Today in Minot

OLIVER COUNTY, N.D. — A 47-year-old Minot man is facing multiple charges after a single-vehicle crash in Cross Ranch State Park on Sunday left a juvenile passenger seriously injured. The crash occurred around 2:48 p.m. on July 27 when the driver’s 2008 GMC Yukon accelerated and...

While North Dakota has low numbers of aquatic nuisance species, ongoing efforts to protect state waters from the spread of ANS highlight the need for further education and regulation compliance among water recreationists. Game and Fish Department staff have conducted 7,500 watercraft inspections thus far in...

The recent reinstatement of nearly $7 billion in federal education funds just weeks before school starts has left rural educators and administrators frustrated and exhausted. After months of uncertainty and scrambling, we’re now told the funds are coming — but too late to avoid the chaos...

MANDAN, N.D. – A statewide steering committee for an initiative to ensure the future of local news in North Dakota is helping to uncover challenges and opportunities for newspapers across the state. The Future of Local News committee reviewed findings in July from recent industry surveys...

Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program—meant to help vulnerable residents find and keep a roof over their heads—has instead become the latest front in a ballooning fraud crisis. With federal agents raiding providers and the governor halting payments to dozens of them, state officials are facing tough questions about oversight. Gov. Tim Walz admits safeguards weren’t strong enough during the pandemic push to get aid out fast. Now, with potential losses topping $1 billion, the reckoning over fraud—and the fight to rebuild trust—is underway. Michelle Griffith with Minnesota Reformer has the full story.

With so much breaking news this summer, not to mention family travel and fun time, chances are you missed it. Sliced Bread Day has come and gone. It probably wasn’t on your calendar. That’s because it’s only observed every July 7 in the sleepy little town...

Across the Midwest, a quiet revolution has been spinning in the fields. Wind turbines and solar panels have become more than energy sources — they’re economic lifelines for farmers and rural towns. But now, that progress is at risk. A new federal rollback of clean energy incentives threatens to stall new projects and cut off stable income for landowners who lease their land for turbines or power their farms with solar. For rural communities, this isn’t just about energy — it’s about survival, stability, and the future of small-town America.

Bitcoin miners in Alaska are chasing a new kind of gold rush — powered by methane and fed by megawatts. A proposed data center on the North Slope promises to convert stranded gas into electricity to fuel crypto mining, with ambitions to scale up to a power load rivaling the state’s largest coal plant. But as data centers multiply across the West, critics are asking hard questions about energy use, water consumption, and climate costs. The digital boom is real — but is it sustainable, or just cleverly rebranded combustion? Jonathan Thompson with High Country News breaks down the bytes and pieces.

Crude oil production from onshore federal lands has increased in recent years as a result of significant growth in drilling activity and operations. According to data collected by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue, onshore crude oil production from federal lands...

Running a small business is hard enough — now add road closures, detours, and standing rainwater. That’s the reality for shops like Flower Central along Minot’s Central Avenue, where flood project construction has collided with an uncooperative weather forecast. Owner Niki Brose says the soggy ground has nowhere to drain, forcing delays and daily workarounds. It’s frustrating, sure — but not just for business owners. Even construction crews are up against the elements. Progress, it turns out, often has to wait for the water to go down. Lindsey Miller with KMOT has the full story.

A nuclear future is knocking at Wyoming’s door, but not everyone’s ready to open it. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow advanced reactor manufacturers like Radiant Industries to store high-level nuclear waste at their Wyoming sites—an exception to the state’s long-standing ban. Supporters see economic opportunity and energy innovation. Critics, especially in Bar Nunn, see a rush job with long-term risks. As the debate intensifies, the state finds itself at the crossroads of promise and peril—deciding whether to lead in nuclear tech or host its burdens. Dustin Bleizeffer with WyoFile has the full story.

Out in the wilds of northern British Columbia, a man survived a cougar attack the old-fashioned way — by punching it in the face. He was working near Lake Kathlyn when the big cat swiped at him. Instead of running, he threw a fist, and the cougar backed off. No hospital visit needed. For folks used to deer crossings and coyote sightings, it’s a startling reminder: sometimes, the only thing between you and a predator is your own two hands. Original reporting is from The Canadian Press.