Today in Minot

MINOT, N.D. – A series of new signs now mark Minot State University’s bike and walking trail, “Buckshot’s Backyard,” giving users clearer access points and improving safety at one of the University’s newest outdoor attractions. Installed in early October by the MSU Facilities Management team with...

After months of hearings and testimony from across South Dakota, lawmakers are staring at a familiar problem with even more moving pieces. A state task force has advanced 19 different proposals aimed at easing rising property taxes, while a separate ballot measure could put a full overhaul before voters in 2026. The question now is whether a crowded slate of ideas leads to meaningful reform—or another round of gridlock. Kevin Killough with South Dakota News Watch has the full story.

The University of North Dakota is extending its reach well beyond the campus—and into orbit. UND has entered a new partnership with Voyager Technologies, a major player in space and defense, building on its growing role in national security and aerospace research. The agreement ties UND to work on machine learning and future space missions, including Voyager’s planned commercial space station set to launch later this decade. For UND, it signals a long-term bet on space, security, and advanced research as core parts of its future. Joshua Mathisen with KX News has the full story.

The Minot School Board covered a wide range of business at its December meeting, from the pending auction of the Bell School building to the long-term future of high school hockey. Board members approved documents clearing the way for a February auction while noting the need for clearer guidelines down the road. They also heard an update showing Minot United will remain a combined hockey program for several more years, along with a clean annual audit that raised no major concerns. Charles Crane with Minot Daily News has the full story.

Foster care providers in Ward County say the need for stable, licensed homes is becoming harder to meet. With limited options available, some foster families are extending their licenses simply because there’s nowhere else for children to go—especially sibling groups that need to stay together. Local organizations like CASO are also leaning more on respite care to prevent burnout among foster parents. Kyona Rivera with KMOT has the full story.

A long-running fight over who controls the nation’s wetlands is resurfacing in North Dakota. At a public listening session in Bismarck, state officials and industry groups backed a Trump administration proposal that would sharply limit federal authority under the Clean Water Act. Environmental advocates warned the change could leave most prairie wetlands without protection, with consequences for water quality and wildlife. The debate highlights a familiar tension in the state: balancing agricultural and economic interests with the role wetlands play across North Dakota’s landscape. Joey Harris with Bismarck Tribune has the full story.

State-owned minerals are projected to generate $8.4 billion in future oil and gas royalties over the life of North Dakota oil production, benefiting K-12 education, according to an annual analysis. The projected royalties’ benefit to the Common Schools Trust Fund, as well as emerging innovations in...