Good morning, Bismarck.

Monica Hannan, who has worked at KFYR-TV since 1981 and earned multiple awards including the Upper Midwest regional Emmy Silver Circle, will retire after today's 6 p.m. newscast.

She will end her final week with special interviews on First News at Five and a career lookback on First News at Four — marking the close of a long and respected career at the station.

Liliana Norby grew up loving art time with her mom and now serves as the executive director at Theo Art School—she has spent 16 years nurturing local children’s creativity and plans to guide the program for another 35 years despite past budget cuts.

Bismarck State College enrolled 4,549 students for Fall 2025, an 8.16% increase from last year that marks its seventh consecutive growth semester.

The college now has its largest on-campus population with 530 residents and launched 12 new programs — efforts that aim to boost affordable education and train future workers.

ND Council on the Arts awarded $60,000 to nine arts education projects as part of its Arts in Education Collaboration, increasing access to arts classes for K-12 students—four projects are first-time grantees including programs in Bismarck and Minot.

The NDDEQ approved a permit for Riverview ND LLP to build Herberg Dairy CAFO following a public comment period and detailed review—using clay liners for manure storage and excluding fields in the 100-year floodplain.

NDDEQ staff will inspect construction and operations while Riverview works with East Central Rural Water District on water supply.

Knife River Corporation said rainy weather slowed work on the East Century Avenue construction project but did not stop progress; Northern Improvement paved 52nd Street on September 19 and will resume concrete paving and side street tie-ins (including Kost, Sumter, and British Drives) within the next two weeks.

State officials warn Bismarck drivers to slow down and be alert for deer this fall as juvenile animals leave their home ranges—multiple deer may cross one after another.

Officials advise extra caution at dawn and dusk during a peak collision season from October through early December.

The U.S. Census Bureau will soon visit Bismarck homes that did not answer the 2025 Census to help get an accurate count.

Census workers will visit between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. and residents will get a letter before each visit — workers carry official ID badges for verification.

North Dakota legislative leaders formed an interim committee to secure federal funding for transforming rural health care — a step to meet a Nov.

5 federal deadline. Senator Brad Bekkedahl chairs the group with Representative Don Vigesaa as vice chair, and lawmakers will begin work in early October with potential funding as early as January if approved.

The city of Bismarck is offering another free landfill week—after unfavorable weather delayed the earlier event—from Monday, Sept.29 to Saturday, Oct.4.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded nearly $2 million to a local nonprofit to help stop homelessness among veterans by funding housing and supportive services.

Community Action Partnership of North Dakota will manage the $1,903,205 grant under the SSVF program—supporting services through fiscal year 2026.

Joe Hall, a veteran with multiple sclerosis, received his service dog Harlow after a year-long wait— the tall Great Dane from Blue Creek Danes of Iowa now helps him with mobility and emotional support.

Harlow will continue to assist Hall in managing his daily challenges.

This week, the New Freedom Family Center opened in a converted Best Western hotel along Skyline Boulevard and welcomed its first client.

The center has changed hotel rooms into treatment spaces and offices for group therapy — serving pregnant women and young mothers — and has up to 16 beds with a minimum 45-day stay.

Creepy Classic Tennis Tournament

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM — Capital Racquet & Fitness Center — Registration required — A fun-filled tennis competition for all skill levels with a spooky twist.

Bismarck Fall & Holiday Market

10 AM - 5 PM — Bismarck Event Center — $5 entrance fee for adults — Discover over 100 vendors and meet live reindeer and alpacas.

St. Olaf Orchestra Concert

7-9 p.m. — Bismarck High School — Tickets available — Experience the rich artistry and tradition of the St. Olaf Orchestra under conductor Chung Park during their Fall Tour.

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics

8:30-9:30 p.m. — Russell Reid Auditorium, North Dakota Heritage Center — Tickets required — Experience a spine-chilling musical journey with candlelit performances of Halloween classics.