Today in Minot

The North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism and Marketing Division reports a strong year for tourism in North Dakota, despite a slowing economy and waning consumer spending.“Through strategic marketing, industry partnerships and the momentum of our 'HELLO' campaign we continue to see growth, despite being outspent by our competitors,” said Tourism...

For many families, child care isn’t just a challenge—it’s an impossible math problem. A new report from the Economic Policy Institute lays out the stark reality: in 38 states and Washington, D.C., the cost of child care now surpasses in-state college tuition. In some places, it even exceeds rent. Policymakers have long debated solutions, but as child care prices rise faster than wages, the gap grows wider. New Mexico has made strides in addressing affordability, but nationwide, families are still waiting for relief.

We’ll be providing a bit more detail on North Dakota’s circumstances in the coming days. The original article can be found on Stateline by Kevin Hardy.

Advocates for small independent farmers in Missouri and around the nation are sounding the alarm about the effects of corporate agriculture on farmers and local communities. Missouri stands as the nation's second largest farming state, with nearly 86,000 farms spanning 27 million acres. Yet, just four...

The Together for School Meals coalition is deeply disappointed by the North Dakota House’s decision to defeat House Bill 1475, a bill that would have provided free school meals to every child in our state. This legislation had the potential to transform the lives of thousands...

State leaders in North Dakota are in line for pay raises, with the judiciary seeking the biggest bump. Under proposed increases, Supreme Court justices could see an 8% jump in salary by 2027, while the attorney general and other top officials would receive more modest hikes. Lawmakers argue that judicial pay needs to stay competitive to attract qualified judges, while broader efforts continue to bring state salaries closer to national averages. The question now is whether legislators will approve the plan in the coming session.

North Dakota needs workers, and state leaders are exploring every avenue to fill the gaps. The Office of Legal Immigration, created last year to help employers navigate hiring foreign talent, is getting a rebrand—if lawmakers approve. The proposed name, Office of Global Talent, aims to clear up confusion about its role, as it doesn’t handle visas or immigration enforcement. While some legislators wanted to eliminate the office altogether, supporters argue it’s a key piece of solving the state’s workforce shortage. The debate now moves to the House.

Tourism is big business in North Dakota, but tensions at the national level are starting to ripple through the state’s economy. The latest flashpoint? A drop in Canadian visitors and staffing cuts at national parks. Businesses that rely on cross-border travel are already feeling the squeeze, while parks like Theodore Roosevelt National Park brace for service reductions after staff layoffs. With tariffs looming and informal boycotts taking hold, local officials are watching closely, hoping these disruptions don’t derail a crucial part of the state’s economy.

That’s the teaser. The full story from Michael Standaert with the North Dakota News Cooperative is worth the read.