Montana
Whitefish native Fynn Ridgeway announces transfer to Montana from Minnesota State Moorhead
MISSOULA — The transfer portal opened Monday and the Montana Grizzlies have gotten to work, and their first known addition is a Treasure State native returning home.
Whitefish native Fynn Ridgeway announced via social media his commitment to join the Grizzlies on Tuesday afternoon. Ridgeway, a 2023 graduate of Whitefish High School, spent the last two seasons at NCAA Division II Minnesota State University Moorhead.
“All Glory to God. Let’s get to work,” Ridgeway wrote on social media with a photo of the Griz logo.
All Glory To God. Let’s get to work. @MontanaGrizFB pic.twitter.com/AH4htDc8VM
— Fynn Ridgeway (@FynnRidgeway) December 10, 2024
Ridgeway, an all-state quarterback and cornerback for the Bulldogs in high school, played running back for the Dragons in his two seasons there. Ridgeway redshirted in 2023 and played in three games where he rushed for 93 total yards and one touchdown.
For a pass-heavy offense in 2024, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Ridgeway was MSUM’s leading rusher through 11 games. He carried the ball 59 times for 214 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 207 yards and two more scores.
At Whitefish, Ridgeway threw for 6,213 passing yards and ran for 1,915 in his career while scoring 86 career touchdowns with the Bulldogs.
In his senior year in the fall of 2022, he threw for 1,866 yards and 16 scores and ran for another 1,308 yards and 18 touchdowns. For his efforts, Ridgeway competed in the 2023 Montana East-West Shrine Game for the West.
Ridgeway transfers to UM with three years of eligibility remaining. He’s the first known transfer in for the Griz in this latest cycle.
Four players are known to have entered the portal from the Grizzlies including a pair of starters in quarterback Logan Fife and cornerback Ronald Jackson. Also entering the portal are sophomore linebacker Cooper Walton and freshman defensive end Tyson Simmons.
Montana
Montana Lottery Lucky For Life, Big Sky Bonus results for Nov. 27, 2025
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 27, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 27 drawing
08-12-13-16-45, Lucky Ball: 13
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Nov. 27 drawing
05-14-15-21, Bonus: 15
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana
Montana State’s Brent Vigen says he’s staying as Bobcats football coach
Montana State University football coach Brent Vigen announced Wednesday he is staying in Bozeman.
The Bobcat coach, who led his team to a second consecutive Big Sky Conference title this season, wrote on social media that he spoke with the school’s athletics director, Leon Costello, and chose to remain in place.
“I’m honored for the opportunity to keep leading this team and to continue this journey as the head football coach,” Vigen wrote in a statement posted on Montana State social media platforms.
Vigen recently earned his third Big Sky Coach of the Year award after leading the Bobcats to the No. 2 seed in the upcoming FCS playoffs. The Cats will play the winner of the Yale-Youngstown State game on Dec. 6 in Bozeman.
According to multiple media reports, Vigen was a finalist for the head coaching job at Oregon State University.
At Montana State, Vigen has compiled 57-12 overall record, including a 37-3 record in Big Sky play. He guided the Bobcats to the FCS national championship game in 2024.
Montana
Former judge-elect in northwest Montana pleads guilty to felony drug charges
KALISPELL, Mont. — A former northwest Montana judge-elect has pleaded guilty to three felony drug charges and agreed to a three-year deferred sentence after admitting he arranged to buy cocaine while working as a criminal defense attorney and running for district judge.
Kenneth Britton “Britt” Cotter of Polson entered guilty pleas in Lake County District Court to one count of solicitation to commit criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and two counts of attempted criminal possession of dangerous drugs, all felonies, under an acknowledgment and waiver of rights and plea agreement filed Nov. 21 in the 20th Judicial District. The case is assigned to District Judge Jennifer Lint.
Cotter was elected without opposition in November 2024 to the 20th Judicial District seat, which covers Lake and Sanders counties, but has since resigned the judgeship. In the plea document, Cotter states he reviewed the investigative file and potential penalties, understands his trial rights and waives them as part of the agreement.
Under the deal, prosecutors and Cotter will jointly recommend that he receive a three-year deferred imposition of sentence on each count, to run concurrently, allowing the felonies to be dismissed if he complies with all conditions. The agreement notes Cotter originally faced a maximum of 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine on the solicitation charge and up to five years and $5,000 on each possession count.
The plea agreement requires Cotter to submit to a new chemical dependency evaluation, complete any recommended treatment, abstain from alcohol, marijuana and illegal drugs absent a prescription, and avoid bars and marijuana dispensaries. He must also cooperate with the Montana Office of Disciplinary Counsel regarding his law license, comply with any probation and monitoring conditions, avoid contact with witnesses, submit a DNA sample and pay prosecution costs, surcharges and fees tied to pretrial drug testing and preparation of a presentence investigation report.
The state’s earlier affidavit in support of filing the charges describes a series of text messages and Venmo payments between Cotter and a Jane Doe between March 2022 and late 2022 that investigators say show him repeatedly arranging to buy cocaine, including payments of $900 and $1,200 labeled as “legal fees” and “work.” It also recounts a November 2024 interview in which Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy told agents Cotter admitted to her that he had bought cocaine from Jane Doe “a long time ago” and said he stopped when he decided to run for judge, adding that he did not want to embarrass the judiciary.
Cotter previously had been ordered to appear for arraignment Jan. 8, 2025, after the state sought leave in December 2024 to file the information formally charging him. The governor’s office received notice of the impending vacancy in the 20th Judicial District in late December; current Judge John Mercer, appointed after Judge Deborah Kim Christopher resigned in April 2024, serves through Jan. 5.
Cotter’s sentencing is set for January 9, 2026.
-
Science6 days agoWashington state resident dies of new H5N5 form of bird flu
-
News1 week agoHow Every House Member Voted to Release the Epstein Files
-
World1 week agoPoland to close last Russian consulate over ‘unprecedented act of sabotage’
-
News1 week agoAnalysis: Is Trump a lame duck now? | CNN Politics
-
Business3 days agoStruggling Six Flags names new CEO. What does that mean for Knott’s and Magic Mountain?
-
World1 week agoZelenskiy meets Turkish president as word emerges of new US peace push
-
New York1 week agoDriver Who Killed Mother and Daughters Sentenced to 3 to 9 Years
-
World1 week agoUnclear numbers: What we know about Italian military aid to Ukraine