Subscribe | Get featured

Hi Butte, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: Planet Fitness operator moving HQ, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and data center debate + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Montana drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

Economic optimism takes root: Leon Franchise Group, a major Planet Fitness operator, will relocate its national headquarters to Butte, a confidence boost for a community working to strengthen its economy and add good jobs — read the full story.

Scenic stops with deep roots: From Anaconda’s Copper Kings heritage to Whitefish slopes and Polson’s Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, a new feature highlights 10 Montana small towns bursting with museums, Indigenous history, and wildlife moments — discover the full list.

Community weighs energy cost impacts: Butte residents questioned a proposed Sabey data center near Montana Connections, citing potential utility rate hikes. After last month’s open house, more sessions scheduled for March 25 and April 15 — get meeting dates and details.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*

Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*

All the crowd favorites:

• Catch Bram Stoker’s Dracula for free
• Dance night featuring Platinum Street Jazz
• Learn Medicare basics over lunch

💎 This week’s top finds

Your backyard escape: Thompson Park offers 25 miles of non-motorized trails, old Milwaukee Road tunnels, a sky-high trestle, and picnic spots like Sagebrush Flats and Lions Den… the perfect Butte reset. Grab a friend, pick a trail, and turn a quick nine-mile-from-town wander into your week’s highlight.

Local toy treasure: Whether you’re hunting a last-minute birthday surprise or bribing the chaos goblins with something new, Giddy Up Mercantile delivers a big kids’ section…actual toys…plus Montana-made gifts, clothes, and pet goodies. Friendly vibe, smart selection, and zero overwhelm make it a low-stress, high-score stop.

Fresh project energy: Highland Creative Supply stocks yarns, paints, papers, and those oddly specific tools you swore you didn’t need…until you did. They curate quality materials, host approachable classes and free clubs, and make making in Uptown Butte feel easier, and more fun, for beginners and seasoned makers alike.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements — they’re the local spots your fellow readers clicked on most this week.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →

Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →

Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

☘ 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade @ Kbmf-Lp 102.5 FM | Tuesday (3/17) at 12:00 PM – Stake your spot Uptown for Butte’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, winding from Arizona and Granite down Montana to Park. After the pipes and confetti, graze the food vendors on Main, then toast at 51 Below’s full bar by Terminal Meats, because parade legs get thirsty.

☘ St. Patrick’s Day Hurling March @ Montana Technological University | Tuesday (3/17) at 2:00 PM – St. Patrick’s Day in Butte means one thing, we trade corned beef for helmets and watch the Wolfe Tones scrap with Missoula’s Thomas Meagher crew at Montana Tech. It’s fast, loud, gloriously Irish, and free, which pairs nicely with your thrift, and your green.

🍀 Lucky Little Miners: A Shamrock Hunt @ World Museum of Mining | Friday (3/20) at 3:00 PM – At the Mining Museum, pint-sized prospectors tackle a St. Patrick’s shamrock hunt, you call it cardio, and everyone leaves happy. You supervise while kids 10 and under scour for shamrocks, trade them for prizes, and one lucky gold clover nets a grand prize.

🔨 Butte Central Catholic Schools 2026 Auction @ Maroon Activities Center | Friday (3/20) at 5:00 PM – Clear a night for the Butte Central Catholic Schools annual auction, where you bid on gift baskets, trips, and the good feeling of keeping our kids thriving. Expect friendly elbowing, alumni gossip, and desserts that mysteriously fetch more than a used Subaru. Worth it.

👕 Cozy Community Clothing Swap @ Covellite Theatre | Friday (3/20) at 6:00 PM – Whether your closet’s due for spring cleaning or you realized Butte, America doesn’t need another plaid, this free swap at the Covellite lets you trade clean, quality pieces, all sizes and styles. Expect everyday wear, costumes, and gear, plus gender-affirming finds, no fast-fashion guilt.

🩺 Type 1 Diabetes Family Retreat 2026 @ Copper King Hotel & Convention Center | Saturday (3/21) at 8:00 AM – Got T1D in the family? Our third annual retreat brings together adults, kids, and the seasoned carb counters for real talk, practical sessions, and meet-your-village moments, with coffee, resources, and people who actually get your alarms. Newly diagnosed or veteran, register and exhale.

🦆 Ducks Unlimited Annual Banquet @ Anaconda Elks Lodge #239 | Saturday (3/21) at 5:00 PM – Ducks Unlimited is taking over the Elks Lodge in Anaconda for its annual banquet, with BBQ dinner, a live auction, and raffles that somehow always find your wallet. Come swap hunting stories, support wetlands, and pretend this counts as date night. Camo optional, checkbook encouraged.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Butte report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 33°F – Low: 25°F – Precip: 7%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Later: A chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

—

Tomorrow – High: 50°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 44%

A chance of snow before noon, then a chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 50. West southwest wind 3 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Most popular house this week

This 3-bed, 3-bath stunner in Butte’s prestigious Country Club neighborhood sits on a 14,810 sq ft lot and offers 3,362 sq ft of updated style. Vaulted ceilings, gleaming hardwoods, and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace elevate the main level. A quartz-clad kitchen, a 400 sq ft Trex deck, plus a lower-level wet bar, wine cellar, and bonus room maximize entertaining.

Take a peek inside →