MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – Tourism is a vital part of our state’s economy, supporting businesses and jobs.

New data shows North Dakota saw a dip in visitors last year: 6.5% less than in previous years.

Visit Minot Executive Director Stephanie Shoenrock told city leaders the Magic City saw a 6.7% reduction in visitors last year.

“Tourism is down in the United States, tourism is down in North Dakota and tourism is down in Minot slightly,” said Schoenrock.

Canadian visitors drive a significant portion of the state’s tourism, with Visit Minot monitoring six entry ports in our region.

Shoenrock reports the state saw a 25% decrease in Canadian traffic. And for Minot? A 20% dip.

“Does that 20% hurt? It does. You know what, we were 100% down during the COVID shutdown. And we’ve worked very, very hard, and we’ve seen good impacts,” said Schoenrock.

They also track data from websites, social media, hotels and ticketed events like the State Fair, which Shoenrock said continues to be the top destination for Canadians.

Minot City Council Member Lisa Olson said she hears from Canadians regularly, and wondered if the opening of the Presidential Library in Medora this summer could attract more visitors.

“The Canadians aren’t coming because they’re dissatisfied with what’s being offered in the U.S. Until that changes, I don’t know if they’ll come back— unless you have heard something different,” said Olson.

Shoenrock acknowledged the decline in visitors, but emphasized that Canadians continue to visit.

“Yes, we are down. But we are not as far down as what some entities would like to believe,” said Schoenrock.

Visitors are considered people who live more than 50 miles away and spend at least four hours in the Magic City.

“We have expectations that we’re here for a reason, and that is to bring more humans into Ward County. And I can tell you that is not lost on us, regardless of what the trends are like in the state,” said Schoenrock.

Despite the overall dip, the Visitors Center welcomed people from all 50 states by July last year, along with visitors from 31 other countries.

The top five states Minot saw visitors from are Minnesota, Texas, California, Florida and Montana.

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FARGO, N.D. (KVRR)  — A person who was detained during a SWAT raid involving a missing West Fargo woman has since been released.

On Friday evening, Red River Valley SWAT team assisted Fargo Police in serving a search warrant in the 4400 block of Calico Drive South.

Officers were looking for evidence related to 24-year-old Isadora Wengel of West Fargo.

She was last seen early Monday.

Her family says she has a medical condition and needs medication.

Investigators are processing the apartment for evidence and have expanded the investigation to the Fargo landfill.

Police are searching the area where trash from Calico Drive South would be dumped.

They say no one has been arrested, but there is no threat to the public.

Iowa State wrestling left little to chance on the road against North Dakota State, rolling to a 36-3 win over the Bison on Jan. 11.

The Cyclones won nine of 10 bouts against NDSU, including two by major decision, two by technical fall and a win by fall for MJ Gaitan. Iowa State left the dual with four ranked wins as well.

The highlight bout of the dual was the opener at 125 pounds between Iowa State’s Stevo Poulin and No. 17 Ezekiel Witt. Poulin got a nice 7-1 win by decision over Witt, with a takedown into a two-point turn in the second period helping decide it. At 5-5 entering the dual, it was a good sign for No. 14 Poulin as he looks to get back on track.

Evan Frost earned the second ranked win of the day at 133 vs. No. 30 Tristan Daugherty. He walked away with a 9-0 major decision with two takedowns and a two-minute ride in the second period. Anthony Echemendia followed it up with a 21-6 technical fall vs. Michael Olson at 141.

To close the first half of the dual, Jacob Frost hung on for an 11-5 win by decision over No. 25 Max Petersen. Frost got out to an early lead with two takedowns in the first period, but had to fend off a late surge in the third period with a takedown to put the match away at 11-5.

Vinny Zerban had a nice bounce-back effort at 157, defeating former NCAA All-American Gavin Drexler at 157. After taking a loss earlier in the week vs. Arizona State, Zerban went wire-to-wire vs Drexler in a 12-5 decision and nearly had a major decision had he not conceded a takedown late in the third period.

Iowa State came out of intermission still rolling. Connor Euton earned a 11-2 major decision over Boeden Greenley at 165, followed by a win by fall for Gaitan at 174 over three-time Iowa state champion Max Magayna and a gritty 4-1 sudden victory for Isaac Dean over No. 26 Aidan Brenot at 184.

CJ Carter was unable to help secure a shutout win for ISU with a 10-4 loss by decision to Devin Wasley at 197, but Yonger Bastida ended the dual on a high note with a 19-4 technical fall over Shilo Jones. at heavyweight.

Iowa State moved to 6-1 in duals. Kevin Dresser’s team has the Cyclone Open up next on Jan. 18, but no dual until Jan. 23 vs. Northern Colorado.

Iowa State wrestling vs. North Dakota State results

• 125: Stevo Poulin (ISU) over Ezekiel Witt (NDSU) (Dec 7-1)
• 133: Evan Frost (ISU) over Tristan Daugherty (NDSU) (MD 9-0)
• 141: Anthony Echemendia (ISU) over Michael Olson (NDSU) (TF 21-6 4:11)
• 149: Jacob Frost (ISU) over Max Petersen (NDSU) (Dec 11-5)
• 157: Vinny Zerban (ISU) over Gavin Drexler (NDSU) (Dec 12-5)
• 165: Connor Euton (ISU) over Boeden Greenley (NDSU) (MD 11-2)
• 174: MJ Gaitan (ISU) over Max Magayna (NDSU) (Fall 1:39)
• 184: Isaac Dean (ISU) over Aidan Brenot (NDSU) (SV-1 4-1)
• 197: Devin Wasley (NDSU) over CJ Carter (ISU) (Dec 10-4)
• 285: Yonger Bastida (ISU) over Shilo Jones (NDSU) (TF 19-4 4:53)

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.