Grizzlies & Safety: A 15-year-old near Frenchtown was charged after shooting and killing a grizzly that broke into his family’s chicken coop, with the teen saying it was self-defense. Forest Stewardship: Montana expanded a Shared Stewardship forest management deal, adding the Lolo National Forest and bringing nearly one million acres into shared stewardship aimed at improving forest health and wildfire resilience. Wildlife Habitat Rules: A major dispute is growing over federal “secure habitat” standards for grizzlies, with critics saying the Forest Service and Fish & Wildlife have effectively shrunk the definition to as little as one acre. Public Lands Access: A draft order would reopen millions of acres of national forest land to off-road vehicles, a move that could affect about 5 million acres in Idaho and Montana. Climate Court Fight: A federal appeals court refused to revive a youth climate lawsuit challenging Trump energy executive orders. Energy Policy: Trump’s nearly $700 million coal plan leaves Montana out, but coal leaders still see opportunity in the broader federal push. Local Governance: Dawson County voters approved limits on industrial wind and solar, including a 250-foot height cap and setbacks from water resources. PFAS Accountability: Wisconsin’s Tyco PFAS settlement requires a $10M trust fund and long-term clean drinking water obligations for affected residents. Wildfire Preparedness: Western Montana is urging residents to prepare for wildfire smoke during an early Wildfire Smoke Ready Week event.