Billings Daily Digest Wednesday, May 06, 2026
Ty's Take
School levies don't fail in a vacuum, and voters in Billings just sent a message that's hard to miss—they're tired, stretched thin, or both. Two mill levies went down on the same ballot where board incumbents sailed through, which tells you something about the disconnect between who we trust to run the schools and whether we trust ourselves to pay for them right now. It's a familiar knot: everyone wants good education for the kids, nobody wants another bill on top of the property tax they're already carrying. Before the district reads this as a simple "no," they might ask what would've been a "yes," and whether the timing of asking matters as much as the asking itself.
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Billings Gazette
Billings neighbors: Obituaries for May 6
This article compiles obituaries for residents who passed away in the Billings area during early May. The notices honor the lives and contributions of community members.
Preliminary results show school mill levies in Helena, East Helena poised to fail
School mill levy proposals in Helena and East Helena appear headed for defeat based on preliminary election results. The failed levies would have provided additional funding for local school districts.
UPDATED: Billings voters shoot down two school levies
Billings voters rejected two school levies in Tuesday's election, marking a setback for district funding efforts. The results came after weeks of campaigning by school officials and community supporters.
Both incumbents lead in Billings school board trustee races
Two sitting members of the Billings Public Schools Board of Trustees held leads in early vote counts from the recent trustee election. The school board also voted to pursue purchasing the Rocky Mountain Bank building for $4.5 million.
May 5 recap: Billings news you may have missed today
This roundup highlights key news stories from Billings that occurred on May 5. The digest covers a mix of local government, education, and community developments from the day.
Nearly 300 students to graduate from Carroll College during Saturday's commencement
Carroll College will hold its spring commencement ceremony this Saturday with approximately 300 graduates participating. The event marks the completion of studies for students from the Helena-area college.
Man gets 30 years for drunken motorcycle crash on Airport Road that killed Billings woman
A man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for a drunk driving motorcycle crash on Airport Road that claimed the life of a Billings woman. The conviction follows a crash investigation that drew significant community attention.
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