Billings Daily Digest Saturday, June 06, 2026
Ty's Take
TJ Comstock built seven hardware stores across Montana, but he's closing the Billings location where it all started—and that's worth thinking about. You can read it as a business story, sure, another Main Street shift as retail changes shape. But it's really about a man who bet everything on this city when things were different, who knew his customers by name, who watched Billings grow up around him. The Western Heritage Center down the street has been teaching people this town's actual history for years now; turns out the real history keeps walking out the door. Meanwhile Yellowstone County's going after kratom shops, kids are graduating from PAL with stories about resilience, and somewhere in all that—the slow churn of who stays and who leaves, what works and what doesn't—is the current version of what it means to build something here. That matters more than we usually admit.
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Billings Gazette
Billings neighbors: Obituaries for June 6
The Billings Gazette published obituaries for community members who passed away on June 6.
Learn Billings history walking at the Western Heritage Center
The Western Heritage Center offers walking tours that explore Billings' rich regional history and heritage.
Helena High celebrates Japanese sister school with visit from Kumamoto principal
Helena High School welcomed a visiting principal from its sister school in Kumamoto, Japan, strengthening the international educational partnership between the two institutions.
He owns 7 hardware stores across Montana, now TJ Comstock says goodbye to city where it started
TJ Comstock, who built a seven-store hardware chain across Montana, is stepping back from the business in the Billings area where his retail success began.
Yellowstone County sues 4 businesses in Billings and Laurel over kratom sales
Yellowstone County filed lawsuits against four businesses in Billings and Laurel over the sale of kratom, a botanical product subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny.
'Carry this community': PAL graduates tout resilience as they collect diplomas
Graduates of the PAL program received their diplomas while reflecting on the determination and community support that helped them overcome personal challenges.
Photos: PAL graduates collect diplomas in Helena touting resilience
A photo gallery captures PAL program graduates in Helena celebrating their achievement and emphasizing the resilience they demonstrated throughout their academic journey.
Grace Metcalf earns NAIA women’s golf third-team All-America honor
Grace Metcalf earned NAIA third-team All-America honors in women's golf, recognizing her outstanding athletic performance at the collegiate level.
Five Yellowjackets earn CSC Academic All-District honors
Five Yellowjackets athletes received CSC Academic All-District recognition for their success balancing athletics and academics.
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