Education & Culture: Montana Shakespeare in the Parks brought a modernized “The Merchant of Venice” to UM’s Oval, using donation-based access to pull in big, mixed-age crowds. Youth & Health: Gov. Gianforte met in Billings on social media and phones in schools, pointing to sleep loss, online bullying, and the need for safer limits as districts vary in how they handle devices. Native Education: A landmark settlement strengthens Montana’s Indian Education for All mandate, tying IEFA into accreditation and monitoring while formalizing Tribal Nations’ role in shaping Indigenous curriculum. STEM & Workforce: UM is set to expand graduate STEM education with a $5M grant aimed at boosting hands-on training and mentoring for students from lower-income backgrounds. Rural Care: Montana’s first physician associate program at UMary began classes, targeting expanded health care access in rural areas. Community & Arts: Ninepipes Museum in Charlo hosts its First Saturday Artisan Event Sept. 5 with local authors, beadwork and live music. Public Safety: The Polson Police Foundation opened a new office and First Responder Wellness Center, adding decompression, training, and cybersecurity education space. Agriculture & Training: MSU Extension schedules an eastern Montana pest management tour (Sept. 28–Oct. 2) for applicators, covering weeds, pests, drift, water quality, and more. Policy Watch: Montana lawmakers voted to subpoena the Secretary of State over voter data handoff questions, as election oversight heats up.