Featured Articles in Regional News

North Dakota Reports Slight Dip in Q1 2025 Taxable Sales

North Dakota Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus announced today that the state’s taxable sales and purchases for the first quarter of 2025 totaled $5.65 billion, reflecting a 1.53% decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite the modest decline, Kroshus said the data show signs of underlying economic stability amid national economic uncertainty. “While we Read More…

Buckskin Mine Honored with 2025 DEQ Excellence in Mining Reclamation Award

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has awarded the 2025 Excellence in Mining Reclamation Award in the coal category to the Buckskin Mine for its outstanding work restoring native sagebrush habitat in Campbell County. The award, which recognizes exceptional achievements in mine reclamation, will be officially presented during the 69th Annual Wyoming Mining Association Read More…

Senate Committee Advances North Dakota Superintendent Baesler’s Nomination for Federal Education Post

North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler’s nomination to serve as the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education has advanced to the full United States Senate. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) approved Baesler’s nomination Friday in a party-line vote of 12-11, as part of an en Read More…

Attorney General Jackley Appoints Two New Special Agents in Charge at South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the promotion of two veteran law enforcement officers to newly created leadership positions within the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Supervisory Special Agents Mike Hockett and Dane Rasmussen have been named Special Agents in Charge (SAC) for the Eastern and Western regions of the state, respectively. “Special Read More…

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Governor selects new Wyoming public records ombudsman

Gov. Mark Gordon has tapped his constituent liaison to serve as Wyoming’s next public records ombudsman, his office announced.   Darlena Potter had served in the liaison role since September 2019. She has previously worked in state and local government, the governor’s office said. In her new role, she will attempt to resolves challenges over Read More…

WYOMING ADDS 2,000 TAGS TO UPCOMING ELK SEASON

Elk herds are thriving in Wyoming, which means more opportunity for more hunters. Last week, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) announced that the state wildlife commission approved the addition of 2,000 more licenses for the upcoming elk season. According to the Jackson Hole News & Guide, the “major herds are nearly 30% over objective” and there’s Read More…

OVER 160,000 WYOMING RESIDENTS MEDICAL DATA MISTAKENLY UPLOADED

A press release put out by the Wyoming Department of Health announced the mistaken exposure of lab test result data with the health information of over 160,000 Wyoming residents. The department said they became aware of the exposure of approximately 164,021 Wyoming residents on March 10, 2021, with a workforce member mishandling health information as early as November 5, 2020. READ FULL Read More…

Airline boardings in North Dakota increase in March; more federal aid announced

Passenger numbers at North Dakota’s eight commercial service airports in March increased from the previous month and year but remained well below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. The airports in Bismarck, Minot, Williston, Dickinson, Grand Forks, Fargo, Devils Lake and Jamestown collectively had 72,504 passenger boardings last month, up from 51,240 in February and from 60,821 in March Read More…

How Wyoming became the promised land for bitcoin investors

Wyoming’s economy is powered by some of the oldest industries in human history, including mining, agriculture and tourism. But in recent years the state has emerged as an unlikely champion of far newer inventions: cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology that powers them. Now, the Cowboy State is arguably the most crypto-friendly jurisdiction in the United Read More…

Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation adds directors to board

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health appointed Elva (Cookie) Allan, Marybeth Flachbart and Jenny Robertson to its board of directors. Allan has worked for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe since 1999 and is the director of strategic initiatives and development office. She has been an advocate for Latino and Native American issues dating back Read More…

Idaho Potato Commission CEO Muir sets retirement

Idaho Potato Commission President and CEO Frank Muir plans to retire in mid-September.   He prioritized national branding and marketing since leaving a well-established corporate career in those disciplines in 2003 to join IPC.   “I was hired as an outside hired gun to do real marketing, and that’s what we’ve tried to do the Read More…

TWO WYOMING CITIES COULD LOSE THEIR ‘METRO’ STATUS

A bipartisan group in Congress is urging the federal government not to remove 144 cities from being designated as metropolitan areas. They say reclassifying them as “micropolitan” could put key federal funding at risk. The request comes after The Associated Press reported this month that the federal government wants to raise the population criteria for core cities Read More…

Analysis: Money, marijuana dominate busy 2021 South Dakota legislative session

Lawmakers this year passed the biggest budget in state history and carved out funding for long-term, transformational projects like broadband and rail line expansion, all amid a once-in-a-century pandemic. But it’s what didn’t happen that the 2021 Legislative Session might be most remembered for. For 128 days, dozens if not hundreds of legal and political Read More…

Governor Gordon Announces Removal of Statewide Mask Requirement beginning March 16th

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Press Release) – Governor Mark Gordon announced Wyoming will remove its statewide mask requirement and allow bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms to resume normal operations on March 16. The decision reflects the state’s continually improving health metrics and is consistent with the Governor’s approach of balancing public health with protecting livelihoods. Wyoming has Read More…

More North Dakotans eligible for COVID-19 shots as some health units move into the next phase of vaccination

More North Dakotans are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines as at least one district health unit moves into a broader vaccination category. Right now, most of the state is in the Phase 1B category, which means, among other things, anyone 16 years of age and older with two underlying health risk conditions can get vaccinated. Phase 1C includes Read More…

Whole Foods Market makes entry into Wyoming

Whole Foods Market this week entered Wyoming, its 43rd state, with the completion of its acquisition of independent supermarket Jackson Whole Grocer. The Austin, Texas-based specialty grocery chain said the store, located at 1155 S. Highway 89 in Jackson, Wyo., will remain open during its conversion to the Whole Foods banner. The acquisition was announced Read More…

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg facing three misdemeanors in connection with deadly crash

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has been charged with three misdemeanors in connection with a deadly crash in September 2020. Hyde County Deputy State’s Attorney Emily Sovell announced Ravnsborg will be charged with operating a vehicle while using a mobile electronic device, illegal lane change and careless driving. READ FULL Read More…

Wyoming governor and energy operators decry permitting delays

Gov. Mark Gordon sent a letter to the Biden administration on Wednesday criticizing a recent order that he says severely hampers oil and gas development and threatens Wyoming’s economic well-being. In a letter sent Wednesday to the Interior Department’s acting secretary, Gordon said Wyoming’s oil and gas operators faced long delays in obtaining permits and other approvals Read More…

12 North Dakota communities will be receiving upgrades

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Twelve North Dakota communities will be receiving upgrades, thanks to the Main Street Initiative Vibrancy Grant. Grant funding goes to nonprofit organizations and local governments to work on projects that will make the city more vibrant. The North Dakota Department of Commerce selected Bismarck as a recipient of the funding to Read More…