Today in Minot

The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced the recipients of the 2025 Tourism and Community Enhancement Grants. Funded by the 69th Legislative Assembly, the grants are designed to enhance tourism, strengthen community infrastructure and preserve historic landmarks across the state.The following projects have been awarded...

More Minot families are leaning on the Backpack Buddies program this year, a sign of how many children rely on weekend meals to stay nourished. What began a decade ago serving a single school has now grown to nearly 600 students, and demand keeps rising. The Souris Valley United Way is asking the community to step in again — through donations, volunteer shifts, or the new “Adopt a Backpack Buddy” option. With a few dollars or a bit of time, residents can help ensure kids head into Monday ready to learn. Kyona Rivera with KMOT has the full story.

The MHA Nation is marking a milestone this week as it opens its new Native Green Grow greenhouse near Parshall — a project leaders say represents a major step toward food sovereignty. The facility isn’t just about growing produce; it’s about reclaiming agricultural roots, expanding local food access, and creating new opportunities for tribal members. Wednesday’s celebration will blend tradition with innovation, highlighting a vision that ties agriculture, energy, and education together for a more self-sustaining future on and beyond Fort Berthold.

Federal changes to homelessness funding are creating real uncertainty in Fargo, where YWCA Cass-Clay says nearly half of its supportive housing units could disappear under a new HUD directive. The shift moves money away from long-term housing and toward short-term shelter, leaving providers scrambling ahead of a tight December deadline. As homelessness rises statewide and shelters reach capacity, North Dakota’s newly reestablished homelessness council faces an urgent test: finding coordinated solutions before vulnerable families lose the support that keeps them housed. Michael Standaert with North Dakota News Cooperative has the full story.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission on Tuesday gave the state bank a green light to proceed with two loan programs aiming to provide relief to agricultural producers hit by a combination of tariffs, low commodity prices and high costs, as well as a series of summer...

The scenic loop drive at Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit reopened to the public on Tuesday amid North Dakota’s first major snow of the winter. The scenic loop was under construction for more than two years. About $51 million in federal funding was dedicated to...

Omaha leaders are taking a hard look at why so many young professionals and skilled workers are leaving the city — and what it will take to keep them. A free public forum on Dec. 2 will bring residents, researchers, and local industry voices together to unpack the city’s “brain drain” challenge as it updates its first comprehensive plan in nearly three decades. With new data, audience polling, and a cross-sector panel, organizers hope to spark ideas that make Omaha a place where more people choose to stay.

North Dakota’s Wonder Fund — once pitched as a bold strategy for homegrown economic growth — is drawing sharp scrutiny as two of its high-profile investments falter. A lawsuit claims one company, HerdDogg, only maintained a token presence in the state, while another, Grand Forks–based Thread, has stopped paying rent and taken its website offline despite receiving millions in public support. As local officials unwind leases and launch collections, calls are growing for clearer oversight, real performance metrics, and a better accounting of how taxpayer dollars are being invested. Rob Port with InForum has the full story.

By Carrie Knutson, Horticulture agent NDSU Extension – Grand Forks County The gardening season has officially ended. Hopefully, you have everything ready for winter and are ready to enjoy the holiday season. As I prepare for the holiday season, I am also taking time to reflect...

President Donald Trump is softening earlier talk of a Thanksgiving deadline for a Ukraine peace deal, saying negotiations will take “as long as it takes” as U.S. envoys shuttle between Kyiv and Moscow. Behind closed doors, a U.S.-drafted framework — trimmed from 28 points to 19 — has raised concerns that Washington may push Kyiv toward concessions favorable to the Kremlin. Trump insists it’s only a “concept,” not a final plan, even as he signals Russia holds the battlefield advantage. Talks continue, but the path forward remains murky. Olena Goncharova with The Kyiv Independent has the full story.