General News

Teachers from across the region are in Bismarck – learning about lignite.

The annual Lignite Education seminar is being held at Bismarck State College, sponsored by the Lignite Energy Council.

"Normally when we think about lignite, it's 80 percent used for generating electricity, and 20 percent at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, making synthetic natural gas and a plethora of fertilizers," said Council vice-president Steve Van Dyke.

This year, the focus of the seminar is toward new and emerging markets.

Roundabouts are becoming more popular across North Dakota.

Traffic engineers say they’re safer than normal intersections.

"You have lower speeds going into an intersection," said North Dakota Department of Transportation traffic operations engineer Justin Schlosser. "You also have reduced conflict points -- points where vehicles can run into each other."

Schlosser said that's a lot less than in a "signalized" intersection or stop sign controlled intersection.

"That's because everyone is going in the same direction," Schlosser said.

The West Fargo Police is trying to get to know their community a little better with their Around the World: A Celebration of Cultures event. West Fargo’s Chief of Police, Heith Janke, says it is an opportunity for everyone to get know each other. The event will have various games and food from different countries, a stage where different dances will be performed, and a dunk tank with school resource officers in it. This event is being done in conjunction with West Fargo’s Cultural Liaison position they added recently.

The Special Olympics of North Dakota held their State Summer Games which included various amounts of Athletic events from Bocce Ball to Track and Field. Kaia Watkins, Games Director for the event, says she was happy to see such a great turnout for volunteers and athletes. Kaia says Special Olympics offers a lot to those who participate.

Summer is here, which means many families and their children will be swimming in the water in order to avoid the hot temperatures. The YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties are holding a Water Safety Day event today. The pools in the area will have activities that will teach kids to stay safe while having fun in the water. Maxwell Ommen, Aquatics Coordinator at the Y, says that they want to reinforce safety around the pools and the lakes. He says participants will learn how to call for help and basic swimming skills.

U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar rallied supporters in Fargo, Thursday. Prairie Public Reporter Todd McDonald was there and files this report...