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State Fire Marshal: Flaring the source of two October wildfires

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State Fire Marshal: Flaring the source of two October wildfires


BISMARCK, N.D. (KUMV) – The North Dakota State Fire Marshal released a pair of reports stating flaring was the cause of several of the October wildfires.

Fire Marshal Doug Nelson said both the Dinwoodie Fire near New Town and the Midnight Run Fire near Keene started by heat from oil well flares meeting dry vegetation. The Midnight Run fire burned about 7,000 acres, while the Dinwoodie fire had no area estimation.

These fires were part of a series of wildfires that occurred the weekend of Oct. 5. High winds and dry conditions made it difficult for firefighters to fight the blazes.

The report said the flare that caused the Midnight Run Fire belonged to ConocoPhillips, and the flare that started the Dinwoodie Fire is owned by Hess. Nelson said both fires were accidental.

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A spokesperson with ConocoPhillips released the following statement: “ConocoPhillips is reviewing the fire investigation report issued by the North Dakota State Fire Marshal. We are committed to working with the State Fire Marshal to provide necessary information but were unaware of a request for an interview. We are also working directly with landowners and tenants. Our focus remains on the safety of our workers, the community, and on the protection of the environment.”

The report stated the fire marshal attempted to contact ConocoPhillips both at its offices in Dickinson and Houston, Texas.

A request for a statement was sent to Hess, but we have not heard back.

Communications Director for the Fire Marshal Jacob Just said the Ray Fire in Williams County is still under investigation. He said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the Bear Den Fire because it occurred on tribal lands. He also said the Elkhorn fire is still under investigation by the U.S. Forest Service.

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2026 NFL Draft Profile: North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance

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2026 NFL Draft Profile: North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance


The Denver Broncos made their big splash this offseason trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to bolster their offense. The position is now five deep at the position with Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant.

The receiving corps has a lot of talent, but also a lot of questions. Sutton isn’t getting any younger and has a significant cap hit in 2027. Additionally, it’s the last year of Mims’ rookie contract. In my opinion, the Broncos don’t have a long-term replacement in the mix for Sutton at the X position, which could be an area they seek to address in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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The Broncos utilizing their second-round selection on a wide receiver is very unlikely. However, a player I believe they will carry a relatively high grade on his North Dakota State standout Bryce Lance. Lance broke out in 2024 during the Bison’s last FCS title with 75 receptions for 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns catching passes from Cam Miller. This past year, he had 51 receptions, 1,070 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns with projected Day 2 pick Cole Payton throwing him the ball.

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He checks a lot of the boxes Head Coach Sean Payton covets at the position. Not only that, but I also believe he has the ability to be an explosive X receiver at the next level. Let’s do a deep dive regarding his strengths and weaknesses, and why and when the Broncos should consider selection him in this year’s draft.

Player Profile: Bryce Lance — Wide Receiver — North Dakota State

Height: 6’3” | Weight: 204 pounds | Arm Length: 32-1/8” | Hand Size: 9-1/4” | Age: 23 Years Old

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40-Yard Dash: 4.34 seconds | 10-Yard Split: 1.49 seconds | 3-Cone Drill: 7 seconds

Vertical: 41.5” | Broad Jump: 11’1” | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.15 seconds

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Statistics: 57 games played, 26 starts, 127 receptions with 2,157 receiving yards. 25 receiving touchdowns, as well as 121 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Film Room & Highlights

Hart’s Scouting Report

Positives:

  • Good size and frame to handle being an X receiver on the outside in the NFL

  • Elite athlete who has top-tier speed and vertical playmaking ability

  • One of the most productive wide receivers in college football the past two seasons with a penchant for touchdowns and big-time plays that move the chains

  • Incredible ball tracker down the field with a knack for coming down with highlight reel catches in the endzone, much like Sutton

  • Amongst the best in this class most with respect to efficiency on outs, posts, corners, screens, and nine routes

  • Top-notch hops and strong hands who routinely comes down with contested catches

  • Ample special teams experience serving primarily in that fashion for the Bison in 2022 and 2023 after his redshirt season

Negatives:

  • Despite tremendous downfield speed, he doesn’t sport much short area quickness

  • Will likely need to add some strength and weight to handle the rigors of the next level

  • Route refining and release at the line of scrimmage will need some work to take on NFL caliber talent

  • Doesn’t have a lot of drops, but would like to see better catching technique, too often body catching instead of extending out and plucking from the air

Hart’s Projection: Top 75 Selection — Late Second Round, Early Third Round Value



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North Dakota boasts most wildlife refuges in the US

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North Dakota boasts most wildlife refuges in the US


BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Did you know that North Dakota has 63 wildlife refuges? That is more than any other state! These refuges are places where the land and water are protected to preserve the homes of animals dependent on the land.

North Dakota’s refuges are home to many animals, including moose, badgers, coyotes and more than 250 kinds of birds.

You can visit many of North Dakota’s wildlife refuges, including Audubon National Wildlife Refuge in McLean County, Lake Zahl National Wildlife Refuge in Williams County and Slade National Wildlife Refuge in Burleigh County.

Activities can range from fishing and hunting to enjoying hiking trails and photography.

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Wisconsin basketball wing announces transfer portal destination

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Wisconsin basketball wing announces transfer portal destination


Former Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball wing Jack Robison announced he’d be transferring to North Dakota State University.

The Bison landed the 6-foot-6 forward who still has two years of eligibility remaining.

The 2026 Summit League Champions finished the 2025-26 season 27-8 overall as they suffered a 92-67 defeat in the NCAA Tournament to No. 3 Michigan State.

With only two seniors on their roster a year ago, NDSU is looking to pick up right where they left off. Robison didn’t have a ton of playing time in his two-year career with the Badgers, but his 30 appearances helped him get his feet wet.

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Robison averaged 1.8 minutes per game in 2025-26, which was up from the 1.2 he averaged as a freshman. Not only were his minutes up, but he appeared in four more games as he was beginning to catch Greg Gard’s attention.

The Badgers have a ton of turnover heading into 2026-27, but Robison was the first to announce where he’d be heading. Wisconsin still awaits John Blackwell’s decision to see if he’s staying in the Big Ten or not, but Badgers fans at least know where they can follow Robison’s career for potentially his final two collegiate seasons.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.





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