was excited to debut her new song “We’re Not Strangers” at the event.
“It’s all about unity and building bridges and bringing people together. And some of the lyrics say ‘we may pray to different saviors, but we’re not strangers,’” she told the Post. “Our world is so divided right now. I think that we really just need to come together and have more unity and compassion and understanding of one another. And if we really talk to people who look differently than us, act differently than us, have a different religion than us, we’ll realize we’re actually more similar than we think.”
Montana Tucker: Sport ‘truly unites the world’
Sports, she said, was an ideal method to build these bridges, adding she viewed it as something that “truly unites the world.”
The Maccabiah Games this year, though, will be the first since the Hamas-led massacres in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The attacks sparked a regional eruption with Israel fighting wars against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Islamic regime in Iran.
“We always have to talk about what happened on October 7,” Tucker said. “We should never stop talking about it. And I think it is so important that Maccabiah is utilizing this platform to talk about it. I know they actually have a former hostage, Daniella Gilboa, who’s going to be performing, which is so powerful.”
Tucker also highlighted the value of the games, saying they were a powerful tool to dispel disinformation about the Jewish state.
“What’s shown on the news nowadays is just all the negativity. Most of it is just propaganda and lies about what Israel is, and I think the Maccabiah just debunks every possible propaganda and lie about Israel,” she said. “When people say the word ‘Israel,’ it comes with so many different connotations, and I think we can show them this. This is Israel. This is what being Jewish means.”
A key element in showing the world what Israel and being Jewish mean, she reiterated, meant showcasing Jewish unity at a time when, in the wake of the October 7, the global Jewish community has faced a worldwide rise in antisemitism.
The games themselves are being held under the slogan, “More Than Ever,” according to Maccabiah, to emphasize “the importance of strengthening the bond between [Jewish] communities worldwide and the State of Israel.”
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 23, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 23 drawing
48-51-60-63-66, Mega Ball: 20
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 23 drawing
06-21-22-31, 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.
- 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.
We cover lots of hard news here at The Drive. Y’know, the stuff that keeps you updated on the automotive industry and enthusiast scene. Other times, we don’t. Other times, we write silly car-related stuff because it’s fun. This is one of those times. A giant banana recently got pulled over in Montana, and as the Cowboy State Daily put it, it wasn’t its first time.
According to the Montana State Police, the giant banana car and its driver, Steve Braithwaite, were pulled over near Billings because part of the license plate was blocked. He did not receive a ticket. Also, the plate reads “SPLIT.”
“We’ve stopped speeders, distracted drivers, and even a few unusual vehicles… but this one definitely stands out.
The Big Banana Car was stopped cruising near Billings today. While it may be apPEALing, traffic laws still apply to fruit. 😎 🍌
Safe travels, Montana,” said the Montana State Police’s Facebook page.
According to the report, Braithwaite has been pulled over hundreds of times over the decade he’s been driving his banana car across the country. In fact, he believes that during the first few years he had the thing, he was one of the most frequently pulled-over men in America.
“Driving around in a banana and having all these people, all these smiles and waves, affects me. It actually does something fantastic,” he told the outlet.
He even claims to have been pulled over once for “peeling out,” which was, of course, a joke.
Another report claims that Braithwaite began working on the fiberglass banana in 2008 and finished it in 2011. It’s based on a 1993 Ford F-150 and is a bout 23 feet from tip to tip.
Keep on keepin’ on, Steve.
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