North Dakota
North Dakota could feel effects of Canadian wildfire smoke. Here’s how to stay healthy
Extreme weather, like the floods in Texas, is causing eco-anxiety
Flash floods, heat domes and wildfires are causing our youth to experience eco-distress. How do we help them be more resilient?
North Dakota could be affected by smoke from Canadian wildfires in the coming days, the state Department of Environmental Quality said in a July 10 news release.
The department advised residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, to consider limiting prolonged outdoor activities when conditions are smoky in their location.
The air quality across much of central and eastern North Dakota ranged from moderate to unhealthy by the late morning of July 11, according to AirNow.gov.
With active wildfires and changing wind patterns, air quality can be unpredictable – it may improve at times or get worse quickly, the department said.
What to do when the air quality is unhealthy
If you can see or smell smoke in the air, here’s how to protect your health:
- Stay inside with the windows and doors closed.
- Limit or avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
- Set air conditioners or vehicle vents to recirculate indoor air.
What is the air quality index?
The air quality index is a color-coded tool that shows the level of air pollution and associated health effects. Here are the six different categories and what they mean:
- Green, 0 to 50: The air quality is good, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
- Yellow, 51 to 100: The air quality is moderate, and there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are sensitive to air pollution.
- Orange, 101 to 150: The air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. The general public is less likely to be affected.
- Red, 151 to 200: The air quality is unhealthy, and some members of the general public may experience health effects.
- Purple, 201 to 300: The air quality is very unhealthy. The risk of health effects is higher for everyone.
- Maroon, 301 or more: The air quality warrants a health warning for emergency conditions, and everyone is more likely to experience health effects.
North Dakota
Hoeven, Armstrong, Traynor speak on OBBB Rural Health Transformation Fund updates in ND
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – On Friday, North Dakota U.S. Senator John Hoeven, Governor Kelly Armstrong and Health and Human Services Commissioner Pat Traynor explained how the state plans to use millions of dollars from the Big Beautiful Bill’s Rural Health Transformation Fund to transform healthcare across the state.
They spoke extensively about the special session to allocate the funds, and confirmed that it is still tentatively set for Jan. 21.
The Big Beautiful Bill allocated $25 billion for rural healthcare nationwide. North Dakota received $500 million for five years and $200 million for the first year. There is still another $25 billion left to be spent, and North Dakota is hoping to receive an extra $500 million.
“I truly believe that with the plan we’re putting in place and the things we built that line up with that, we’ll get a billion dollars over five years,” said Hoeven.
Federal rules require the state to lock in contracts for the money by October first— a deadline officials say is driving the need for a special session.
In the first year, North Dakota will focus on retention grants to keep existing staff, technical assistance and consultants for rural hospitals, as well as telehealth equipment and home patient monitoring.
Governor Armstrong says the special session will include policy bills tied to how much federal rural health funding the state can earn.
“We’re going to have a physical fitness test for physical education courses, nutrition education, continuing education requirement for physicians, physician assistant licensure compact—which North Dakota has been doing, dealing with that since the heart of the oil boom and moving forward—and then an expanded scope of practice for pharmacists,” said Armstrong.
Hundreds of millions of dollars could reshape healthcare in rural North Dakota, and state leaders say the next few weeks are key to receiving and spending that money wisely.
The governor says he only wants to focus on bills related to the Rural Health Transformation Program during the special session and doesn’t intend to deal with other state issues during that time.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
North Dakota officials celebrate being among big winners in federal rural health funding
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Tony Osburn scored 27 points as Omaha beat North Dakota 90-79 on Thursday.
Osburn shot 8 of 12 from the field, including 5 for 8 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 9 from the line for the Mavericks (8-10, 1-2 Summit League). Paul Djobet scored 18 points and added 12 rebounds. Ja’Sean Glover finished with 10 points.
The Fightin’ Hawks (8-11, 2-1) were led by Eli King, who posted 21 points and two steals. Greyson Uelmen added 19 points for North Dakota. Garrett Anderson had 15 points and two steals.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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