Good morning, Butte.

Rescue Mission's director will host a 24-hour conversation starting at 1 p.m. today in front of the Salvation Army (a national livestream event) to promote local discussions about homelessness, addiction, and mental health.

Local seniors and families can share input about aging services at the Belmont Senior Citizens Center (615 E.

Mercury St) on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. Organizers seek honest feedback to improve support for older adults in the community.

Northwestern Energy's Customer Associate Team will host a SINGO fundraiser for Shannon Cooney, battling a debilitating illness, at Butte’s Knights of Columbus Hall (224 W.

Park Street) on Friday, Nov. 6. The event will feature games, a silent auction, raffle, dinner and prizes to help cover her medical costs.

Fuel prices have risen to around $4.55 for gas and $6.23 for diesel—pushing up grocery costs as farmers and haulers face extra expenses that stores pass on to customers.

Niche ranks Montana Tech as best among Montana colleges + rating academics, finances, and student life, while U.S. News orders Montana State, University of Montana, and Montana Tech differently.

The rankings show local students multiple quality choices for higher education.

Local hunters in Montana note that while national celebrities have made elk hunting seem trendy this fall, the challenge of finding trailhead parking and enduring long, cold hikes remains a tough reality on public lands.