Today in Minot

MEDORA, N.D. – Public lands advocate Walt Dabney joined a group of North Dakota conservationists in the Badlands on Sunday to see how federal funding cuts are affecting public lands in the state — and how members of the public are stepping up in the government’s...

In Tallahassee, a few frustrated residents sparked a housing reform that cities everywhere could learn from. Burdened by rules that made backyard cottages nearly impossible to build, they asked the city to rethink its code — and this time, leaders actually listened. The result: simpler permits, more flexibility, and a surge in new accessory homes. In just one year, Tallahassee quadrupled its ADU permits, proving that when cities scale their rules to reality, they unlock affordable housing one backyard at a time. Edward Erfurt with Strong Towns has the full story.

Grand Forks leaders are heading south — not for a game, but to do their homework. City and Park District officials toured Fargo’s Parks Sports Center this week to study how a similar facility operates as they prepare for the opening of the Altru Sports Complex. From turf rentals to software systems, they’re gathering lessons on what works — and what doesn’t. The goal: to make sure Grand Forks’ long-awaited complex becomes a winning addition, not a financial burden. Jordan Rusche with Grand Forks Herald has the full story.

A good library does more than lend books — it lends a sense of place. Across the country, cities are reimagining libraries as the heart of community life, places that blend sustainability, learning, and connection under one roof. From Nashville’s new Donelson branch to Denver’s renovated Central Library, these spaces are reshaping neighborhoods and rekindling civic life. They’re not just keeping pace with change — they’re leading it, proving that the public library remains one of America’s most vital institutions. Arvelisse Bonilla Ramos with Bloomberg has the full story.

BISMARCK – The State Fair Center will be filled with booths and shoppers when the Pride of Dakota Showcase returns to Minot, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25.“This year’s Pride of Dakota Showcase features more than 100 companies offering unique, North Dakota-made products,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring...

BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakotans who purchase their own health insurance could face substantial premium increases in 2026 if enhanced federal subsidies are not renewed beyond next year. Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread has approved 2026 rates for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, but the potential expiration...

A simple bouquet can do more than brighten a room — it can brighten a day. In Minot, Flower Central joined florists nationwide for “Petal It Forward Day,” a campaign that turns kindness into something you can hold. Each customer received two bouquets: one to keep and one to give away. This year, the shop added a local twist, inviting donations for The Difference, a nonprofit helping trauma survivors. It’s proof that generosity, like flowers, grows best when shared. Lindsey Miller with KMOT has the full story.

Montana’s leaders are eager to revive coal, but the market doesn’t seem to share their enthusiasm. A recent federal lease offering in the Powder River Basin — once the heart of America’s coal boom — drew just one bid worth a fraction of its estimated value. That tepid response led officials to postpone another sale in Wyoming. Even as politicians call for more mining, companies appear wary, signaling how far coal’s fortunes have fallen in an era of shifting energy markets and closing power plants. Micah Drew with Daily Montanan has the full story.

North Dakota’s Legislature is getting a digital assistant of its own. Faced with the task of summarizing more than a thousand bills each session, the Legislative Council is turning to Meta’s open-source AI model, LLaMA 3.2, to handle the workload in hours instead of months. Lawmakers say the system will save staff time while keeping sensitive information secure. Meta calls it a model for how governments can safely adapt AI — one that leaves human oversight firmly in place. Hunter Schwartz with InForum has the full story.

Read ND Legislative Council’s case study here.

Culver City just made a small but potentially transformative change to how homes can be built. By allowing six-story residential buildings with a single staircase instead of two, the city could cut construction costs by more than 10% — a meaningful difference in today’s housing market. Supporters say the reform will make it easier to build “missing middle” homes like duplexes and small apartments, especially on tight urban lots. It’s a policy shift spreading nationwide as cities look for practical ways to add affordable housing. Ryan Kushner with SmartCitiesDive has the full story.

For decades, city codes treated parking spots as sacred — even when that meant fewer places for people to live. But Denver’s decision to drop mandatory parking requirements flips that logic on its head. Researchers say the move could boost housing construction by 12.5% — roughly 460 new homes each year — simply by freeing builders from rules written for a car-centric past. The result could reshape not just Denver’s skyline, but its streets, making room for more neighbors instead of more asphalt. Susan D. Dagget with The Conversation has the full story.