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FUTURES FILES

Turbulent commodities Fears of global recession, higher interest rates, poor exports, and rain forecasted in some of our driest areas triggered huge selling and money flows from funds midweek. Thursday brought the biggest crash in weeks for grains, beans, cotton, copper, energies, and most other commodity futures. As wheat and corn exceeded four-month lows, traders touted the simple but appropriate reminder that “what goes up must come down.” Those blaming weather for the decline had plenty of fodder as rain hit France. It’s also predicted to rain during the first half of ...

Business owner shares eminent domain experience

Dave Lebrun has established a new location for his design and construction company, but he says the five years spent working through a flood buyout process taught him many valuable lessons. He wants to share those lessons with others facing property acquisitions as construction continues on ...

First International Bank and Trust announces promotions

First International Bank and Trust announced two recent promotions for its Minot area banking team: Brock DesLauriers to Minot president and Blair Slaughter to Retail Operations supervisor. DesLauriers began working for FIBT in 2005 as a teller while attending college. Over the years he has been elevated from teller to credit analyst, personal banker, consumer lender, mortgage loan officer, commercial loan officer, and most recently as senior vice president/North Hill Branch manager. In his new role as Minot president, DesLauriers will oversee the entire Minot Lending Team, as well ...

New assistant dean named at UND’s Northwest Campus

Dr. Paul D. Olson, a critical care and family physician in Minot and clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, has been named assistant dean for the school’s Northwest Campus. In taking the new position, Olson is assuming the role of Dr. Scott Knutson, who was the assistant dean in Minot for many years. “I am an avid advocate for the medical community of northwestern North Dakota, and a believer in the need for medical education in our region,” said Olson. “I believe this advocacy encourages ...

Futures Files

Heat hurting agriculture Cattle in Kansas died by the thousands recently. Hogs and poultry farms are suffering too, as livestock are unable to cool down. Record temperatures have suddenly exceeded animals’ ability to cool themselves, both naturally and even in confined feed operations. Overall production levels are compromised because even those faring well in the heat are not eating properly, affecting health and safety. As of midday Friday, for August delivery, lean hogs traded at $1.08, while cattle brought $1.37 per pound. Large swaths of the Corn Belt are experiencing ...

How to afford summer road trips amid high gas prices

(AP) — A summer road trip used to be a cost-effective, easy getaway. This year, soaring gas prices and expensive rental cars might make you think twice about hitting the road. According to the American Automobile Association, a federation of motor clubs throughout North America, the average gas price was $4.60 per gallon nationally before Memorial Day weekend. Some experts believe the national average might even top $5 later in the summer. Plus, rental car prices hit record highs during the pandemic, up 38.6% in February 2022 versus February 2020, according to a NerdWallet analysis ...