Good morning, Bismarck.

The Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library will hold a Game & Puzzle Flash Sale on Tuesday, August 5, from 11 a.m. to noon in Meeting Room A—gently used games and puzzles will be sold for $2 each with all proceeds supporting library programs.

A Porcupine man who took part in a police chase that began in Bismarck and ended in Mandan was sentenced to 1 ½ years in prison on Monday.

Two men were charged with felonies for fentanyl distribution after a Bismarck officer stopped a car near Ministry on the Margins just after midnight on July 19th (the search found up to 45 doses of fentanyl and $554) and their trial will be held on November 18th in Burleigh County court.

The North Dakota Council on the Arts announced the first round of FY26 Community Arts Access grants to 15 groups for local projects such as concerts, murals, theater and exhibits from July 1 to June 30.

Applications for the second round open now with a Sept. 4 deadline for projects planned from Dec. 1 to June 30—grants range from $1,250 to $4,000 and require a 25% cash match.

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction announced that federal after-school program grants are now available, with the state set to receive over $6.5 million—a slight increase from last year.

Details on fund allocation remain in progress, building on last year's distribution of funds across eleven service providers for more than 100 sites.

On Tuesday night, the Bismarck City Commission approved Jason Stugelmeyer as the new police chief—he has served as deputy chief for 24 years—and he will replace retiring Chief Dave Draovitch at the end of July.

Registration is now open for the 2025 Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services Conference which will be held October 20—23 at the Bismarck Event Center and online.

The annual event will bring professionals from across North Dakota together to share best practices in behavioral health and child welfare, with preconference workshops on October 20 and main sessions beginning October 21.

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.

Vendors Needed for Maleah Cares Talk Show

7-10 p.m. — Bismarck, ND — Showcase your products during an uplifting talk show highlighting inspiring stories.