North Dakota
Grand Forks Military Compatibility Committee meets for the first time
GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks Military Compatibility Committee met for the first time in Grand Forks on Thursday morning at Grand Forks International Airport. The brief inaugural meeting introduced the committee, reviewed the military impact zones chapter to the North Dakota Century Code and began the process of identifying potential zoning considerations.
The committee was created as a part of Senate Bill 2398, which was passed during the 2025 legislative session. The bill’s purpose is to create impact zones around military installations and form committees that will help oversee any potential development in those zones to avoid detrimental impacts on military operations.
Present for the meeting were North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, Grand Forks County Administrator Tom Ford, Lt. Col. Trenton Norman, Grand Forks Township board member Andy Byron and Grand Forks International Airport Executive Director Ryan Reisinger.
“The Legislature felt this was an opportunity to gain a better understanding and in many ways, assist (Grand Forks Air Force Base) in that cause. We are in no way trying to put our finger in your chili; we just want to make sure we can add some ingredients,” Goehring said.
Chapter 37-30-03 of the Century Code states the agriculture commissioner may create one or more military compatibility committees to harmonize land, airspace and electromagnetic spectrum use in military impact zones, review potential encroachment of military installations in military impact zones and promote the sustainability of military operations in the state.
A similar meeting was also held for the first time this week in Minot.
In Grand Forks County, there are concerns about solar farms or wind turbines causing problems for the base. Ford said the county is sensitive to any type of encroachment and it is trying to get ahead of it.
The county is in the process of a compatible use study that would help the Grand Forks County Commission refine its special use policies. This could include adding cement to runways close to the base or adding wind farms, Ford offered as examples.
The main concern for Ford was any impacts on spectrum frequency availability as opposed to air or land use. Ford also offered to keep the committee apprised of how the compatible use study proceeds.
Gorman Field, a UND-owned Unmanned Aircraft System testing and training site in Emerado, was mentioned as a type of project that the committee would want to get ahead of, given its proximity to the base.
“Are there other opportunities for similar drone programs and projects that are going to happen in the rural county? Not that we are aware of, but we would like to get ahead of it just because we weren’t really able to mitigate it with the Gorman Field project,” Byron said.
Goehring also offered oil and gas pipelines as potential sources of impact.
“That might be something to watch and monitor,” he said.
Representing the base, Norman stated they are not aware of any concerns of encroachment at the moment. The base is actively working to engage its community partners and has a “wonderful working relationship.”
Grand Forks City Council President Dana Sande was absent from the meeting. Sande will act as the committee’s representative from the city, according to Goehring.
Before adjournment, Goehring determined the committee would meet again in the summer at a date to be determined later.
Digital Content Producer and Sports Reporter at the Grand Forks Herald since December of 2020. Maxwell can be contacted at mmarko@gfherald.com.
North Dakota
Fire burns at Pallet Green Recycling storage yard in rural Williston
WILLISTON, N.D. (KFYR) – UPDATE (5/10/2026 at 11:45 p.m.): A fire broke out at a Williston recycling business Sunday evening, and no one was injured.
Multiple crews responded to Pallet Green Recycling just before 8:30 p.m., according to the Williston Fire Department. Crews arrived at the scene where they fought heavy smoke and flames.
Industrial storage containers were on scene, and officials say it is unclear what, if any, chemical residue was inside them. Officials believe there is no danger to the public.
Williston Fire Chief Corey Johnson said the fire was contained to the business’s exterior storage yard, and crews were not concerned about it spreading beyond the property.
“Right now, the structures are protected in the area. We’re not concerned about the fire spreading off of the lot,” Johnson said.
Multiple departments from across Williams County responded, and extra water trucks were brought in due to the fire’s remote location.
The cause remains under investigation.
This is a developing story. Your News Leader will provide updates as more information becomes available.
ORIGINAL STORY (5/10/2026 at 9:39 p.m.): Crews responded to a large fire at a storage yard in rural Williston on Sunday night.
The fire is located at Pallet Green Recycling, according to the business owner.
Sylvia Luebke captured video of the scene from a distance around 8 p.m. The fire sent a large plume of smoke over the area. Luebke said it was still burning as of around 9 p.m.
Williston Rural Fire is working to battle the fire. The department was unable to comment at this time.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
ND Guard officer in charge of DC special mission
Submitted Photo
U.S. soldiers with the Nebraska and North Dakota National Guards, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, pose for a group photo at a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, April 28. N.D. National Guard 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, front row, far left, served as the officer in charge of the mission when soldiers assigned to JTF-DC responded to the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner April 25. About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters and visitors throughout the District. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Norris.
WASHINGTON – U.S. soldiers with the North Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska Army National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, responded to a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner (WHCAD) at the Washington Hilton in Northwest Washington April 25.
The Guardsmen were at the WHCAD at the request of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) as an additional patrol unit created specifically for the event, which celebrates the contribution of news organizations and independent journalists alike who provide notable coverage relating to the presidential administration.
“Our mission was to assist the U.S. Secret Service with crowd control,” said Capt. Kevin Peatrowsky, an operations officer with the Nebraska National Guard (NENG) assigned to JTF-DC.
As the Guardsmen were monitoring their area of operations, they saw USSS agents sprint toward the hotel entrance.
“They were running full speed with their weapons drawn,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Allen Haney, a team member with the Arkansas National Guard. “We immediately followed suit.”
Staff Sgt. Kirsten Confer, a NENG combat medic and battle captain, recalled her response to the incident: “We fell back on our basic training. You run toward danger and move in a way that makes sense for the situation.”
According to Confer, the Guardsmen entered the hotel and immediately began securing the scene and ensured that the guests evacuated safely. At the direction of a federal agent, Confer began a rapid trauma assessment on the suspect which resulted in finding knives and ammunition on the shooter. Simultaneously, the Arkansas soldiers moved outside to provide crowd control at a pedestrian barricade outside the hotel.
“From there, we assisted wherever we could,” said 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, a National Guardsman from North Dakota who served as the officer in charge for the mission. “We were initially helping with crowd control. After that, we realized that the USSS had begun rerouting everyone in the hotel, so we moved to the doors. We were controlling entry into the venue, so we had moved a couple more people outside, so we had five inside, eight outside.” Both Arkansas and Nebraska worked well alongside one another and, alongside the federal agencies. Hill also noted that relying on his soldiers allowed him to move to different teams, which helped allow him to plan and coordinate with different agencies.
According to 1st Lt. Jonathan Goins, a platoon leader with the Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas soldiers also helped establish a security perimeter for the staging of the presidential motorcade. Later, the team assisted federal agencies and MPD with crowd control, which helped clear the way for the president and administration officials, he said.
“Guardsmen on this mission represent the very best of the nation,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, the interim commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. “The world got a brief glimpse, but I see them each day serving and doing amazing things across the District.”
North Dakota
Stampede stay alive with 2-1 OT win in Fargo
FARGO, N.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls Stampede staved off elimination with a 2-1 overtime win over the Fargo Force in game four of the USHL Western Conference Finals Saturday night.
Thomas Zocco scored the game-winner 12 minutes into the extra period. Arseni Marchenko put Fargo on the board first in the first period. Noah Mannausau tied the game for the Herd in the second period.
Sioux Falls outshot Fargo 53-49, including 9-5 in overtime. Linards Feldbergs made 48 saves.
Three of the four games of the series have gone to overtime. The winner-take-all game five is Tuesday at the Premier Center.
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