News |

Part II: Inside the jail where inmate’s fate was sealed

Kim Fundingsland takes us into the Ward County Jail and the culture that existed there before the Dustin Irwin tragedy and now after the reforms have been and are being put into place. Learning from this mistake is the perhaps the least[...]

News |

Ward County Jail Enclosed, Ready for Winter Construction

Construction on the Ward County Jail expansion is moving along. The contractor has the building enclosed and will be able to continue interior construction through the winter. The addition of more than 100 cells is expected to open in the spring of[...]

News |

Commissioners, Architects Meet on Jail Expansion Plan

The plans for Ward County’s jail expansion are nearing completion and architects are hoping to have a final cost projection available for the August 7th County Commission Meeting. The expansion will add 100 new cells to the jail. [...]Read More... from Commissioners,[...]

News |

Unofficially, Jail Approved by Huge Amount

The election results aren’t technically official yet, but Ward County’s request to take out a bigger loan against the previously approved half-cent sales tax was approved by a wide margin Tuesday. Here are the unofficial tallies: YES: 3,105 votes |  ~82% NO:[...]

Commentary |

Let’s Reluctantly Vote ‘yes’ on Tuesday

Tuesday’s election is a hard choice. Of all the issues facing Minot and Ward County, spending $37 million on a jail feels like a case of misplaced priorities. Not long ago, we said no to a second high school. In two months,[...]

News |

Ward County Jail Election: Everything You Need to Know

Tuesday is a special election day in Ward County;  this is the guide to making your decision. What Are We Voting On? In simplest terms, we’re voting on whether we allow the County to take out a bigger loan. In technical terms,[...]

News |

Ward County Sheriff’s Department Pushes Jail Expansion

Ward County Sheriff Captain Bob Barnard was on the service club circuit Monday with the Sertoma Club explaining the need for additional expansion at the Ward County Jail. [...]Read More... from Ward County Sheriff’s Department Pushes Jail Expansion

News |

California Upends It’s Drug War… Implications for Minot?

When you read the article you’ll learn that California has reduced non-violent drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors resulting in less incarceration. Here in Minot we’re about to vote on a $40 million expansion of our jail. [...]Read More... from[...]

News |

Investigation Into Ward County Jail Inmate Death

A preliminary report on the incident calls the jail’s supervision of the inmate ‘grossly inadequate.’ New staff have been hired and the jail population has been reduced as a result. Full story from KX News. [...]Read More... from Investigation Into Ward County[...]