Families celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with a cookout will find that prices at the grocery store closely reflect inflation increases over the last year. An Independence Day cookout will cost $73.82 for 10 guests this year, according to the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation annual marketbasket survey. This is up $2.90 from last year, which is a 4 percent increase. The overall annual

When recreating on Montana’s lakes and reservoirs this summer, be on the lookout for cyanobacteria, more commonly known as “harmful algal blooms” or “HABs.” HABs can release toxins into the water that may cause skin irritation, make people sick, and can be fatal to pets or livestock if ingested. Report suspected HABs atHAB. mt.gov to help alert others and prevent illness. HAB characteristics:

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing updates to fees for FWP-managed lands and waters, including state parks, fishing access sites, wildlife management areas and fisheries conservation areas, and is asking the public to weigh in on the changes. The proposal would apply to both public and commercial use. FWP is proposing the updates because the current fee rules are outdated, recreation