Good morning, Bismarck.

Mandan will hold its Fourth of July celebration in 2026 with a national semiquincentennial theme honoring the nation's 250th anniversary.

This week, North Dakotans are giving back with a pink firetruck named Vivian visiting Structural Materials on Oct.

17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—supporting families fighting cancer while a Minot shop called It’s the Season opened holiday decorations and a local family donated hundreds of stuffed bunnies in memory of a lost child. Additional highlights include pumpkin harvests by the Jensen family and a new storybook from the Department of Public Instruction to encourage early reading.

On Saturday, demonstrators gathered along East Boulevard Avenue in front of the state capitol building—holding signs, speakers and megaphones to join the national 'No Kings' rally which was peaceful and united local voices.

North Dakota Game and Fish asked for help finding a poacher after a bull elk was found shot in a field near the intersection of 10th St. N.E. and 19th Ave. N.E. north of Goodrich — officials said the elk was likely shot between 7 p.m. on October 10 and 9 a.m. on October 11 and urged anyone with information to call the Report All Poachers hotline at 701-328-9921.

Summit Carbon Solutions plans to move ahead with its carbon pipeline even if the state does not join the project—seeking permit amendments to overcome legal hurdles—while Basin Electric completed a 580 megawatt power project near Williston that now boosts capacity.

The NDDOT told farmers to clear hay bales from highways by November 1 and will remove any bales left after that date.

National Friends of Libraries Week runs from today through October 25—members of the Bismarck Public Library Friends support local projects by volunteering at book sales that raise over $40,000 each year.

The membership also funds key programs such as a 3D printer for Teen HQ and the Mobile Library program.

The University of North Dakota has been approved as the 53rd school to offer Aircraft Dispatcher Certification courses using 100 hours of existing classes and two new courses—totaling 200 hours—to meet FAA requirements.

Students who complete the program will be eligible to take a practical exam and the first class will graduate in May 2026.

The Orionids meteor shower will peak late Monday night into early Tuesday morning with up to 20 meteors per hour visible near the Orion constellation—clouds expected from Sunday evening may block the view.

Forecasts show that clear skies on Saturday night will give local stargazers a better chance to see the shower.

North Dakota will mark America's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a free event in Bismarck in early November—officials said more details will be announced soon.

Teams in Western North Dakota are playing hard in fall sports with Capital City hosting volleyball games and Mandan hosting a state title match, as KX Sports reported—high school squads in soccer, football, and golf now gear up for playoffs.

The season is nearly over, and teams like the Minot Magicians and Legacy Sabers aim to set school history as the regular season closes.

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.

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.