Good morning, Bismarck.

Security First Bank of North Dakota celebrates its century of service—pledging a series of charitable acts to give back to the communities it serves—and it plans to honor its long history with actions that benefit local residents.

Francis Gary Powers Jr will share his book 'Letters from a Soviet Prison' on July 31 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck — he will present original letters, photos, and journal entries that detail his father's experience as a CIA U-2 pilot captured during the Cold War — the free event is open to everyone.

The housing market builds on stronger credit and tighter lending practices than during past crashes—buyers with good credit are likely to get lower interest rates and more loan choices, which keeps the market stable according to NewHomeSource.

Over 800 kids in the Bismarck-Mandan area set up lemonade stands last Saturday to practice entrepreneurship and learn business skills from kits provided by the Chamber EDC—some even donating their profits to help local animal rescue.

The Last Mile program teaches incarcerated individuals computer skills using offline software while serving their sentences and helps them build discipline for reentry.

Job Service North Dakota funded the program through a Workforce grant, and graduates report a 75 percent employment rate and a 5 percent recidivism rate—far lower than the national average.

North Dakota Game and Fish pilots fly their planes to count big game species over the state, including mule deer, whitetail deer, pronghorn, elk, and moose.

They also help biologists track animals with radio telemetry—while spotting off trail vehicles to support enforcement during hunting season.

AAPNAC Resident Assessment Coordinator Certification Workshop

Aug 12-14 — Courtyard Bismarck North — Member Rate: $777, Non-Member Rate: $996 — Enhance your clinical assessment skills and earn the RAC-CT credential in this comprehensive certification workshop.

Evening Exploration at ND's Gateway to Science

6-8 p.m. — North Dakota's Gateway to Science — $14 Non-members | $9 Members — Discover hands-on science and enjoy immersive planetarium shows just for adults.

Brew at the Zoo

6-9 p.m. — Dakota Zoo — $40 members, $45 non-members — Sample local brews and enjoy a unique tasting experience at the zoo.