Today in Minot

(Bismarck, ND) – The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) has released its monthly report detailing airline passenger traffic at the state's eight commercial service airports. In March 2025, North Dakota's commercial airports recorded 123,180 passenger boardings — the highest monthly total in state history. This figure...

A family vacation taken by Rep. Lori VanWinkle during the legislative session has sparked broader scrutiny of lawmaker absences in North Dakota—and the pay that comes with them. So far this year, legislators have missed nearly 200 days combined, totaling over $41,000 in compensation for time not spent at the Capitol. While many point to medical needs, military service, or work obligations, the pushback over VanWinkle’s trip has revived a deeper conversation: what should taxpayers expect from a “part-time” Legislature? Michael Achterling with North Dakota Monitor has the full story that includes a complete report on all lawmaker absences.

School choice in North Dakota took a step forward—though not without a fight. The Senate passed a revised version of House Bill 1540, creating an income-based education savings account program for families who opt out of public schools. But the vote was close, and the debate revealed deep divides—not just over policy, but over principle. Some lawmakers backed the bill as a small start; others rejected it as too narrow or unfair to rural districts. Now, it’s back to the House for the next round. Grant Coursey with Bismarck Tribune has the full story; bill details are below.

The debate of North Dakota’s deer baiting regulation is over. Governor Kelly Armstrong has signed a bill that removes the Game and Fish Department’s authority to ban the practice, ending a contentious chapter that pitted property rights against wildlife disease control. Supporters, many clad in blaze orange, argued the bans were inconsistent and ineffective. Opponents fear it could hamper efforts to contain Chronic Wasting Disease. For now, the policy shifts—and the balance between tradition, science, and management continues to evolve. Grant Coursey with Bismarck Tribune has the full story.

North Dakota is stepping in where the federal government stepped out. After more than $20 million in disaster mitigation grants were cut by the Trump administration, state lawmakers are moving to fund critical water projects through loans and legislative backing. From wastewater systems in Lincoln and Fessenden to a water intake in Washburn, the projects are shovel-ready and can’t wait. Whether the state’s funding is a stopgap or a new norm remains to be seen—but leaders agree: these communities need help, and they need it now. Peyton Haug with InForum has the full story, details on the bill that have been amended to carry the funding are below.

Minot voters will soon choose a new mayor—just two years into the current term—after Tom Ross resigned over misconduct earlier this month. Now, a special election is on the horizon, and one candidate campaigning on “transparency and accountability” is drawing scrutiny of his own. Councilman Rob Fuller, one of four candidates in the race, owes over $20,000 in delinquent property taxes tied to a shuttered business. With a costly election ahead and trust already shaken, the race is unfolding under a spotlight brighter than usual. Rob Port with InForum has the full story.

Montana’s long measles-free streak has come to an end. Health officials confirmed five cases in Gallatin County—the state’s first since 1990. All the cases involve unvaccinated or unknown-status individuals, and exposure may have occurred in public places. As the outbreak spreads nationally, this incident underscores a hard truth: when vaccination rates drop, long-dormant diseases return. With exposure sites identified and contact tracing underway, Montana’s public health system is moving quickly—but the broader conversation about vaccine policy and public health preparedness is just beginning. Mara Silvers with Montana Free Press has the full story.

A federal judge has ruled that Google illegally maintained its dominance in online advertising—at the expense of local publishers and the broader public. By controlling key parts of the ad tech pipeline, the court found, Google diverted crucial ad dollars away from news outlets, weakening their ability to fund quality journalism. While the technical fallout is still unfolding, the core issue is clear: when one company controls the flow of online advertising, it’s not just competitors who lose—it’s communities that rely on trusted local news.

In Helena, Montana, people are lining up for hours—not for a concert or a new phone, but for baby chickens. Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply, usually a quiet place, is fielding hundreds of calls a day as the backyard chicken boom hits full stride. Driven by soaring egg prices and a desire for self-sufficiency, demand has far outpaced supply nationwide. But with rising costs and the realities of raising animals, experts warn: a chick today might be a Craigslist listing tomorrow if folks aren’t prepared for the work. Tik Root with Grist has the full story.

With federal funding frozen and political pressures mounting, U.S. universities are facing growing uncertainty—and Europe is watching closely. Martin Bergö, a professor at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, sees an opportunity: Sweden could become a new hub for top academic talent if U.S. institutions and researchers start looking abroad. The latest funding freeze affecting Harvard is just one sign of the shifting landscape. As academic freedom comes under threat, Sweden may be well-positioned to offer stability—and attract world-class campuses in the process.

Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) is excited to announce two recipients of the DCB Conservation Award this year. The recipients will be recognized on Earth Day, Friday, April 25, 2025, at 12:00 pm on DCB Campus in the Molberg Forestry Building – Room 3. Dakota College...

Ukraine’s future may be built not just with courage but with critical minerals—and a new U.S. deal could help pave the way. After months of negotiation and even presidential tension, the U.S. and Ukraine are nearing a formal minerals agreement that both sides hope will bolster Ukraine’s economy and reconstruction efforts. A signed memorandum signals progress, but the real work—ratifying and implementing the deal—still lies ahead. With economic stakes high and political signals flying, this agreement could redefine U.S.–Ukraine partnership beyond the battlefield.

North Dakota state average cropland prices were up double digits for the 4th year in a row in 2025, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural finance specialist. This includes state average increases of 10.9% in 2022, 13.5% in 2023, 11.6% in 2024 and 10.55% in 2025, according to the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands Annual Land Survey. The data, which has been weighted for this article by county acreage count and put into NDSU Extension regions, can be found at https://www.land.nd.gov/resources/north-dakota-county-rents-prices-annual-survey.

From 2022 to 2025, the overall increase in cropland values across North Dakota has increased from a weighted average of $2,519 per acre to $3,534 per acre for an overall increase in the last four years of nearly 40%. The largest increase from 2024 to 2025 occurred in the North Red River Valley region with a 22.1% increase with the Northwest region coming in second at 19.66%. The Southwest, Southcentral, and Southeast regions were all up over 10% as well. All nine NDSU Extension regions saw an increase, with the lowest occurring in the North Central region, which increased 3.3%. The remaining regions including the Northeast, South Red River Valley, and East Central regions increased between 7.5% and 8.6% each.

“The momentum that North Dakota land values experienced in 2024 and now into 2025 is a bit surprising given that net farm incomes in 2023 and 2024 were much lower than in 2021 and 2022, due to much lower commodity prices and rising production costs,” says Parman. “It is also surprising given that interest rate increases in 2023 and 2024 have been in place long enough to be a factor in any newly financed purchases over the last few years. Additionally, the higher interest rates have led to investment opportunity competition between farmland and interest-bearing assets such as bonds and certificates of deposit.”

While cash rents across North Dakota also increased, they continue to grow at a much slower pace than land values. Statewide cropland cash rental rates were up 4.25% in 2025, with increases occurring in every region except the Southwest, which saw a very slight decline of -1.1%.

Much like land values, the highest increase in cash rents occurred in the North Red River Valley region, where cash rents were up nearly 10.4%. However, most regions were much lower. The Southeast and South Red River Valley regions were up 6% and 6.8%, respectively. Cash rents in the East Central region were up just over 4.2% while in the Northeast region, rents were up 5.4%. The Northwest region saw a 3.1% increase in 2025, and the North Central region rents were up just over 1%. The Southcentral region saw almost no increase, with a change of less than 1% from 2024 to 2025.

The increase in cash rents across North Dakota aligns more with expectations based on agricultural production costs and commodity prices. While production costs have been higher over the last four years, and commodity prices a bit lower for at least the last two years, the multi-year inflationary environment was likely to have an impact on cash rental rates. For the most part, cash rental rate increases have matched that of yearly inflation, shares Parman.

However, the spread between cash rental rates and land values across North Dakota continues to widen. Thirty-five years ago, cash rental rates were 9% to 10% of market values for farmland. By 2012, this ratio had fallen to just over 3.8%. The rent-to-value ratio in 2025 in North Dakota has now fallen to 2.34%, which is to say that cropland, on a per-acre basis, rents at 2.34% of the overall value.

---

NDSU Agriculture Communication – April 17, 2025

Per the City of Minot Police Department Facebook Page. Public Alert: Recent overdose incidents. In the past 24 hours, the Minot Police Department has responded to three non-fatal drug overdoses. Today, during our continued investigation, we unfortunately uncovered a fatal overdose believed to be connected to...