North Dakota
Electricity rate increase could cost NDSU $1 million annually – KVRR Local News
FARGO, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A proposed electric rate increase would cost North Dakota State University about $1 million a year, a representative of the college told utility regulators Monday.
Northern States Power Co., part of Xcel Energy, has asked the North Dakota Public Service Commission to approve a rate increase of more than 19%, or $22.34 per month for an average residential customer.
Xcel Energy’s requested rate increase would affect parts of Fargo, including the NDSU campus.
“NDSU projects that our annual electrical costs would rise by over $1 million,” Brent DeKrey, director of facilities management at NDSU, testified from Fargo at a PSC hearing Monday.
DeKrey said such a large increase could mean increased tuition and fees for students, reduced resources for research at NDSU and additional costs passed along to the state’s taxpayers.
Minnesota-based Xcel has about 97,000 customers in North Dakota. The proposed rate hike would increase Xcel’s annual revenue in the state by $44.6 million.
The PSC also took testimony from people in Grand Forks and Minot, which are also served by Xcel, as well as from the Capitol in Bismarck.
A point of discussion in the rate case is Xcel’s move away from coal to generate electricity.
Xcel last year retired one of three coal units at the Sherburne County Generating Plant, or Sherco, near Monticello, Minnesota. It plans to retire Sherco’s remaining coal-fired units in 2026 and 2030, marking the company’s full exit from coal. Xcel has invested in solar and wind energy and continues to rely on nuclear power plants.
There was little discussion of Sherco on Monday and whether the move away from coal was driving up rates, as Victor Schock, director of utilities for the PSC, has said.
Alex Nisbet, regulatory policy specialist for Xcel Energy, said that the Sherco impact was “being reviewed at great length” in the case.
Utility companies seeking a rate increase in North Dakota often reach a settlement with the PSC for less than the initial request.
North Dakota Xcel customers have been paying a higher rate since February, about half the requested increase.
Nisbet said final rates often end up close to the interim rate.
Asked if Xcel anticipates moving away from natural gas like it has coal, Nisbet said Xcel plans to build a new natural gas combustion turbine in Minnesota with plans for others.
WBI Energy is developing a pipeline to bring natural gas from western North Dakota, where it is a byproduct of oil production, to the east.
“That’s a project that excites us a lot,” he said.
The PSC held a second public input session Monday evening. The public also can submit comments on the rate case by emailing ndpsc@nd.gov or by mail to: Public Service Commission, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 408, Bismarck, ND 58505.
The PSC has set a formal hearing to begin Dec. 1.
Reach North Dakota Monitor Deputy Editor Jeff Beach jbeach@northdakotamonitor.com.
North Dakota
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.
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
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:
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Good size and frame to handle being an X receiver on the outside in the NFL
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Elite athlete who has top-tier speed and vertical playmaking ability
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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
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Incredible ball tracker down the field with a knack for coming down with highlight reel catches in the endzone, much like Sutton
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Amongst the best in this class most with respect to efficiency on outs, posts, corners, screens, and nine routes
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Top-notch hops and strong hands who routinely comes down with contested catches
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Ample special teams experience serving primarily in that fashion for the Bison in 2022 and 2023 after his redshirt season
Negatives:
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Despite tremendous downfield speed, he doesn’t sport much short area quickness
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Will likely need to add some strength and weight to handle the rigors of the next level
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Route refining and release at the line of scrimmage will need some work to take on NFL caliber talent
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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
Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Lance
After a quiet start to their free agency period, the Broncos took the NFL and media waves by storm acquiring Waddle for their first and third round picks in this year’s draft. It’s safe to say it is no longer a primary need for the team. However, it’s certainly a position where a long-term vision may come into focus during this year’s draft endeavors.
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Do I think the Broncos will use their top selection in this year’s draft on another wide receiver? No. Do I believe they should be interest in a player with Lance’s skillset, upside and ability? Absolutely. Sutton has been a good wide receiver for the franchise for years. In fact, I think he is a player underappreciated by most of the fan base. Nevertheless, it’s a possibility, especially if he has a drop in production this season, that Denver could move on from him at the end of this season. His 2027 cap hit is just over $28 million dollars.
Lance has some work to do transitioning from the FCS to NFL, but his elite athleticism and playmaking ability are enticing. He is arguably this draft’s best deep ball receiver and sported over 20 yards per reception this past season. That’s an area where Denver struggled with during their ‘25, especially Troy Franklin, whose deep ball tracking and contested catch ability are subpar.
He checks a lot of boxes, and I believe is a player the Broncos’ brass will think highly of. Whether or not that results in them drafting him is an entirely different matter. They certainly have bigger needs, though I think the Bison standout is a great fit for Denver’s offense and boasts the potential to be Sutton’s heir at the X position.
I have Lance ranked as a Top 75 player with a late-second round, early third-round grade. The Broncos are scheduled to pick at 62 overall, which may be a bit too early for him. Perhaps in a trade down scenario, the odds could pick up a bit. Overall, I love the fit, but it seems unlikely the FCS superstar ends up sporting a Broncos’ cap on draft day.
North Dakota
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.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
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.
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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