North Dakota
North Dakota State QB Reveals Why He Stayed Amid FBS Move
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NDSU’s likely starting quarterback is ready for a new era in the FBS.
North Dakota State experienced its largest-ever loss of players to the transfer portal before the recent FBS move, and fortunately, the Bison didn’t lose the program’s next starting quarterback.
Senior quarterback Nathan Hayes told Bison 1660 AM that he wasn’t certain it the FBS move up would happen during his years in Fargo. That said, Hayes admitted “that’s not why I stayed” regarding the once-potential FBS move.
“I stayed because of the coaching staff here. I stayed because of my teammates and the relationships that I’ve built with them,” Hayes told Bison 1660 AM on Feb. 11. “So no matter who we play, we’re just gonna go out there and try to prove something and show all the work that we’ve done, all the time that we’ve put in together.”
A West Chicago, Illinois, native, Hayes has been part of the Bison program since 2023 and won a FCS national championship in 2024. He played in just 18 games over the past three years, but he is poised to take the starting job after Cole Payton‘s departure for the NFL Draft.
Nathan Hayes: ‘Might Be Eye-Opening’
In Hayes’ brief appearances, he completed 59% of his passes for 595 yards and seven touchdowns versus one interception. He also rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
“Yeah, I think the first few weeks might be eye-opening, surreal because thinking back to Colorado [in 2024], I mean, we get to the stadium, it’s a bigger stadium, all the bright lights,” Hayes said. “We’re playing a team that’s supposed to be better than us from a you know, FBS standpoint. So I think the first few weeks might be a little bit of an adjustment period, but I don’t think that should affect our play.”
And then once we settle in, it’s just gonna be, you know, onto the next the same preparation weekend and week out as far as film, practice, weight room. So yeah, I think by … a few weeks in, we’re just gonna be, you know, the Bison,” Hayes added.
Nathan Hayes Reveals Players’ Vibe Amid FBS Announcement
Hayes talked about the Feb. 8 team meeting when the players knew the FBS move was official after years of speculation over NDSU’s FBS plans.
“Oh yeah, especially the seniors, just because in previous years you have all the, you know, … the periods where you’re gonna be an FCS for another year, but you can’t compete for a playoff,” Hayes said. “So going into this offseason, kind of hearing the rumors like is that something we seniors kind of selfishly is that what we really want? Because we’re just gonna have 12 FCS games and not be able to play for a championship, and then we’re gonna move to the Mountain West next year.”
“And then we hear officially that Okay, we’re going this year. We get to play this year, and so I think the seniors were really excited,” Hayes continued. Everybody was really excited to, oh, dang, … it’s on now. So standing ovation in the team room for Matt Larsen and coach [Tim] Polasek was really cool. Just the energy in there even after everybody’s talking. Everybody’s in the group chats excited about, you know, who we’re gonna play.”
Matthew Davis covers the NFL, WNBA and college sports for Heavy.com. As a contributing writer to the StarTribune, he has also covered Minnesota prep sports since 2016. More about Matthew Davis
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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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