Medicaid & health costs: Montana began enforcing federally required Medicaid “community engagement” work rules on July 1, with a grace period through September and no coverage loss for noncompliance until October—raising alarms about paperwork hurdles and gaps that could delay care for rural patients. Public safety & fraud: The Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation added three agents to target motor-vehicle theft and fraud, including fraudulent retitling and dealership financing scams. Local governance & data centers: Missoula County approved a temporary moratorium on new or expanding data centers for up to a year while it updates rules to address public health and environmental concerns. Infrastructure funding: Big Sky’s bid for a federal BUILD grant to redesign the U.S. 191/Montana 64 intersection was rejected again, leaving the congested corridor without the $25 million it sought. Education & behavioral health: The Montana Professional Learning Collaborative received a $50,000 Blue Impact Grant to expand behavioral health supports for rural, frontier, and tribal schools, targeting early intervention. Legal accountability: A judge ordered Montana to pay $1.3 million in attorneys’ fees in a gender-affirming care case, saying the state’s SB 99 was unconstitutional. Agribusiness & right to repair: The FTC settlement with John Deere requires equal access to repair tools and software for farmers and independent repair providers, aiming to cut repair costs and delays. Campaign finance: Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices found violations by several “dark money” groups and ordered reclassification and referrals for further enforcement. Energy & trade diplomacy: Sen. Steve Daines met Turkmenistan’s top leaders during a visit focused on energy, transport corridors, and business ties.