Good morning, Bismarck.

Native Inc. held a prayer circle Monday to honor missing and murdered Indigenous people, as community members prayed and learned ways to advocate for change.

CEO Lorraine Davis said the event comes as new public alerts will start on Aug. 1 — measures aimed at finding missing Native Americans.

The Kmart building, which opened in October 1971 and closed in 2020 after nearly 50 years in business, will become a Hobby Lobby store in 2026 as the chain moves from its current location.

The change marks a full-circle moment for the north side—transforming a longtime community landmark into a new retail space for crafters.

Nine people from the Dakotas and Minnesota were arrested after investigators uncovered an alleged methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy connected to the Almighty Latin King Nation under Operation Crown Down and are now in federal court facing potential life in prison plus a ten year minimum sentence.

Educators will be celebrated at the County Teacher of the Year Recognition event on Monday at the State Capitol, where a ceremony in Memorial Hall at 1 p.m. will honor 48 winners chosen from 254 nominations in January and February, and one teacher will later be named North Dakota’s Teacher of the Year in September while current Teacher of the Year Kendall Burgrud of Wachter Middle School in Bismarck remains in his role until December 31.

The City of Bismarck is reconstructing East Century Ave as part of its Knife River Project, with a temporary gravel roadway in place until mid-August + traffic control signs guiding drivers through the work zone.

Underground crews will finish watermain work this week + then shift to install a new storm sewer while grading 52nd St NE for future asphalt pavement.

In mid-June, 27-year-old Yaroslav Riazanov—who drove trucks and worked in construction under the U4U program—will lose his legal work authorization as his status changes to temporary protected, leaving him unable to work.

He is one of 600 to 800 Ukrainians in North Dakota facing dwindling savings and uncertain plans when their paperwork expires.

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.