Today in Minot

A major oil pipeline running from Canada through the Midwest is shut down today after a leak was discovered in Barnes County, North Dakota. South Bow, the operator of the Keystone Pipeline, reported a drop in pressure early Tuesday morning, triggering the shutdown. About 147,000 gallons of oil spilled into a farm field near Fort Ransom State Park. Cleanup is underway, and federal investigators are en route to the site. Officials say the oil has been contained, but the full impact is still being assessed. Jeff Beach with North Dakota Monitor has the full story.

Two federal judges have thrown a wrench into the Trump administration’s efforts to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in schools. In separate rulings, judges in Maryland and New Hampshire halted enforcement of a controversial policy that threatened federal funding for schools using race-conscious programming. Though the cases differ in scope and legal reasoning, both judges agreed: the Education Department overstepped in how it rolled out the new rules. For now, educators aligned with major unions have a temporary reprieve—but the legal battle is far from over. Shauneen Miranda with North Dakota Monitor has the full story.

It’s one of the most sensitive roles in health care: caring for our elders. But behind the scenes, a quiet shift in ownership is raising concerns about whether profit is coming before people. A new report details how private equity firms are acquiring—and in some cases bankrupting—nursing homes across the U.S. The effects are felt locally, too. In Iowa, one firm now controls 29 homes, with troubling signs already emerging. Critics say it’s time for more transparency—and more oversight—before care quality pays the price. Clark Kauffman with Iowa Capital Dispatch has the full story.

Editor’s Note: This is a trend that’s been observed locally in other niche housing markets, specifically the ownership of mobile home parks. The results of this trend in business have been not positive for the places where it happens or the people directly impacted.

A disease once thought defeated is inching back. A new study warns that declining childhood vaccination rates in the U.S. could bring measles back as an endemic threat, with hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of cases over the next 25 years. Researchers say even small drops in vaccination rates speed up the risk dramatically. The message is clear: protecting public health doesn’t require perfection, but it does demand vigilance. Nancy Lapid with Reuters has the full story.

When a fan gets tossed from a high school game in North Dakota, the consequences vary depending on the sport. That inconsistency has prompted the state’s Activities Association to propose a new rule: a flat two-week suspension from all events, no matter the sport. The goal? Simplicity and fairness. The proposal heads to a vote in June, and if passed, would replace the current three-game suspension system. Schools could still impose tougher penalties if they choose—but the baseline would be the same for everyone. Andrew Haugland with InForum has the full story.

If your day is mostly spent in a chair, there’s good news: you’re not out of luck—as long as you’re willing to walk a bit more. A new study suggests that even for those with long sedentary hours, getting in 9,000 to 10,000 steps a day can significantly cut the risk of heart disease and early death. And the benefits begin earlier than you’d think—just 4,000 steps start to make a difference. It’s a simple message with weight: every step counts.Jess Cockerill with Science Alert has the full story on research originally published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

For years, artificial intelligence has loomed at the edges of the workplace—promising to help, but rarely central. That’s changing. According to Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index, 2025 marks the moment AI stops being a side project and becomes core to how work gets done. To prepare us for that shift, they’ve introduced a new vocabulary for a new kind of office—where “agent bosses,” “digital labor,” and “human-agent ratios” redefine who does what, and how. The full glossary and report highlights can be found from Jessica Bursztynsky with Fast Company linked below.