🌱 Billings Clinic Merger + Tolkien Film Festival On Apr. 22

Good morning. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Billings Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Cold with sun and clouds. High: 43 Low: 27.
• Thursday: Partly sunny. High: 53 Low: 33.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Billings who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories in Billings today:

1. Despite budget cuts, Montana's largest hospital, Billings Clinic, plans to continue with two major initiatives: a merger with Logan Health and a Level 1 trauma center designation. However, in a memo, interim CEO Clint Seger revealed that the hospital is losing money in an unsustainable way and needs to cut $4.55 million a month. This financial challenge is being faced by hospitals nationwide, with many cutting jobs due to a combination of factors including labor shortages and demand for non-emergency care. (Q2 News)
2. Billings Public Library is hosting A Tolkien Mini Film Festival II: Part the Second on Apr. 22, presented by The Council of Westmarch, featuring a number of Tolkien-related fan films, shorts, and rarities. There will be raffles for Tolkien-related items throughout the day, and the event is free to the public, with films that are unrated but equivalent to a PG-13 rating. The festival starts with screenings at 10:30 a.m., followed by a lunch break at 12:30 p.m., and then screenings resume at 1:30 p.m. before ending at 4 p.m. (Subscription: Billings Gazette)
3. Joseph Wayne Cantrell, a Billings man, has pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime. He admitted to stealing a car at gunpoint from a man sitting in a car in a parking lot and then leading police on a chase from Yellowstone County to Big Horn County. Cantrell is facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for the robbery charge and mandatory seven years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge. (KULR-TV)

Today and tomorrow in Billings:

Wednesday, April 5

• Yoga At The Yellowstone Art Museum (10:30 AM)
• Live Music With Randy Moore At Craft Local (8:00 PM)

Thursday, April 6

• March Fourth At The Pub Station Ballroom (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• New homes have been listed for sale in the Billings area! Get all the property details at the link. (Billings Patch)
• Full- and part-time job opportunities are available in the Billings area. Available positions include customer service representative, finance associate, legal office manager, and more. More details about companies hiring in the area are available at the link. (Billings Patch)
• BNSF Railway and The Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools have announced the recipients of the 2023 BNSF Railway Excellence in Education Awards: Abbey Kochel of Castle Rock Middle School and Angie Langeliers of Will James Middle School. Both educators will receive a $2,500 cash award to use toward continuing education or classroom projects, thanks to their dedication to creating engaging and innovative classrooms that make a positive impact on students' education. (Subscription: Billings Gazette)

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Featured events:

• Taxes in Retirement Webinar on April 11th and 13th (April 11)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you soon for your next update.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.