Today in Minot

After a year of sharp swings in the ag markets, there’s finally a note of cautious optimism for soybean producers. China has returned—at least partially (and with much proof yet to come)—to the U.S. market, easing some of the pressure created by tariffs and lost export sales. At the same time, growing domestic crush capacity is helping absorb supply. But this rebound comes with conditions, tight timelines, and global competition that could limit how long the momentum lasts. The next few months, especially Brazil’s harvest, will matter more than headlines. Emily Beal with AGWEEK has the full story.

Drone sightings are no longer a distant military concern—they’re disrupting airports, hovering near sensitive sites, and creeping into everyday public spaces. As major global events approach in the U.S., the risk isn’t hypothetical anymore. This piece makes the case that the front line of defense won’t be federal agencies, but states and cities that are largely unprepared for a fast-moving, low-cost threat. The warning is clear: readiness will depend less on hardware than on planning, training, and coordination—before the next drone forces a crisis response. Keith Stalder with Route Fifty has the eye-opening commentary.

As the Trump administration makes announcement after announcement about its efforts to promote the U.S. fossil fuel industry, the industry isn’t exactly jumping at new opportunities. Some high-profile oil and gas industry leaders and organizations have objected to changes to long-standing government policy positions that give...

The green hermit hummingbird is usually admired for precision—its long bill perfectly matched to tropical flowers. But during mating season, that same tool turns brutal. New research shows male green hermits use their sharper, straighter bills to fight rivals in midair jousts that can turn deadly. The study reframes a familiar evolutionary story: what looks like a feeding adaptation is also a weapon, shaped as much by competition and aggression as by nectar and blooms. Read the full article at Scientific American and watch nature’s joisting display just below.

Twelve people have applied to be North Dakota’s next Supreme Court justice, including four district court judges. A spot on the court is up for grabs after Justice Daniel Crothers announced last month he will retire in February after 20 years on the bench. The application...

After weeks of deadlock, North Dakota’s Ethics Commission has a full slate again. The appointment of Jared Huibregtse closes a two-month standoff that exposed deeper disagreements over the commission’s direction and authority. The choice follows a withdrawal by longtime member Murray Sagsveen and comes amid renewed scrutiny after the attorney general voided a recent ethics opinion. What looks like a routine appointment also signals a broader reset for a commission still defining its role. Mary Steurer with North Dakota Monitor has the full story.

Political systems are supposed to reward competence, but they’re far better at rewarding survival. Party loyalty, fear of giving the other side an opening, and tribal reflexes often keep leaders in place long after their performance has failed the public. Minnesota’s recent fraud scandal brings that tension into sharp focus. Rob Port writing at Inforum raises the question—whether clear administrative failure, and the cost to taxpayers that followed, should finally be enough to demand new leadership. For Mr. Port, the answer is clear; his commentary is worth a read.

When I met with a planner from High River, Alberta, one recommendation from the Strong Towns Housing Toolkit stopped her short: issue a housing permit in 24 hours. She tilted her head, reread the line, and asked: What would that even look like? Today, when a...

Reading hasn’t disappeared, but its place in American life is quietly shifting. Long, demanding books are giving way to snippets, screens, audio, and video—and with that shift comes a deeper question about how we think, argue, and learn. What once required patience and sustained attention now...