Monday’s 3.5-hour Minot City Council meeting tackled everything from flood control and police surveillance tech to childcare costs and a possible special mayoral election. Acting Mayor Mark Jantzer opened the session with a nod to community resilience, while Alderman Rob Fuller pushed for prioritizing local contractors. Heated debate surrounded the potential use of Flock license plate software, which was tabled pending a policy review. Public comment highlighted civic engagement, including a resident announcing he submitted enough signatures to trigger a mayoral election. April 17 was officially declared “Leif Snyder Appreciation Day.”
In this episode of Minot Matters, host Jonathan Starr sits down with Acting Mayor Mark Jantzer for a wide-ranging conversation on the key issues facing Minot today. From updates on flood protection funding and city budget priorities to the outlook on special elections and leadership transitions, this episode provides a timely snapshot of where the city stands and where it’s headed. Tune in to hear Jantzer’s insights on how the city is navigating challenges, planning for the future, and continuing to move forward.
Monday’s Minot City Council meeting included a heartfelt tribute to Leif Snyder, one of the city’s most civically engaged residents, who passed away last month at age 51. The council officially proclaimed April 17 as "Leif Snyder Appreciation Day," celebrating his dedication to community involvement and public discourse. Friends and community members, including Lisa Hermosillo and Corey Long, attended in his honor. Hermosillo noted the proclamation “mirrored him perfectly,” urging others to carry forward Leif’s legacy of civic engagement and unity.
The Keystone Pipeline was shut down Tuesday morning after a leak was detected in Barnes County, about three miles north of Fort Ransom State Park. The spill, currently contained to a nearby farm field, prompted an immediate shutdown by operator South Bow. The volume of oil released and the extent of contamination remain unknown. State and federal agencies, including the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, are investigating and overseeing cleanup efforts.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs during a tense Senate Finance Committee hearing, facing bipartisan concerns about economic fallout. As the tariffs — some as high as 50% — begin taking effect, senators questioned their impact on small businesses, trade partners, and inflation. While Greer insisted the policies are “common sense,” lawmakers like Sen. Ron Wyden called the effort a “chaotic tariff spree” and pledged legislative pushback. With global markets rattled and allies retaliating, pressure is mounting on the administration to explain its strategy and timeline.
A federal judge ruled the Trump administration violated the First Amendment by barring the Associated Press from full access to presidential events over its refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Judge Trevor McFadden ordered the White House to reinstate the AP's access, emphasizing that the government cannot retaliate against journalists for their speech. The ruling marks a major press freedom victory amid growing tensions between the White House and media outlets.
The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration Tuesday, blocking a lower court order that would have forced the rehiring of 16,000 federal workers terminated as part of sweeping agency downsizing. The justices questioned whether advocacy groups had standing to sue, though separate legal challenges over the mass firings continue in other courts. The ruling is the latest in a string of high court decisions upholding Trump’s federal overhaul efforts.
