Good morning, Bismarck.

The annual Western North Dakota Honor Flight sale began at 8:00 a.m. today at 3600 High Creek Road in northwest Bismarck and will end at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.

The event offers items like furniture, appliances, and toys for donation, with higher value items priced—proceeds help fund trips for veterans.

The Memorial Highway reconstruction project began a month and a half ago and is already straining local businesses with reduced customer traffic and lost staff — local owners, including those at Lonesome Dove Saloon, are using specials and events to try to offset losses.

Mandan officials expect work on the underground utilities to continue with this section wrapping by November and full completion in 2027.

Andrew Merritt, accused of choking a woman in a Mandan apartment on July 5, 2024 while two children were present as another woman tried to help, pleaded not guilty to assault charges on May 15 and his bond was set at $1,000 with a criminal hearing scheduled for July 28.

Century High School marks its 50th anniversary in Bismarck as Bob Peske—one of its first graduates—returns to perform with his grandson Ben, who learned music from him.

Ben said his family bond has shaped his music skills and he plans to become a music teacher in the future.

St. Mary’s Central High School Wind Orchestra was named the 2025-26 Official State Band by Governor Kelly Armstrong + First Lady Kjersti Armstrong.

The 55-member ensemble, directed by Anne Chambers, earned over two dozen star ratings at music festivals and will perform at special state events.

The Bismarck Fire Department may soon build a new multimillion-dollar fire station on the southwest edge to cut response times from 5.3 minutes to about 3 minutes—city leaders have approved hiring an architect and funding is already in place.

The station is planned near Burleigh Avenue and Calypso Drive in a growing, high-risk area.

A congressional committee led by North Dakota’s sole House member proposed that companies building pipelines for oil, carbon dioxide or hydrogen pay a $10 million fee to get permits from FERC instead of state agencies—local reviews will still check environmental impacts.

The budget proposal will also end wind and solar tax credits starting in 2029, a move supporters say will fix market issues while critics worry it might hurt grid stability.

Bismarck native Isaac Pegors, a Legacy graduate and UMary outfielder, was named to the NCBWA All-Central first team after his record season that included 18 home runs and a nearly 300 point increase in batting average — he was also named Northern Sun Baseball Player of the Year.

Hot Tots have released their summer promotional schedule with Kids TV Takeover on Tuesday, May 27, Lip Rippers Night on Wednesday, May 28, and Murder Mystery Night on Friday, June 13 when they face the Bismarck Larks.

The schedule also includes Dinosaur Night on Thursday, June 5 plus themed nights featuring Harry Potter, Star Wars and LEGO as the team prepares for its opening day in 10 days.

AARP Smart Driver Course

10-11 a.m. — Burleigh County Senior Adults — $20 for members, $25 for non-members — Learn defensive driving skills and possibly save on car insurance.

STEM Expo 2025

10 AM – 1 PM — Bismarck Municipal Ballpark — Free entry — Experience hands-on STEM learning with exciting activities and prizes for kids of all ages.