Today in Minot

The Third Street Northeast Bridge in Minot is in worse shape than expected, and repairs are coming—but they won’t be easy. The City Council approved a plan that will require detouring northbound traffic for three months, with full closures during key repairs. A damaged bridge bearing, crucial for stability, forced a shift in strategy. Meanwhile, the council debated another infrastructure issue: sending street repair contracts to out-of-state companies. Some argue it’s necessary for cost savings; others say it undercuts Minot’s local businesses. Either way, the city’s roads and bridges are in for a long season of work.

Jill Schramm has the full story on the bridge from Monday’s City Council meeting.

A Senate committee heard a resolution Thursday that attempts to change lawmaker term limits approved by North Dakota voters in 2022. Senate Concurrent Resolution 4028, sponsored by Sen. Justin Gerhardt, R-Mandan, would allow lawmakers to serve three terms, or 12 years, in either the House or...

A casino east of Moorhead isn’t a certainty—but it’s not just speculation either. The White Earth Band of Ojibwe has purchased 280 acres near a key highway interchange, with clear interest in building a gambling and entertainment complex. While the project would face a long legal and regulatory process, local officials may see it as an economic opportunity. If it moves forward, Moorhead could gain a major destination—one that brings jobs, tourism, and debate over the role of expanded gambling in the region.

Why does this matter in Minot? Recently, another proposed casino project — this one in Grand Forks — was shut down when needed North Dakota law changes were killed by the legislature. But now the story comes again, this time from Minnesota where the location would be a proxy benefit to Fargo. And if Fargo has a casino, what will be the argument for stopping a Grand Forks casino, or a Bismarck casino or a Minot casino. In the meta data, we’re seeing a fast moving world with regards to gambling, gaming, and casinos. Do you think it might be because there’s so much money that can be easily made? Mike McFeely with Inforum has the full story on what’s stirring in Moorhead linked below; the editorializing above is all ours.

Mandan is considering a ban on homeless encampments, joining a growing list of North Dakota cities restricting camping on public property. The City Commission voted to advance the ordinance, which would mirror Bismarck’s recent ban, citing safety, sanitation, and liability concerns. Supporters argue it gives police a tool to address homelessness, while critics see it as a punitive measure with few alternatives for those affected. With limited shelter options in the area, the proposal raises tough questions about enforcement, support services, and where people go next.

South Dakota just put a major roadblock in front of a multibillion-dollar carbon pipeline project, siding with landowners over industry. A new law bans the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines, throwing uncertainty over Summit Carbon Solutions’ 2,500-mile plan to transport emissions from ethanol plants across the Midwest. While supporters see carbon capture as a lifeline for ethanol and a climate solution, critics argue it’s driven by tax credits, not environmental impact. With South Dakota stepping back, the project’s future just got a lot more complicated.

Utah is taking another step to regulate teen social media use, this time by shifting responsibility to app stores. A newly passed bill would require Apple and Google to verify users’ ages and link minors’ accounts to a parent’s for approval before downloading apps with terms of service agreements. Unlike past efforts, this measure has earned support from major tech companies, who see app stores as the best gatekeepers. But with legal challenges already blocking similar laws, its fate remains uncertain.

This story is out of Utah, but it is a universal concern — the impact social media is having on humans as a species — young and old — across the globe. How states attempt to regulate it will be prime in the news. One thing you can be sure of as it unfolds — social media companies that monetize the the time they’ve designed their algorithms to take — will do everything in their power to pass responsibility for the consequences off to other parties.

Uncertainty can be just as damaging as the tariffs themselves. That’s the concern from economists like Mark Zandi, who warns that President Trump’s shifting trade policies are rattling businesses. After threatening steep tariffs on Canada and Mexico, then delaying them, then enforcing them—only to pause most again—companies are left guessing what comes next. Meanwhile, tariffs on China have doubled. Businesses that once felt confident in Trump’s economic leadership now face a growing risk: unpredictability.

More Americans are falling behind on their car payments, and economists say it’s a warning sign of deeper financial strain. New data shows that subprime auto loan delinquencies have hit record highs, with broader auto loan defaults reaching levels not seen since 2010. Rising interest rates, high car prices, and slowing job growth are squeezing lower- and middle-income households, leaving many struggling to keep up. Experts warn that this trend could spill into other areas of the economy, signaling trouble ahead for consumers and lenders alike.

Kevin Williams writing for Quartz has the story on what one data point is saying about the broader U.S. economy.

We often think of health in terms of body and mind, but what about the power of human connection? Social scientist Kasley Killam argues that “social health” is just as crucial—yet overlooked. Research shows that loneliness is as harmful as smoking or obesity, weakening our immune systems and cutting lives short. As loneliness rises to crisis levels, Killam warns that technology can either bridge the gap or deepen the divide. Her work challenges us to rethink connection—not as a luxury, but as a necessity for survival.

If you need excuse, there’s a great band playing at the Blue Rider tonight 😉

The U.S. is shifting its approach to avian flu, but experts aren’t convinced it will work. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced a $1 billion plan to strengthen farm biosecurity and invest in a poultry vaccine—moving away from the long-standing practice of mass bird culling. While the investment is welcome, the plan lacks key details, and researchers warn that without aggressive containment, the virus could spread even further. With a shrinking federal research workforce and growing concerns about human transmission, this is a story worth following. Read more from Dawn Attride writing for Sentient.

Mexico and Canada are struggling to negotiate with a moving target. As President Trump shifts justifications for his tariffs—from fentanyl to migration to trade deficits—officials from both countries say they can’t pin down exactly what the U.S. wants. While Mexico treads carefully, emphasizing respect for Trump, Canada is taking a sharper stance, warning of a prolonged trade war. With frustration mounting and no clear demands on the table, allies find themselves stuck in a negotiation that feels more like guesswork than diplomacy.

Norway is doubling down on its support for Ukraine, committing an additional $4.6 billion in aid for 2025, bringing the total to nearly $8 billion. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre framed the decision as a necessary step in Ukraine’s fight for defense and European stability, particularly as U.S. support wavers. While the specifics of the additional aid remain unclear, Norway’s ongoing commitment underscores its role as one of Ukraine’s strongest allies in Europe. Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions grow as shifting U.S. policies reshape the geopolitical landscape. Get the full story from The Kyiv Independent.