Daily
Bismarck
Friday, October 17th, 2025
Good morning, Bismarck. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 17th of October.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Pronto Chore, a startup from Mandan that links locals to workers for everyday chores—won first place at the Mandan Business Pitch Challenge on Wednesday night. The founders, including Vaughn Deinhart, received a $10,000 forgivable loan from the Mandan Growth Fund—money that will help expand their app launched in July. KX News
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Keith Cleveland joined the Army in 1953 and made 49 jumps as a parachute rigger at Fort Bragg—he recalled rigging equipment for heavy drop operations and enduring five weeks of blizzard training in Greenland with temperatures 75 degrees below zero. KX News
- ➤ Seasoned quilter Sister Rosemary DeGracia has sewn thousands of quilts since she was a child and valued J&R Vacuum and Sewing for its quality fabrics and friendly service. The shop will close in late November after nearly 50 years of service — local quilters will soon seek supplies elsewhere. KFYR-TV
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ North Dakota's rural economy suffered a sharp downturn in October as the Rural Mainstreet Index dropped to 38.7 from 52.2 and farmland prices fell below growth-neutral levels—hiring slowed, bank loan delinquencies rose, and agricultural exports dropped with China exports decreasing by 83.5%. KX News
- ➤ Twenty-three tourism projects across North Dakota were awarded $15 million in grants from the Department of Commerce on Oct 16—after reviewing 106 applications from 45 communities—and Gov. Kelly Armstrong said the program aimed to boost the state's tourism industry. KX News
- ➤ Farmers face rising costs as tariffs boost equipment prices and delay parts—making a tough season even harder—while Northern Plains Equipment warns that global supply issues add uncertainty to already low commodity prices and a government shutdown's squeeze on incomes. KFYR-TV
- ➤ Officials with Basin Electric completed phase IV of the Pioneer Generation Station—a new expansion that adds more than 580 megawatts of natural gas power, nearly doubling the capacity needed for BisMan. Basin Electric is planning a $4 billion plant near Ray that will provide almost 1,400 megawatts to support growing demand in the Bakken oil and gas field. KFYR-TV
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Environmental experts say AI data centers risk high electricity use and water waste while North Dakota officials explore nuclear energy as a cleaner alternative—The Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing generator emissions in Ellendale during outages. Data center energy use will double by 2030. KFYR-TV
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ North Dakota lawmakers met this week and will hold a special session next year to allocate federal dollars for rural health funding, which is set to bring at least $500 million over five years starting in 2026. The legislative committee focused on workforce development — and telehealth improvements — and will approve submitting the federal funding application due Nov. 5th. KFYR-TV
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Sanford Health’s Birthing Center supported grieving parents during Infant Loss Awareness Month by providing mementos like hand and foot molds and other resources while holding an annual funeral for infants lost on Oct. 15 (an event held each year). KFYR-TV
- ➤ North Dakota reported 84 West Nile Virus cases up to mid-October with 32 hospitalizations and one death—Cass and Burleigh counties accounted for most cases while those aged 60 and older had the highest rate of infection. KFYR-TV
- ➤ Hearts In Action Health hosted its Heartstrings grief workshop in Minot on Thursday where participants made personalized holiday ornaments to honor loved ones—HIA grief specialists stressed the importance of facing grief during the holidays and will hold another service in Bismarck next Thursday. KX News
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Youthworks 40th Anniversary Celebration
11 PM – 1 AM — 930 N Griffin St, Bismarck, ND — Ticket required — Celebrate 40 years of Youthworks making a difference in the lives of youth across North Dakota.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Bismarck
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