Red Lodge Daily Digest Friday, July 17, 2026
Ty's Take
Some weeks the news runs the gamut from the high to the low, and this is one of them—Shakespeare under the stars and kids learning to ride at Bridger right alongside a guilty plea on firearms charges and the Montana Public Service Commission getting serious about Northwestern Energy's plans. That's Red Lodge in a nutshell: community traditions that draw families and visitors, young people getting their shot at ranch work and rodeo, and underneath it all, the harder conversations about who gets to keep what kind of power, who controls what we pump out of the ground, and what it means when a neighbor crosses a line. The season's coming on full now, and when it does, we're all pulling in the same direction—but first we have to settle what honest looks like.
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Carbon County News
Shakespeare in the Park Draws a Crowd!
A Shakespeare production brought theater to the outdoors in Carbon County, drawing a strong turnout from the community. The performance marked a successful effort to make classic literature accessible to local audiences.
Bridger Rodeo Gives Young Buckaroos a Ride!
Young riders in the area got their chance to experience rodeo life at the Bridger Rodeo event. The competition gave aspiring buckaroos valuable hands-on experience with traditional ranch activities.
MPSC ANNOUNCES PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS ON NORTHWESTERN ENERGY’S 2026 RESOURCE PLAN
The Montana Public Service Commission is hosting public listening sessions to gather input on Northwestern Energy's 2026 resource plan. Residents can attend to voice concerns and ask questions about the utility company's future energy strategy.
Red Lodge man pleads guilty to keeping unlawful stash of guns
A Red Lodge resident pleaded guilty to illegally possessing multiple firearms in violation of federal law. The case concludes a local investigation into unlawful weapons storage.
The police log documents recent incident reports and calls handled by local law enforcement in the Carbon County area. Residents can review the public record of police activities and dispatch responses.
An Update on Montana's Water Infrastructure Data Project
Montana is making progress on a data project to catalog and assess the state's water infrastructure systems. The initiative aims to strengthen planning and maintenance of critical water resources across rural communities.
Holdbrook Elected to Membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
A local resident, Holdbrook, has been inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, a prestigious national honor society for academic achievement. The recognition acknowledges their outstanding scholarly contributions and performance.
Amid criticism, Meta reins in new AI tool that automatically accessed public Instagram images
Meta has scaled back an AI tool that was automatically collecting images from public Instagram accounts following user pushback. The social media company adjusted its approach in response to privacy and consent concerns.
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