Today in Minot

For years, the focus on water shortages in the Colorado River basin has centered on what’s visible—shrinking lakes and dwindling rivers. But new satellite data reveals the crisis runs deeper. Since 2003, the region has lost groundwater equivalent to the entire volume of Lake Mead. That hidden depletion is now forcing a reckoning: if water use doesn’t change, the taps—especially for agriculture—may run dry. The challenge ahead isn’t just managing rivers, but understanding and protecting the unseen reservoirs beneath our feet. Alex Hager with KUNC has the full story.

Most of us never think twice about the way a church door swings open. But that simple design choice—an outward-swinging exit—traces back to an unspeakable tragedy in 1822 Norway, when fire consumed the Grue Church and took over 100 lives. That fire shaped safety laws worldwide and left a lasting mark on Norwegian-American communities, including one in Traill County, North Dakota. This story connects grief, reform, and resilience across generations—and it’s still being honored today, both in Norway and on the prairie. Sally Friese Hoffman with Grand Forks Herald has the full story.

Across North Dakota, demand for outdoor trails is surging—and so is competition for funding. This year, the state’s Recreational Trails Program saw a record $3.9 million in requests, but with just $1 million available, only five projects made the cut. From Flasher to Watford City, the selected efforts aim to expand access, improve trail infrastructure, and support year-round recreation. It’s a reminder that even modest investments in trails can bring big returns in community connection, outdoor access, and quality of life.

Ties between Minot and its sister city of Skien, Norway, aren’t just ceremonial—they’re sung. During a recent visit to Norway, members of the Minot State University Concert Choir and Minot Chamber Chorale helped mark Syttende Mai with a musical tribute written specifically for the occasion. Set to music by Dr. Emerson Eads and performed alongside the Telemark Symphony, the poem honored the shared heritage between the two communities—proof that cultural diplomacy can be heartfelt, harmonious, and enduring across generations and borders. Minot Daily News has the full story.

Most families don’t think twice about car ownership—it’s just part of American life. But the math no longer adds up. With costs topping $12,000 per vehicle each year and most trips under three miles, many households are quietly rethinking what it means to get around. Enter the e-bike: cheaper, simpler, and increasingly capable of replacing that second or third car. In a time of rising expenses and shifting work habits, some families are finding freedom not in owning more—but in owning less.

In the desert city of St. George, Utah, growth and drought are pushing leaders toward an unlikely solution: sewage. With the Virgin River dwindling and the population booming, local officials are investing over a billion dollars in infrastructure to clean and reuse wastewater—eventually even for drinking. It’s a shift born of necessity, and St. George isn’t alone. Across the West, water scarcity is forcing cities to rethink waste, proving that what once flowed downstream might soon be the key to future survival.

Texas is on the front line of the AI energy boom—and it’s not wind or solar leading the charge. Across the state, developers are bypassing the strained public grid to build private, gas-fired power plants that will feed massive new data centers. One such project near New Braunfels has residents worried about the loss of peace and the rise of pollution. The shift marks a deepening reliance on fossil fuels at a moment when many hoped clean energy would define the future of computing. Dylan Baddour & Arcelia Martin with Inside Climate News have the full story.