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🌱 Patch AM: Could Trump’s new AI order weaken Montana child protection laws?

Coming up on the Billings Patch calendar: Candlelight: Tribute to Adele

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Good morning to you Billings! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Could Trump’s new AI order weaken Montana child protection laws?
  • How Billings churches and 406 Pride answered a hate-fueled attack
  • How 50 local kids got $350 to shop with first responders

Also on today's calendar: The Waiting: Celebrating The Music of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live in Concert and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Billingsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Billingsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 50 and low of 34 degrees.
  • Monday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 51, low: 45.
  • Tuesday: Mostly cloudy and windy, with a high of 52 and low of 40 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Montana child protection advocates concerned about Trump AI executive order (kpax.com) — From Billings, a leading local anti-trafficking advocate is warning that President Trump’s new executive order on artificial intelligence could weaken Montana’s hard-won child protection laws. She fears federal preemption might undercut state rules on deepfakes and online exploitation, and urges Billings parents to lock down social media privacy when sharing kids’ photos online.
   

2. 406 Pride stands in solidarity with Mayflower Church after hate crime vandalism (ktvq.com) — A West End Billings church discovered swastikas and a slur spray-painted on an exterior wall just before its Christmas pageant, prompting a hate crime investigation by Billings police. Mayflower Congregational Church and downtown partners, including 406 Pride, are responding with solidarity, added security considerations, and a commitment to continue worship and support for LGBTQ+ neighbors despite the vandalism.
   

3. 'Shop With a Cop' brings holiday cheer to kids across Yellowstone County (ktvq.com) — Kids from Billings and surrounding communities got a big holiday boost Saturday as Billings police, firefighters, and other first responders took nearly 50 children shopping at the West End Walmart. With $350 each from local donations, kids rode in siren-blaring convoys, picked out gifts for family and themselves, and got a welcome break from recent hardships alongside supportive officers and firefighters.
   

4. This Vintage Montana Neon Sign Collection is Stunning (xlcountry.com) — Billings still has a few classic neon signs glowing, but one local collector has gone much further by preserving a huge trove of vintage Montana neon at Henry’s Garage. The story walks you through his collection, the fading neon around town, and why catching an event at the garage is a nostalgic treat for longtime Billings residents.
   

5. Las Vegas's Connection to a Massive Yellowstone River Mansion (dave1077.com) — If you’ve ever driven between Billings and Bozeman and noticed that massive “little Cabela’s” mansion on the Yellowstone River near Big Timber, this piece finally explains what you’re seeing. The story traces the home’s Las Vegas attorney owner, his celebrity clientele, and how he fell in love with Montana’s Crazy Mountains during a 1990s court case.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Has anyone seen our girl Lily.
    S. Heights Ln. she has not been seen all day and with this snow it’s making us super worried. She has never missed a meal. She is chipped but no… (Nextdoor Clevenger Park)
  • Now our black Siamese 1 yr old cat no collar is missing!
    Please DM or post if seen! New adopt. Didn't know us yet. Mourning. (Nextdoor Rimrock-Laredo)
  • Albertsons Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Meat Cutter in Billings. Apply here.
  • Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain, Inc. posted a job opening for Production Associate in Billings. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Billings here.

Ok Billings! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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