Today in Minot

At 3:33 p.m. on August 12, the Minot Fire Department responded to reports of smoke coming from a residence in the 500 block of 6th Avenue NE. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered occupants who had already exited the home and informed them that another person and two...

A routine traffic stop in Whitefish has sparked a federal lawsuit alleging racial profiling and unlawful detention. Beker Rengifo Del Castillo says police pulled him over for a faulty taillight in April, then called U.S. Customs and Border Protection solely because he spoke Spanish. Despite showing proof of legal status, Castillo was held in federal custody for more than a month. His attorneys argue the stop became an unjustified immigration investigation, violating his constitutional rights, and are seeking punitive damages from the city and its police department.

Tucson’s “Project Blue” promised a massive data center complex — but secrecy killed it. Last week, the city council unanimously rejected the plan after public outcry over nondisclosure agreements that kept residents, and even some officials, in the dark about who was behind it and how it would strain water, power, and public resources. The mystery developer turned out to be Amazon Web Services, revealed only through a records slip-up. Now, Tucson and Pima County are weighing NDA reforms, with critics calling the agreements anti-democratic and costly to communities.

President Trump says the U.S. will collect 15% of Nvidia’s revenue from sales of its H20 chip in China — a deal he claims came after direct negotiations with CEO Jensen Huang. The H20, designed to meet export control limits, is less powerful than Nvidia’s top-tier models. While the arrangement’s legal basis is unclear, it marks a sharp turn in U.S. chip policy toward China, blending national security concerns with revenue-sharing and hinting that future, more advanced chips could come with even steeper terms. John Ruwitch with NPR has the full story.

Mandan property owners now have a new way to track what they owe on special assessments. The city has launched an online dashboard that lets users search by parcel or address to see project details, original assessment amounts, interest rates, annual installment estimates, and remaining terms. Updated monthly, the tool aims to make payment tracking and project information more transparent. Special assessments in Mandan fund public improvements like street paving, water and sewer work, and sidewalk repairs, with repayment terms typically running five to 15 years. Sebastian Mendoza with KX News has the full story.

Helsinki has achieved what many cities only set as an aspiration: a full year without a single traffic death. The Finnish capital, home to about 700,000 people, reached the milestone through decades of deliberate changes — slower speed limits, narrower lanes, strict enforcement, and investments in public transit and bike infrastructure. Each crash is investigated to guide street redesigns, creating a culture of constant improvement. For U.S. cities struggling with rising fatalities, Helsinki’s record offers a clear message: safer streets are possible with sustained, thoughtful action. Adele Peters with Fast Company has the full story.

The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality and the North Dakota Public Finance Authority have announced four State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans awarded in July to help communities upgrade essential water infrastructure. The SRF programs, supported in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provide below-market interest rate loans for projects that protect clean and safe drinking water. The July awards will finance critical improvements ranging from storm sewer construction to lead service line replacement.

Projects awarded funding:

• Grand Forks – $1.3 million Clean Water SRF loan to build storm sewer infrastructure along 27th Avenue North and North 32nd Street, connecting to a regional stormwater pond and improving runoff management.
• Cando – $3.3 million Drinking Water SRF loan to replace a cast-iron water main with PVC along Fourth Avenue, ensuring safe, reliable drinking water.
• Jamestown – $2 million Drinking Water SRF loan to replace aging cast-iron mains on First Avenue, Fourth Avenue, and Business Loop West, reducing repairs and improving reliability.
• Minot – $29.6 million Drinking Water SRF loan to identify the material of approximately 8,000 unknown service lines and replace known lead lines, reducing a potential lead source in drinking water.

While extreme weather has battered much of North Dakota’s crops this year, a greenhouse in Sawyer is proving resilient. Farmer Quinn Renfandt grows tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and more in a controlled environment that shields his plants from hail and wind — even as the area logged 17 severe storm warnings and a tornado watch. Built in 2022 and recently doubled in size, the greenhouse uses shade cloth and geothermal heating to manage conditions year-round. Renfandt hopes his model can inspire more weather-proof farming in the state’s future.

MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University special education programs have received a Bush Foundation award to continue to recruit, train, and retain special education teachers to serve in rural communities. Minot State was notified in late July by the Bush Foundation that it had received the...

North Dakota’s Ethics Commission is preparing to fill three upcoming vacancies, drawing 39 applicants from across the state. The pool includes attorneys, former government officials, professors, community organizers — and former commission chair Paul Richard, who hopes to finish the term of Dave Anderson, who died in May. Another seat opens when Ward Koeser departs at the end of August, while Commissioner Murray Sagsveen seeks reappointment. The appointments, made jointly by the governor and legislative leaders, come amid ongoing tensions over the commission’s role in regulating ethics.

The EPA is changing how diesel exhaust fluid systems work, aiming to prevent sudden breakdowns that have long frustrated farmers, truckers, and construction crews. Announced by Administrator Lee Zeldin at the Iowa State Fair, the new guidance will require 2027-model trucks to avoid abrupt power losses when DEF runs out, and offers software fixes for existing vehicles. Officials say the shift could save family farms hundreds of millions annually, easing a rule critics argue has stalled equipment at the worst times while still meeting emissions goals. Cami Koons with Iowa Capital Dispatch has the full story.

After nearly two decades together, Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart Racing are parting ways. The Minot native leaves TSR with eight points championships, 234 wins for the team, and a legacy that includes nine Knoxville Nationals victories and 10 World of Outlaws titles overall. Team owner Tony Stewart praised Schatz’s career but cited recent performance struggles as a reason for the change. Sprint car veteran Kerry Madsen will take over the No. 15 for the rest of the season, with his first start set for Aug. 15 in Minnesota. Ryan Spitza with InForum has the full story.

After just three years of varsity play, Minot North football is setting its sights high. Last season’s run to the Class 2A semifinals has fueled expectations for a team now anchored by 21 seniors — the same players who helped launch the program from scratch. Head coach Jake Holmen says their leadership, buy-in, and hard work in the offseason have positioned the Sentinels for another deep playoff push. With a tough early road schedule and a veteran roster, they’re focused on earning each win — and maybe a Dakota Bowl berth. Catch the full interview by Dom Izzo with WDAY/Inforum below.

The White House is directing the Smithsonian Institution to undergo a sweeping review of its museums and exhibits ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, with an eye toward aligning content with President Donald Trump’s vision of American history. The review will examine everything from exhibit text to social media posts, assessing “tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals.” Smithsonian officials say they remain committed to accuracy and scholarly integrity, while critics warn the move could put political priorities ahead of academic independence, altering how the nation’s story is told for generations. Annie Ma with Associated Press has the full story.

North Dakota utility regulators on Thursday approved plans for a large natural-gas power plant that could become the largest single source of electricity in the state. Public Service Commission Chair Randy Christmann said Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s plan is well-suited to Williams County and provides the...

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects a significant decline in the price of oil as growth in the global supply of oil vastly surpasses growth in demand for petroleum products. In its August Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA expects the Brent crude oil spot price...