Today in Minot

Elite colleges are quietly rewriting their admissions playbooks, and the early results are striking. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action, schools like Princeton, MIT, and Yale are enrolling record numbers of low-income students by expanding outreach and offering free tuition to families below certain income thresholds. Supporters say the shift broadens opportunity and strengthens leadership pipelines. Critics, including the Trump administration, warn it may cross legal lines. As campuses push forward, a new debate is emerging over how far colleges can go to pursue economic diversity—and what it means for racial representation. Collin Brinkl with Associated Press has the full story.

A single question is echoing through college classrooms right now: why. Not as defiance, not as disruption, but as a quiet demand for meaning. Professor Jeff LeBlanc reflects on what it feels like to teach a generation raised on mixed messages; these students want to know how learning connects to purpose, not just grades. And for educators willing to explain intent and share uncertainty, the payoff is a classroom defined less by compliance and more by curiosity. Read the full commentary at EdSurge.

I picked up some food items from the grocery store for some work-related videos and paid for them with a credit card. I needed my receipt in order to be reimbursed, so I carefully tucked it into my purse — or so I thought. The next...

After four straight years of growth, U.S. oil production may be nearing a plateau. A new federal outlook projects a modest dip in crude output in 2026, even as production remains near record levels. The forecast points to slowing momentum outside a few strong regions and a notable drop in oil prices compared to recent highs. Together, the projections offer a snapshot of an energy sector adjusting to shifting supply dynamics, regional limits, and a cooler price environment heading into the next two years.

The European Union has quietly removed one of the biggest political risks hanging over its Russia sanctions. By agreeing to indefinitely freeze Russian central bank assets, EU leaders no longer need unanimous votes every six months to keep the funds locked down. That shift clears a path toward using the frozen money to back major financial support for Ukraine as the war enters its fourth year. The decision also sharpens legal and diplomatic tensions with Moscow, which is already signaling it will fight the move in court. Luca Léry Moffat with The Kyiv Independent has the full story.

More than 30 people have applied for a lab technician job at West River Health Services in Hettinger, North Dakota, a thousand-person town in the rural southwestern part of the state. Because they aren’t U.S. citizens, they would each need a visa. West River and other...

A troubling discovery at a Moorhead middle school is raising urgent questions about safety and oversight. Police say a 13-year-old student was arrested after allegedly bringing a large quantity of blue pills—possibly containing fentanyl—onto school grounds. The pills were reported by another student and recovered with help from school staff and a resource officer. Authorities say further lab testing will determine whether the pills contained fentanyl.

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is still raising money—and how it does that is now part of the story. A recent fundraiser at the Dallas home of billionaire donor Harlan Crow has drawn scrutiny, tying the North Dakota project to a national ethics controversy involving Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Supporters say the library’s finances remain strong and the attention misplaced. Critics, including some lawmakers, aren’t so sure, raising fresh questions about transparency, perception, and whether public backstops could come into play if private fundraising falls short. Grant Coursey with Bismarck Tribune has the full story.

If you spend time in the countryside northeast of Minot, you may want to keep your eyes a little wider open. Reports of gray wolf sightings are increasing around the J. Clark Salyer Wildlife Refuge, and state officials say at least a small number have been confirmed on trail cameras. While rumors suggest a larger pack, wildlife managers urge caution and context. For now, the wolves appear to be lingering quietly, drawn by migrating elk—not causing problems, but reminding residents that North Dakota’s wild edges are still very much alive. Joe Skurzewski with KMOT has the full story.

What started as a call to “restore truth and sanity” to American history is now colliding with public reaction on the ground. After the Trump administration directed federal land agencies to flag monuments and sites deemed disparaging, QR-code signs invited visitors to weigh in. In Wyoming, they did—overwhelmingly pushing back. Public comments obtained through records requests show visitors defending historical accuracy, criticizing efforts to sanitize the past, and, in some cases, pointing out more practical concerns. The responses offer a revealing snapshot of how Americans want their history told. Mike Koshmrl with WyoFile has the full story.

Talk to educators across North Dakota about artificial intelligence, and you hear two emotions at once: unease and optimism. Classrooms are grappling with tools that evolve faster than training can keep up, while students often race ahead of policy. At the same time, teachers see real promise—less time spent on paperwork, more time for individualized learning and relationships. This story looks at how schools are trying to strike that balance, largely on their own, as state leaders acknowledge the guidance needs updating. Michael Standaert with North Dakota News Cooperative has the full story.

Boundaries are being tested and perhaps redrawn. What is war? The last time the USA actually declared war was 1941, after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. That said, good luck convincing combat veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan that they did not participate in a...