Featured Articles in Regional News

Wyoming Air National Guard to Host State’s Largest STEAM Experience

The Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing will host Discovery Day 2025, the state’s largest science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) event, on September 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wyoming Air National Guard Base in Cheyenne. The event brings together local colleges, universities, trade career experts, and STEAM-focused organizations Read More…

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North Dakota names teacher of the year finalists

BISMARCK — Five educators in North Dakota are finalists for the state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year award, the state superintendent announced Friday, Sept. 13. The finalists are: Jessica Brandt, Title 1 English and reading teacher at Central Cass Public School in Casselton. Karyn Chiapella, special education teacher and intervention specialist in the Scranton public Read More…

Lawmakers form committee to protect miners, Wyo. in bankruptcies

Legislative leadership voted Thursday to create a special committee of lawmakers to try and stem losses from future coal company bankruptcies for both miners and the state. Priorities for the new committee include securing taxes owed to Wyoming counties, getting the Wyoming attorney general’s office to assist county officials in bankruptcy court and trying to Read More…

KANYE WEST BUYS MASSIVE, $14 MIL WYOMING RANCH

Kanye West is not just a Wyoming visitor anymore, because we’ve learned he just bought a massive property. Kanye plunked down some serious money for a property called Monster Lake Ranch. The asking price was $14 million for the huge chunk of land outside Cody, Wyoming.   The Ranch itself has 8 lodging units and is Read More…

Sen. Mike Rounds says wife’s chemotherapy has shrunk tumor in half

Sen. Mike Rounds said there’s been a positive development in his wife’s cancer treatment. “After multiple rounds of chemo treatment, we’re pleased to report that not only has Jean’s tumor shrunk in half, a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan showed no signs of the tumor spreading or metastasizing,” the South Dakota Republican said in a statement. He added that “the Read More…

Five honored at Wyoming Department of Agriculture Excellence in Agriculture Awards

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – On Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture honored five individuals for their contributions to the agriculture industry and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture at the Ruthe James Williams Center on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds during the 107th State Fair. The excellence in agriculture awards are given to individuals who Read More…

Idaho Governor Brad Little Launches Opioid Advisory Group

Idaho officials are focusing their attention on the state’s growing opioids and substance abuse problems. The Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Advisory Group met for the first time Thursday, with Gov. Brad Little (R) calling it a “very comprehensive and complex problem.” “I’ve looked, observed, talked about, observed from a distance, and sometimes, I’ve observed Read More…

Williston School Districts met with Governor Doug Burgum to try and solve overcrowding issues

With school starting up soon, school districts in Williams County are still trying to solve overcrowding issues. Monday afternoon, school officials, and other city and county officials met with the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the State’s Superintendent. Two school districts in Williams County have been unsuccessful at convincing voters to support tax increases to Read More…

Blue Laws in North Dakota Are History

FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota’s law banning Sunday shopping from midnight to noon is now history. Whatever it is you’re in the market for, you can now shop for it on Sunday mornings in North Dakota. That’s because the state’s Blue Laws have been lifted. “Well you’ve never been able to come until after lunch, Read More…

North Dakota tourism up

BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota’s travel and tourism season is on track to beat last year’s numbers, even with weather delays to many popular destinations. Last year, more than 1.3 million visitors took in North Dakota’s state parks and events, according to the Parks and Rec. This year, that number is expected to jump. “Last year, Read More…

Wyoming Lawmakers Offer Explanations For Low Revenues And High Debt

The nation’s treasury secretary initially thought lawmakers wouldn’t have to raise the debt ceiling until October or November, but White House officials have moved that deadline to early September. That’s because projected federal revenues are way down, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a wonky think tank that tries to avoid the partisan tit-for-tat that’s Read More…

CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER DIES IN WYOMING PRISON

A Laramie native who was serving consecutive prison terms for taking indecent liberties with a child and drug possession has died, the Wyoming Department of Corrections announced Tuesday. Department spokesman Mark Horan said Lorenzo S. Montez, 53, died of a long-term illness Tuesday at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington. An autopsy has been Read More…

Wyoming unemployment falls to 3.5% in May 2019

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported Tuesday that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 3.6% in April to 3.5% in May. Wyoming’s unemployment rate was lower than its year-ago level of 4% and slightly lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 3.6%. READ FULL STORY

After delays, Bank of North Dakota still eyeing new ‘financial services’ building in Bismarck

BISMARCK — North Dakota state officials are dusting off plans to construct a new “financial services center” after budget woes delayed the building project.   Four years ago, state lawmakers authorized the use of $17 million in assets from the state-owned Bank of North Dakota for the project, which would house the Department of Commerce, Read More…

Leadership South Dakota names 43 selected for program

Leadership South Dakota has named those selected for the 8-month leadership program. The class includes 43 members and begins in September. Leadership South Dakota is a statewide program meant to provide South Dakotans with the background, experiences and insights to assume leadership positions at the local, state and national levels. READ FULL STORY

Wyoming National Guard unit deploying to Kosovo

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming Army National Guard soldiers deploy this week for a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Community members are invited to attend a ceremony for the 297th Infantry Regiment on Tuesday afternoon at Star Valley High School in Afton. National Guard officials say this is the first time the Wyoming infantry unit is deploying Read More…

North Dakota DOT kicks off $370 million construction season

BISMARCK — North Dakota state transportation officials kicked off a $370 million highway construction season Wednesday, May 22, months after lawmakers rejected a gas tax increase to boost road funding.   The plans include reconstructing and rehabilitating sections of Interstate 94, reconstructing parts of Interstate 29 between Fargo and Wahpeton as well as reconstructing and rehabbing U.S. Read More…

Feds found unsafe working conditions at Amazon in Nampa. Now the company is paying.

Amazon has reached an informal settlement with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration for unsafe workplace conditions at its new, local delivery center in Nampa. OSHA cited the company in March with four violations, including failing to log an injury to a worker that required treatment beyond first aid. The modular delivery center went up in November Read More…

Number of births in Wyoming falls to 15-year low

Mothers gave birth to 6,551 babies in Wyoming last year, the lowest number in more than 15 years, the Wyoming Department of Health said Tuesday.   The downward trend began in 2015. That year — which coincided with the state’s largest energy bust in decades, mothers gave birth to about 7,700 babies. Wyoming’s population dropped in the first three Read More…

North Dakota’s 2nd medical marijuana dispensary set to open

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Health says the state’s second medical marijuana dispensary is set to open next week. The facility will be located in Grand Forks. Jason Wahl, director of the department’s Medical Marijuana Division, says the dispensary operated by We-Mend LLC is set to open Wednesday. READ FULL STORY