Wildfire tech & aviation: Bridger Aerospace won a $58M contract with Texas A&M Forest Service to deliver and modify three King Air 360 aircraft for wildfire detection, situational awareness, cargo, and Medevac—work done in Texas. Public lands & wildlife management: The Department of the Interior proposed updated grizzly bear management flexibility for areas that have met recovery benchmarks, with Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and other Western leaders backing the shift. Montana-linked corruption freeze: South Africa’s SIU obtained preservation orders freezing two luxury properties tied to former PRASA boss Lucky Montana, alleging a “direct money trail” from a $5.6B rail security contract. Rare earth race: China’s rare earth magnet export restrictions are pushing U.S. manufacturing—REalloys says it’s building a mine-to-magnet supply chain to meet defense demand as a Pentagon ban approaches. Drones & defense: Mobix Labs agreed to buy Montana-based Vision Aerial for about $15M to expand secure drone and aerial intelligence capabilities. Health policy: CMS’s Medicaid work requirement rule takes effect, projecting millions fewer enrollees. Data centers: A new look at how states are shifting from incentives to tighter rules as power, water, and land-use pressures mount. Montana science-adjacent: AI cameras are being used for license plate scanning in Great Falls, raising privacy questions.