Today in Minot

Dina Butcher has lived long enough to recognize the warning signs. A conservative and a grandmother, she co-founded North Dakota’s “BadAss Grandmas” not out of rebellion, but memory—her father survived a Nazi prison; other relatives did not. When she sees political rhetoric turning cruel, or laws targeting the vulnerable, she doesn’t stay quiet. She organizes. Her story is a reminder that history’s darkest chapters don’t just repeat—they reemerge quietly, unless we step forward and say: not this time. Joan Brickner with InForum has the full story on someone you should know and a perspective worth hearing.

North Dakota’s grasslands are more than scenery — they’re a living legacy. On June 7, Governor Kelly Armstrong declared it Prairie Day, honoring the ranchers who care for these vital ecosystems. With only a quarter of historic grasslands left, conservation is now a team effort, blending...

They got him. The arrest of Vance Boelter ends a harrowing 48-hour manhunt — but the shockwaves of his crimes are only beginning to settle. Accused of murdering Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and critically injuring Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Boelter left behind not just grief, but a list of political targets and chilling questions about motive. As investigators piece together the details, Minnesota confronts the reality of political violence on its doorstep — and the dangerous convergence of extremism, ideology, and access to power. Madison McVan with Minnesota Reformer has the full story.

In an age when posts vanish into algorithmic noise—or worse, into the hands of advertisers and censors—zines are quietly making a comeback. At Brooklyn’s Black Zine Fair, hundreds gathered not just to trade handmade booklets, but to reclaim how ideas move. With rising fears over surveillance, censorship, and platform decay, creators are turning to scissors, glue, and photocopiers to bypass the feed and preserve community. What’s old-school about zines isn’t nostalgia—it’s control, permanence, and a little bit of paper rebellion. C. Brandon Ogbunu with WIRED has the full story.

Most people think of measles as a rash, a fever, and then recovery — but the real danger can come long after the spots fade. This article lays out the sobering science: measles doesn’t just make kids sick, it weakens their immune system’s memory, leaving them vulnerable to other infections for years. Through personal stories and deep research, it reminds us why vaccination matters. Preventing measles isn’t just about stopping one virus — it’s about protecting a child’s entire immune future. Saloni Dattani with Our World in Data has the full story.

Fargo-area universities are watching closely as a federal pause on new student visa interviews threatens to disrupt international enrollment. With demand rising — and campuses like NDSU and MSUM seeing steady growth in students from abroad — the timing adds uncertainty to otherwise promising trends. Schools are adjusting by prioritizing students already in the U.S. and expanding high-demand programs. But with visa delays and a newly expanded travel ban, the path to Fargo’s classrooms is getting harder to navigate, just as more students hope to make the journey. Robin Huebner with InForum has the full story on Fargo, but if you were to substitute “Minot”, much would circumstantially still apply.

Norway has quietly achieved what many countries only imagine: almost 90% of new cars sold last year were fully electric. Backed by decades of stable policy and generous incentives, even snowy northern towns have embraced EVs. The result is a nation transformed — not by industry pressure or climate idealism, but by coordinated governance. Meanwhile, the U.S., with patchier policies and competing agendas, watches from the sidelines. The question isn’t just whether the transition is possible — it’s whether the conditions exist to sustain it. Rod McCullom with UNDARK has the full story.

Within hours of a deadly shooting that left two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses dead or injured, a storm of speculation began to swirl online. Prominent conservative influencers pointed fingers at Gov. Tim Walz, claiming — without evidence — that he was somehow linked to the suspect. But the facts tell a different story. What’s unfolding isn’t just a tragedy—it’s a case study in how fast false narratives can take hold, especially when politics, fear, and social media collide in the wake of violence. Madison Czopek with POLITIFACT has the full story.

It is not just the weather or commodity prices farmers have to worry about. Many rural communities struggle to keep their roads and bridges in good shape, making farming life even harder and now, North Dakota is trying to correct the issue. This year, state lawmakers...

The U.S. government now holds a golden share in U.S. Steel — a single vote with extraordinary power. As part of a deal to save Japan’s Nippon Steel takeover, President Trump secured a permanent veto over key company decisions, from moving jobs overseas to sourcing raw materials. It’s a first-of-its-kind arrangement in modern U.S. policy, signaling a major shift in how foreign investment might work going forward. For investors and national security experts alike, the message is clear: the rules just changed. Ana Swanson and Lauren Hirsch with New York Times has the full story.