Good morning, Butte.

The celebrated Montana Folk Festival returns Friday to Uptown Butte and will offer a weekend of free shows + varied music genres, along with arts and crafts + a look at Butte's colorful history.

A study by WalletHub ranked Billings #116 and Missoula #159 among 180 U.S. cities using 21 metrics—factors like rental cost and job availability—to measure rental conditions.

Rising prices and few affordable options mean Montana renters face tough challenges today.

The state's Natural Resource Damage Program and Butte-Silver Bow County reached an agreement to use NRDP funds for water releases from Silver Lake to boost Clark Fork instream flows amid drought conditions—an effort to support local water resources.

Residents in Montana use a Forage Permit to mow highway edges and collect hay that feeds livestock and helps the Department of Transportation maintain safer roads.

The decades-old program also encourages permit holders to clear trash from the right-of-ways to improve road safety.

Butte's Northwest-Mile High Senior All-Stars won the Montana State Championship on June 29—making history as the first Butte senior team to do so—and will compete in the SLB West Region Tournament in Oakland from July 16-22.

They will board a plane Tuesday morning and are still accepting donations to help offset travel costs.

Igor & The Red Elvises Afterparty

10 p.m. — Covellite Theatre and Uptown Lounge — $15 - $20 — Celebrate the Montana Folk Festival with a lively night of music from Igor & The Red Elvises!

John Roberts y Pan Blanco - Folk Festival Afterparty

10 PM-1 AM — Covellite Theatre and Uptown Lounge — $15 - $20 — Celebrate the Montana Folk Festival with lively music from John Roberts y Pan Blanco at the official afterparty.

Uptown Comedy Night

9-11 p.m. — Covellite Theatre and Uptown Lounge — Free entry — Enjoy a night of laughs with local stand-up comedians.

Butte's Uptown Comedy Night

9-11 p.m. — Covellite Theatre and Uptown Lounge — Free entry — Enjoy a night filled with laughter at this weekly comedy showcase.

Uptown Comedy Night

9-11 p.m. — Covellite Theatre and Uptown Lounge — Ticket prices not listed — Enjoy a night of laughter featuring local and regional stand-up comics every Thursday.