On March 26th, the city of Helena proclaimed April as Fraud Prevention Month, encouraging people to be aware of scams and to take preventative measures. April also marks the American Association of Retired Persons Fraud Prevention Month. While anybody can be impacted, older Americans are most at risk.

It can completely change their life, as far as losing their life savings, said AARP director of outreach and community engagement Marcus Meyer. It can take an emotional toll on them, where they may become paranoid or not trustworthy.

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission data showed over 6,000 Montanans reported fraud losses, totaling over $23 million dollars. The Department of Justice says theyre seeing a huge uptick in numbers, getting calls every day.

Scams and fraud can come in many shapes and sizes, from calls, texts, emails, social media, and even AI. Thankfully, there are signs to look for to avoid them altogether.

A sense of urgency, so wanting you to act now, make some sort of payment where it's untraceable, Meyer said.

Experts say if you see a potential scam, consider if its too good to be true.

Officials in the Division of Criminal Investigation with the Department of Justice remind residents that legitimate government agencies will never ask for immediate payment, whether that be through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or even a text.

Just most recently, I got one saying that I had a violation from MHP, and that I had to pay all this money, explained DCI Edler Justice Unit agent Jeremy Alvarez. It came on my work phone, and I'm like Montana Highway Patrol doesnt do that.

For those with concerns, there are plenty of resources available to be made aware of scams, take preventative measures, and make reports of incidents.

The division of criminal investigation works with local law enforcement to investigate reports, tracking where the money goes, and providing assistance where they can.

Throughout the month of April, AARP is holding conferences and webinars to raise awareness. Here in Helena, theyre hosting a shred event at the UPS store so people can shred their documents with personal information to reduce their risk.

More information about these events and resources can be found here.

Morris Daviss life was cut short in Great Falls 41 years ago, on April 5, 1985, when he was only 23 years old. His murder is still unsolved, something his family still lives with every day.

Delnita Davis, Morriss mother, still remembers the day her son was killed. She said the day started out as any other.

He left here in the morning, went to work at Bison Ford, she recalled. He got off and went straight to Howards Pizza.

Morris worked part-time as a delivery driver for Howards Pizza. That night, he was sent to drop off a pizza at 1015 6th Ave. NW after 9 pm.

Morris didnt know it, but the house was vacant, a VA foreclosure. Investigators say the murderers removed the for sale sign from the front of the house, ordered a pizza, broke into the back of the house and turned out the light to make it appear occupied. Then, they waited.

When Morris arrived, he was ambushed.

Not only was he shot, but he was getting away and fell out the door and was brought back in and executed, retired Great Falls Police Department Detective Sgt. John Cameron said.

When Morris didnt return from his delivery, his coworkers at Howards began to worry. Another driver went to check his last delivery address. Cameron said what the driver saw made him uncomfortable, so he went back to the restaurant, and police were called.

At around 11 pm, shortly after police arrived on scene, an ambulance was calledon that ambulance was Cliff Davis, Morriss younger brother.

I saw boots sticking out of the entryway, Cliff recalled. Thats not an unusual thing in Montana, but for whatever reason, I recognized them, I got him those same boots for Christmas just before that, and it just clicked in my brain then. Thats when I knew who it was.

The victim was Morris, who was shot multiple times.

I cant tell you how many, but I can tell you it was many times, Cameron said.

His delivery money from that night, less than $500, was gone.

If they asked him for his money, he would have given it to them, Delnita said. I dont know why they had to shoot him.

In the beginning of the investigation, there was no shortage of leads.

There were so many suspects, people started calling in so many suspects, Cameron said. We interviewed hundreds of people.

There were also false leads, including a gun misidentified as the murder weapon.

The bullet expert was wrong, Cameron said. He said it was the gun that killed Morris, they spent years chasing the lead, they found the guy that owned the gun, and then it turned out he had made a mistakehe had been comparing the same bullets to the same bullets.

Cameron was with the Great Falls Police Department when Morris was murdered, and about five years later, he became the lead investigator on the case. Cameron began going through the boxes and boxes of evidence, interviews and police reports, following up on leads and interviewing new people.

All of his work led him to identify one man he suspects as the triggerman.

Every investigation I did in that case, everything I read, everyone I interviewed led me to that man, Cameron said.

(WATCH: Someone knows: Decades after his murder, Morris Davis's family is still searching for answers)

Cameron said that man is Donald Dubray from Browning, a convicted murderer and rapist.

Dubray died in prison in 2016. He never confessed to killing Morris and police never had enough evidence to charge him, but Cameron doesnt believe Dubray acted alone.

I really believe there are two people alive out there right now that could provide information, Cameron said. I wish they would.

There could be another way to find answersDNA technology. Cameron said the killer would have grabbed Morris by the collar to drag him back into the house, and their DNA could be on his clothes.

If they could have that genealogical testing theyre doing now on the clothes, I know theyre still in evidence, Cameron said.

After 41 years of not knowing for sure, answers in this case would mean a lot to Morriss loved ones.

It would be everything, Delnita said.

Watch Delnita share a favorite memory of Morris:

You know, really who deserves answers is my brother, Cliff said. His life was worth something, was worth a lot, and he deserves to have this brought to a conclusion.

Cliff said the pain of losing his brother never goes away, but its something he has learned to live with.

You have a choice to be bitter, and angry, and mad, or you have a choice to not be, he said. Life is a whole lot better when you choose not to be.

Delnita still lives in the house Morris and Cliff grew up in, and she still thinks about Morris every day.

Different seasons, when I hear the stock cars runninghe used to spend every Friday night over therehunting season, when its time for everybody to go skiing, theres always something to remind you, Delnita said.

Morris wasnt just stolen from his family, his life cut shorthe was also robbed of his future.

I just wish he got a chance to finish out his life, Delnita said.

If you have information about Morris Daviss murder on April 5, 1985, call Det. Patrick Levitt at the Great Falls Police Department, his phone number is (406) 455-8509.

Jayson Zander was promoted from captain to assistant chief for the Helena Police Department earlier this week.

Zander was born and raised in Helena. He began his career in law enforcement with HPD in 2002. Throughout his 24-year career, he said he's appreciated learning from peers, mentors, and leaders at the police department.

I dont know if I categorize myself with some of those at this point, but you know, I hope to get there, Zander said. Many of those names that I had mentioned have contacted one way or another to congratulate me, and that means a lot.

Zander looks forward to continuing his career in his new role as assistant chief--educating officers and serving his home community.

Former Assistant Chief Cory Bailey retired from the department in October 2025 after more than two decades of service.

April is Strengthening Families Month, a time focused on keeping children safe and supporting families across our communities.

On Friday at Shodair Childrens Hospital and in neighborhoods across Helena, volunteers came together for a simple but meaningful act planting blue pinwheels. Those pinwheels are the national symbol for child abuse prevention, and they serve as a reminder of the care every child deserves.

April is also National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and organizers hope to plant more than 1,200 pinwheels locally. The Montana Childrens Trust Fund has already shared over 12,000 pinwheels with more than 70 organizations hosting events this month.

Leaders say each pinwheel may be small, but together they send a powerful message one that encourages people to look out for children and start conversations about how to keep them safe.

After hoping recent snowfall would keep the season going, Great Divide announced its season is coming to a close.

Originally hopeful that they would open this Saturday, there wasnt enough snow this week to offer skiable conditions.

Great Divide isn't the first Montana ski hill to close, with Bridger Bowl shutting down its lifts a few weeks ago, seeing a 204-inch precipitation decrease from last season.

Even though the season was cut short, plenty of people still made their way up Marysville Road to enjoy the snow when they could.

Hi-Country Snack Foods, one of the regions biggest employers and a longtime staple of the Lincoln community, has paused production.

This follows the layoff of dozens of employees last summer. The company has been producing and selling jerky for nearly 50 years, and most recently employed more than 50 people.

Wyatt Nielson, co-owner of Yellowstone Naturals, the Bozeman-based holding company that owns Hi-Country, provided MTN with the following statement.

Weve made the difficult decision to pause operations at Hi-Country and are actively working with all stakeholders to determine the best path forward for the business and the Lincoln community. We care deeply about our team and the role Hi-Country has played in this community, and our focus right now is on handling this transition responsibly. We expect to share more information in the coming weeks," Neilson shared.

Ability Montana is a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities across Montana live full, active lives. They offer a wide range of programs that create recreational opportunities in all kinds of conditionsrain, shine, or even ice. Their most recent program is adaptive ice skating, allowing athletes like Sherene Ricci to recreate and enjoy the sports they love.

My very first happy thought after having my leg amputated from cancer 25 years ago was maybe I can go skiing again, Ricci said.

From that moment on, Ricci kept looking for ways to get involved in adaptive sports, from skiing, fishing, biking, all the way back to hockey. Ricci says in her experience, there's an adaptive way to do every sport, seeking out any opportunities she can.

She drove all the way down from Missoula over snowy passes to Steed Arena to get more ice time with Ability Montanas adaptive skating program.

Being active outside or being active in a group setting is something we feel everyone should have access to, said Ability Montana recreation coordinator Patrick Quinn.

The program offers options for beginners just looking to get their feet wet, and para ice hockey for those with a bit more of a competitive edge.

The program is free for all, with the goal of connecting everyone in the community through sport.

Inclusive play is really the magic of adaptive sports, Ricci said, and that means sharing this with your friends and family, whether theyre disabled or not.

With adaptive opportunities scarce, participants say they feel supported by organizers, and the takeaways affect them in their day-to-day lives off the ice.

It feels great and very supportive to the disability community, said athlete Tom Norris. I am doing better at my independence thanks to programs like this.

It's incredibly beneficial for your confidence, for your social outlook, and its like being a kid again, Ricci said. Im out here playing with a bunch of kids, and this is just gonna be the highlight of my week, I'm sure.

This specific program has three sessions left, with plenty of other sports options being planned.

Additionally, Ability Montana has 30 sleds for use, hoping to even put together a hockey team to continue growing the sport in the area.

Organizers say they hope to see the program continue to grow, both in volunteers and participants.

No experience is necessary in any realm, just an eagerness to learn and be part of a community, Quinn said.

More information about the program can be found here.

Theres a new man at the helm of the Broadwater County Sheriffs Office, but hes a familiar face. The Broadwater County Commission unanimously approved Mark Wood as interim sheriff during a meeting on Wednesday morning.

Wood has 36 years of law enforcement experience, 10 years of that with the Broadwater County Sheriffs Office. Before Wednesdays appointment as interim sheriff, Wood served as undersheriff.

(WATCH: Mark Wood appointed as interim sheriff of Broadwater County)

Ive been in this profession for a long time, Im just going to do what Ive always done, Wood said. Im going to keep the citizens safe, Im going to make sure the citizens see law enforcement in all the communities around here because thats what they pay for, and were responsible to be there.

On March 27, the Broadwater County Sheriffs Office announced former sheriff Nick Rauser was stepping down from his position. Rauser has served 18 years in law enforcement, and he was elected sheriff in November 2022.

Rausers decision to step down was not unexpected, Wood said its something he and Rauser had spoken about, and the county commission was aware too. Broadwater County Commission chair Debi Randolph said the commission had time to prepare for the transition, and they spent time talking to our attorneys about how to do this and making sure were following MCA.

Randolph said she expects the transition from Rauser to Wood as county sheriff to be seamless.

The office over there works very well together, she said. Theyre all informed, they know about it, communication has been great.

Rauser is still with the Broadwater County Sheriffs Office, now focusing on his passionhelping children and the countys school resource officer program.

Hes going to be here, hes not going anywhere, he can be here as long as he wants, Wood said.

Wood will fill the remainder of Rausers term in office, which continues through the end of 2026.

There will be an election in November for a new sheriff, and Wood is running for the position. Whoever voters choose will take office in January 2027.

With Woods appointment as interim sheriff, Jamie Buck has been named undersheriff and Tony Cordova has been promoted to captain.

In 2025, Broadwater County voters rejected a proposed public safety levy. By not approving the levy, the sheriff's office saw its total budget cut by about a third.

The Helena Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Capital High School on Wednesday morning.

A malfunction in a fans electrical box in the basement sent smoke through the area, triggering the alarm just before 11 a.m.

Engine one arrived on scene and was directed by school staff to the source.

Crews evacuated the building before heading inside on oxygen. Firefighters say there were no visible flames, just heavy smoke. Once the electrical system was shut down, crews worked to clear the building by ventilating the smoke.

No injuries or major damage were reported. Fire officials say they were grateful students are on spring break this week, which made evacuation and access much easier.

For us responding, obviously, access is a big issue, so theres no vehicles in the parking lot that we have to deal with, so that was fortunate for us as well, said Captain Brad Patterson.

Officials say the fans electrical box will remain shut down until repairs are complete. They also say they dont expect any issues when students return to school next week.

A common New Year's resolution is to get into and stay in shape. Now that we're well into 2026, people at local Helena gyms, such as Crossroads Fitness, are still pursuing their goals.

I had three of them: diet, alcohol, and coming to the gym, and I've stuck with all of them, said member David Genter, so Im grateful for the results Im seeing.

(WATCH: Helena gym seeing members following through on New Year's resolutions)

Since January, Crossroads Fitness staff say the majority of their members have stayed consistent in their resolution efforts and kept their memberships active.

Whats their secret to success? Having a variety of options with classes and personal trainers plays a large role in maintaining members scanning their key cards.

Youll cancel on yourself before you cancel on a personal trainer, said assistant general manager Whitney Taylor, so I would say you're 80-90% more likely to stick with something if you have a personal trainer or if you find a class with the camaraderie to keep you coming.

I would definitely not do this on my own, and it holds us accountable too with friends, and having my husband come too is great, said member Sara Peterson.

Personal trainer Dan Tessitore says one thing he notices is that the ones who fizzle out tend to be the ones loading too much on their plate, suggesting only a few sessions a week can be plenty to see serious progress.

Keeping something consistent over the long term matters more than how many hours youre gonna spend in the gym, Tessitore said.

We checked in with one of his clients who has stuck with the program. After gaining weight and dealing with injuries, David Genter knew it was time for a change.

After his first three sessions, Genter made the commitment. Now down 26 pounds since January, he's seeing the progress and health benefits continue to climb.

He's easy to work with, Getner said. This has been great. Its motivated me, and I can see the results. Every week I come in, he pushes me a little further, a little harder.

Whether you prefer working out by yourself, in a group, or with a trainer, all it takes is consistency to see your resolutions last all year long.

Its all there. You just have to keep pushing. push yourself, be disciplined, and keep with it, Getner said.

Water can be one of the most destructive aspects of nature, especially when given enough time. Erosion is a big concern for many landowners, but conservation practices can go a long way to stopping the damage.

(WATCH: Conservationists and volunteers work to restore eroded riverbanks with natural materials)

The Lewis and Clark Conservation District is working with landowners to show how to restore streambanks by using natural materials.

It's a learning process, said landowner John Baucus, and so I'm kind of learning just along with everybody else, but its all positive. It's good to know different processes or different options for different stream banks.

On Tuesday, volunteers working on 200 feet of the Little Prickly Pear Creek were using a technique called brushy toe. They cut willow that grows nearby, putting it at the base of the bank. Then, they laid branches from nearby forest fire clearing areas on top. Lastly, they packed it all down with wet soil to create a new, healthy bank.

How it works is those branches, that roughness breaks up those water currents that tend to erode the banks, said Lewis and Clark Conservation District chairman Jeff Ryan. Well break up these currents, and then all of those live willow cuttings that are in the brush will root.

Times are changing, Baucus said. People are more environmentally focused than they used to be.

Over the next year, thousands of roots will grow, gluing the bank together. This practice replaces the riprap, or wall of rocks, and will provide a better habitat for underwater life and filter cleaner water downstream.

In Montana, we don't have a lot of it, Ryan said, so what we got, we really want to take care of.

Ryan also says this project acts not only as a demonstration to landowners but also as an educational opportunity for volunteers and Carroll College students.

Getting the students out into the community, doing the work, and also meeting the people that are doing the work on a daily basis is really important to us, said Carroll College associate biology professor Travis Almquist.

Getting out of a classroom is really nice, said Carroll senior Heather Magera. It's nice to be actually in nature and realize that life doesn't just matter in a classroom, it can matter in the real world, too, so thats kind of fun.

Anyone interested in taking on their own project can reach out to the conservation district for more information and steps they can take to get started.

Dave Simkins has spent nearly the last 50 years building more than just a business at his Hallmark store. Hes built connections with generations of customers. Now, hes decided its time to retire, and says hes incredibly grateful for the community support thats kept him going for almost five decades.

(WATCH: Helena Hallmark owner sells store after nearly 50 years in business)

It's all family, and our customer base is family, Simkins said. The people that work here, same.

Over the years, Simkins and his family owned 12 Hallmark stores across Montana, leaving his mark from Billings, to Bozeman, to Great Falls, all the way back home to Helena.

Everybody in town knows Dave, and they love to come to his store, said Helena resident Scott Brown, whos known Simkins since the 1950s.

I will sure miss him, said Helena resident Deborah Williams. It will not be the same without him.

Simkins has known retirement has been on the way, selling the other Hallmark stores around the state as their leases ended. After turning 70, he knew it was time to step away.

Last Friday, friends, old employees, and residents who have known Simkins as early as childhood came down to the store to say their goodbyes.

Current employees say theyve stayed working at the store as long as they have because of Simkins treating them like family.

He is probably the best boss I've ever had, said 12-year employee Melodi Crowe.

Simkins wasnt just known for being the store owner, but for his character and the work hes done for the community, including supporting Montana gift baskets, the Humane Society, the Tour Train, the fire tower renovation, and many others.

His openness and friendliness and seeking out the needs of Helena, and providing a really nice store, said Pam Bredberg, former employee for the Hallmark Bozeman store.

Its because of his personality, and hes just a very good man, Brown said.

Giving back is very important, Simkins stated. You know the community has given so much to us over the years, that it's only natural that giving back is a big deal.

While Simkins is unsure of his next steps, Leslie's Hallmark and Montana Shop are here to stay for now. New owners Winnies Hallmark shop bought the store, and say they are keeping it in the Hallmark family.

It's gonna be a nice transition, Simkins said. Smooth, and it should look the same the day after April 1st as it does today.

I look forward to seeing him for a long time around Helena, Brown said. Hes one of Helena's best, he really is.

Every year, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks partners with Montanas Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to create habitats for some of the wildlife. While this work is designed to improve habitat for perch, it has impacts on the entire ecosystem at Canyon Ferry.

Its providing habitat out there for several species, said FWP senior fisheries technician Troy Humphrey.

The Pines for Perch program takes old Christmas trees and repurposes them into habitats for fish, by stringing them together with cinder blocks and dropping them into the lake.

Since Canyon Ferry is a reservoir that can change height, theres little to no vegetation or weeds along the shore.

There's very limited habitat as far as spawning areas or hiding cover for young of the year fish, Humphrey said.

Bringing in these manmade habitats allows perch and other species to spawn more eggs or use the trees as cover for predators.

Perch are a food source for other fish in the lake, like trout and walleye, helping those fish grow larger a benefit for wildlife and anglers.

Humprey says that while the perch population is holding its own, the numbers arent quite where they would like them to be.

While dropping the trees typically happens in mid-April, warmer water temperatures coming earlier this year sped up the timeline for when perch will start to spawn.

But the short turnaround hasnt slowed anyone down

It's so efficient, and we got it dialed in, Humphrey said. Youll see these pilots just, they got it figured out, and it's great to see them work.

DNRC brought in two helicopters to carry the 29 loads of trees from the shore to the middle of the lake.

FWP uses GPS trackers to see where the older bundles live and buoys to mark where the new ones will go. Helicopter pilots have the route memorized, taking a similar path when using buckets to get water for fighting fires.

Theyll stager, one will come in, hover over our guys, and they'll hook the load while it's hovering over them, said DNRC area aviation officer Wade Hendricks, and it flies out, it takes about a minute to fly out and drop it.

Humphrey also noted that the program saw more tree donations than in previous years.

This is just a great project, and I'm excited to keep going with it year after year.

This year, the St. Peters Health Foundation has raised $578,000 to support lifesaving care. The funds will be allocated toward new equipment, including a new ambulance, as demand for emergency services continues to increase.

(WATCH: St. Peter's Health highlights the importance of rural emergency services)

Dr. Tiffany Kniepkamp, the emergency department chair, said, They are not just patients, they are our friends, our family, our neighbors, and so to get them here and be able to care for them and to provide support in this community is so important.

In 2025 alone, the St. Peters emergency department treated 26,000 patients ranging in age from just three days old to 102 years old. More than 2,600 of those patients were children.

We are on an island here; there isnt really help for many miles, Chris Mulberry, the EMS Manager, said.

Its not just the number of patients, its the size of the area they serve.

The healthcare system covers a five-county region larger than eight U.S. states, creating unique challenges when every second counts in an emergency.

To meet that demand, St. Peters operates 10 ambulances in a rotation, which together drove more than 1.3 million miles last year responding to calls and transporting patients, and soon another ambulance will join the fleet.

Mulberry said, We are lucky in the way we take care of our fleet, we can maintain them because some of our vehicles are 10 years old, but it gets more difficult as they get older, more repairs in the downtimes.

St. Peters says the numbers reflect a broader trend in rural America where growing populations and long travel distances are stretching emergency response systems thin.

Just the expanse of geography we have to hit is huge, and sometimes it means delay in getting that higher level of care, and sometimes it means coordinating care between other hospitals so they are transferring resources to get them where they are needed quickly, Dr. Kniepkamp shared.

In areas like ours, a single ambulance or piece of equipment can make a life-saving difference, especially when patients may be miles, or even hours, away from the nearest hospital.

It is one of the special things about emergency services, and my role is being able to support the people who really do the front-line work, and people come into the emergency room and call our ambulance on their worst days, Anne McCoy, the director of critical care and emergency services, said.

Healthcare officials say expanding resources and improving response times will be key to ensuring rural communities continue to receive critical care when they need it most.

We are always looking for our next venture, so we are looking to replace another ambulance in the near future and a response vehicle, McCoy said.

National Reading Month may be wrapping up, but the importance of reading doesnt end with the calendar. In fact, for kids, this is where the work and opportunity begin.

We take early literacy and reading very seriously for young kids, said Lewis and Clark Library director John Finn.

Educators and librarians emphasize the importance of starting kids off reading early to prepare them for their future learning.

According to the Montana Office of Public Instruction, using the ACT scores for high school juniors, proficiency in English and language arts was at 54.7% for the 2024-25 school year, up 2% from the previous year.

Looking at the younger ages, grades 3-8 sit at 43.1% proficiency. While that number was one percent lower than the previous year, OPI says that changing assessment testing methods makes the results not comparable to previous years, and that this years numbers will be the new baseline for the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-year test score moving forward.

Advocates for reading in the community strive to see proficiency rates continue to grow rather than fall.

They're low, and we try to help with that here at the library, Finn said. It's really important to get young kids ready to read and reading as quickly as possible and as well as they can.

The Lewis and Clark Public Library sees 250,000 people come through their doors each year, a third of whom are young readers and families. The library offers numerous programs, story times, and other events to promote early reading exposure.

Recently, many of the librarys story times have ended up being full, with up to 75 kids and parents in attendance listening along.

Well read anywhere from 2-10 books a day, said parent Jaden Butler. She's already past 400 books, and shes three. There's been a few times where I catch her kind of reading her own books, and just going off of what Ive read, but also looking at the pictures and talking about whats going on.

One of the programs Lewis and Clark Library offers is 1,000 books before kindergarten, challenging kids to make a large dent in their book piles before starting school.

We've really focused on the science that actually supports early learning for children so that they're ready to start to read when they start school, said Lewis and Clark Library childrens services librarian Molly Hudson.

Librarians say that in the interactions they have with the little ones, they do notice a difference already, like having a higher vocabulary.

Children who are read to, children who are exposed to books, they are starting school more prepared, and they are succeeding, Hudson said.

Signing up for a library card is free, no matter the age.

Even with a strong labor market, many Montanans still need help navigating unemployment. The states unemployment rate was approximately 3.4 percent in late 2025, still lower than the national average and among the lowest in the country. However, when people do need help, getting answers quickly can make a significant difference.

Thats where a new tool comes in. We are wanting to provide more information to our claimants in an easy and accessible way, Michell Hauer, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry unemployment insurance division administrator, shared. In this digital age, the more you can give people the opportunity for people to self-serve, the greater success you have.

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry recently launched Larkie, a chatbot designed to answer unemployment insurance questions instantly.

After just a few weeks, its already handling between 60 and 100 conversations a dayincluding nights and weekends.

It is going to be and is a very effective tool to get folks the answers they need at any time of the day, Bryan Bird, the manager of Job Service Helena, said.

DLI says most users are getting answers in just one or two messages, and during high call volume days, Larkie is helping reduce pressure on phone linesfreeing up staff to handle more complex cases.

We can average anywhere up to 500 phone calls a day, and so when we have Larkie handling 60 to 100 interactions in a day, we are actually able to serve an additional population because we are able to have that available to the public, Hauer said.

For people already dealing with job loss, that speed matters. The department says the goal is simplemake sure people can get help when they need it most.

With the chatbot, one of the things we helped create in there were that some questions will lead to coming back to job service because we can help you get to your next career, Bird shared.

With Montanas workforce continuing to grow and evolve, tools like this could become a bigger part of how the state delivers services.

The Department of Labor and Industry says Larkie is available now on its website, and theyre encouraging anyone with unemployment questions to give it a tryespecially outside normal business hours. But as it is in its early stages, DLI says if errors arise, they will work to address them quickly.

The Friendship Center recently released its 2025 report highlighting its impact as the only agency serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties.

In 2025, the Friendship Center served 733 people who were impacted by interpersonal violence across the tri-county area. They also provided 13,929 nights of shelter to 168 people fleeing these situations.

Our services are very critical because after something has happened, it is important to have someone there to get that help, get those resources, be with you at the hospital, things like that, Executive Director Gina Boesdorfer said.

Other than dialing 911, the Friendship Center is the only place in our area where residents can call when they are in an immediate crisis due to violence.

In 2025 alone, they fielded over 3,700 conversations through their 24/7 crisis line and provided 8,259 services.

Boesdorfer noted, We had about one thousand more calls last year than the previous years.

With that, the crisis line program and staff are expanding, we have hired stipend based postitions so that we have dedicated staff for the crisis line on evenings and weekends, and this year we are expanding to week nights as well, Boesdorfer said.

The Friendship Center also piloted housing pets in their onsite shelter in 2025, and they will continue exploring ways to more comfortably welcome pets.

We have a lot of clients that dont want to separate from their pets, and so we have been able to move in at least three cats since we now allow pets in the shelter, Boesdorfer shared.

According to the annual report, the Friendship Centers says only about 20 percent of shelters nationwide take pets, which makes the Friendship Center unique, considering research shows 20 to 60 percent of survivors will delay leaving a dangerous situation because they dont know where to place or how to protect their pets.

The Friendship Center also says that with federal funding freezes and other government impacts, there are concerns this year.

It has definitely been a lot of uncertainty and a lot of unknown, Boesdorfer said. Helena recently lost our rural designation status, and so one of our major grants is something we will not be eligible for this next year, so we are grappling with how to navigate that loss.

Losing this designation means the center will lose around 250 thousand dollars, or 30 percent of its annual budget.

For more resources and how you can help, you can visit this link.

For the last six weeks, Helena Regional Airport TSA workers have continued serving airline passengers during the government shutdown, all without pay. Support is taking off, with community members doing their part, one small step at a time.

You know, they're part of our airport family, if you will, said Helena Regional Airport director Jeff Wadekamper.

While other airports around the nation have seen long security lines and TSA workers leaving their posts, Helenas 16 TSA workers have stayed true to the mission.

Wadekamper says he appreciates Helenas employees and their attitude while facing uncertain times.

They're happy, they're positive, they're doing a great job talking to folks, and doing everything they need to do, Wadekamper said. If you didn't know there was a shutdown by just talking to them, you would never notice anything any different.

Wadekamper isnt the only one whos taken notice. Online conversations have raised awareness in the community, with many people stepping up to offer help wherever they can.

It was upsetting, said Helena resident Connor Mcsweeney. I mean, the thought of people clocking in for a full shift, and then clocking out, being no closer to filling their pantry with food.

Mcsweeney helped spread the word on Facebook and created a Meal Train, organizing a calendar for food drop-offs at the airport.

Working together with Wadekamper, a drop-off table is stationed just outside of TSA for food. Gift cards strictly under $20 can also be dropped off at the administration office.

So far, the community has shown up, with representatives from Safeway, iFlyBigSky, and many others stopping by to drop off goods.

A lot of them walked off the jobs, and these guys are here, said Safeway store director Eric Dowell. They're working, these guys and gals are here working, doing a good job.

Dowell says they are working to set up a drop-off location at their store, with items to be transported later.

According to Mcsweeney, almost a week's worth of food for each worker has been donated so far, with more on the way. Mcsweeney also went around town to restaurants, asking owners what they were willing to donate, with many saying theyre eager to help cater when needed.

It's just so heartwarming to see like everybody, when asked, they do that Montana value thing and they show up, Mcsweeney exclaimed.

More information on how and where to give, as well as donation restrictions, can be found here.

The Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees discussed some important topics in their work session Tuesday evening, including the future of Hawthorne Elementary and the levies Helena voters will see on the ballot in May.

The board unanimously approved the proposed memorandum of understanding for Hawthorne to potentially become a community center that could include a tool library and a music and art studio.

The board will revisit the topic in July after the non-profit created by the Hawthorne community has more formalized plans and funding.

This follows the closure of the school last June, when district officials said closing the school would save the district roughly $1,000,000 annually.

As for this years elections, due to only four people filing to run for the four open trustees seats, it will not be on the ballot come May; however, three levies will be on the ballot.

Levies are used for short-term projects and daily costs. First is an elementary general fund operations levy that would increase local property taxes for a $600,000 home by around 33 dollars a year, resulting in just over $953,000 of funding for the schools.

The two other levies are operations, infrastructure, and licensing technology funds for both the elementary and high schools.

If passed, the elementary levy should increase property taxes for a $600,000 home by around 56 dollars a year, and if passed, the high school levy should increase property taxes for a $600,000 home by around 27 a year.

The passage of these levies would bring in around $3,000,000 in the general fund annually.

Hundreds of Christmas trees line the banks of Canyon Ferry near the silos. These trees are part of an important cause to protect fish populations. It takes a lot of volunteers and scouts to pull it off, with troops 214, 207, 217, 218 and 228 on hand to help out.

The scouts are amazing, that's really been a game changer for us, said Fish, Wildlife, and Parks senior fisheries technician Troy Humphrey.

Scout Troop 214 collects curbside Christmas trees each January for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks "Pines for Perch" program, sinking them into Canyon Ferry to create fishbreeding habitat.

The trees are connected by drilling a hole in the stump, threading a cable through them, and adding cinder blocks in between to keep them weighted down underwater. In April, the Montana Department of Natural Resources will drop the lines of trees by helicopter into the water below.

FWP used to head the project on its own, and say the scouts help saves lots of time.

It took us the better part of a week, whereas we're gonna make about a half day of it now, Humphrey said.

Just them alone, this would be such a long job for them, said scout Carson Burright. Just having all this extra help really contributes to having a whole community work together.

The message of community is exactly what Scoutmaster Doug Wheeler hopes his troop takes away from involvement in the project.

Oh, I love it, Wheeler said. For me, community service is a huge thing to try to instill in the scouts because I think the more people that learn to find it important to help the community, the better our community is gonna be.

Very happy, it's a very good place to do it, said scout Simon Jensen. Nice breeze, treeing, it's fun.

I love doing it, I feel like it really benefits everybody and not just me, said scout Kaari Hitz.

This year, the troop gathered around 1,600 trees, but officials say theyve seen a decrease in the number of trees they usually get.

The program used to gather between 3,000 - 4,000 trees a year, but artificials have brought along challenges that could put the program at risk.

FWP says they aim to have at least a thousand or more, and encourage people to choose a more natural way to celebrate the holidays.

We live in Montana, Humphrey said. Take some time and just go out and cut your own tree and get the required permits, of course, and we need your trees.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include all the Scouting America troops that were present at the event.

Much of the progress at the Bruce Seed Farm cleaning facility in Townsend is thanks to one of the opportunities through the Montana Department of Agricultures programs promoting growth of the industry.

I really enjoy the seed business and the importance of seed, said Bruce Seed Farm VP of sales Gord Pearse. Everything starts with a seed.

Bruce Seed Farm is just one example of an organization thats benefited from the Growth Through Agriculture program, a program that offers loans and grants to Montanans to improve their business through new products and processes.

The program sees plenty of applicants each year, awarding and loaning between $800,000 to $1.2 million. Since 1989, the program has helped Montanans all over the state.

In recent years, Bruce Seed Farm was granted $25,000 to help improve its facility management.

You know, Montana State cares, and its certainly very well received and appreciated, Pearse said.

Bruce Seed Farm harvests, cleans, and sells around 25 different crop kinds across 2,300 acres of land in Broadwater County. Their main focus is grass seeds, largely helping feed livestock in the area.

When Pearce heard about the program, he applied, saying they could use some upgrades to their facility.

Weve outgrown that old plant, and that should be in a museum somewhere, Pearse said.

Their facility houses complex machinery, so they knew it would be a challenge.

This provided the core funding for hiring a consultant and figuring out flow and such within a new seed plant operation, Pearse explained.

Pearse says the funding has not only helped with management, but also with the efficiency of producing and cleaning their seeds.

So far, we're seeing, I guess, on our first seed crop, we're seeing 3x capacity on pounds per hour, Pearse said.

On the current crop theyre cleaning, compared to the old plant system, Pearse says theyre closer to four and a half to five times capacity, expecting to better meet industry demand quicker.

Any Montanans interested in the program can find more information about the application process, eligibility, and program guidelines here.

Prices at the pump are climbing every day all over the country, directly impacting locals' pockets. MTN checked in with consumers to hear how theyre managing the new increase.

Its been the highest Ive ever seen it, said Helena resident Easton Theys.

Over the last couple of months, some gas stations in the Helena area have increased prices by over a dollar.

I've just started paying for my gas, all of it, Theys continued, and 75 bucks for a full tank, and I got to fill up once a week is kind of outrageous for me at least.

Im not upset about it for any particular reason, said Wayne Dezler, another Helena resident. I wish it was lower; however, we have cars that we can drive that get up to 55 miles per gallon.

Tensions in the Middle East are not really something that consumers can control, said Livingston resident Calvin Caplis, so when we have an expense that we have to budget for, it definitely gets tough.

Around 20% of global oil comes through the Strait of Hormuz, bordering Iran.

Officials with the Montana Petroleum Association say while Montana gets most of its oil from Alberta, Canada, what's happening in the Middle East can still affect prices here.

If they keep that oil in port, obviously it's not getting to market, and the other 80% of the world has to compensate for it by raising price and raising production, said Montana Petroleum Association executive director Sonny Capece.

MTN spoke with a gas station owner who says he understands peoples frustrations, but that the rise in oil prices puts them in a difficult position.

Our daily price that's on our signs isn't what we're paying for, said Bobs Valley Market owner Steve Bartmess. "We're actually paying more than what the sign says right now.

With these increases, folks are looking at their budgets a little closer.

I think you have to make sacrifices on recreation, certain things that you may want just because our necessities are becoming more expensive, Caplis said.

Officials, owners, and patrons all say they hope to see the conflict end sooner rather than later and see prices come back down to normal.

Changes to the former Albertsons grocery store site at 600 N. Fee St. in Helena are in the very early planning stages. A proposed redevelopment project was discussed at a March 16 City of Helena pre-application meeting.

Seth Startup, with Startup Development Partners, said right now, theyre looking at the challenges of repurposing the former grocery store building. He said he has heard interest from some tenants who want to occupy the entire building, and also has other scenarios where the building would be occupied by up to three tenants.

Startup said he has also received a proposal to put a drive-thru coffee stand on the northeast corner of the property.

Along with determining the challenges of repurposing the former Albertsons building, developers are looking at possible parking challenges and how to mitigate them.

So far, the project is in very early stages, no possible tenants have been announced.

The migration is underway at Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area near Choteau, where 30,000-60,000 light geese have been observed over the last several mornings. The swan counts have varied due to wind and wintry weather, but several hundred to over a thousand have been seen in the past few days.

The snow and Ross geese counts have been well above average for this time of year, which typically sits at around 15,000-25,000, likely due to the mild winter throughout the entire West. Brent Lonner, Area Wildlife Biologist for Montana FWP, explains, The snow goose numbers are close to about double what we usually see at this date. Weather conditions throughout their migration path all the way up here are influential.

Erik Johnson reports - watch the video here:

Hundreds of thousands of geese travel along their spring migration path, known as the Pacific Flyway, typically coming from central California or the southwestern United States. The geese use the lake and ponds around Freezout Lake WMA for rest and safety from predators, but the nearby grain fields are what make Freezout Lake a popular stop for bird migration. The next leg of their journey takes them to their northern nesting grounds in northern Alaska and the Canadian Arctic.

Nancy Milewski has been a bird counter with Montana FWP for 13 years. Its a dream job. I love to count the geese as they get up in the air. Ive just learned to recognize patterns of either 1,000 or 100, she explains. The snow geese are predictable in an unpredictable way. They get up in the morning around sunrise, but if they just arrived last night, they may sleep in for a while.

After waking up, they leave in droves, flock to the fields east of Freezout Lake to feed on leftover grains from last falls harvest, then come back a couple of hours later and do it again at dinnertime.

The swans and some of the diving ducks depend on the water much more than the geese. Were seeing fewer of them, Brent Lonner explains. Thats because of a multi-year drought impacting the Greenfield Irrigation District that supplies Freezeout Lake. This has led to historically low water levels; four of the ponds have gone completely dry.

The spring geese migration has remained largely unchanged over the years, according to Nancy Milewski. They are so biologically inclined to go north to nest, so there isnt a lot of impact on spring migration. Fall migration, however, is getting later and later.

For Choteau resident Bonnie Griffis, this time of year is a chance to share the magic of Freezout Lake with people from across Montana and the country. She explains, Freezout gets a lot of attention for this specific migration, but Freezeout is an incredibly ecologically rich place. Were just so lucky to have it here.

Bonnie, along with several other birders, helps organize the annual Wild Wings Festival. It started in 2019 as a three-day celebration of the spring light goose migration through Montana. The event is not just for avid birders like herselfYou dont have to be an expert, you dont have to have really nice equipment. Its just a cool thing to experience.

Free guided tours of Freezout Lake will head out each morning, focusing on the light geese activity on the water and in nearby agricultural fields. Were lucky enough to know some of the spotters. Theyll give us a heads up on where they are seeing the most birds so we can watch the lift off, Bonnie explains.

With up to 100,000 snow geese passing through each day during peak migration, the sight and sound of these massive flocks taking flight is something to behold. It gets people out here. It gets people enjoying that. They have to appreciate it to want to keep it the way it is. The more people you can make aware of this special place, the more likely they are to want to keep it special.

Brent Lonner says the last 7-10 days of March are usually the best time to plan your visit to Freezout Lake. Local law enforcement reminds visitors to be smart about highway use. Dont pull into the shoulders or block roads, as it creates safety issues.

Here is the Wild Wings Festival schedule for 2026:

2:00-3:00PM: Wildlife Photography For All Workshop. Learn from photographer Talia Azadian on how to get the best photos with the gear you have - whether its a phone camera or full camera set. Free at the Choteau Pavilion

4:00-6:30PM: Meet and Greet. Food trucks - El Taco Valle and Jammers BBQ - providing dinner and Choteau American Legion with beverages for purchase. Educational booths from Montana and nationally based wildlife conservation organizations.

7:00PM: Flight of the Swans Film. A female conservationist takes to the skies in a paramotor to follow Bewicks Swans on their annual migration in a bid to understand their dramatic decline; 7,000 kilometers, 11 countries, from Russia to England across tundra, forests, and industrial landscapes, where she encounters people just as passionate about saving and protecting these birds and their wetland homes. Narrated by Academy Award nominee Sophie Okonedo. Shown at the historic Roxy Theatre (25 Main Ave. N).

6:30-10:30AM: Free guided tours of Freezout Lake WMA and vicinity targeting light geese activity in the area. Meet at Choteau Pavilion parking lot for van carpool and caravan options. Van space is limited. Please sign up in person at the event registration table Friday afternoon. Anyone is welcome to caravan behind the vans from the pavilion.

10:30AM-5:00PM: Educational booths with Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Boone and Crockett Club, Ducks Unlimited, Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, Montana Audubon, Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Montana Dinosaur Center, Montana Discovery Foundation, Montana Wetlands & Waterfowl, Montana WILD, National Wildlife Federation, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Front Weed Roundtable, Sun River Watershed Group, and Teton Conservation District.

1:00-2:00PM: Join Rob Domenech, Executive Director of Raptor View Research Institute (RVRI), for a presentation that will include a brief history of RVRIs long-term Golden Eagle (GOEA) research (when it started and why), blood heavy metals analysis (i.e., blood-lead levels) in GOEA sampled in west-central Montana, a summary of wing-tag encounters, and an overview of our satellite telemetry movements of GOEAs, with some standout stories of some satellite-tracked individuals.

2:00-3:00PM: Join Chris La Tray as he tells an Anishinaabe story about snow geese and the interconnected topic of migration of many relatives, human and older than human. Chris is a Mtis storyteller, a descendant of the Pembina Band of the mighty Red River of the North and a citizen of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He writes the newsletter "An Irritable Mtis" and lives near Frenchtown, Montana. www.chrislatray.com

3:00PM: Raffle - Great prizes from our sponsors! Vortex Binoculars, Red Ants Pants tickets and more! Must be present to win.

10AM-2PM: Choteau Arts Studio Spring Migration Show.

11AM - 1PM: Conservation Grains -- Hands-on flour milling demo, wildlife habitat and grain farming talk and wildlife photography display by Liz Jarvis - 21 2nd St NW, Choteau (around the corner from Choteau Arts).

5:30PM: Doors open for the Old Trail Museum Wild Game Potluck. Museum Fundraiser. Admission is a free will donation. This is a POTLUCK with game and non-game dishes, silent auction, live auction, and 50/50 drawing. Located at the Stage Stop Inn's Rocky Mountain Convention Center.

6:30-10:00AM: Free Guided tours of Freezout Lake WMA and vicinity targeting Light Geese activity in the area. Meet at Choteau Pavilion parking lot for van carpool and caravan options. Van space is limited. Please sign up in person at the event registration table Friday or Saturday afternoon. Anyone is welcome to caravan behind the van from the pavilion.

11:00AM-1:00PM: Optics Workshop -- Join Pete Young with Optics4Birding, an online optics business. He'll have some of the latest birding gear to show you and welcomes any questions you have about binoculars, spotting scopes, and everything in between!" At Pavilion. Free.

Noon-3:00PM: Montana Dinosaur Center (120 2nd Ave South, Bynum) open for visitors.

The stretch of Highway 12 connecting Helena and East Helena was just one of several locations where Montana Department of Transportation plows were hit during this past weekends snowstorm.

It's a huge safety issue, said plow driver Kevin Peffer. Were out there for your safety. We're out there to keep the highways clean and get you from point A to point B as quickly as possible, as safely as possible.

(WATCH: Several MDT plows hit during the recent snowstorm)

MDT reported vehicles collided with six of their plows all across the state, from Montana Highway 12, to roadways like I-15 and I-90. Thankfully, no major injuries were reported.

One plow in the Circle area in eastern Montana was totaled after a head-on collision, costing MDT $250,000. Damages for the other vehicles are estimated to cost, on average, $3,000 per hit, taking them off the road for repairs in the meantime.

We don't have new snowplows waiting in the wings, said maintenance administrator Steve Felix. What we have is what we have, and it will take some time to get that plow replaced.

MDT is responsible for 25,000 miles of road across the state, with over 550 trucks in its fleet, 41 of which are tow plows.

Plows being struck is fairly common. From 2023 through 2025, there were an average of 23 hits to plows each winter.

MDT says common causes include low visibility, slick surfaces, and drivers just being in a rush.

In this day and age, people want to get to their coffee, they want to get to their yoga class, they want to get to school, and any opportunity for them to get around one of our trucks, they do it, Peffer said.

MDT says drivers should not crowd plows, and people should know that passing a plow can be dangerous when conditions are not safe.

They will make an illegal pass, they will step out over that double yellow and drive into opposing traffic to get around me, Peffer explained. That's the things that kind of make you - is it really that important? That they would get out there and risk their life, possibly mine and another driver, or oncoming traffic, were in snow.

When you see those plows out working, just give them plenty of room to work, don't crowd them, Felix stated.

Following the passage of the Helena public schools' $43 million elementary school bond back in September, the community had the opportunity Wednesday night to see designs and plans of the new Kessler Elementary to replace the outdated and undersized building.

(WATCH: Helena community gets a look at the future Kessler Elementary School)

Helena has already shown that they prioritize education and connection, Riley Thatcher, the Kessler principal, expressed.

That was on full display as around twenty members of the community gathered in the Kessler gym to learn more about the reimagined school and how it aims to have kids in the building by Fall 2028.

Matt Aune with Mosaic Architecture said, It really only makes the project better the more we can listen and learn from the community members, the better.

Architects from Mosaic were selected by the district back in November alongside general contractor Golden Eagle Swank Construction and shared an in-depth look at the future school.

We reviewed them just a few days ago, and I had staff in tears because they felt heard and seen, and they are seeing their dreams kind of come to life, Thatcher shared.

The new school will be built next to where Kessler stands today, so as not to impact student day-to-day too much, and it will have 24 classrooms, including two for life skills and two for Kindersprouts.

Architects say hearing what students and staff wanted was important. Engagement has been incredible, Aune noted. They have helped create and influence the design in a huge way, and without them, it would not be the great project it is going to be.

Some of the key things architects heard were a focus on the surrounding nature, like Spring Meadow Lake and Mount Helena, and inclusion and community spaces. That will come to life with amazing views, environment, and hiking-themed designs, and shared spaces like the library.

It is about what the building can do right now and what this serves in a hundred years from now, if thats where we are, and just the flexibility because we really are building for flexibility, Thatcher said.

The project aims to start moving forward on the ground in late summer and continue to refine budgets with the contractors.

Konnor Ralph may have had modest beginnings, but at this years Olympics, a kid from Helena, Montana, showed that hes one of the best freestyle skiers in the world, finishing in the top ten for Slopestyle and the top 5 for Big Air.

In the weeks leading up to the games, Ralph was still going through the qualification process, competing both overseas in China and Switzerland, and in Colorado, where he placed second in an event at Steamboat Springs, securing his seat on the flight to Italy.

Just getting the call that I was going, I mean, it's been a childhood dream, Ralph exclaimed.

After hearing the news, Ralph was cautious, hoping to avoid injury, both on and off the hill.

Even just packing for the Olympics, I was like, don't stub your toe or something and not be able to compete, just keep your body in one piece, Ralph joked.

He packed four pairs of skis for the trip, going through three of them. It may seem like a lot, but athletes want to make sure they have spare equipment to compete.

Getting off the plane, Ralph got to live his Olympic dream, being outfitted for U.S. team merch and walking around the Olympic Village.

I just tried on clothes for like 5 hours, Ralph explained.

Over the following two weeks, the skier went on to qualify for both Slopestyle and Big Air finals, with close friends and family there to cheer him on.

His family wasn't the only one cheering him on, with his hometown supporting him from thousands of miles away.

I saw a video online of like, a hundred people or something, up at 3 a.m. watching my final, Konnor recalled. I was like, how do you guys care this much? It was unbelievable that people were supporting, and it definitely motivated me to really try my hardest and put it all on the line for Helena and Montana.

Competing in the Olympics comes with significant pressure, but Ralph treated it like a normal competition, just aiming to do his best.

When his final run began for Big Air, he decided to give it everything.

Ralph, having only attempted it once while training in a blizzard, and hesitancy from his coaches, unexpectedly landed his first-ever triple cork 21, a moment hell remember for years to come.

I dont know, just the moment of that third run, I knew I wanted to try something new or do something to really feel like I gave it my all, Ralph said.

After the games, he enjoyed the rest of the experience in the village, creating lifetime memories.

Ralph offered some advice to the kids up at Great Divide right now, looking to follow in his footsteps.

Try to have as much fun as you can with it, Ralph suggests. I think that's why I've done so well, is I just truly enjoy it.

The Helena Family YMCA has been struggling with revenue since the pandemic and turnover in their leadership, but the community has stepped up in a big way to keep this resource that means so much to so many.

It is an amazing place to be right now, Helena Family YMCA COO, Ashley Callison, noted.

The Helena Family YMCA was first chartered in 1889, making it the oldest YMCA in Montana, and in that time has touched a lot of lives, lives like Connie Lange and her parents.

Lange shared, My dad, a long-term resident and stepmother, attended the Y regularly until they were in their early nineties, so they would climb the stairs up front.

Despite facing financial struggles and not receiving COVID relief grants last year, the Y has surpassed its annual fundraising campaign goal this year already, with 152,000 dollars.

Callison said, It is humbling to see our community cares about us as much as I care about the Y, and our families, and our seniors that we serve.

All of the money raised goes to providing a safe and accessible place to stay fit for all ages, even providing after-school programs to dozens of families, and around 100,000 dollars in scholarships each year.

Jenna Kavajecz, a parent of a student in the after-school program, noted, They provide confidence to kiddos, and this all keeps their brains and their bodies moving.

From the pool to the court and from young to old, the Ys mission has remained constant, encouraging healthy lifestyles and connecting others.

There are so many things to do here, and I have now developed friendships here that go outside the Y, Lange expressed.

Although the YMCAs annual fundraising campaign is coming to a close, donations can be made throughout the year.

After an alleged altercation between a student and teacher at East Helena High School on Thursday, students walked out of school on Tuesday in support of their peer and in protest of the teacher's continued employment.

Students held signs naming the teacher involved as Erik Pritchard, which MTN confirmed with law enforcement. Pritchard is listed as a teacher at East Valley Middle School, he is also a drivers education instructor.

Since Thursdays incident involved a minor, MTN was not able to obtain police reports, but law enforcement said the minor allegedly assaulted Pritchard in defense of his sister. According to an email from East Helena Public Schools Superintendent Dan Rispens, the districts investigation so far does not corroborate what the minor alleged.

In September, MTN reported on allegations from former students of what they characterized as inappropriate behavior from Pritchard. At the time, the district confirmed they were aware of multiple student reports. Additionally, in March of 2024, a Title IX investigation into a student complaint found Pritchard violated sexual harassment as defined by Title IX as unwelcome conduct as determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a persons equal access to the recipients education program or activity. This is not the same as a criminal conviction.

According to an email from Rispens on Tuesday, he is working with the school board and the teachers union to find a path forward.

We reached out to Pritchard for comment, but he has not responded as of the airing of this story.

Editors Note: In March 2026, KTVH reached out to Erik Pritchard for comment regarding an alleged altercation with a student and allegations from students. He responded that the comments of the former students in KTVHs September 9, 2025 news report were highly defamatory and were unverified and not properly fact-checked. He declined further comment, referring KTVH to Superintendent Dan Rispens.

The Montana Historical Society Library and Archives is one of the greatest collections of documents, written works, images, and film about the Treasure States past. It had been closed during the renovation and construction of the Montana Heritage Center. On Tuesday, it opened again for anyone to use, whether you're a student doing a school report or a documentarian making your next film.

Kim Hogberg is a filmmaker in Helena and has been using the library and archives for the past ten years, doing research for historical documentaries.

I was one of the first in line to get scheduled for when it opened, Hogberg exclaimed.

Shes working on a series about historic women in Montana and is excited to be back and hitting the books.

It was a little tough knowing that they were gonna be closing and closing for so long, Hogberg continued, but its exciting to know that they're gonna be open, and I can't wait to access them and just see the whole new facility.

The Montana Historical Society has been preserving Montanas history since its founding in 1865. Previously housed on the second floor, the archives have a new, larger home on the first floor.

There are more than a million items in the library and archives, like past maps of national forests, original images from the 1800s, and even the physical constitution for the state.

To protect them during the construction, all the items were packed up and wrapped in plastic, and there was a significant undertaking to get them unpacked following the Heritage Centers reopening in December of 2025.

The new research center is much larger and includes new microfilm readers and overhead book scanners. The space and resources are available for everyone; you just have to book a reservation.

A fourth grader coming in to work on their fourth-grade Montana history project, or we can have film producers here working on projects, said library and archives program manager Roberta Gebhardt.

The library and archives see about a couple of thousand visitors a year, and staff hope to see more come through the door with their upgrades.

The updated space and services at the library and archives also serve as an investment for generations to come.

We need to know our history, and we need to know where we came from to understand how we got where we are today, Gebhardt stated.

More information about how to get access to the archives or book an appointment can be found here.

Following a fire that happened off of Canyon Ferry Road last Thursday that took the home of a local firefighter, the community is rallying together to support the McDaniel family during this difficult time.

Multiple fundraisers have been set up across the community, including a GoFundMe set up by friends of the family and the Yard Foundation, which is an online firefighter-based 501(c)(3).

The Helena firefighters IAFF Local 448 is taking monetary donations.

Checks can be sent to:

Helena Firefighters Benevolent Fund

300 Neill Ave.

Helena, MT 59601

The benevolent fund is used to help Helena area families in need after a fire, and in this case, its a family the 36 members of the IAFF Local 448 know very well.

Dave Maslowski, the Helena Firefighters IAFF Local 448 president, shared, We talk a lot about in this career field about a brotherhood and sisterhood about taking care of each other, and that is what we are seeing across the community, so it is really, really appreciated.

The organization will also be hosting a pasta and pint night at the East Helena VFW on Friday March 27th, as another fundraising effort.

At Carroll College, campus conversations about Iran have moved from headlines into the classroom.

Even though it's all the way in Iran, it impacts our daily lives in different ways, said student Kimber Koteskei.

Instructors like Associate Professor of History D.J. Cash make it a priority to discuss current events and provide historical context, even when covering polarizing topics.

I think it's very important to get people who might have different ideas, Cash continued, different assumptions to actually talk to each other and to actually understand one another instead of just speaking past one another or worse, yelling at each other and fighting with each other.

Cash does his best to give students the facts and teach them how to think critically.

Giving no bias to either side, said student Andrew Pfeiffenberger in regard to Cashs teaching style. Giving a truly neutral setting for us to truly learn and benefit our own understanding.

Cash encourages students to read both sides of what people are saying, and to use balanced media sources to form their own thoughts and opinions, rather than relying on preconceived biases.

Students have the opportunity during class to ask their own questions about what's going on, and it offers a chance to dig deeper into the subject than what they see on the surface, such as economics, roots, and policies.

Before taking this class, I probably would just look at the headline and be like, ' Oh wow, this happened, or this happened, explained student Tanner Joyce. But here we get to talk to our peers and ask questions and get really thought-out responses from our professors.

Students say they feel supported and enjoy having the discussions, hearing multiple perspectives.

No one ever gets mad at you for asking a question or your opinion on anything, Joyce said. It's all like, we're all adults here, and it's a great environment.

Everyone feels safe expressing those opinions and learning what other people think about what's going on in the world currently, Koteskei said.

The Made in Montana Trade Show returns to the Queen City of the Rockies, and this year there are 112 exhibitors from all across Big Sky Country.

Jessica John, the Made in Montana program specialist, shared, This show really gets them into the wholesale door, and we Montanans are strong, bold, and friendly.

Each year, awards are presented to several small businesses. This year, the best in show award went to Beartooth Candle Company out of Billings.

Best new exhibitor went to Rogue Brownies in Great Falls, and honorable mention was given to RJS Engraving and Design based in Stevensville.

The best retailer was awarded to 56 counties in Helena, and their owner, Megan Martin, said, Small businesses are the backbone, and you thrive as a community and state when we work together.

The Montana Department of Commerce says this trade show continues to be a platform for small businesses around Montana to get their story and their business out to the community.

Last year, the trade show brought in over five thousand shoppers, and the event will be open to the public on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.

Serve Montana hosted their 17th annual symposium at Carroll College this week.

The event brings together more than 150 members for a series of speakers, workshops, and conference-style breakout sessions designed to help participants connect and learn more about the different pathways AmeriCorps offers.

Governor Greg Gianforte has also proclaimed this week AmeriCorps Week, recognizing and celebrating those who are serving their communities.

Serve Montana receives AmeriCorps funding to support programs and partnerships that create service opportunities aimed at meeting the needs of communities across Montana.

Officials say the event plays an important role in developing their members and equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to better serve their mission.

The goal is that they gain skills for service, that they meet each other and network because we are so spread out across the fourth largest state, explained the governors office director of community service Sarah Sadowski, and then the third piece would be the life after skills. What do we do after? How do we put this on a resume? How do I know what I want to do after serving?

Serve Montana says they're always recruiting for their programs, and anyone needing more information can find it here.

MTN has obtained video of the alleged assault of a teacher at East Helena High School. We have blurred out the faces of the students and teacher in the video.

According to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, an East Helena student has been cited for allegedly punching a teacher multiple times.

The alleged misdemeanor assault happened on Thursday in a classroom at East Helena High School. Dutton told MTN the student was angry that the teacher had allegedly done something to his sister.

Since the student is a minor, the case will be handled in juvenile court. The student is currently suspended from school.

East Helena Public Schools Superintendent Dan Rispens sent a letter to parents saying the teacher received minor injuries and was evaluated by medical staff and treated for minor injuries.

"School administration will be managing student discipline in regards to this situation in accordance with our student handbook and board policies as well as state and federal law," wrote Rispens.

Rispens added that this was an isolated incident.

MTN has reached out to East Helena School for further clarification on the incident and the individuals involved. Our calls were not immediately returned.

Last year, a structure at the Lewis and Clark County fairgrounds caught fire right where Im standing. One year later, we have a better idea of the total damage done.

I - I was devastated, said fairgrounds manager Kevin Tenney. It was a horrible time for it to happen. It was a tough loss for us.

On February 20th, 2025, fairgrounds manager Kevin Tenney got the call no property manager ever wants to receive.

I was sitting at home one night, Tenney continued, and I got a call from Leo Dutton saying one of my buildings was on fire, so I came down and, I mean, there was nothing we could do at that point.

Fire crews from around the area responded, working to keep the flames from spreading to nearby buildings.

It's one of the bigger ones Ive been to in my nearly 26-year career, said Helena Fire assistant fire chief Mike Chambers.

Tenney estimates more than $280,000 in damage, not including the building itself.

The fire destroyed most of their tools, equipment, and vehicles used to maintain the fairgrounds year-round.

Even after reviewing video footage, investigators still havent determined what caused the fire, but dont believe the fire to be suspicious in nature.

Its not under investigation still, it's not open by any means, but if more information comes to light, well reopen it and see what we can piece together with the information we gathered at the time, Chambers stated.

One year later, the fairgrounds has replaced about 95% of what was lost.

The county provided about $200,000 in support, with insurance covering the rest.

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry inspects the grounds frequently, looking to spot potential causes for the future.

It was a freak accident, something that was out of our control, nothing that we did caused the fire, so we just continue to be conscious of what we do down here, Tenney explained.

Still, even from the ashes, staff are making use of what they can.

We found that the foundation was still usable, Tenney said, so well just put a pre-fabricated still building on that site.

Tenney hopes the new building will be finished by summer, but says the timeline will likely change to be later.

Officials have provided more information about Thursday's fire that destroyed a firefighter's home in the Helena Valley, and a fund has been set up to support the family.

(WATCH: Fund set up to aid firefighter's family after they lost their home)

According to officials, the call came in around 11:12 a.m. on Thursday for a garage fire on Divine Road, east of the Canyon Ferry Road roundabout. Once crews arrived, they found the fire had spread to the home with large flames.

"My neighbor texted me and said the house is on fire below you so of course that panicked us because we knew which way the wind was blowing," Cindy Davis, a nearby neighbor, told MTN.

Law enforcement at the scene had the neighborhood blocked off to traffic due to concern about a large propane tank near the fire, and a concern due to the strong winds at the time, potentially spreading the fire.

It is just a devastating thing to see, being concerned about everybody else around us, especially the house next to door, and if the wind shifts it could be the whole neighborhood and it is just a scary thing, noted Davis.

East Valley Fire Chief Willie Wagner told MTN that they believe the fire was started by a heat lamp in the garage that was keeping chicks warm. One of the owners was inside the house at the time, but they were able to get out, and there are no human injuries reported at this time. A couple of the family's cats are currently not accounted for.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton told MTN the structure was a complete loss, and the fire is not considered suspicious in nature.

MTN has confirmed through multiple sources that the home belonged to a Helena Fire Department firefighter.

Fire crews worked the fire for hours and were able to have the fire completely out by 3:00 p.m. Crews from East Valley, Eastgate, Tri-Lakes, West Valley, City of Helena, Montana City and East Helena fire departments all responded to fight the fire. The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office and East Helena Police also responded to assist with operations and traffic control.

A fund has been set up by the Helena Firefighters IAFF Local 448 to support the family. Monetary donations can be made to their nonprofit listed below.

Helena Firefighters Benevolent Fund

300 Neill Ave.

Helena, MT 59601

Davis says she is heartbroken for her neighbors, and moments like this highlight the importance of community.

I appreciate the vigilance, my neighbor texted me letting me know," said Davis. "I feel like we should all come together more, have more communication, everybody should have phone numbers, and have each others back.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more information from officials and eyewitnesses.

The employment of the Boulder Elementary principal was a top discussion point this week for the school board. After comments on Facebook about bullying and other issues at Boulder Elementary School, parents showed up at a school board meeting Tuesday night to voice their concerns.

Issues have been going on since the beginning of the school year, said parent Makila Bumgarner.

(WATCH: Boulder Elementary principal's contract causes concerns for parents)

On the agenda for Tuesdays meetingrenewing principal David Jamisons contract.

Since that agenda item is a personnel matter, the board called an executive session to discuss it privately.

While parents were allowed in the room one by one to share their thoughts and concerns with the board, MTNs cameras were not. We did speak with parents and learned what they planned to say.

I just don't think it's in the best interest of the kids in this school that he has his contract renewed, Bumgarner said.

My daughter doesn't even want to go to school; she is now doing school online, said parent Janai Turner.

After about 30 minutes, the board ended its executive session, and a vote was held on whether or not to renew Jamisons contract.

The superintendent recommended the board renew the contract, but the board ultimately voted not to.

The boards reasoning for this decision is unknown. MTN asked trustees and the principal for interviews, but they declined.

MTN called Superintendent David Selvig multiple times for comment, but he did not respond by the time this story aired.

The Boulder Elementary principal job posting will be posted, and Jamison can reapply.

One foreign exchange student, who is calling East Helena home for the semester, is making an effort to provide for the homeless community in a fun and creative way.

Aynur Toylyyeva is visiting from Turkmenistan and has fallen in love with the Treasure State.

Part of her studies while in Montana includes a project that will benefit the community, in this case, East Helena.

I feel like I was going to help just the community, but at the same time, I started having fun and connecting with everyone," Toylyyeva shared.

Toylyyeva who is also a member of the East Helena Speech and Debate team set out jars in the school office with names of classmates and school staff, and the name with the most donations will get pied in the face.

I think it's like I am not just helping them, they are helping me to become more social, more willing to help others. I think it is really fulfilling and satisfying," Toylyyeva said.

Toylyyeva says her goal was fifty dollars to buy some food or goods for the homeless, but she has already surpassed that, raising ninety dollars.

Court documents obtained by MTN News on Monday highlight further details in a deadly shooting at a Missoula gas station on March 4, 2026.

The Missoula Police Department (MPD) was called to the Town Pump on Reserve Street after receiving reports of shots being fired.

On scene, four armed males were wearing tactical gear. Three were standing while the fourth was performing CPR on the shooting victim, identified by court documents as Joshua Wykle.

According to an affidavit filed by Missoula Deputy County Attorney Brittany Williams, an MPD Lieutenant determined that they were bail bondsmen who had traveled to Missoula from Billings to apprehend Wykle, an alleged fugitive also from Billings.

MPD Officer Hansen identified the man performing CPR as the shooter, Brandon Wakefield. It was noted by police that Wakefield had a patch on his tactical vest stating, Fugitive Recovery Agent".

Documents state, according to video from a nearby casino, Wykle was in gray sweats and a black hooded jacket. He was walking across the parking lot of the Town Pump to get into a white Saturn.

Approximately 10 seconds after the Saturn turns on, the video shows a Honda Pilot pulling behind the Saturn, partially blocking it into the parking spot.

Two men exit the the passenger doors of the Honda. The male who got out of the front passenger door was later identified as Austin Mistretta.

Documents report Mistretta approached the front of the Saturn and pointed his rifle at the vehicle.

The video shows another man in tactical gear exit the Honda and approach the driver's side of the Saturn and pointing his firearm at Wykle in the driver's seat.

The Saturn begins to reverse as one agent walks directly behind it and braces himself against the car.

As the vehicle continues to reverse, the agent gets out of the way as Wakefield fires downward into the car at Wykle's center.

Court documents detail that Wakefield had fired twice while standing next to the vehicle.

Documents note Wakefield was in a shooting stance and then blocked from view of the camera by the moving Saturn.

Mistretta appears on the video to walk over to the Honda as Wakefield begins performing CPR on Wykle.

Both Wakefield and Mistretta were directly filed to district court, meaning a jail-based arraignment did not take place.

Wakefield is being held at the Missoula County Detention Center on charges of deliberate homicide and assault with a weapon. His bond is set at $1,000,000.

Wakefield's hearing has not been scheduled yet.

Meanwhile, Austin Mistretta was bonded out of jail. He has been charged with attempted assault with a weapon.

His hearing is scheduled for March 16.

We'll update you as we learn more.

The City of Helena is seeing some damage from the recent storm. Crews were out Monday morning cleaning up downed branches.

When we have these sustained winds of 50, 60, 70 miles an hour, that definitely takes a toll, said Chris Daly, Helena Parks and Recreation urban forestry supervisor.

(WATCH: Powerful winds cause damage in Montana)

Sundays wind event saw gusts up to 61 miles an hour in Helena, with other parts of Montana seeing even higher speeds and more severe damage. Officials say compared to Decembers destructive storm, there werent nearly as many calls, making it easier to manage.

The city has measures in place to help try to limit major damage.

We run a pretty aggressive proactive pruning program, Daly continued, which really helps to mitigate storm damage.

Helena and the rest of the Treasure State saw a major wind event on December 17 of 2025, bringing 91 miles per hour gusts and destruction along with it. Homes were damaged, thousands lost power, and trees came down. The damage was costly, estimated at between $25,000-$30,000. Each tree costs around $450 to clean up, and over $10,000 in damages at the Bill Roberts Golf Course alone.

Officials say they keep a closer eye on the weaker trees, as theyre more likely to be impacted by weather events.

Some of those weaker trees include younger, more recently planted trees, as well as a specific species like green ash.

As they get older and start to develop rot on the inside, Daly explained, which oftentimes we can't see, they definitely become weaker and more susceptible to wind damage.

The city has taken significant steps to reduce the green ash population in recent years. The tree species once represented around 68% of the urban forest; currently, they represent around 40% of the citys trees.

Lewis and Clark County Emergency Services says there may be unseen damage from past wind events, and winds are expected to continue later this week, and could reach speeds of up to 80 miles an hour.

People should prepare ahead if they can, like checking their trees and structures for damage. Look for signs of stress, like cracks or if the tree has more lean than in the past, and make sure their home items are secured.

Flag things that you think might be a hazard, or if you can, just remove them, strap them down, put some weight on something, things along those lines, recommends Kyle Sturgill-Simon, Lewis and Clark County emergency manager. Anything to keep the flying debris to a minimum.

Any downed trees you spot can be reported using the MyHelena app, as Parks and Recreation does its best to keep as many trees in the ground and healthy.

Were working hard to make sure that we have trees to enjoy for future generations, Daly said.

Over the weekend, 12 Helena students from grades 3 through 5 made their mark in the kitchen, competing to have their recipe debut at the regional and even national level.

(WATCH: Cooking up victory: Helena Future Chefs Competition)

I enjoy cooking because it is fun to try new recipes and just really fun to see what you can make, said fourth-grade competitor, Evelyn Dorrington.

This year, students created dishes from all around the world, with the theme being 'Passport to Flavor'.

Robert Worthy, the Helena Public Schools food service director, said, It is not things you are going to see like walking into McDonalds, these are things you are going to see going to different restaurants at a higher quality.

Like third-grade student Isaac Bell, who made a curry carrot soup, Its healthy, it tastes good, and I just really love the theme of it.

The Sodexo Future Chefs Competition has been going on in Helena for two decades and grows every year.

Whether they are using a knife, a mixer, whatever they are doing, frying the food, we have all different levels, Worthy noted.

Sixty youngsters submitted recipes, and 12 were chosen to whip up their dishes in a commercial kitchen, one for display and dozens of samples the community could try.

Bell shared, If my entire family liked it, then maybe the public will like it.

For the students, it is about more than winning, like for Dorrington, who gets to share her grandmas heritage.

It is really fun, and I hope that I can make it for my kids and grandkids, Dorrington said.

This year, Joel Mozer, a third grader from Jefferson, took home the grand prize for his chicken katsu and jasmine rice. Now the top recipes will be submitted for the regional level.