Community

AARP has grant funds available for community projects

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

The American Association of Retired Persons is accepting applications for the 2018 Community Challenge grant program to fund “quickaction” projects that benefit local communities. The grant program, which is now in its second year, is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which aims to make communities great places to live for everyone.

Mar. 28 Community Roundup

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

What’s Happening

Billings Symphony musicians to visit Miles City schools

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

Musicians from the Billings Symphony Orchestra’s brass section will be in Miles City on Thursday, visiting and performing at four local schools. Their trip to Miles City is thanks to a grant from the Nibs and Edna Allen Foundation.

In 2017, several members of the orchestra traveled to Miles City, visited several schools, gave master classes at Custer County District High School and performed in a community concert that included several CCDHS Band members. A grant for that visit was provided by the L.P. and Theresa Anderson Foundation.

MDT staff encourage drivers to stay alert, and drive responsibly

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

It’s now been a full month since anyone has died in a crash on Montana roads. There has not been a traffic fatality in the state since Monday, Feb. 26, according to a news release from the Montana Department of Transportation. This is great progress toward Vision Zero, but the Montana Department of Transportation officials urge drivers to continue to remain alert and drive responsibly.

Stand Up RMC to host Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on April 4

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

Rocky Mountain College in Billings is hosting  its second annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence  event  on Wednesday, April 4, at 7 p.m. The walk begins in the  Fortin Education Center at RMC and continue along the  walkway across  campus.

BBB warns of home improvement scams

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

Since the start of the new  year,  Better Business Bureau (BBB) Northwest & Pacific has seen an uptick in customers searching for general  contractors  to help  spruce up their homes.  BBB has received more than 72,000 local inquiries to  general contractors  since January — that’s  up  nearly  4,000 from last year. Locally there were more  than  3,000  searches  in  Montana, according to a news release from BBB.  Unfortunately, scammers  are  hoping to  capitalize  on this interest by finding  ways to con consumers and contractors out of money.

Nominations sought for Business Hall of Fame

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

Montana State University Billings (MSUB), the College of Business at MSUB, and the MSUB Foundation announced the fifth annual call for nominations for the statewide Montana Business Hall of Fame.

Individuals are invited to nominate a business leader they believe is worthy of recognition. Because many people are deserving of recognition, previous nominations may be re-submitted, according to a MSUB news release.

This year’s ceremony will be on Thursday, Oct. 11, at The Northern Hotel in Billings.

Report shows visitors spent $3.4B in Montana last year

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

Last year 12.5 million visitors contributed nearly $3.4 billion in travel spending, according to a recent report from the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana in Missoula. But the 2017 fire season may have stifled the state’s potential gains.

Forty-seven percent — or 5.8 million — of visitors traveled to the state in the third quarter from July through September and spent 52 percent of the $3.4 billion. Travel groups spent an average of $130.75 per day, for a total of $1.7 billion during the summer months.

Video Game Hall of Fame announces 2018 finalists

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Calling all gamers to help pick World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees. Twelve finalists were named Tuesday for the class of 2018, pitting "Ms. Pac-Man" against "John Madden Football."

Also in the running are: "Asteroids," ''Call of Duty," ''Dance Dance Revolution," ''Final Fantasy VII," ''Half-Life," ''King's Quest," ''Metroid," ''Minecraft," ''Spacewar!," and "Tomb Raider."

New this year, the hall is inviting gamers to weigh in on inductees. Online balloting closes April 4.

A panel of experts will vote as well.

Experts say Prince toxicology report shows very high fentanyl level

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 12:00am

MINNEAPOLIS — A toxicology report from Prince's autopsy, obtained Monday by The Associated Press, shows he had what multiple experts called an "exceedingly high" concentration of fentanyl in his body when he died.

Prince was 57 when he was found alone and unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate on April 21, 2016. Public data released six weeks after his death showed he died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin.