Today in Minot

Donny Schatz enters 2026 with a fresh start and a familiar number on the wing. After ending an 18-year run with Tony Stewart Racing, the Minot native has signed on full-time with CJB Motorsports for the upcoming World of Outlaws season. The move reunites Schatz with a team returning to full-tour competition, and pairs him with veteran crew chief Barry Jackson. With 316 career wins and 10 championships already behind him, Schatz begins his 30th full-time season in February at Volusia Speedway Park.

An unusual clause in the North Dakota Constitution that limits the power of the courts kept the state’s near-total abortion ban from being struck down last month. Most state Supreme Courts require a majority vote to declare a law unconstitutional. But in North Dakota, it takes...

Kevin Hall reshaped nutrition research in 2019 when his controlled study showed that ultra-processed foods can override appetite and quietly add hundreds of calories a day. His new book Food Intelligence revisits that finding and argues that the problem goes well beyond sugar or fat content. It challenges familiar diet advice, questions the booming supplement industry, and points to a food system engineered for overconsumption. Read the full interview with Mr. Hall by Tim Spector in this article at Nature.

Winter weather created an unusual scene at Minot International Airport Tuesday morning when a sand truck slid on icy pavement and struck the nose of a SkyWest plane. No passengers were aboard and no injuries were reported, but the collision damaged both vehicles and led to canceled flights for United Airlines travelers. The city says proper reporting and screening processes are underway, with the Highway Patrol now leading the investigation. For travelers, the advice is straightforward: double-check flight schedules before heading to the airport.

A new round of federal aid is headed to farmers, but it arrives with political and economic contradictions. The administration has rolled out a $12 billion bailout to offset damage from tariffs—tariffs that economists note are ultimately paid by Americans, including the very producers now receiving relief. North Dakota leaders have welcomed the support, yet the broader strategy remains uncertain. Trade tensions persist, costs continue to rise, and temporary fixes deepen reliance on government programs rather than addressing the long-term challenges facing agriculture. If you’re confused, you’re not alone. Rob Port with InForum attempts to make sense of it in this commentary.

Watford City is moving from vision to action on its long-talked-about downtown revival. City leaders have advanced a redevelopment plan for North Main Street, aiming to build a destination that reflects what residents asked for in last year’s community survey. A new $500,000 state grant helps launch two major pieces: a multi-level commercial hub and a flexible Main Street Square designed for events, vendors, and gathering. With demolition planned for 2026 and fundraising ahead, the city is leaning into the idea that a strong downtown can anchor community life. M.K. French with McKenzie County Farmer has the full story.

Australia has moved to ban social media use for anyone under 16, setting off a tense debate among teenagers, parents, and experts. Supporters say the move protects young people from bullying and harmful content; critics view it as government overreach that sidelines parental judgment and youth voices. In interviews, teens describe both the opportunities social platforms provide—connection, creativity, even early careers—and the emotional toll they can carry. What’s clear is that the ban doesn’t erase the underlying problems; it raises new questions about responsibility, regulation, and trust.

Watch below from the Wall Street Journal.

Across architecture, some of the most forward-looking work is rediscovering ancient materials. Rammed earth—clay soil compacted into dense layers—is showing up again, not as novelty, but as a serious answer to carbon-heavy construction. One London studio is building homes from the ground beneath them, while firms such as Snøhetta are incorporating rammed earth into the upcoming Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, rooting the building in the Badlands landscape. The appeal is clear: lower emissions, natural insulation, and a tangible connection to place—though it requires rare expertise, patience, and the right climate to thrive. Francesca Perry with Fast Company has the full story.

The latest excavation at Pompeii has revealed something rare: a Roman construction site preserved mid-project, complete with the raw materials for their famously durable concrete. Researchers studying those piles confirmed that ancient builders used “hot mixing”—combining quicklime and volcanic ash in ways that triggered heat, sped curing, and ultimately gave the material a self-healing quality. The discovery clarifies a longstanding historical puzzle and opens modern possibilities: more durable concrete, fewer environmental costs, and a chance to borrow from techniques that have endured for nearly two thousand years.