Good morning, Bismarck.

Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library will host Librarypalooza 2025 on August 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. where the community can enjoy live music, food, and activities like face painting and craft projects—this celebration will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Burleigh County Library & Bookmobile, free and open to all ages.

The USDA announced plans to buy up to $230 million in domestic food products, with $50 million in dry beans to support nutrition assistance programs.

North Dakota, which plants about 630,000 acres of dry beans and leads the nation with 43% of U.S. acreage, will benefit—strengthening local food systems and rural economies.

The state's Industrial Commission is reviewing two natural gas pipeline proposals that would carry gas from McKenzie County to eastern communities such as Mapleton and Ellendale — Governor Armstrong expects a decision later this month with either project to be completed by 2030.

North Dakota’s early Canada Goose season will open on Aug.

15 with closing dates set as Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone, Sept. 15 in the western zone, and Sept. 22 in the eastern zone plus hunters can take up to 15 geese per day while following all licensing and certification rules.

The Senate approved the Fiscal Year 2026 agriculture funding bill that provides nearly $2.5 million for the NDSU Agricultural Risk Policy Center, $5 million for an AgTech Cooperative Agreement and $3 million for renovations at an agricultural research center—supporting local farmers, ranchers and research. The bill will face a full Senate floor vote before it moves to the House where differences will be resolved in a conference committee.

Several new state laws took effect on Aug.

1 — they include a $25 fee for blackout license plates, an increased interstate speed limit to 80 mph, a ban on cell phones in classrooms, a new Feather Alert system for missing indigenous persons, easier access to medical marijuana, and declaring rhubarb as the state vegetable.

North Dakota rolled out its new blackout license plates on Aug.

1 and they quickly became popular with over 1,300 orders statewide—Bismarck received 170 plates from the DOT. The plates cost $25 per year plus standard registration fees to support road construction and maintenance.

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.

FARMS to Table 2025

5:30-9 p.m. — North Dakota's Gateway to Science — Free entry — Celebrate Indigenous food traditions with a four-course meal curated by local chefs and learn about sustainable agriculture.