Good morning, Bismarck.

Social Grazer, a new business on Main Avenue next to Dakota Stage, opened eight days ago and now offers olive oil tastings of Italian and Greek single-origin oils.

Owner Jeffrey Fremming said he will also host cooking classes and serve mobile charcuterie catering—adding jams, honey, and daily lunch options to the menu.

American Airlines launched daily nonstop flights from Bismarck Airport to Chicago O’Hare on Thursday.

The service, operated with a 76-seat Embraer 175, connects local travelers to hundreds of destinations via Chicago — officials said it may expand if bookings remain strong.

A new national center at the University of Mary will train Catholic educators using a Montessori method with authentic faith formation — the Catholic Montessori Institute is the first center of its kind.

Registration opens this fall for the first training cohort beginning summer 2026 — the institute will also host a national conference and pilgrimages to sites in Italy and the Netherlands.

Seventeen ICE detainees are held in the Burleigh County Detention Center in Bismarck as the federal government uses local jails to fill a national shortage of detention beds—detainee stays have grown longer amid increased enforcement.

North Dakota’s Legislative Council said a special session will be needed to fix a $35M budgeting error—Gov. Armstrong’s office mistakenly removed $25M for housing and $10M for homelessness assistance along with a $150K grant.

Armstrong said he will follow the Attorney General’s upcoming opinion as legislative leaders research whether a session should also address other related issues.

Sen. John Hoeven urged nominee Michael Boren to work with him on addressing wildfire management, pest control, and access to U.S. Forest Service lands—stressing that ranchers need better reach to grazing areas in the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

Knife River Corporation updated its East Century Avenue reconstruction project as a temporary gravel roadway remains in place from the west limit to Stonewall Dr. until mid-August — underground crews will finish watermain work soon and start storm sewer installation while the 52nd St. NE expansion enters the grading phase.

Bismarck native Terry Steiner is being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as one of eight members in the 2025 class—he is the only USA Wrestling Women’s National Coach since 2002 who has coached several Olympic medalists.

The induction banquet is scheduled for this weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Science Debunked

6-8 p.m. — North Dakota's Gateway to Science — $25 per person — Test popular myths with hands-on experiments and discover what's fact and what's fiction.