A multibillion-dollar AI data center proposal near Harwood and Fargo has sparked more questions than answers. Confidentiality agreements signed by both cities’ leaders with Texas-based Applied Digital are raising eyebrows, especially as residents worry about secrecy, speed, and the project’s local impact.[...]
Section: Business & Economy
Curio |
Nominations narrowed for 2025 ‘coolest’ product manufactured in Cornhusker state
From wool yarn spun in Scottsbluff to a corn head the size of a small building, Nebraska’s manufacturing creativity is on full display. Sixteen finalists have been named in this year’s “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” contest, a public vote that celebrates[...]
News |
Williston city officials still looking to entice new big-box retailer With Liquor License Incentive
Williston leaders are getting creative in their push to bring a big-box retailer to town. This week, commissioners approved a new liquor license tailored specifically for large retailers—a tool they hope will tip the scales in their favor. Mayor Howard Klug points[...]
Commentary |
Almost everything is downstream of integrity
When politics feels like little more than a shouting match, it’s easy to forget that the health of democracy depends on something deeper than laws and institutions. Integrity—not policy positions or partisan wins—is the true safeguard of the Constitution. Without it, even[...]
News |
Class D Liquor License bidding opens in Bismarck
In Bismarck, opportunity comes with a high price tag. The city has three Class D liquor licenses up for bid, each with a minimum price of $200,000. Scarcity makes them valuable, but they do come with added flexibility—unlike other permits that tie[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
News |
Controversial AI data center company holds heated meeting in Harwood
In Harwood, a town of fewer than 800 people, a billion-dollar question has landed squarely in the community’s lap: should an artificial intelligence data center be built just outside city limits? At a packed meeting, residents voiced frustration, suspicion, and anger toward[...]
News |
Why Germany and Italy have suspended shipments of most merchandise to the U.S., effective immediately
For years, small packages under $800 could slip into the U.S. duty-free, fueling billions in cross-border shopping. That loophole closes this week, and confusion is rippling through Europe’s postal networks. National carriers from Germany to Italy are halting shipments to America, saying[...]
News |
Farm finances weakened further during the growing season| Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Fields may look healthy across the Upper Midwest, but the balance sheets tell a different story. Lenders in the Minneapolis Fed’s Ninth District say farm incomes are sliding for the second straight year, squeezed by high costs and weak grain prices. Equipment[...]
News |
Canadian tourism down in North Dakota, with poll linking downturn to tariffs, rhetoric
Border crossings for personal vehicles into North Dakota from Canada were down about 30% for the first half of this year compared to 2024 — a trend that could stem from the U.S. executive branch’s policy and rhetoric. The North Dakota Department[...]
News |
Another gold rush could bring open pit mines to South Dakota’s Black Hills
The Black Hills have long carried two stories—one of sacred ground and another of gold. Today, with prices soaring past $3,000 an ounce, mining companies are once again eyeing the region that helped fuel South Dakota’s growth 150 years ago. Supporters point[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
Commentary |
American opinion: Trusted data is a vital economic asset
Trustworthy economic data is the backbone of financial markets and government policy — and right now, that trust is under strain. The firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer and the nomination of Heritage Foundation economist EJ Antoni have raised[...]
News |
North Dakota’s rural economy shows signs of contraction
North Dakota’s rural economy is showing mixed signals. The state’s Rural Mainstreet Index dipped to 50.4 in August, pointing to a slight slowdown, even as hiring surged and farmland prices inched higher. Exports, however, told a different story: agricultural sales abroad fell[...]
News |
Far fewer Canadians are visiting the U.S. this year, new numbers show
Canadian travel to the U.S. is down sharply — nearly 37% fewer vehicle trips this July compared to last year, and a 17% drop overall since January. For border businesses, that shift is striking. At Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, NY,[...]
Commentary |
America’s Economy Needs a Robust Freight Network
Revitalizing American manufacturing has become a political priority. However, there is widespread agreement that the U.S. should reduce its dependence on foreign supply chains, rebuild domestic industrial capacity, and compete more effectively with economic rivals. We can’t just play defense by using[...]
News |
$100M boost propels North Dakota’s Project ULTRA to expand military drone ops
North Dakota is carving out a leading role in the future of uncrewed aviation. With a $100 million contract extension, Project ULTRA at GrandSKY is expanding its testing and operations for drones that can carry supplies, support the military, and even deliver[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
News Release |
ND taxable sales show year-over-year gains
Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus has announced that North Dakota’s taxable sales and purchases for the 2nd quarter of 2025 increased by 3.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024. For April, May, and June of 2025, taxable sales and purchases totaled[...]