Today in Minot

Across the Upper Midwest, echoes of Nordic tradition are being reshaped by modern hands. Nordic Echoes — Tradition in Contemporary Art gathers blacksmiths, weavers, and woodworkers whose roots stretch back to Scandinavia but whose voices belong unmistakably to this region. Curator Sally Yerkovich’s traveling exhibition bridges Duluth and Manhattan, Brookings and Minneapolis — revealing how heritage survives not by standing still, but by evolving. Each piece tells a story of lineage, creativity, and the quiet persistence of craft. Learn more about the exhibit from Alex V. Cipolle with MPR; it will be visiting North Dakota in 2027. You can also learn more in the video below.

When power tests the limits of principle, the response reveals more than any campaign speech. Columnist Rob Port recalls a recent conversation with North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, who once told him her red line for Donald Trump was simple: he must respect the courts. Now, with Trump defying a federal order by deploying National Guard troops to Portland, that test has arrived. Port wonders whether Fedorchak—and the Republican Party more broadly—will hold that line or look the other way.

Across North Dakota, five tribal nations are working together to tell their own stories — and the world is listening. Through the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, they’re inviting visitors to experience Native cultures through authentic, Indigenous-led tours and events. What began less than a decade ago has grown into a national model for collaboration and cultural preservation, proving that when tribal nations share leadership and vision, they can shape not only tourism, but understanding itself. Sebastian Mendoza with KX News has the full story.

Fifty years ago, Trinity Health opened the doors to its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), beginning a half-century of specialized care for the region’s smallest and most vulnerable patients. Since then, countless families have trusted the NICU team to provide expert care, comfort and support during...

Jill Schramm and the Minot Daily add their full coverage of the City of Minot 2026 budget in the article linked below. The introduction: Minot homeowners are set to get some relief on their 2026 property tax bills after the City Council approved a $216 million budget that holds the line on increases. The plan lowers the city’s tax rate without using the 3% levy hike allowed under state law — a move council member Mike Blessum called “doing our part” to return money to taxpayers. But not everyone was convinced. Council member Paul Pitner warned the cuts rely too heavily on reserves and risk masking long-term financial challenges ahead.

Oil producer Chevron is laying off more than 100 workers in North Dakota after acquiring Hess Corp., a greater impact than initially expected. Chevron notified Job Service North Dakota that it would lay off 111 workers — 63 in Minot and 48 at Tioga — beginning...

Federal officials abruptly postponed a major Wyoming coal lease sale this week — just days after a Montana auction drew a shockingly low bid of less than a penny per ton. The move has rattled the Powder River Basin, once the heart of America’s coal industry, and exposed just how far the market has fallen. Industry leaders blame federal hostility toward coal, but analysts say the real culprit is economics — cheap gas, renewables, and a shrinking demand that no policy can reverse. Dustin Bleizeffer with WyoFile has the full story.

The steady collapse of local journalism isn’t just a story about newspapers — it’s a story about democracy itself. In a Constitution Day address, Wisconsin Watch CEO George Stanley traced how the digital marketplace hollowed out the business model that once sustained community news. What’s left, he warns, is a landscape of “ghost papers,” misinformation, and distrust. Yet Stanley’s message isn’t despair — it’s a call to rebuild civic life by rebuilding local news, one reporter and one community at a time. Mr. Stanley’s full commentary available at Wisconsin Watch is worth your time.

At a time when local journalism and public media face deep cuts, a new partnership in Grand Forks is stepping up to help. The Community Foundation and the Knight Foundation have launched a $30,000 matching grant to support Prairie Public, doubling every local donation. The effort comes after the broadcaster lost a quarter of its funding and 12 jobs. Organizers say it’s about more than keeping programs on the air — it’s about preserving the stories, voices, and trusted information that bind communities together. Maxwell Marko with Grand Forks Herald has the full story.

Kentucky’s top prosecutor says Roblox, one of the world’s most popular gaming platforms for kids, has become a “playground for predators.” In a new lawsuit, Attorney General Russell Coleman accuses the company of failing to protect children despite its family-friendly image. The case adds to a growing wave of legal challenges claiming Roblox’s safeguards are too weak to prevent exploitation. For many parents who once saw the game as a safe digital backyard, that illusion of safety is now being shattered. Bruce Schreiner with Associated Press has the full story.

Six months into America’s latest round of tariffs, the price tags tell a quiet but unmistakable story. Harvard economist Alberto Cavallo and his team are tracking hundreds of thousands of retail goods, finding that tariffs are slowly—but steadily—raising costs for consumers. Prices on imported goods are up about 5%, and even U.S.-made products are climbing as domestic companies seize new pricing power. The real concern, Cavallo warns, isn’t just higher prices today—it’s the long-term erosion of variety, quality, and competitiveness that follows. Jeff Horwich, Senior Economics Writer with Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has the full story.

Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney has reopened one of the country’s most divisive energy debates — Keystone XL. In a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Carney floated reviving the long-dead pipeline as part of a broader deal linking energy, steel, and aluminum trade. Trump was reportedly receptive, setting off a fresh round of reactions at home. Supporters see an economic lifeline; critics see a step backward. Either way, the return of Keystone XL puts Canada’s energy future back on center stage. Nick Murray with The Canadian Press has the full story.