Today in Minot

The Minot City Council has agreed to negotiate a new, three-year contract with the Souris Valley Animal Shelter to continue providing city pound services. However, key council members are pumping the brakes, wanting more clarity. They are questioning the need for an apparent 20% fee increase and requesting detailed metrics on kennel usage and veterinary costs before finalizing an agreement. Kyona Rivera with KMOT has the full story.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a deadly neurological illness in deer caused by a misfolded protein; it isn’t easy to understand. Recognizing that complex science needs engaging delivery, University of Minnesota researchers have developed a unique solution: “Cofactor.” This new text-based video game, soon to be piloted in high schools, puts players in the role of a hunter who must make decisions that directly impact the disease’s spread. It’s a fun, narrative-driven way to teach students their role in managing CWD, proving that good science education doesn’t have to be boring. Mathew Holding Eagle III with MPR has the full story.

For an alternate viewpoint, see “Counterpoint: Modernization, not Privatization, Is Key to Aviation Leadership.” The recent government shutdown disrupted U.S. air traffic control (ATC) and frustrated millions of passengers, leading to delays and cancellations. Our ATC system is run as a bureaucracy within the Federal Aviation...

For an alternate viewpoint, see “Point: Air Traffic Control Privatization Is Long Overdue.” For the first time in decades, the administration, the Congress and the aviation industry are united on a detailed and aggressive plan to build a new air traffic control system. In fact, Congress...

The fundamental struggle between a free press and government control is playing out right now at the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently implemented a policy demanding that credentialed journalists pledge not to report any unauthorized information, even if it’s unclassified. Seeing this as an unconstitutional gag order, The New York Times is now suing the Pentagon, arguing that the policy violates the First Amendment. This move is part of a broader pattern of restricting independent journalism, leading to a press corps shake-up that favors outlets willing to align with the administration’s views. David Folkenflik with NPR has the full story.

When a retailer like Dollar General posts one of its strongest quarters in years, you might assume the economy is booming, but the reality is more complicated. Shoppers are actively trading down, leaving mid-range stores for value chains just to make ends meet. While Dollar General’s operational improvements helped, its 5% sales growth and increased traffic are a clear sign that millions of American households are feeling financial pressure. Catherine Baab with Quartz has the full story.

You may have seen those alarming headlines about a shredded cheese recall—and while the news is concerning, it isn’t actually new. Back in October, Great Lakes Cheese Co. pulled over a quarter million cases of cheese, sold under many different brand names, because of a possible foreign material contamination (metal fragments). The information is only going public now because the FDA recently released an official report. Even though the company says all affected product is off shelves, it’s worth checking your fridge as there is as small risk of you got part of the bad batch. Michael Grothaus with Fast Company has the full story.

We all get a surprise visitor sometimes, but for one North Dakota resident, her new arrival is truly unexpected. This week, a Pyrrhuloxia—a striking bird typically found in the deserts of the Southwest and Mexico—showed up at a backyard feeder in Sterling. Its appearance in frigid North Dakota has birdwatchers buzzing, turning a simple sighting into a “chance of a lifetime” for enthusiasts across the state. This rare bird has not only baffled experts but has also created a sudden, warm connection within the local birding community. Ariana Gonzalez with KFYR has the full story.

In rural schools, a lack of basic necessities like deodorant, toothpaste, and warm clothing can become a quiet barrier to learning. Teachers have long paid out of pocket to fill this gap, but now, a community driven solution is being tested. Northland Health Centers is helping schools in communities like Turtle Lake stock “Care Closets” with essential items. The result? Students and teachers with one less thing to worry about turn their focus back to the classroom and learning. Michelle Tom with KMOT has the full story.

We all know that little buzz in our pocket is a constant distraction—and our students are no different. This year, North Dakota implemented a statewide “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban, taking devices out of students’ hands for the entire school day, including lunch and passing periods. What happened next might surprise you. Educators are now seeing a notable shift: students aren’t just more focused in class; they’re actually laughing, talking, and engaging with one another again during their free time. The ban seems to be quietly transforming both the classroom and the social environment. Sophia Herman with Grand Forks Herald has the progress report on one of North Dakota’s most talked about new policies.

It’s easy to look at a naturalization ceremony—200 new Americans from 51 countries taking the oath—and see the best of our country. But alongside that hope, a familiar shadow is falling: the kind of nativist hostility President Trump has leveled at our Somali neighbors. Rob Port’s latest commentary the best and worst of our history as it all unfolds right before our eyes. Read it at Inforum.com