AGP Executive Report

Healing Arts in Helena: The Holter Museum of Art is expanding its Holter Healing Arts program at the Rocky Mountain Development Corporation Senior Center and YWCA Helena, adding new workshops and “art carts” funded by a $50,000 Blue Impact grant—aimed at easing isolation for older adults. Local Art Scene: WaterWorks Art Museum in Miles City is gearing up for its 51st annual art auction Sept. 26, with a live auction, silent bidding, and live art demos supporting youth art education and community programming. Music & Pop Culture: Love Island’s Montana Brown hinted at a possible split from fiancé Mark O’Connor in a cryptic life-update post, while Reba McEntire is reportedly set to honor Dolly Parton with a tribute at the 78th Emmys—details on how to watch included. Sports Spotlight: Montana State kept rolling, defending its Yellowstone Intercollegiate team title at home, and Under Armour opened its first Montana storefront in Bozeman. Community Calendar: Helena and surrounding areas have fresh listings for Sept. 23–26 events, from open mics to library storytimes.

Montana Arts & Community: HEAVY, a new documentary built with Browning students through heavy-music workshops, premieres Sept. 24 (free) in Browning, turning music into a space for grief, connection, and creative voice. Live Music: The U.S. Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants hit Billings’ Alberta Bair Theater on Oct. 14 for a free concert (tickets required). Local Arts Calendar: Fourth Friday Artwalk lines up with the Sisters Folk Festival, with gallery events and music starting at 6 p.m. Sports Spotlight: Montana State’s Sam Ells earns Big Sky men’s cross country athlete of the week after a win at the Montana Invite. Health & Aging: Benefis opens the Goodnow Healthy Aging Center in Great Falls, aiming to help seniors stay mobile and independent. Wildlife Watch: Columbia Falls adopts an emergency ordinance to cut bear attractants amid increased bear activity.

Montana Music & Culture: Tim Montana, who grew up without electricity or running water, is now collaborating with Jerry Cantrell, Slash and Billy Gibbons—proof that Montana roots can travel far. Pop Music Buzz: Miley Cyrus’ new era is getting louder: she’s hit with a plagiarism accusation over “Redlights,” and “Bass Persuades” is also sparking “Bye Hannah Montana” backlash tied to fan service chatter and early sales projections. Media & Entertainment Tech: The White House launched “Trump TV,” a 24/7 presidential stream that’s already inflamed a media access fight, with major outlets suspending coverage after bans on on-site reporting. Local Business (Montana): Billings-based EFX Sports is expanding global reach via Coupang, boosting sales in South Korea and Taiwan and highlighting how Montana-made products are finding overseas buyers. Montana Sports: Montana State’s homecoming momentum continues as the Bobcats gear up for Northern Arizona, with multiple Montana ties adding extra spice to the matchup.

Montana vs. Kalshi: The State of Montana and prediction-market firm Kalshi have agreed to end their federal lawsuit, with Kalshi dropping its claims and Montana’s gambling enforcement agreeing not to pursue regulation. Reacher buzz: Alan Ritchson says a TV adaptation of Lee Child’s Die Trying was approved but shelved after a presidential re-election shifted studio plans. Big Sky football: Montana State stays No. 1 in the FCS Top 25 (not unanimous), while the Grizzlies slide to No. 5 after a 52-17 loss at Oregon State; MSU hosts Northern Arizona next. Volleyball honors: Nicolette Noble repeats as Big Sky defensive player of the week as Montana State continues its home stretch. Local arts & community: Laurel’s Brooke Keller won the National Poppy Poster Contest at the state level and will compete nationally; and Montana’s Freedom of Information Coalition honored Anna Rau and attorney Kyle Nelson for advancing public access. Sports culture: Miles City’s 28th annual Bluegrass Festival drew crowds for a weekend of music and community jamming.

Met Opera Spotlight: Louisa Proske, co-founder of Heartbeat Opera, makes her Metropolitan Opera debut directing Verdi’s “Macbeth,” landing the fast-turnaround season opener after another director bowed out. Rare-Disease Honors: The Myositis Association will present its 2026 “Heroes in the Fight” awards at MyoCon 2026, including a posthumous Patient Ambassador Award for Father Stuart Long, the Helena priest portrayed in “Father Stu.” Montana Sports (Big Sky): Oregon State routed Montana 52-17 at Reser Stadium, with QB Braden Atkinson throwing five TDs as first-year coach JaMarcus Shephard earned his first win. Local Running: Billings hosted the 46th Montana Marathon, drawing 1,200+ runners and benefiting Yellowstone Rapids Track Club, Billings Family YMCA, Haley’s Hope and other local teams. Music & Pop Culture: Miley Cyrus is still in the Dolly Parton orbit, sharing details of her final conversation with the late icon and how Parton shaped her “persona” approach. Sports Legacy: Olympic swimmer Mike Burton, a three-time gold medalist, died at 79.

Marathon & Community Sports: Billings turned out for the 46th Montana Marathon, with more than 1,200 runners tackling a full/half marathon plus 10K and 5K, and proceeds benefiting local youth and sports groups. TV & Film (Yellowstone universe): CBS says “Marshals” is bringing back Yellowstone’s Jimmy for Season 2, with showrunner Spencer Hudnut confirming Jimmy will spend time in Montana and get to know Kayce’s new team. Montana Sports (college football): Oregon State routed Montana 52-17 in Corvallis, handing first-year coach JaMarcus Shephard his first win as Braden Atkinson threw five TD passes. Local Arts (outdoor art): A Flathead Valley couple, Genevieve and Jaden Attard, turned their Continental Divide Trail thru-hike into more than 90 plein air paintings now on display in Columbia Falls. Fashion & Culture (Dolly Parton legacy): Emily Osment says Dolly Parton was “lovely,” always early, and smelled like magnolias during her Hannah Montana guest appearances—another sweet behind-the-scenes tribute after Parton’s death. Rodeo: Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo set its 2026 contract personnel for PRCA’s Oct. 9-11 event in Minot, including rookie pickup men Brandon Hatzenbuhler and TK Sampson.

Montana Sports: No. 3 Montana fell 52-17 at Oregon State, but Eli Gillman broke UM’s career rushing record (4,086 yards) in the loss. Montana Tech Football: Montana Tech kept rolling, crushing Southern Oregon 58-10 as Jarrett Wilson threw four TDs and Levi Torgerson added 11 catches for 146 yards. Big Sky Results: Northern Arizona topped Utah Tech 35-23 behind Ty Pennington’s two TD passes and a rushing score. Local Culture: Missoula’s Viva Montana Latin Heritage Festival brought music, food, and dancing to Caras Park. Arts & Entertainment (Pop Culture): Emily Osment shared a sweet Dolly Parton set memory from Hannah Montana—Parton always arrived early and carried the scent of magnolias. Streaming/TV: Taylor Sheridan’s Dutton Ranch is still dominating Paramount+ viewing after Yellowstone’s run. Montana Governance: Flathead County again delayed a state-required airport ordinance, pushing it to December. Sports Betting/Media: Polymarket and Kalshi rolled out new NFL promo codes, while ESPN highlighted the most controversial MTV Video Music Awards moments.

Montana & Media: Montana’s library is leaning into fall viewing with free DVDs and TV picks for Fergus County residents, plus a seasonal “good movie or TV show” guide for colder nights. Western Culture: Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” empire keeps expanding, with “1883” still credited as the spark behind his “king of Westerns” reputation. Streaming Buzz: HBO Max’s “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” is climbing streaming charts ahead of Season 3. Music & Pop Culture: Miley Cyrus and Emily Osment are sharing fresh Dolly Parton memories after Parton’s death, including Cyrus’ talk of stage anxiety and Osment’s “smelled like magnolias” recollection. Sports (Montana ties): Oregon crushed Portland State 84-0, while Montana State’s Big Sky football weekend continues to dominate local sports coverage. Local Community: Stanislaus County’s “Montana Park” is set for a $150,000 county boost for expanded multi-sport courts. Tech/Policy: A legal fight over prediction markets and a separate wave of data-center opposition are both making headlines beyond Montana.

College Football Frenzy: Week 3 is here, headlined by LSU vs. Ole Miss in a prime-time Lane Kiffin return, plus SMU at Louisville and a full slate of ranked matchups and TV coverage across the weekend. Music & Pop Culture: Miley Cyrus continues honoring Dolly Parton after her August death, sharing what she says people miss about Parton’s authenticity and details from their final conversations. TV & Streaming: MobLand season 2 debuts Frankie Cooper, with the villain’s performance drawing comparisons to iconic screen bad-guy energy. Montana Community Arts: Missoula’s Viva Montana Latin Heritage Festival brings live music, dance, food, and hands-on cultural activities to Caras Park. Local Events: Open AIR’s ENCORE! mini golf fundraiser drew more than 1,000 people to Bonner Park, with artist-designed holes and live entertainment. Sports Betting Buzz: Multiple promos and odds guides are circulating for Week 3, including LSU-Ole Miss-focused offers.

Montana Tech & MSU Nursing: Montana State University opened the new $101M Jones Hall, expanding nursing education across its five campuses with modern classrooms and simulation labs. Local Arts: Virginia City Arts Festival returns Sept. 18-20 with artist showcases, a live “Quick Finish” session, music, and food at the Community Center. Outdoor & Family Fun: Great Falls’ Giant Springs State Park and hatchery will see fall upgrades starting Sept. 21, with limited access to parts of Roe Island and the hatchery display pond. Hunting Prep: MFWP set youth rifle-season field days in Great Falls/Region 4, with multiple Sept. 30 sessions plus an Oct. 21 option. Streaming & Music Buzz: Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe keeps rolling—Dutton Ranch is back in the spotlight—while Miley Cyrus shared her final conversation with Dolly Parton and Riley Green released his album “That’s Just Me.” Montana Tech/Entertainment Law: A federal judge blocked Montana’s AI deepfake election-ad restrictions, citing First Amendment issues. Community Support: Great Falls’ Out of the Darkness Walk is set for Sept. 26 at the bandshell with a resource fair and honor bead ceremony.

Miley Cyrus & Dolly Parton: Cyrus opened up about her final conversation with her godmother, saying Parton was “always right” and that their last talk centered on Cyrus’s new album, “Bass Persuades,” plus the lesson of keeping a persona without losing who you are. Streaming & True Crime: Netflix’s “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story” is sparking debate, with multiple explainers breaking down what the series gets wrong about the 1892 case. Local Food Buzz: Missoula is getting an old-school hot dog spot—Pastrami Franks plans a brick-and-mortar location at 311 W. Front St., aiming for a December 2026 opening. Montana Arts & Film: Red Lodge’s Roman Theater owners have started public talks about the building’s next chapter, with the historic 1917 movie house described as Montana’s oldest running theater. Music Scene: Whitefish native Tim Torgerson was selected as a finalist in the nationwide Whitefish Songwriter Festival contest after a last-minute submission. Sports on TV: A full guide to what’s airing Sept. 18–19 includes college football, soccer, and more for fans planning their weekend.

Local Sports & Community: The 40th annual Montana Senior Olympics kicked off in Missoula at Fort Missoula Regional Park, with pickleball drawing big energy and plenty of social time for competitors ages 50+ through Saturday. Arts & Entertainment: The Lone Peak Film Festival returns for a second year in Big Sky, spotlighting 21 short and feature films with categories including Montana, Indigenous, conservation, and human resilience stories. Montana Music & Culture: The Livingston Songwriter Festival is back Oct. 1–3 with headliners Matraca Berg, Radney Foster, Will Kimbrough, Gretchen Peters, Jim Photoglo, and Kim Richey, plus daytime troubadour shows across downtown. TV/Streaming Buzz: “Marshals” confirmed Yellowstone fan-favorite Jefferson White (Jimmy) will join Season 2, with the spinoff set to begin Oct. 4 on CBS. Public Safety & Preparedness: Char-Koosta News reports on wildfire prep education in the Big Draw/Elmo area, emphasizing planning over panic to save lives.

Sports & Community Spotlight: The MonDak Football Show returns for Week 3, previewing FCS over FBS matchups across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. Local Sports Update: MSU-Northern starts 0-3 after a tough road loss to Dickinson State, with coach Jerome Souers pointing to defensive growth and offensive “explosive capacity.” Entertainment & Pop Culture: Netflix’s Taylor Sheridan action thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead is surging again on the streamer, ranking No. 5 worldwide for the week of Sept. 7–13. Music & Arts: Butte gets a dose of contemporary folk with Jeffrey Foucault at The Covellite on Sept. 20. Film/TV Buzz: GTA 6 soundtrack details keep rolling in, with confirmed songs and artists from the trailers and beyond. Montana Events: Wolf Point’s Sept. 26 fall social “Rock’n The Quonset” brings live music, bonfires, cornhole, food trucks, and a free-entry community night. Aviation & Travel: Cape Air will transition eastern Montana routes to the Cessna Grand Caravan EX in 2027, boosting baggage and cargo capacity. Sports/School Life: Miles City Mavericks American Legion coach Josh Samuelson steps down after three seasons, shifting focus to Bible school and ministry work.

Yellowstone to Marshals: CBS confirmed Jefferson White will reprise fan-favorite Jimmy Hurdstrom in a recurring role for Marshals Season 2, with the spinoff set to premiere Oct. 4—bringing more Yellowstone energy back to Montana TV. Local Privacy Fight: A Montana lawmaker is pushing to strengthen privacy rules around license plate recognition cameras after Kalispell residents reacted to a new installation with outrage and concerns about surveillance. Music & Community: Great Falls Symphony welcomes new music director Robert Kahn and a collaboration-heavy season, while UM’s Grizzly Esports team raised $15,000 to build a Hawthorne Elementary playground. Drag on Campus: Emerson College hosted a bigger-than-ever student drag night during orientation, spotlighting queer performance and community. Baseball Leadership Change: Miles City Mavericks American Legion coach Josh Samuelson stepped down after three seasons, citing ministry and school focus. Festival Fun: Arnold Days returns with free, family-friendly events in Arnold City Park, including music, fireworks, and the parade.

Live Music & Classical: Baroque Music Montana returns to Malta at the MHS auditorium (Sept. 28) with violinist Carrie Krause and composer John Lotti, bringing period-instrument performances of 1600–1750 works. Local Culture & Community: Miles City Public Library adds free Great American Pure Flix streaming with a library card and is collecting Halloween costume donations for a Sept. 29 swap. Montana Politics & Democracy: A ballot initiative would be the first in the nation to bar corporations and unions from spending “dark money” on elections, with Montana voters deciding this November. Outdoor & Public Lands: The National Forest Foundation marks National Public Lands Day (Sept. 26) with events like cleanups and trail stewardship nationwide. Food & Health: A multistate salmonella investigation links illnesses to recalled broccoli sprouts from Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC. Montana Rural Schools: Salmon Prairie School in the Seeley-Swan Valley is closing for good after entering non-operational status, ending more than 100 years of K-8 classes. Sports Betting: Montana sports betting fell 27% year-over-year in August to $3.3 million.

Opera Milestone: Opera Montana is staging the world premiere of A River Runs Through It in Bozeman, bringing Norman Maclean’s classic (and fly-fishing culture) to the opera stage for the first time, with music by Zach Redler and a libretto by Kelley Rourke and Matt Foss. Western Arts & Community: John and Joanne Lowell bring “An Evening of Western Americana” to Cisel Hall at MSU Billings on Sept. 25, with tickets available at the door and proceeds supporting local music programming. Local Music Spotlight: Ucross Foundation’s Sept. 24 gala will feature 10 contemporary Western artists, plus a live painting finish and silent auction items tied to Ucross fellows and trustees. Montana Heritage: The Montana Heritage Center in Helena includes a dedicated smudging room designed for Indigenous ceremony, built with ventilation to handle smoke safely. Sports Notes: Montana State Billings women’s soccer defender Ava Gibbs earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.