Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How are Billings schools boosting scores while battling poverty gaps?
Make time for Kenny Wayne Shepherd on the Billings Patch calendar
Hello Billings! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How are Billings schools boosting scores while battling poverty gaps?
- How a Billings Central star nearly quit football before thriving
- Could Billings' license plate cameras soon face tougher privacy rules?
Also on today's calendar: Travels To Northern Ireland & London and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: When geese fly, one side is longer than the other. do you know why that is ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Thursday: Pleasant with clouds and sun, with a high of 78 and low of 57 degrees.
- Friday: A t-storm in the afternoon, temps: high: 82, low: 56.
- Saturday: Cooler with a few showers, with a high of 64 and low of 52 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Billings Public Schools reports rising test scores, but achievement gaps persist (ktvq.com) — Billings Public Schools is reporting strong gains in K-8 reading and math, with kindergarten proficiency jumping and new interventions helping struggling students, especially on the South Side. District leaders still see deep achievement gaps tied to poverty, high mobility, and absenteeism, but are expanding attendance programs, career certifications, and AP success so more Billings students leave school ready for work or college. 
2. Q2 AOW: Dinosaurs, football lure Billings Central's Logan Strecker to Montana State (ktvq.com) — Billings Central lineman Logan Strecker is headed to Montana State in Bozeman, where he'll combine his love of dinosaurs with college football next door to the Museum of the Rockies. The standout two-way player nearly quit the sport in sixth grade, but now anchors the top-ranked Rams, who take their 3-0 record on the road against rival Laurel Friday night.
3. Montana lawmaker looks to strengthen privacy laws surrounding license plate recognition, camera use • Daily Montanan (dailymontanan.com) — Billings is one of the Montana cities already using license plate readers for parking enforcement, and those cameras could soon face tighter rules. A Billings Republican senator plans new bills to require public hearings, limit data retention, and regulate how both governments and private companies share license plate data, potentially changing how surveillance technology is used in town.
4. ExxonMobil sues Department of Transportation over cleanup (bozemandailychronicle.com) — An ExxonMobil lawsuit claims Montana's Department of Transportation should help pay for long-running cleanup at a contaminated former refinery site in east Billings near MetraPark, Coulson Park, and the Yellowstone River. Exxon says it has spent over $10 million addressing petroleum pollution while MDT operations and missed deadlines worsened conditions, and now wants Yellowstone County District Court to force the state agency to share costs and responsibilities.
5. September 16, 2026. Edition #200. HAPPY HOLIDAYS (aar.org) — Billings firefighters and Montana Regional Hazmat Teams are highlighted for using specialized rail tank car training that strengthens statewide hazardous materials preparedness and coordination. While the newsletter mainly covers national freight rail technology and safety initiatives, it spotlights how this Pueblo, Colorado training directly benefits emergency response capabilities for Billings and other Montana communities.
📸 Around Billings
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Billings
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd →
Alberta Bair Theater, 2801 3rd Ave N, Billings
7:00 pm
Friday September 18
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- The Band Perry →
The Pub Station Ballroom, 2502 First Avenue North, Billings
8:00 pm - Projectile Comedy at The Monte →
The Monte Bar & Casino, 2824 1st Ave N, Billings
8:00 pm - Jenna Greenwell: Album Release Show →
Billings MT - Table 4 Tonight: Billings | Dinner with Strangers →
Restaurant of the Week, Billings, Billings - RED Friday Coffee Call →
Great American Bagel, 327 S 24th St W, Billings
6:00 am - Travels To Northern Ireland & London →
Billings Community Center, 360 N 23rd St, Billings
11:00 am - Game On! →
Billings Public Library, 510 N Broadway, Billings
3:00 pm - FUNDRAISER EVENT for Yellowstone County Museum →
Yellowstone County Museum, 1950 Airport Terminal Circle, Billings
5:30 pm - A Conversation with Authors Russell Rowland and Allen Morris Jones →
Billings Public Library, 510 North Broadway, Billings
6:00 pm - FunkyFenix5 / Zack Goggins / Minimal Sanity →
2920 Minnesota Ave., Billings
8:00 pm - Caching Cousins →
Mayflower Congregational Church, 2940 Poly Dr, Billings
7:00 pm
Thursday September 17
Friday September 18
Monday September 21
📣 Billings Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Looking for experienced/professional movers to help load a 26-foot U-Haul for an upcoming move to the East Coast.
We have approximately 3–4 bedrooms worth of furniture and household belongings, including several large/heavy items: Gun safe Smoker Multiple couches… (Nextdoor Rimrock-Laredo) - Did anyone end up with an extra garbage bin around 54th and Grand, around the Stone Street?
Ours is MIA since the wind storm yesterday. Thank you very much! (Nextdoor Cottonwood Grove)
- Republic Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Container Shop Welder in Billings. Apply here.
- Albertsons Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Cake Decorator in Billings. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Billings here.
Ok Billings! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: because there are more geese on that side (Thank you jo L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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