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Federal grants awarded for rail projects

BISMARCK – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded $23.6 million to the Red River Valley & Western Railroad (RRVW) and $690,825 to Bottineau County through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. “This funding will allow the modernization of a large portion of railway between Gwinner and Wyndmere — two-thirds of which was laid down before the end of World War I, and the rest before the Great Depression,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, R-ND, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and ...

FRS scholarships available through SRT

The 2027 FRS Scholarship Program is now accepting applications, with awards ranging from $1,000-$9,000 to support rural students pursuing their educational goals. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 15, 2027, to be considered. FRS, the philanthropic arm of NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association, awards general scholarships to an exceptional group of rural students for their first year of college or vocational school. All applicants require partnership with an NTCA member company to be eligible. SRT, as the NTCA partner, also contributes toward the scholarship award. Visit ...

Pests prompt limits on tree transport

BISMARCK — The U.S. Forest Service Dakota Prairie Grasslands has issued a new area closure order to help prevent the spread of emerald ash borer (EAB) and other harmful forest pests. This order replaces the firewood Area Use Restriction Order that expired Oct. 1. The new order is in effect through Oct. 14, 2028. The action follows the recent discovery of emerald ash borer in Bismarck, which demonstrates the continued spread of this invasive species across the region and reaffirms the need for continued protections, according to the forest service. The order applies to all National ...

Probation imposed for witness tampering

A Sawyer man charged with witness tampering in connection with a court case alleging improper disposal of hundreds of dead cattle has been sentenced to three years of probation in North Central District Court. The Class C felony witness tampering charge against Nathan Smith was reduced to a misdemeanor on the condition he commits no probation violations, including compliance with a no-contact order. A 360-day jail sentence was suspended and court fees of $525 were imposed. Smith was charged after individuals provided information to the Ward County Sheriff’s Office that Smith had ...

Families could owe despite student loan forgiveness

North Dakota residents who qualify to have their federal student loans forgiven could face thousands of dollars in additional tax costs, potentially undermining the financial relief they have spent decades working toward, according to a new report from the advocacy group Protect Borrowers, ...

ND winter outlook leans warmer, drier

The warmer weather pattern this fall is expected to slowly transition into winter, which also could be warmer than normal in North Dakota, according to the winter outlook released by the National Weather Service Thursday, Oct. 15. Above normal temperatures are expected to continue through ...