Good morning, Helena.

Helena restaurant The Union is a finalist for the James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant award and the only Montana contender in the competition.

The Union will celebrate one year serving the community next week—winners will be announced in June in Chicago.

Gulch Distillers is expanding downtown Helena with a new location at 4 W.

Lawrence St. (between Queen City Ballet and the Gold Bar) that will open in the next few weeks.

Helena native Trenton Wright, who earned a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering, is among the top 64 contestants on American Idol after a (13-hour drive) to Nashville from Florida (selected from over 140,000 auditioners) with strong support from Montana, and he will perform again tomorrow on Sunday, April 6. His journey to share his music continues as he chases his dream.

House lawmakers advanced HB 2 on Wednesday to raise state payments for tribal colleges from $3,280 to $4,183 per non-Native student and add $200,000 for the One-Two-Free program so high schoolers can earn college credit tuition-free.

The measure also provides $500,000 to support teacher prep programs and strengthen local educator pipelines—steps aimed at boosting financial security for the seven tribal colleges.

Helena Public Schools (HPS) trustees listened to a presentation on March 25 that showed potential changes to school boundaries.

Some community members voiced concern (calling it a ploy to strip neighborhoods of local identity) about the plan.

Helena robotics teams Fusion, Protostars, and Nano have earned international recognition and will soon travel abroad to compete.

They qualified at state in February—Fusion will head to Houston in April, Nano will compete in Long Beach in May, and Protostars will join a world tournament in Canada in July.

The Montana House began debating bills early Friday — including changes to constitutional amendment voting rules, measures against child pornography and for social media safety, and a Medicaid stabilization fund — as lawmakers face a revenue deadline today.

All bills passed second reading on party-line votes, and the House will return further today before revenue bills lapse.

County officials are asking residents to review and comment on a draft community health improvement plan for Lewis and Clark County— the plan, done every three years, finds the top public health needs and suggests ways to fix them.

The Carroll College football team is holding spring practice at Nelson Stadium this April as snow flurries fall and coach Troy Purcell said players are competing for starting roles including a new quarterback after Jack Prka’s graduation—players are also working to strengthen their defense. The team will open its regular season on Aug. 30 against MSU-Northern.

Hotel California

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Helena Civic Center — Cost Info Unavailable — Experience the iconic sound of The Eagles performed live by HOTEL CALIFORNIA.

Lucky Stiff in Helena

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Grandstreet Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of laughter with a unique performance supporting local causes.

SFST/Intoxilyzer Training Course

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Montana Law Enforcement Academy — $400 — Gain practical skills in DUI processing with expert instructors from the MT Crime Lab and Montana Highway Patrol.

Lucky Stiff

7:30-9 p.m. — Grandstreet Theatre — Ticket purchase supports a cause — Enjoy a night of entertainment while giving back to the community.

Lucky Stiff Performance

7:30-9:00 p.m. — Grandstreet Theatre — Tickets vary — Enjoy a unique theatrical experience that supports charitable causes.

Montana Warrior Run

8:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Spring Meadow Lake State Park — Registration fee required — Celebrate community spirit while participating in this annual run to promote awareness and wellness.

2025 Fundraising Summit

9:30 AM – 5:00 PM — Delta Hotels Helena Colonial — $95 – $305 — A day exploring trends and strategies for building a strong fundraising foundation.

Triple Crown Gala

6-11 p.m. — Helena Civic Center — $150 — Experience an evening of elegance and empowerment at this Kentucky Derby-themed charity event supporting adults with disabilities.

HYP Mingle at Ten Mile Creek Brewery

6-8 p.m. — Ten Mile Creek Brewery — Free microbrews for members — Unwind with friends while enjoying local brews at a great venue.

Unravel The Scratchgravels XC

11 AM – 3 PM — Echo lane trailhead — Supports local cycling initiatives — Experience premier cross-country racing on Helena's stunning single-track trails.