Water & Drought Monitoring: Montana is expanding its Mesonet network with more soil and weather stations to track drought and improve how officials understand water moving from snow and rain into the ground. Public Health Lab Oversight: Sen. Steve Daines’ office is pushing back on scrutiny of Hamilton’s Rocky Mountain Labs, while critics want an inspector general investigation into lab practices. Energy & Grid Planning: Montana and the wider West keep focusing on transmission upgrades and “next generation” electricity planning as leaders coordinate major grid investment. Cybersecurity & AI Fraud: A new scam trend is using AI-generated domains to help phishing and malware campaigns succeed. Food Waste & Labels: A Montana food bank says most donated food is still good past label dates, as California moves to simplify “sell by” into “quality” and “safety” dates. Critical Minerals: Reporting highlights the U.S. scramble for tungsten as China dominates supply and export controls tighten. Local Tech/Community: Billings is tied up in a NorthWestern data center rate case, with a council member seeking changes. Wildlife Impacts: A Gallatin Gateway elk study spotlights growing conflicts between elk herds and ranchers’ hayfields. Northern Lights Forecast: NOAA says minor geomagnetic storms could boost aurora visibility across parts of northern Montana and nearby states. PFAS Regulation: The FDA is moving toward limits for PFAS in bottled water, aligning with EPA’s drinking-water standards. Housing Market Snapshot: A new housing affordability look finds Montana homes taking the longest to sell in 2026.