Today in Minot

Walt Dabney has spent a lifetime defending America’s open spaces — and he’s not done yet. The 79-year-old former park ranger is on the road again, bringing his message about the value of public lands to North Dakota. As development pressures mount and federal protections face rollback, Dabney argues these lands aren’t political—they’re personal, shared, and essential to the nation’s soul. His talks this week in Dickinson, Bismarck, and Grand Forks invite a new generation to rediscover what’s at stake when the ground beneath us belongs to everyone. Brad Dokken with Grand Forks Herald has the full story.

Editor’s Note: Mr. Dabney will not make it to Minot, but he will be presenting in Bismarck at the Heritage Center on Wednesday evening. Find details in SavorMinot “happenings” section.

In small towns like Towner, the right equipment can make all the difference when seconds count. Thanks to $35,000 in grant funding, the Towner Ambulance District is upgrading to a new LifePak 35 — a state-of-the-art device that helps first responders monitor patients’ vitals and cardiac events more accurately. Lindsey Miller with KMOT has the full story.

In Cedar Falls, conservation has become a community habit. Over the past 20 years, residents have turned lawns, alleys, and parks into quiet defenders of clean water through the Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project. From rain gardens to permeable pavement, more than 300 local efforts now help filter millions of gallons of runoff each year. It’s proof that environmental change doesn’t always start with sweeping policy — sometimes it begins one backyard, one rain barrel, and one neighbor at a time. Cami Koons with Iowa Capital Dispatch has the full story.

For the first time in two years, Israelis are celebrating a moment of relief and return. Hamas has begun releasing the final Israeli hostages from Gaza, marking a pivotal step in ending the long and devastating war. Families were reunited, crowds filled Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, and helicopters carried freed captives home. But even amid the joy, challenges loom — from enforcing the fragile ceasefire to determining Gaza’s political future — reminders that peace, while closer, is still uncertain and unfinished. Greg Myre and Daniel Estrin with NPR has the full story.

High above the marble steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, four simple words are carved in stone: Equal Justice Under Law. They’ve come to embody America’s highest legal ideal — though their origin remains a mystery. This week, former Justice Anthony Kennedy reflected on that inscription’s history and meaning, tracing it back to architect Cass Gilbert and a team of Italian stonecarvers. As the Court’s facade undergoes restoration, so too does the reminder that justice, like the building itself, must be constantly renewed.

Minnesota’s battle against measles is resurfacing — and this time, it’s fueled by choice, not chance. With vaccination exemptions more than doubling in recent years, the state is seeing its highest measles case count in decades, all among the unvaccinated. Public health officials warn the trend mirrors a national slide in vaccine confidence, threatening progress once thought permanent. As outbreaks reappear, the lesson is clear: when vaccination rates fall, diseases long kept at bay find their way back. Alyssa Chen with Minnesota Reformer has the full story.

Missouri’s private school voucher program just got a major boost — and a dose of controversy. With $50 million in new state funding, MOScholars has more than doubled its scholarships this year, but nearly all of that money — 98% — is flowing to religious schools. Supporters say the expansion gives more families access to quality education. Critics argue it blurs the line between church and state, diverting public dollars to institutions that can set their own admissions standards and beliefs. Annelise Hanshaw with Missouri Independent has the full story.