Today in Minot

Delays in Minot’s flood protection land buyouts took center stage at Monday’s City Council meeting, as members pressed for answers on slow communication with property owners in the MI-4 and MI-8 project zones. Council member Mike Blessum voiced concern over months-long gaps between initial decisions and actual outreach, calling the process unacceptable. City consultants acknowledged missteps and pledged improvements going forward. Meanwhile, officials confirmed one key milestone: all residents of Parkview Mobile Home Park have now been successfully relocated. Jill Schramm with Minot Daily News has the full story.

Downtown Mandan is set for a makeover—but not everyone’s sold on the blueprint. City leaders voted to cut nearly half the area’s parking spots in favor of wider sidewalks, bike lanes, and a safer, more accessible layout. Business owners pushed back hard, submitting over 400 protest letters and voicing concern that fewer spaces mean fewer customers. The city stands by its data, saying parking is underused even during peak hours. Construction begins in 2026, but the debate over access and identity is already well underway. Keonia Swift with KX News has the full story.

After seven years of trying to keep a local police force afloat, the city of Garrison is shifting course. Faced with staffing shortages and burnout, city leaders voted to disband their police department and rely instead on McLean County for law enforcement. For a town of just 1,400, the strain of maintaining 24/7 coverage with only two officers proved unsustainable. Now, the hope is that this transition not only eases pressure locally, but also strengthens county-wide response across the region. Joe Skurzewski with KMOT has the full story.

A Florida man and a Yellowstone bison walk into a national park—only one walks out unbothered. Over the weekend, a 47-year-old from Cape Coral got a little too close for comfort and was promptly reminded that bison aren’t selfie props. He was gored (minor injuries), and park officials are now doubling down on a familiar warning: stay at least 25 yards away from large wildlife. It’s the first bison incident of 2025—and probably not the last, especially if Florida Man keeps showing up.

If you’re heading to Yellowstone or our own Theodore Roosevelt National Park, there’s a lesson here to remember… try to be smarter than a Florida man 😉

In Dickinson, hope comes welded to ambition—literally. At a recent career expo, more than 1,200 students explored trades and professions tied to local industry, part of a growing effort to keep young talent rooted in western North Dakota. But the challenge runs deeper: housing costs are climbing, wages vary widely, and the region’s workforce lags behind state averages. Leaders are betting that early exposure and strong employer ties can change that trajectory. For now, the strategy is simple: connect, invest, and hold the door open for those willing to stay. Evan Butow with Dickinson Press has the full story.

Manitoba’s measles outbreak has reached 20 confirmed cases—and what worries health officials most is that some can’t be traced to known infections. That’s a red flag for community spread, especially in the Southern health region where vaccination rates remain low. With similar spikes in Alberta and Ontario, Manitoba’s numbers may keep climbing. Officials are now warning of possible exposures in hospitals, schools, and even school buses. The message is clear: gaps in vaccination don’t just leave individuals vulnerable—they open the door for outbreaks.

Each morning, dock workers line up outside ILWU Local 13 hoping for a job slip. Lately, more are leaving empty-handed. Container volume through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—the busiest in the Western Hemisphere—is down 35% from last year, largely due to rising tariffs on Chinese goods. The impact stretches far beyond the docks, hitting everyone from safety gear vendors to national retailers. For many, like longshoreman Charlie Camacho, this slowdown isn’t just economic—it’s personal, generational, and increasingly uncertain. Steve Futterman with NPR has the full story.

The Ohio River Greenway is starting to deliver on its promise. What began in Clarksville in 2023 is now stretching into Jeffersonville, creating a continuous trail between three southern Indiana cities. Funded in part by local growth through the city’s TIF program, the $3 million project is already drawing daily walkers and bike traffic. Business owners like those at KingFish are expecting a boost from increased foot traffic, and local leaders see the Greenway as a long-term investment in livability and economic activity.

Editor’s Question: Is Minot taking advantage of the opportunity that’s emerging between our flood walls and levies?

A new documentary is putting America’s public libraries—and the challenges they face—front and center. Free for All: The Public Library explores the history, impact, and ongoing struggles of libraries, from budget cuts to book bans. The film is being screened at hundreds of libraries nationwide through PBS’s Indie Lens Pop-Up program, aiming to spark local conversations. At a time when libraries are caught in political crossfire, the message is clear: these institutions have shaped our communities, and their future shouldn’t be taken for granted. Grace Hagerman with Current has the full story.

And if you want to dive right in, PBS has made the film available for direct screening on Youtube.

The U.S. Embassy in Stockholm is pressuring local partners to drop diversity, equity, and inclusion policies—a move tied to a broader shift in American foreign policy. One Swedish city agency, Stockholm’s planning office, received the request and promptly declined to comply, calling it “bizarre.” The directive stems from a global policy change under former President Donald Trump, which U.S. embassies are still enforcing. The clash highlights how domestic political shifts can ripple far beyond U.S. borders.