Tribal & Environment Funding: The EPA awarded $553,500 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to strengthen environmental program management and protect reservation health. Energy & Grid Planning: The Lignite Energy Council kicked off its annual conference in Bismarck, with speakers pointing to surging electricity demand—especially from data centers—and arguing for building the next generation of plants. Housing & Community Development: The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency shared progress from a statewide push to address housing needs, including meetings with builders and banks and support for new homes through its Housing Incentive Fund. Wildlife & Outdoor Economy: North Dakota’s late-summer roadside surveys found pheasant numbers slightly up and gray partridge down, with the northwest still producing strong pheasant counts. Public Health: North Dakota agencies reminded residents to avoid contact with bats and report dead bats for rabies testing as cases rise, with tiny brown bats driving most positives. State Policy Watch: Lawmakers passed a special-session package that bans synthetic kratom and restricts natural kratom to age 21+. Economic Development Honors: North Dakota communities and projects earned multiple awards at the 2026 Mid-America EDC event, including Minot’s downtown activation and placemaking wins. Business Expansion: Jencap announced it will expand in the upper Midwest after acquiring Concorde General Agency, keeping the Concorde brand under its insurance services division.