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Friday, November 6, 2026

Adoption Month starts at the Capitol, and Carroll plays for the division

Plus, Montana Millionaire's restart date and a statewide fiscal health ranking.

The Good Day Helena team2 stories17 sources5 min read

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CommunityTop story

Helena families share their adoption stories as Montana kicks off Adoption Month

Montana's foster care and adoption numbers

1,716
children in Montana foster care, down from more than 3,300 in 2021
nearly 48%
decline in foster care since 2021
256
adoptions the state has handled this year, Harrington said

Sources: KTVQ, KPAX News

Gov. Greg Gianforte proclaimed November 2026 as Adoption Month on Thursday at the Capitol Rotunda, where adoptive and foster families gathered to celebrate the start of the month. Helena's April Berns shared her story: a Child Protective Services call on Oct. 5, 2018, asked if she could take in her granddaughter. She adopted her on March 11, 2021, and adoptions of two grandsons became official Sept. 30.

Meagan Hogue and her husband, Wesley, have fostered children in Helena since 2022 and adopted two. Children are still waiting for permanent homes. Director Dr. Douglas Harrington's message to anyone hesitant: "Don't be afraid, just really consider it."

  • Tax credit: $5,000, or $7,500 for children adopted within Montana
  • Signed into law by Gianforte in 2023
  • New this year: Montana joined the A Home for Every Child initiative
  • Help: DPHHS connects families with financial assistance

Berns's family grew over eight years

  1. Oct. 2018Child Protective Services asks Berns if she can take in her granddaughter.
  2. Nov. 2018Her granddaughter comes to live with her.
  3. March 2021Berns officially adopts her granddaughter.
  4. Aug. 2025Two of her grandsons come into her care.
  5. Sept. 30The adoptions of the two grandsons become official.

Sources: KTVQ, KPAX News

Carroll Football

Carroll plays College of Idaho on Saturday with the Frontier West on the line

If you follow the Fighting Saints, Saturday's a big one. No. 12 Carroll and No. 2 College of Idaho are both 4-0 in play, so the game is winner take all for the division. Linebacker Eli Aby said the Saints are "firing on all cylinders right now."

Carroll and College of Idaho both enter 4-⁠0 in Frontier West play

No. 12National rankingNo. 2
4Frontier West wins4

Source: MontanaSports.com

Coach Troy Purcell pointed to Yotes quarterback Caden Young and a run game he called "probably the best in the business." Carroll quarterback Kaden Huot said the plan is "just executing the offense and having some fun with the guys."

  • Kickoff: Sat., Nov. 7, at 12 p.m.
  • Place: Caldwell, Idaho
  • Stakes: the Frontier West division

6straight wins for Carroll entering Saturday

The Saints ride a six-game winning streak into Caldwell.

Source: MontanaSports.com

Staying in town this weekend? The Independent Record's Around the Town roundup covers the Archie Bray benefit auction, Edgar Allen Poe tales and Boyd Meets Girl.

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Helena answered.

Asked

How will you follow Carroll's game Saturday?

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News Notes

Fall sports

The Helena High girls cross country team got its fire truck ride on Thursday to celebrate the Bengals' 2026 Class AA state championship. In volleyball, Missoula Big Sky beat Helena in four sets Wednesday to clinch a state tournament berth. Helena Capital was eliminated from postseason contention at the end of the regular season. The Independent RecordMontanaSports.com

Eight teams hold Class AA state volleyball berths

TeamDivisionHow they got in
Bozeman (17-2)EastClinched earlier
Gallatin (16-3)EastClinched earlier
Great Falls CMREastWon Wednesday
BelgradeEastWon Wednesday
Missoula Sentinel (14-5)WestClinched earlier
Missoula Hellgate (12-7)WestClinched earlier
Kalispell GlacierWestWon Wednesday
Missoula Big SkyWestWon Wednesday

Source: MontanaSports.com

Mamma Mia!

Capital High School students take the stage Nov. 5-7 and Nov. 12-14 for their rendition of "Mamma Mia!" in the school's auditorium. The Independent Record

Home

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Around Montana

Fiscal health

Montana is now ranked seventh in the nation for fiscal health in 's 2026 Financial State of the States report, up from 22nd in 2021. The report says the state improved its financial position for the fifth consecutive year. Hi-Line Today

Montana Millionaire

Montana Lottery announced the new date: tickets go back on sale Thu., Nov. 12, at 6:30 a.m., with the same odds and more prizes. Tickets printed Nov. 1 and their instant wins are valid for all drawings. The lottery added instant wins after it confirmed they were distributed at a higher rate than designed. NonStop Local MontanaKECIKTVHNonStop Local Billings

Montana Millionaire's start went wrong, and sales resume Nov. 12

  1. Nov. 1Original start date: buyers see "Transaction Not Allowed" on their screens.
  2. Nov. 2Lottery confirms instant wins went out at a higher rate and says more will be added.
  3. Nov. 12Ticket sales will resume at 6:30 a.m.

Sources: NonStop Local Montana, KECI, KTVH, NonStop Local Billings

Rec grants

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will begin accepting applications Nov. 16 for five grant programs for recreational trails, off-highway vehicle opportunities and public shooting ranges. They have a combined $4.4 million in anticipated funding. NBC Montana

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Helena answered.

Asked

Will you buy Montana Millionaire tickets when sales resume Nov. 12?

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

Writers live twice.

— Natalie Goldberg

Things to Do

Things to Do

Helena, MT

Friday, Nov. 6

See every Helena eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

Submit your Job listing

Do you know just the role for our readers? Advertise it on our Jobs board.

The Buy

Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

Just a heads up for anybody that walks the Mount Ascension trails with their dogs.

“We found rat poison on the trail yesterday. It wasn’t a whole lot but I picked it up as much as I could. I didn’t see any more on the trail, but if you’re up there, keep your eyes peeled.”

— A neighbor, Westside/Euclid Ave North
Photo from the neighbor’s post

42 likes · 14 comments

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The Wrap

Helena has some star power in its birth records. Gary Cooper, the Hollywood actor, was born in Helena, and the list he leads also includes musicians, comedians, athletes and one infamous daredevil. Not bad for a town this size. Fair warning: you may win a few trivia bets.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Carroll lands a $1.7M grant and East Helena hosts Whitefish Friday

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Every source in this edition17 links · 12 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. KTVQktvq.com
  3. KPAX Newskpax.com
  4. The Independent Recordhelenair.com
  5. NonStop Local Montanamontanarightnow.com
  6. MontanaSports.commontanasports.com
  7. The Independent Recordhelenair.com
  8. The Independent Recordhelenair.com
  9. MontanaSports.commontanasports.com
  10. The Independent Recordhelenair.com
  11. Hi-Line Todayhilinetoday.com
  12. NonStop Local Montanamontanarightnow.com
  13. KECInbcmontana.com
  14. KTVHktvh.com
  15. NonStop Local Billingskulr8.com
  16. NBC Montananbcmontana.com
  17. Helena events calendargooddayhelena.com

Past issues

  1. Mon., Nov. 9Frontier Conference volleyball tournament starts Thursday in Helena
  2. Sun., Nov. 8Montana Millionaire sales resume Thursday, and Tech wins in overtime
  3. Sat., Nov. 7FWP wants a licensed angler for its $1M fisheries grant panel
  4. Thurs., Nov. 5Carroll lands a $1.7M grant and East Helena hosts Whitefish Friday
  5. Wed., Nov. 4Helena Food Share is serving about 30% more households than last year
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Good Day Helenato me · Fri., Nov. 66:00 a.m.

Adoption Month starts at the Capitol, and Carroll plays for the division

Plus, Montana Millionaire's restart date and a statewide fiscal health ranking.

The TLDR

  1. Helena families share adoption stories as Adoption Month begins
  2. Carroll plays College of Idaho for the Frontier West on Saturday
  3. Helena High girls cross country gets its fire truck ride
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Good Day Helena’s other editions

All the news
SportsCarroll earns the No. 6 seed as the Frontier Conference volleyball tournament comes to HelenaIf you want volleyball with a hometown team, the Frontier Conference tournament is in town. Carroll earned the No. 6 seed in the eight-team field, and the Saints face No. 3 Dakota State in Thursday's 7:30 p.m. nightcap at the Carroll College P.E. Center.Today’s editionRead OutdoorsMontana FWP is looking for a licensed angler to join its fisheries grant panelIf you've got a Montana fishing license and opinions about the state's streams and rivers, Fish, Wildlife & Parks has a seat for you. The Future Fisheries Citizen Review Panel is looking for a licensed angler to fill a two-year term.Saturday’s editionRead Election DayMontana polls close at 8 p.m. today, and 300,609 absentee ballots were in by Monday morningIf you haven't voted yet, today's the day. Polls close at 8 p.m., and you can register until then. Registration hours vary by county, so we suggest calling your county election office first. Officials spent Monday finalizing tests of ballot tabulators and will begin counting absentee ballots.Tuesday’s editionRead

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