🌱 Mask Requirement Lifted At St. Vincent Healthcare + Drug Arrest

Hello and happy Friday. I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening in Billings today.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Cloudy, a shower in the p.m. High: 52 Low: 26.
• Saturday: A little snow at times. High: 36 Low: 23.

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Here are the top three stories today in Billings:

1. St. Vincent Healthcare has lifted its mask mandate three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – the new policy began on Mar. 15. However, masks will still be required in certain parts of the hospital, including emergency rooms and infectious areas. Melissa Filter, St. Vincent's vice president and chief nursing officer, noted that the decision was based on a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases and guidance from the CDC and public health entities. (Q2 News)
2. Joel David Lund, a man from Seattle, Washington, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for drug trafficking after law enforcement found a variety of drugs and a loaded handgun in his hotel room and truck in Billings. Lund, 40, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich. The case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. (KULR-TV)
3. The Colussus Building in the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) is experimenting with a centuries-old concept of boarding houses to offer affordable housing options and revitalize blight in Billings. The options would include about 25 rooms built out of an old office building, lacking bathrooms and kitchens. The EBURD, which stretches from west to east from North 22nd Street to Main Street by MetraPark and north to south from North Park to the railroad tracks, has other projects, including music and art-based ventures, to breathe new life into the area. (Q2 News)

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Today and tomorrow in Billings:

Friday, March 24

• Billings Public Schools Special Board Meeting At Lincoln Center (7:00 PM)
• Studio Class Pet Night At Bitterroot Sip And Paint (7:00 PM)

Saturday, March 25

• Bowling With Friends At Fireside Lanes (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The 18th annual International Food Fair will be held at Montana State University Billings on Mar. 30, showcasing food and culture from 11 different countries. The fair is a highly anticipated annual fundraising event that features traditional clothing, decorated displays, international music, and dancing! (Billings Gazette)
• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Billings area at the link! (Billings Patch)
• Congratulations to the newest Captain-Qualified members of the Billings Fire Department! Steve Noe, Lee Weis, Levi Bogunovich, Taig O’Donnell, Ole Hedstrom, and Peter Sulser recently completed the four-week Officer Development Program. (City of Billings Government via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (March 28)
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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll catch up with you soon with another 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.