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Good morning, Billings! In today’s edition: First baby of 2026, a pints & puzzles race, Tom Catmull, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
A joyful family moment: Billings’ first baby of 2026 was born early, four weeks ahead of schedule, as Mariah LaForge and Caleb Mason welcomed a son with a name connected to his older brother — read the full story.
Resolutions boost gym turnout: Billings residents are kicking off 2026 with fitness goals, as Planet Fitness and the downtown YMCA report surging visits and enrollments last week, with more participation expected this month — read the full story.
Spotlight on impactful teaching: Carla Ljunggren, a Will James Middle School history teacher, has been recognized by the One Class at a Time program for her dedication to students, receiving classroom support — see who made this possible.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Give your tree new life: Real Christmas tree recycling is happening now through January 19 with Bright n’ Beautiful and partners. Billings drop sites include Poly Vista Park, Zoo Montana, Radius Recycling, Hanser’s, the landfill, and Heights Clevenger Park, with additional spots in Laurel, Lockwood, Shepherd, and Huntley. Trees must be free of decorations. See drop-off sites and dates.
Indoor play, solved: When cabin fever hits, Lava Island Billings delivers a five-level jungle gym, trampolines, a toddler beach, and a pirate ship. Kids burn energy; you breathe, maybe sip something. Ideal for quick play or easy birthday wins.
Indoor court upgrade: Make pickleball weatherproof at Big Sky Pickleball & Tennis Club, with eight cushioned indoor courts, coaching, leagues, and a full pro shop with stringing. Keep rallies rolling, sharpen your game, and play with your regular crew.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🎈 Kids Day! @ Pizza Ranch | Tuesday (1/6) at 11:00 AM – Round up the kids 12 and under to eat free, one per paying adult, while you enjoy a bite you won’t have to share. Mac and cheese, chicken fingers, pepperoni pizza, and ice cream await. You handle the napkins, they handle the joy.
🧩 Pints & Puzzles Race @ Meadowlark Brewing | Tuesday (1/6) at 6:00 PM – Finally, a race where sitting counts as cardio, and beer is a performance enhancer. Teams of 2 to 4 tackle a random 500-piece puzzle in 60 minutes, with drink tokens for champs and monthly points toward a May grand prize. Nine teams only, reserve.
📖 One Book Billings – Roger Book Discussion Group @ Billings Public Library | Tuesday (1/6) at 6:30 PM – Think you know your Montana lit? Join Roger and the One Book Billings crew to chew over Ivan Doig’s The Eleventh Man, a wartime tale with grit, wit, and Big Sky backbone. Bring opinions and a dog-eared copy you actually finished.
🌩 Billings Thunder @ Pizza Ranch FunZone Arcade | Thursday (1/8) at 5:00 PM – Skip the kitchen and let the Billings Thunder crew bus your table for tips, all to cover travel miles and sharp uniforms. You eat, they hustle, everyone wins, and you get that warm, small-town glow of supporting local kids without buying another raffle ticket.
🐑 Sip & Knit Chunky Blanket Workshop @ MacKenzie River Pizza Co. | Thursday (1/8) at 6:00 PM – Trade scrolling for stitching and make yourself a chunky chenille blanket at a Sip & Knit in the MacKenzie River party room. No experience needed, just a drink, some patience, and $74+. Materials and guidance included, friends welcome, cozy bragging rights guaranteed. Seats are limited.
🌲 Eastern Wildlands Chapter Meeting @ Billings Community Foundation | Thursday (1/8) at 6:00 PM – Second Thursday means the Eastern Wildlands crew gathers at the Billings Community Foundation to talk trails, habitat, and the stuff that actually keeps Montana wild. Join in person or hop on Zoom. No tents required, just opinions, curiosity, and maybe a reusable mug.
🎤 Tom Catmull @ Craft Local | Friday (1/9) at 7:30 PM – Craft Local on Montana Ave hosts Tom Catmull with Lee Calvin, which means sharp lyrics, warm picking, and stories that make you smirk into your pint. Intimate, local, and twelve bucks, so bring your listening ears, not your shouting voice.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Billings report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 52°F – Low: 29°F – Precip: 23%
A slight chance of rain showers after 11am. Partly sunny. High near 52, with temperatures falling to around 45 in the afternoon. West southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 2am, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 2am and 5am. Mostly cloudy. Low around 29, with temperatures rising to around 32 overnight. West southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
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Tomorrow – High: 50°F – Low: 34°F – Precip: 3%
Partly sunny. High near 50, with temperatures falling to around 46 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 9 to 15 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy. Low around 34, with temperatures rising to around 36 overnight. West southwest wind around 10 mph.
This house is wild
New construction in the Nines on Billings’ west end, this modern home pairs clean lines with warm details. A trayed great room flows to a kitchen with quartz counters, an island, a pantry, a drawer microwave, and a tile backsplash. Custom timber beams mark the entry, and expansive windows pull in light and neighborhood views. The primary suite adds a walk-in tile shower and dual walk-in closets. Comfort comes easy with gas forced air, tankless hot water, and a covered patio.
The Nines delivers walking paths, pickleball and basketball courts, a fitness center, pool, parks, and generous green space. HOA includes full access for an active, low maintenance lifestyle.
Take a peek inside →
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