Today in Minot

North Dakota’s public universities are weighing a quiet but consequential change: whether some bachelor’s degrees could be completed in 90 credits instead of the traditional 120. Supporters see a way to lower costs and move students into the workforce faster; critics worry about protecting academic quality and how employers might view a shorter degree. The State Board of Higher Education is proceeding cautiously, asking for firm guardrails and limits as it considers a draft policy that could reshape how certain applied degrees are earned. Robin Huebner with InForum has the full story.

A new Fraser Institute report reaffirms just how much more economically free some states are compared with others. These are places where citizens are allowed to make more of their economic choices. Their taxes are lighter, and their regulatory burdens are easier. The benefits for workers,...

The pressure on Venezuela is entering a sharper, more dangerous phase. President Trump has ordered a partial blockade of sanctioned oil tankers, paired with sweeping claims that Venezuela “stole” U.S. assets and a renewed push to isolate President Nicolás Maduro. The move deepens Washington’s long-running campaign against Caracas, drawing alarm from regional leaders and even rare pushback from Congress. While framed as an anti-drug effort, the escalation raises broader questions about economic fallout, regional stability, and how far the confrontation could go next. Patrick J. McDonnell, Ana Ceballos, Kate Linthicum with Los Angeles Times has the full story.

Sweden is confronting a demographic problem that’s starting to look less abstract and more urgent. A government-appointed inquiry has released its first findings on the country’s falling birth rate, warning that fewer children today could strain the welfare system and slow economic growth tomorrow. The report frames the issue not as a social trend, but as a structural risk. Investigator Åsa Hansson argues that without more young people entering the population, Sweden’s long-term economic balance could be difficult to sustain. Listen to the full story from Radio Sweden linked below.

A tied vote can feel like a decision, but in this case it’s more like a pause button. For the second time this month, the Minot City Council split evenly on whether to award a facade improvement grant to the Minot Housing Authority, leaving the request unresolved. Supporters argued the agency meets the program’s criteria and serves a steady stream of downtown visitors, while opponents questioned whether facade funds should go to a quasi-government entity. With one council member absent again, the stalemate now forces the housing authority to consider its next move.

The North Dakota Department of Commerce is now accepting proposals for the Base Enhancement Grant Program, created by Senate Bill 2018 to support communities with Air Force and Air National Guard installations.The program provides $1 million in funding to strengthen and advance military missions in North...

Due to the bad weather, Minot Public Schools has announced today will be a virtual learning day. See their social media post below and guidance below.