Mental Health & Loneliness: Mood.com’s analysis of CDC PLACES data ranks Big Horn County among Montana’s loneliest, with 37.8% of adults reporting they feel lonely, while Montana counties land from 44th to 132nd nationally. Healthcare & Access: Montana State University is welcoming its 11th class of Hilleman Scholars, adding 64 in-state students to a program named for vaccine pioneer Maurice Hilleman. AI & Education: MSU will host a free, public fireside conversation on AI with former Sen. Max Baucus and AI author Alvin Wang Graylin on Sept. 11. Climate: A new NOAA/NCEI report says the U.S. just logged its warmest August, warmest summer, and warmest year-to-date on record—hitting the West, including Montana, especially hard. Energy & Utilities: A Montana committee advanced a draft bill meant to stop residential customers from paying for data center infrastructure if utilities build and the centers back out. Public Safety & Privacy: A 404 Media investigation alleges DHS Border Patrol units use Americans’ financial data to generate leads for traffic stops, including in Montana. Wildlife & Policy: Western states are expanding Medicaid reimbursement for doulas; Montana may follow later this year. Research in Yellowstone: A student team sampled Yellowstone geyser waters to study geochemical causes of a 2024 Biscuit Basin eruption. Forestry Grants: DNRC launched an urban and community forestry initiative grant aiming to plant 100,000 trees, with up to $300,000 per project.