Today in Minot

Bird watching is a great activity for enjoying the outdoors. In this week's NDO News, conservation biologist Sandra Johnson gives some tips for making the most out of your birding excursions. Watch below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wez0Uiag5sM

As artificial intelligence weaves itself into daily life, it’s not just changing how we work—it may be reshaping how we think. From helping students draft essays to aiding professionals with design and diagnosis, AI offers powerful shortcuts. But with that convenience comes a deeper question: are we trading away the struggle that sparks real creativity? In a world increasingly driven by algorithms, this piece explores whether we’re gaining tools—or surrendering something essential. Wolfgang Messner with The Conversation points what may only be the tip of the iceberg.

The North Dakota Department of Commerce is rolling out two powerful new tools—LOIS and Lasso—to help local, regional, and tribal economic development partners better market available properties and prepare for business recruitment. Both tools are now available statewide at no cost to participating organizations. With training sessions scheduled in July, Commerce hopes to give every corner of the state a stronger foothold in the competitive landscape of business attraction. The full announcement from the Department of Commerce follows.

— OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE, ND DEPT. OF COMMERCE —

The North Dakota Department of Commerce is thrilled to announce two new tools for partners aimed at supporting our mission of empowering the growth of the North Dakota economy.

Commerce has purchased an umbrella subscription to LOIS, a property marketing software that markets our available sites and buildings globally. This subscription is statewide and provides service for all Regional, County, Local, and Downtown/Mainstreet economic development organizations and Tribal governments at no additional charge.

Additionally, Commerce has acquired Lasso, an RFI data collection software used by corporate location decision-makers, site selectors, and economic development organizations. Access to Lasso will enable organizations to prepare for future site selection projects and keep their site and building database up to date on the LOIS property marketing map.

“These new tools will significantly strengthen our ability to position North Dakota’s sites and communities in the competitive marketplace for business attraction,” said Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken. “By providing comprehensive and up-to-date property marketing data, we can better showcase the opportunities available in our state and entice businesses to consider North Dakota as their next location.”

The introduction of LOIS and Lasso represents a significant step forward in our efforts to enhance economic development across North Dakota. These tools not only provide valuable data and insights but also foster collaboration among various community and economic development organizations. By leveraging these resources, we can create a more cohesive and effective strategy for attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones.

“These tools have significantly enhanced our ability to market properties and attract new businesses—but what’s been even more impactful is how they’ve strengthened collaboration between the regional council and our local EDC partners,” said Amber Metz, Executive Director of Lake Agassiz Development Group. “By working together and leveraging shared data and resources, we’re better positioned to showcase the opportunities from Ransom to Traill County and the broader region. It’s exciting to see how this partnership is driving momentum for future growth.”

Benefits For North Dakota Organizations

• Extend Marketing Reach: LOIS enables community sites and buildings to be viewed on a custom map, optimized with property brochures, geospatial map layers, demographic and workforce data, web visitor analytics, and sharing tools.
• Preparedness for Site Selection Pursuits: Using Lasso allows organizations to proactively prepare for corporate site selection by sending RFIs and storing data in a cloud database for future retrieval.
• Property Marketing Data Accuracy: Pre-populating the Lasso RFI ensures that the data fields corresponding to the public-facing property brochure in the LOIS property marketing map are updated.

“We are thrilled to see the rollout of LOIS and Lasso,” said Red River Regional Council Executive Director Dawn Mandt. “Rural communities and regions, which can struggle to afford such tools, now have the same opportunity to promote their spaces as major cities. Our regions have been advocating for this for years, and we are looking forward to utilizing these services to enhance our economic development efforts.”

LOIS and Lasso Training: Training will cover how to integrate the LOIS Map viewer on organization websites, generate reports, and walk through the Lasso RFI process.

• LOIS Training
  • Wednesday, July 9: 2:00-3:00 PM CDT
  • Thursday, July 10: 1:00-2:00 PM CDT
• Lasso Training “How to fill out an RFI”
  • Tuesday, July 22: 10:30 – 11:30 AM CDT
  • Tuesday, July 29: 1:00 – 2:00 PM CDT

For more information, please go to https://www.commerce.nd.gov/lois.

Electing new leadership and filling a presidential vacancy topped the agenda for the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education’s May 29 meeting at Bismarck State College. The Board began its business by amending incoming Dickinson State University President Scott Molander’s contract to allow him to start in his position on May 30, rather than in July.

Additionally, Dr. Carmen Simone was named interim president at Lake Region State College (LRSC). She has served as dean and chief executive officer at Dakota College at Bottineau since August 2022. Simone will officially begin her duties at LRSC on July 1, following the retirement of President Doug Darling.

“Chair Mihalick, members of the Board, thank you for the confidence that you’ve placed in me. I very much appreciate that,” she said. “I’m looking forward to leading at Lake Region State College and working with the team that’s there, and I’m excited about its future.”

The Board also made nominations for its new leadership, including chair and vice chair. Kevin Black will serve as chair of the SBHE and Donald “D.J.” Campbell will serve as vice chair, both for one-year terms beginning on July 1.

Later in the meeting, the Board reviewed and discussed the NDUS’s internal review related to the Ray Holmberg criminal case. Chair Mihalick read the following statement:

At the April SBHE meeting, we announced that an internal review would be conducted to determine if there were any policy or legal violations, including a failure to report misconduct by any NDUS employees in relation to former Senator Ray Holmberg’s criminal conduct. Over the last month, the NDUS Chief Compliance Officer has reviewed thousands of pages of internal documents and law enforcement materials. Additionally, our General Counsel has coordinated with and provided information to law enforcement. The review so far has revealed no evidence that current NDUS employees violated policy or failed to report criminal activity by Former Senator Holmberg. The SBHE’s goal is to complete a comprehensive and objective review, ensure that any policy or legal violations are identified, and make any necessary improvements to our policies and processes. To that end, a neutral third-party investigator will be hired to complete this investigation. The safety of our campus communities is the number one priority of the SBHE and our institutional leaders. We encourage anyone who has information pertaining to this matter to make a report to an institution’s Title IX office or the NDUS Office of Compliance and Ethics.

Committee Reports

Member Kevin Black reported for the Budget and Finance Committee. He said the group discussed fiscal oversight, reviewed existing financial reporting and policy 302.3 (Budget and Finance Committee). They expect to develop and recommend new changes to the policy. The group also approved several tuition exemption requests, and tuition rates for the academic year were approved.

Member Jeffry Volk reported for the Audit Committee, which discussed an internal audit plan and draft plan from the compliance office on ethics. The group will vote on the audit plan approval during its next meeting.

Vice Chair Danita Bye reported for the Governance Committee. The group heard three reports, including an IT security briefing, a large IT project quarterly report and an Enterprise Resource Planning legislative update from Corey Quirk, deputy chief information officer.

Dr. Lisa Montplaisir reported on the Council of College Faculties. The group discussed HB 1437 (Tenure Bill) during its last meeting and ongoing reviews.

For the Staff Senate, Member Michael Linnell said University of North Dakota is on board for a staff emeritus initiative to recognize retired staff. Seven schools in the system participate in the program. The group also discussed year-end awards around campuses.

Member Campbell also gave an update on an Executive Compensation Methodology Report, while Vice Chair Bye shared updates from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

The Board heard first readings for Policies 470 (State Authorization) and 1203.1 (Digital Accessibility). A second reading was heard for Policy 902.12 (Building Names). All policies were approved.

No public comments were made.

The next SBHE meeting will be June 26, 2025.

Without warning or fanfare, Dickinson’s City Commission quietly voted to end livestreaming its meetings on YouTube—a platform that’s been part of civic life since the pandemic began. The decision wasn’t on the agenda and came in the final minutes of Tuesday’s meeting, introduced by the mayor and passed with little discussion. Supporters say in-person participation ensures accountability. Critics say it cuts off access. Either way, a public window into local government just got a little smaller—for reasons still being debated. Evan Butow with has the full story.

Something small happened in Dickinson this week—but it carries big consequences. With no warning and no debate, city leaders quietly ended the livestream of commission meetings, closing off a simple tool that made local government more accessible. This wasn’t just a technical change—it was a step away from transparency and public trust. In a time when openness should be growing, Dickinson chose silence. This editorial makes the case that residents deserve better. Read the full opinion from Editorial Board with Dickinson Press.

As South Dakota braces for tornado and thunderstorm season, its National Weather Service offices are facing a quieter kind of storm—staff shortages and cutbacks that threaten real-time forecasting. With vacancies as high as 42% and fewer weather balloons being launched, the region’s capacity to track severe weather is slipping just when it’s needed most. This in-depth report from South Dakota News Watch explores the consequences of federal budget cuts, the growing strain on local forecasters, and what’s at risk when warnings arrive too late. Emily DeCock with South Dakota News Watch has the full story.

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong today appointed Minot attorney Steven Lautt to an open judgeship in the North Central Judicial District, which is comprised of Burke, Mountrail and Ward counties, effective Aug. 4.Lautt has practiced law as an attorney and shareholder with the Minot law...

For nearly two decades, Main Street Books has been more than a bookstore—it’s been part of Minot’s heartbeat. Now, longtime owner Val Stadick is ready to turn the page. She’s putting the beloved downtown shop up for sale, not out of regret, but with gratitude and hope for its next chapter. As interest from potential buyers grows, Stadick’s focus is on finding someone who sees the store not just as a business, but as the community treasure it’s always been. Lindsey Miller with KMOT has the full story.

A new faction within North Dakota’s Republican Party is calling itself the Freedom League—but don’t let the name fool you. Launched with lofty language about unity and principle, the group is already elbowing out longtime GOP leaders and pushing hardline agendas dressed as moral imperatives. Critics say it’s less about freedom and more about forcing out dissent. Whether it gains real traction remains to be seen, but the message is clear: the battle over the Republican brand in North Dakota is no longer simmering—it’s boiling. That’s the gist of Rob Port’s latest commentary, read it on InForum

Out on the open prairie, where wind and grass never stop moving, you’d think the bison herds had ancient loyalties—old friendships, tight-knit families, bonds forged across generations. But new research suggests something more ephemeral. These icons of the Great Plains gather and drift apart with surprising randomness, their social ties looser than expected. For scientists and tribes working to restore bison to their native role, that revelation changes everything—from how herds are managed to how we understand what it means to truly bring them home. Brett French with Billings Gazette has the full story on the emerging research.

Flood protection in Minot is moving into its next phase, and for residents near Burdick Expressway, change is coming into clearer view. At a public meeting Thursday, engineers laid out detailed plans for the next stretch of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project—plans that include levees, a new bridge, and further FEMA floodplain reductions. While the long-term goal is safety and lower insurance costs, concerns over property access and construction impacts remain front of mind. Officials say now is the time for public feedback as key approvals approach. The Dakotan has the full story.