China’s exports stay strong, trade surplus tops $80 billion

November 8, 2021

BEIJING (AP) — China’s exports remained strong in October, a positive sign for an economy trying to weather power shortages and COVID-19 outbreaks. The country’s customs agency said Sunday that exports totaled $300.2 billion, up 27.1% from a year ago. That was down from a 28.1% increase in September but still healthy. Imports came in at $215.7 billion, a 20.6% rise. Exports and imports are much higher than a year ago, when much of the world was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is widespread concern that economic headwinds are slowing growth. The world’s ...

Burgum backs lawsuit against vaccine mandate on private businesses

November 6, 2021

BISMARCK – Gov. Doug Burgum on Friday expressed his strong support for North Dakota’s legal challenge to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate on private businesses with 100 or more employees. North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem joined 10 other states in asking a court to stop the mandate from taking effect Jan. 4. In a meeting Thursday and when the proposed rule was first proposed in September, Burgum and Stenehjem discussed their shared opposition to the emergency temporary standard by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “We ...

First International Bank and Trust Donates $20,000 to Souris Valley United Way

November 1, 2021

First International Bank & Trust recently made a $20,000 donation to Souris Valley United Way on behalf of its Minot employees. First International Bank & Trust is a Premier Sponsor for Souris Valley United Way. Representatives from the FIB&T Minot Employee Fund, and Souris Valley ...

Futures Files

November 1, 2021

Thanksgiving Dinner Costs an Arm and a Leg The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Farm Bureau released data last week indicating Thanksgiving foods, including turkeys, will reach record highs due to inflation. The Farm Bureau estimated the average cost of the dinner to be about $49.00. The feed for turkeys, as well as chickens, hogs, and cattle, contain corn which has been climbing steadily during the past couple of months. Turkey production dropped off after a last year’s price decline during the major COVID wave, confirming commodity prices run through cycles of ...

Economic development board seeks candidates

November 1, 2021

WILLISTON - Western Region Economic Development is seeking candidates interested in serving on the board of directors. One seat will become available in the month of December. A high priority will be given to candidates from the oil and gas and manufacturing industries to fill the seat, but all interested parties are encouraged to apply. WRED is a non-profit organization funded through memberships, grants and STAR Fund dollars. The board of directors is comprised of economic development representatives from Divide, McKenzie, Mountrail and Williams Counties as well as business ...

Bergrude now director of case management at Trinity Health

November 1, 2021

Amy Bergrude, a nurse with 23 years of critical care experience, has been named director of Case Management for Trinity Health. Case managers work closely with physicians, nursing staff, and family members to coordinate hospital care as it relates to resource management, discharge planning, and transition to post-acute care after patients leave the hospital. “Our goal is to help patients navigate the continuum of care to enhance quality of life, prevent readmissions, and increase patient satisfaction,” Bergrude said. A Minot native, she earned her Bachelor of Science in ...