Today in Minot

On March 3, at approximately 4 p.m., the Minot Police Department responded to reports of a child being assaulted inside a parked vehicle at a business in southwest Minot. Officers located the vehicle shortly after receiving the report and initiated an investigation. Authorities determined that an...

Bismarck is once again debating whether backyard chickens should be allowed within city limits. Currently, only rural residential areas permit small flocks, but growing public interest has city leaders reconsidering. Supporters highlight the benefits of fresh eggs and food security, while opponents worry about noise and public health risks like avian flu. If the city moves forward, new rules would regulate coop design, flock size, and prohibit roosters. With other cities embracing urban chicken-keeping, Bismarck may soon follow suit—but the discussion isn’t over yet. KX News has the full story.

It has been several years since Minot last considered a similar ordinance.

 Today, the North Dakota Department of Commerce is launching the Relocation Opportunity for Outstanding Talent Grant Program (ROOT) to help businesses attract and retain skilled workers by offering relocation incentives.“North Dakota employers are facing critical workforce shortages, and the ROOT program is designed to bridge that gap,” Commerce Workforce...

North Dakotans strongly support the job President Donald Trump has done in his first month of office but are less enthusiastic about early efforts closer to home from state lawmakers, according to a new statewide poll. The poll of 500 likely voters across North Dakota showed...

For years, zoning laws were seen as a way to guide responsible development. But in New Hampshire, they’ve become something else entirely—a barrier to growth, affordability, and opportunity. A once-simple framework has ballooned into 23,000 pages of regulations across nearly 270 jurisdictions, choking off new housing and driving up costs. Now, some Granite Staters are beginning to recognize what’s long been ignored: the state’s housing crisis isn’t just about supply and demand—it’s about outdated, restrictive zoning. The question is, will New Hampshire act?

And here in North Dakota, will we notice? Our lawmakers at the state love to take legislative ability away from local jurisdictions when there’s an illusion of a patchwork, but when there’s an actual burdensome patchwork — as local zoning is — they fail to recognize the problem. If you want to read more about the conversation emerging in New Hampshire, find it linked below.

Mexico and the United States are pointing fingers over the violence fueled by drug cartels, but this time, the dispute isn’t just political—it’s in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. Mexico is suing American gun manufacturers, arguing that the flow of military-style weapons from the north is arming the very cartels responsible for its deadly violence. A federal appeals court gave Mexico an early win, but now the justices sound doubtful. At stake is whether gunmakers can be held liable—or if legal protections will keep them shielded.

Get the full story from David G. Savage with the Los Angeles Times.

For decades, manufactured home communities offered a rare path to affordable homeownership—until investors saw an opportunity. Across the country, private-equity firms and real estate companies are snapping up mobile home parks, driving up rents and squeezing out long-time residents. In Colorado’s Hickory Village, Derald Ketels is fighting to keep the home he paid off years ago, now drowning in rent hikes and eviction threats. His story is one of many, as corporate landlords rebrand “affordable housing” while making it anything but.

Shelby King writing for Shelterforce, a non profit news site focused on affordable housing, has the full story. And it matters in Minot; we’ve seen this trend locally.

The road to a WDA championship and state tournament berth runs through Bismarck this week, and Minot High is in the driver’s seat. The West Region girls’ basketball tournament tips off at the Bismarck Event Center, with the Majettes eyeing a third straight title. They’ve dominated all season, dropping just one game—even without star guard Maggie Fricke, sidelined early with injury. But nothing is guaranteed in March. Legacy, Mandan, and other challengers are hungry to knock Minot off its throne.

Get the full tournament preview with team notes from the WDA.

Grocery bills are about to get a little steeper—especially in the produce aisle. Target CEO Brian Cornell is warning that fresh fruits and vegetables, including staples like strawberries and avocados, will see price hikes in the coming days. The culprit? Trade policies affecting imports from Mexico, a major supplier during winter months. While Target has worked to reduce reliance on China and cushion against rising costs, Cornell acknowledges that some increases are inevitable. As retailers brace for shifting prices, shoppers may need to adjust their expectations at checkout.

The Norwegian government is taking steps to reduce transportation-related emissions by enabling cities to establish zero-emission zones. These zones would restrict access to high-emission vehicles, encouraging the use of electric and hydrogen-powered transport. To make this possible, the Ministry of Transport has tasked the Norwegian Public...