Good morning, Minot.

The Roosevelt Park Zoo announced on Wednesday that resident warthog Diane passed away at age 12 due to age-related health issues.

Diane joined the zoo in 2016, and her siblings Vera and Tyrion continue to live at the facility.

Airstream Club International Rally partnered with Souris Valley United Way on Aug.

27 to collect food for Backpack Buddies at local schools and is hosting a fundraiser with the Minot Area Community Foundation to match donations up to $10,000; volunteers packed bags to help students with food needs.

Minot Food Truck Festival is celebrating its 10-year anniversary on Aug.

30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with more than 20 food trucks, live entertainment, arts and crafts, vendors and a 5K run in the morning; the event raises funds for ND Strong (supporting free film education for students).

Families celebrated the new school year as children attended kindergarten and middle school at local schools and Minot AFB.

Parents recalled the day as exciting and emotional and noted challenges like moving and adjusting to new routines (fresh starts for everyone).

Local literacy resources support military-connected students through free books, online tutoring, and in-person events.

Minot Public Library holds Fall into Reading on Saturday, Sept. 26 (1-4 p.m.), while other organizations and tutors offer programs and reading challenges to build early literacy skills.

The State Board of Higher Education has lifted its TikTok ban on NDUS devices following updated federal actions and cybersecurity assessments.

NDUS institutions can now request access through IT review processes (a decision announced by board chair Kevin Black of Minot).

Col. John E. Burrell returns to Minot Air Force Base to command the 5th Bomb Wing today - his local experience and recent deployment have reinforced his strong ties with the community and commitment to base leadership.

Minot Air Force Base hosted Exercise Prairie Gold from Aug.

10-12, where Airmen from the 5th Comptroller Squadron practiced finance support and contingency operations during simulated cyberattacks & power outages. They sharpened skills handling multiple currencies and cash disbursements in austere conditions.

North Dakota Health and Human Services announced a delay in SNAP changes — moving the new EBT list from Sept.

1 to Nov. 1 to give federal partners and SNAP households more time to adjust.

Health and Human Services announced that the Working Parent Child Care Relief program will end next month as its biennium funding expires, which may force local working families to seek other child care options (families can apply for the Child Care Assistance Program for help).

A local writer explains how the familiar back-to-school feeling returns in Minot as summer fades into fall — marking a season of renewal and a personal milestone with two children beginning full-day school.

Residents can plan fall adventures by exploring the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway, Pembina Gorge State Park, Turtle Mountains and Lake Metigoshe, and Cross Ranch — scenic areas known for their striking fall colors as visitors ready for a seasonal escape.

Check local guides for more details on each destination.