Wildfire & public health: As wildfire smoke lingers across Montana, a Flathead Valley clinic reports COPD and asthma flare-ups while air quality hit “very unhealthy” levels, underscoring how fast smoke can turn into a health crisis. Fire restrictions: Montana FWP has issued Stage 1 fire restrictions for Lake County and other counties, with Stage 2 restrictions also moving onto some FWP lands in Granite and Mineral counties—campfires and smoking rules tighten as conditions stay dry. Climate impacts on land & wildlife: Missoula’s new heat map shows hidden temperature hotspots, helping communities target cooling and tree/green-space planning as summers warm and nights stay hotter. Water quality & pollution: Missoula is partnering with UM’s pesticide monitoring program to track emerging contaminants in Pattee Creek, aiming to understand runoff impacts and improve stormwater quality. Legal fights over development: A Butte-Silver Bow data center ballot fight is headed to court after a restraining order keeps the status quo while petitioners challenge a signature deadline. Energy & climate policy in court: A federal appeals court again rejected a youth climate challenge to Trump fossil-fuel and climate policies, leaving the U.S. Supreme Court as the last path. Wildlife recreation management: Yellowstone lifted most hoot-owl fishing limits as water temps improve, but some geothermal-influenced rivers remain closed or restricted. Outdoor safety: FWP also rolled out a wildlife-vehicle collision planning tool to guide where habitat crossings and road fixes could reduce crashes.