Friday, April 4th, 2025

Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Good Day Billings.
Good morning, Billings. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 4th of April.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Family Promise Diaper Bank reopened Monday after a winter closure to stock and clean, providing diapers to over 40 local families. It will offer mobile service every Monday from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 10 South Street. KTVQ
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Billings high school students competed in The Hive at MSU Billings by pitching business ideas and getting feedback from local business leaders. Daniel Light won first place—he also got the People’s Choice and Enlightenment Award, and organizers plan to expand the event to more cities later. KULR8
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ A Billings man (Jacob Troxel) was sentenced Thursday to 60 years in prison with an added 10-year weapons enhancement for murdering Michael Duran during a road rage shooting on Aug. 20 near the downtown intersection of Fourth Avenue North and North 32nd Street after he had claimed self-defense at trial. KTVQ
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Billings will host two Indigenous art markets this spring at Billings First Congregational Church (310 N 27th Street) on April 19 and May 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Lili Munn plans to start a monthly market series that will support local Indigenous artists with over 35 vendors offering their work. KULR8
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Seven teachers in Billings School District were honored with the Golden Apple Award during surprise assemblies on Thursday to mark the awards’ 40th anniversary—Jodi Ervin from Boulder Elementary and Stacey Lemelin, who will retire at the end of this school year after over three decades in education—recognizing their long service and dedication. KTVQ
ENERGY NEWS
- ➤ TODAY'S SPONSOR Sick of pushy solar sales calls? EnergySage lets you easily compare custom solar quotes from pre-screened installers around Montana online—saving homeowners an average of 20% without the hassle or pressure. Get your free quotes today! EnergySage
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Good Day Billings.
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary will team up with ZooMontana for an Earth Day celebration on April 19. The event will feature interactive exhibits, wildlife encounters and expert talks from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.—admission is $8 per person. KULR8
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Montana lawmakers are racing to finalize property and income tax relief bills before the Saturday deadline (bills affecting state revenue must pass one chamber by then). The Senate voted down key proposals from Gov. Gianforte while approving others like SB 203 and SB 546, and the House has advanced bills HB 528 and HB 337 for further tax relief discussions. KTVQ
- ➤ Gov. Greg Gianforte proposed allocating $400 million for public safety in Billings—this includes $150 million to boost Montana State Prison capacity and $250 million for a long-term safety plan. The FBI will deploy 60 personnel over six months under Operation Forgotten to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons while Billings Public Schools hold 406 Jersey Day fundraiser today. KTVQ
-
Zechariah Peabody Album Release: WILSALL
7 p.m. — The Pub Station — $15 — Experience the soulful sounds of Zechariah Peabody as he releases his new album, capturing the essence of Montana life.
-
Billings RV & Boat Show and Sale
10 AM – 8 PM — MetraPark - First Interstate Arena — Exclusive savings on RVs and boats — A must-visit for enthusiasts looking for the best deals in Montana.
-
Grants for Schools Conference
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. — DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Billings — $350 per person or group discounts available — Discover valuable insights into grant writing and funding opportunities for schools.
-
Club 90s - Charli XCX Night
9:00-10:30 p.m. — The Pub Station — Check for ticket prices — Celebrate the pop sounds of Charli XCX in a vibrant 90s-themed night.
-
Yellowstone Cellars and Winery Event
7:30-10 p.m. — Yellowstone Cellars & Winery — Cost info not provided — Enjoy a delightful evening at one of Billings' top-rated wineries.
-
PBR Billings
12:45-4:45 p.m. — MetraPark - First Interstate Arena — Ticket prices vary — Experience the thrill of professional bull riding in one of America's fastest-growing sports.
-
Billings School District #2 Candidate Forum/Meet and Greet
Please join Forward Montana and League of Women Voters for a candidate forum/meet and greet on Wednesday, April 16th at 6:00pm at the Art House Cinema and Pub in Downtown Billings. We’ve invited all candidates in the two competitive districts #5 and #7 and look forward to a night of hearing from them about their plan for the school board + hearing from YOU so you can learn more and make an informed vote!
-
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
7:00 – 8:30 PM — Babcock Theatre — $25 — Experience breathtaking mountain adventures through a collection of inspiring films while supporting local conservation efforts.
-
Clay Pot Painting Workshop
10 AM – 12 PM — Roots Garden Center — Free entry — Unleash your creativity with a fun day of painting your own clay pot planter.
-
Cooper Alan Live in Concert
8:00 – 9:30 PM — The Pub Station — VIP tickets available — Experience the dynamic sounds of rising country star Cooper Alan with a mix of heartfelt and playful anthems.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.

A Better Way to Shop for Solar
Tired of being bombarded with pushy solar ads and sales calls? EnergySage offers a smarter, stress-free way to go solar. Compare multiple quotes from top-rated, pre-screened installers—all in one place, and all without the pressure.
Here’s how it works:
- Easy comparison: Find and compare quotes from trusted installers in a transparent, user-friendly platform at your own pace.
- No pressure, just savings: Homeowners using EnergySage save an average of 20% on solar installation.
- Unbiased guidance: Our Energy Advisors are here to offer free, expert advice whenever you need it. Ready to get started? Start by entering your zip code, then answer a few questions about your electricity usage, roof condition, and timeline, and confirm the property to get your quote.
Get your free, custom solar quotes on EnergySage today!
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Good Day Billings.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The first rule of any kind of progress: showing up.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Good Day Billings
Good Day Billings is a community newsletter sharing current events in Billings, Montana. Our mission is to make local news more accessible, highlight extraordinary people across the Billings community, and support local organizations. If you like Good Day Billings, you can support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Billings.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Billings and across Montana. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to make local news more accessible and highlight extraordinary people across the Billings community.
We help people in Billings save time finding the news that matters most to them: local news in Billings, about Billings, curated especially for you on a daily basis—all for free.
Subscribe to Good Day Billings
A free Billings community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most critical news for the community every day.
- No spam
- Daily emails, only news! We never sell your data.
© Good Day Billings. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://gooddaybillings.com/sitemap