🌱 Flagship Program Financial Concerns + Rally For Gun Awareness

Hi all. It's me, Amy Mayo, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 84 Low: 57.
• Wednesday: A shower and t-storm; warm. High: 86 Low: 58.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories in Missoula today:

1. The Flagship Program, a long-running after-school and summer program for Missoula County Public Schools students, is undergoing significant changes due to financial constraints. Western Montana Mental Health Center, the program's previous administrator, cited tight finances and staffing challenges as reasons for discontinuing its involvement. The school district and other community organizations are collaborating to fill the gaps and ensure continued services for students, including summer programs and potential long-term solutions. (Montana Free Press)
2. On Friday, Montana Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America organized a rally at the Missoula County Courthouse lawn to honor those affected by gun violence. The event took place on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, alongside numerous rallies held nationwide. Attendees were encouraged to wear orange, the color representing gun violence victims, and the activities continued throughout the weekend with volunteers partnering with local businesses to decorate stores in orange. (KPAX 8 News)
3. A Missoula teen last seen on May 30 is missing and police are asking the public for help locating her. Lyndsey Carlito Cote is 14 years old, has red hair, and hazel eyes, and stands around five feet and three inches tall. If you have information regarding Cote's whereabouts, call (406) 552-6300. (Montana Right Now)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Missoula:

Tuesday, June 6

• Missoula Jazz Collective At Draught Works (5:30 PM)
• Taco Tuesday Night Trivia At Rustic Hut, Florence (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, June 7

• Birdwatching Club At Maclay Flat Nature Trail (9:00 AM)
• Out To Lunch At Caras Park (11:00 AM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

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From my notebook:

• Starting next week, kids in Missoula can enjoy free meals all summer long at various locations and times across town, courtesy of the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center. The initiative was made possible with the support of partners like Dairy Farmers of Montana, Missoula Public Library, and EmPower Place. Visit the link for more information. (Missoula Food Bank & Community Center via Facebook)
• Tell the kids to get ready for an exciting summer camp experience! Join the Missoula YMCA for an action-packed summer filled with fun activities. Updates will be posted on social media. (Missoula Family YMCA via Instagram)
• Yoga in the Park starts today and will happen each Tuesday until the end of August! The sessions are free, and while bringing your own equipment is encouraged, there will be a limited supply of yoga mats and blocks available for use. (Missoula Parks and Recreation via Instagram)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday. I'll be back in your inbox soon with your next update!

— Amy Mayo

About me: Amy Mayo is a writer, visual artist, and political scientist, living in the NC Research Triangle. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and has worked in a variety of fields outside of copywriting including policy advocacy, the healthcare industry and pharmaceuticals, and education. She hopes one day to live up to the stringent expectations of her cat, Morty.