Today in Minot

Minot’s momentum is unmistakable this fall. The October Communicator from the Minot Area Chamber-EDC captures a season filled with milestones—from the 1,000th train rolling out of the Minot intermodal facility to national attention on our nuclear triad leadership. It’s also a time of celebration and connection, with Norsk Høstfest, Energy Day, and Business After Hours reminding us how culture, commerce, and community intertwine. Dive into this month’s issue for a closer look at the partnerships, people, and progress shaping Minot’s future.

https://issuu.com/minotchamberedc/docs/the_communicator_-_october_2025

Russia’s war in Ukraine entered its 188th week with growing tension far beyond the front lines. Reports of unidentified drones over European skies are testing NATO defenses and raising fears of hybrid warfare. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces a graver risk at home: extended blackouts at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, now fully dependent on backup generators. As fighting grinds on, Europe is confronting new threats both visible and unseen — from the quiet hum of drones to the fragile hum of a reactor under siege. Anna Belokur with The Kyiv Independent has the full report in this edition of Ukraine This Week. Watch below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDT7a9A7x9Q

In a quick reversal, the Minot City Council has decided to stay in the North Dakota League of Cities after nearly cutting ties over a political dispute. The $25,000 membership fee—once removed from next year’s budget—was restored following new council member Mike Hayes’ push to reconsider. Hayes said he took a closer look after last month’s vote and concluded the city benefits from remaining in the league, even as some colleagues voiced frustration over its stance on the state’s property tax cap debate. Joe Skurzewski with KMOT has the full story.

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has awarded 15 grants totaling over $2.5 million to promote the development, cultivation, production and sales of specialty crops in North Dakota.“North Dakota is already a leading producer of several specialty crops, such as dry edible beans, dry peas, potatoes...

North Dakota’s economic outlook took center stage in Minot this week as leaders from across the state gathered for the Economic Development Association of North Dakota’s fall conference. Under the theme “Stronger Partnerships, Greater Possibilities,” the three-day event brought together lawmakers, business executives, and local officials to talk infrastructure, workforce, and innovation. With discussions focused on turning the state’s strengths—energy, agriculture, and talent—into long-term growth, attendees struck an optimistic tone about North Dakota’s future and the collaborations needed to get there. Jack Meyer with KX News has the full story.

More than 200 students from across western North Dakota gathered in Bismarck this week with a shared goal: helping their peers break free from nicotine and tobacco. Hosted by Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, the Break Free Youth Action Summit focused on leadership, prevention, and peer education. Organizers say it’s about more than awareness—it’s about empowering young people to lead by example. For many students, the message was clear: real change starts when they use their own voices to shape healthier communities. Tyler Pflibsen with KX News has the full story.

North Dakota’s education and legal leadership are both heading for new stages in Washington. Superintendent Kirsten Baesler has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the nation’s next assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education, while former judge Nicholas Chase will become the state’s new U.S. attorney. Their confirmations mark major transitions for two long-serving public figures — one moving from Bismarck’s classrooms to federal policy, the other from Fargo’s bench to the nation’s justice system — as North Dakota prepares for new leadership at home. Michael Achterling with North Dakota Monitor has the full story.

In Montana, a new constitutional push is taking shape over who gets to shape the law. A group called Montanans Decide has filed a proposal to protect the state’s ballot initiative process, arguing that recent legislative changes have made it harder for citizens to bring measures directly to voters. The amendment would require a fair and transparent system for reviewing petitions and verifying signatures. Supporters say it’s about preserving a core Montana value — keeping government accountable to the people. Keila Szpaller with Daily Montanan has the full story.

Nebraska’s manufacturing pride was on full display this week as Grand Island’s Case IH plant claimed the title of “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” for its AF Series Combines. Chosen from thousands of public votes, the high-tech harvesters were hailed for their power, precision, and versatility—machines designed by farmers, for farmers. The contest, now in its fourth year, capped off the state’s Manufacturing Month, celebrating the innovation and craftsmanship that keep more than 100,000 Nebraskans at work building what the world depends on. Cindy Gonzalez with Nebraska Examiner has the full story.

In an era when political reversals are rare, Minot’s latest City Council vote stands out. After earlier deciding to withdraw from the North Dakota League of Cities, the council reversed course and reinstated its $25,000 membership—a move sparked by new member Mike Hayes admitting he’d made a mistake. What could’ve remained a routine budget squabble instead became a quiet reminder that democracy depends not on rigid ideology, but on the willingness to reconsider when the facts, or the understanding of them, change. Rob Port has the full commentary on the larger issue attached to a relatively small line in the City of Minot budget.

On a leveled stretch of Wyoming prairie, work is underway on Related Digital’s $1.2 billion data center—an ambitious project with both technical and civic weight. The facility will rely on low-water cooling systems and promises to add hundreds of construction jobs and several dozen permanent positions. Its financing model includes a tariff structure meant to keep local power rates stable, and the company pledged $3.5 million toward affordable housing in Cheyenne. Garrett Grochowski with Oil City News has the full story.

Across the heartland, a quiet revolution is taking root—not in Silicon Valley labs, but in university fields and classrooms where agriculture meets innovation. From Purdue’s DIAL Ventures to Iowa State’s Start Something program, schools are cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs who see soil and software as two sides of the same opportunity. By pairing hands-on farming know-how with digital insight, these ventures are redefining what it means to grow a business—and, quite literally, helping feed the future. Steven Melendez with Fast Company has the full story.

Two years after Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel, the memories remain vivid for those who lived through them. More than a thousand people were killed and hundreds taken hostage in a day of terror that shocked the world. Among them was Rita Lifshitz from Gothenburg, now living in an Israeli kibbutz, who recalls the chaos as “like a horror movie.” Marking the anniversary, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reaffirmed that there is no place for antisemitism in Sweden. Radio Sweden has the full story.

America’s oil fields are running at full tilt again. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, domestic crude production hit a record 13.6 million barrels per day in July—enough to nudge forecasts higher through 2026. Yet even as output climbs, global inventories are rising and prices are expected to drift lower, with Brent crude projected to average just $52 a barrel next year. The takeaway: steady production in a market adjusting to new global balances and lots of uncertainty. The full release from the EIA is available at the link below.