Good morning, Minot.

Aspire Credit Union will host Minot’s Best Bites event on Aug.

27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Citizens Alley where guests can sample local dishes for $2; proceeds benefit Independence, Inc. while a local DJ provides music.

The Minot Spouses Club is hosting its kickoff Membership Drive and Welcome Social on Saturday, Aug.

8 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 256 Spruce Street MAFB (Housing Office), offering registration for the 2026-2027 season, engaging group activities, and prizes available to attendees.

Souris Valley Animal Shelter will hold its third annual Color Run/Walk/Roll and Lend-a-Paw Festival on Saturday, Aug.

8 to raise mental health awareness and fund shelter upgrades (including animal therapy for long-term residents). Registration begins at 9 a.m. in Oak Park; the run starts at 10:30 a.m.

Folds of Honor received a boost at the North Dakota State Fair today, with Budweiser & Magic City Beverage each donating $5,000 to help fund scholarships for spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members.

The event brought community partnerships together to support military families.

Center Machine built an underground storm shelter from a shipping container after storm damage at Lake Tschida.

The Pair-O-Dice shelter holds 16 people and was delivered this week to a feedlot for workers to take cover during severe weather + it meets FEMA ICC 500 and International Building Code standards.

North Dakota has been ranked fourth best by U.S. News and World Report for its strong job numbers, fiscal stability, energy, infrastructure and opportunity.

Commerce Director Rich Garman said low red tape helps companies quickly access sites + save money.

Operation Homefront will host the 2026 Back-to-School Backpack Brigade on Friday, Aug.

7 in Minot, where families will receive backpacks, school supplies and a $30 gift card while 40 local organizations offer free resources and vision screenings to support military-connected families.

Minot Air Force Base's 5th Force Support Squadron (5 FSS) was recognized as August Squadron of the Month by the 5th Bomb Wing Command, and its Outdoor Recreation flight offers adventure services including gear rentals, guided camping trips, and local recharge opportunities for Airmen and families.

The City of Minot confirmed West Nile Virus in a mosquito sample from the northwest on Thursday, July 30 and will begin a ground spray using permethrin on Aug.

7 in affected areas - details are posted on MinotND.gov.

North Dakota Health & Human Services has opened applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program to provide over $50M in funding for rural ambulance upgrades, digital records, telehealth, & childcare support.

Some funding windows close within the next few weeks.

Local residents can start planning early for winter by checking garage sales, Facebook Marketplace listings, and thrift stores now to avoid last-minute gear stress.

One family’s four-dollar Columbia coat discovery last year shows early inventory may help save money and time.

Raynes & Liam Keeney Concert

5-9 p.m. — Citizens Alley — Free entry — Experience a night of free live performances in a vibrant Downtown Minot atmosphere.