North Dakota
Gas prices in Grand Forks region expected to increase over Memorial Day weekend
GRAND FORKS — Increasing demand over Memorial Day weekend is expected to bring spikes in gas prices throughout the region.
While gas prices in North Dakota and Minnesota remain stable at around $3, increased traffic will cause travelers to pay more at the pump, according to Skyler McKinley, AAA’s regional director of public affairs in North Dakota, Minnesota and Colorado. Memorial Day, which occurs on the last Monday of May, falls on May 27 this year.
“For motorists, prices north of $3 are frustrating,” he said. “They are always frustrating; that’s when you start changing your budget.”
According to the average gas prices listed by AAA
, the average gas price in Grand Forks on Thursday, May 23, was $3.22, up 4 cents from a month ago and down roughly 13 cents from the same day last year. This is lower than the national average, which was sitting at $3.61, up 7 cents from the previous year.
“We’re going to see robust demand, so I think we’ll still be north of $3 throughout the summer,” McKinley said. “But in that case, we’re victims of our own success, because people want to travel and demand drives prices up.”
Over Memorial Day weekend, McKinley said the price of gas may spike at certain gas stations, particularly those around interstates because of the increase in travelers. This spike is expected to occur over the weekend and usually returns to normal by Tuesday.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if at some of those service stations you’re paying $3.50, $3.55, $3.60,” he said.
Conversely, gas stations in neighborhoods won’t experience such price spikes and will likely maintain competitive pricing, according to McKinley.
Austin Kirchoffner, manager at the Amherst Oil gas station on South Washington Street and 8th Avenue South, said an increase is expected over Memorial Day weekend, but gas prices have otherwise been fairly stable.
“It is what it is, people are going to complain,” he said. “But right now has been a solid, solid time for gas.”
According to Kirchoffner, the gas station has had to change its price for gas only about five times since Jan. 1.
“That’s pretty damn good for what we’ve been going through,” he said.
According to McKinley, the price of gas has been stable because the price of crude oil, which comprises the majority of what people put in their gas tanks, has also been fairly stable. The price of crude oil is directly affected by international events.
“I was frankly anticipating a bit of a spike when we saw that the president of Iran died in a helicopter crash,” he said. “We didn’t see that. So, for now, it looks like supply is fairly robust and stable and demand is increasing.”
Tammy Kaiser, a Grand Forks resident, said she would be traveling to Bemidji over Memorial Day weekend, but that the price of gas wouldn’t affect her ability to do so.
“I wish they would come down,” she said. “Because, you know, with the economy, with the gas, or the prices of food and gas, it’s making people not be able to do that traveling and see family and friends.”
Kaiser, who was fueling her SUV at the Simonson Station Store on South Washington Street, where gas was priced at $3.30 per gallon on Thursday, said it seemed like prices were coming down.
“Well, you know what, it’s been going up and down this last month, it seems,” she said. “I think it’s getting a little bit better. Me, personally, I think it is.”
According to McKinley, decreasing gas prices aren’t necessarily a good thing.
“I think we all want to see cheaper gas prices,” he said. “When gas prices are very cheap, they tend to be an indicator of something wrong with the economy because demand has dried up.”
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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