Good morning, Grand Forks.

Starting with the University of North Dakota Football home opener on Saturday, September 6, the Alerus Center will accept only debit, credit, pre-paid, and gift cards for most purchases while offering cash exchanges at the Transystems Box Office and Guest Services.

Limited cash options remain available for private events (like weddings, banquets, and trade shows) and for select vendors.

Grand Forks Police Chief Jason Freedman said Priority One Calls—covering robberies, weapon offenses and assaults—increased from 11 in 2022 to 14 in 2025, which raises safety concerns downtown.

Crews in Grand Forks will clean up storm damage by picking up downed tree branches starting July 30 and continuing until August 5—residents should leave branches on the berm or take them to the landfill before the drop-off ends.

Fargo's Cass County Sheriff’s Office is imposing a hiring freeze for a few years—citing the state legislature’s 3% property tax cap as the main reason for a tight budget.

Sheriff Jesse Jahner said the office is also withdrawing a request for an extra deputy and is working with county commissioners to find a solution.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has awarded a $300,000 grant for Grand Farm to use drones and artificial intelligence to scout for noxious weeds in five counties during the 2025 and 2026 growing seasons.

The project will help weed control officials detect new infestations quickly — the AI system will learn from hundreds of photos of weeds at different growth stages.

The City of Grand Forks is working on its 2026 budget with a focus on staff, public safety and infrastructure.

The preliminary budget exceeds 229 million dollars and the City Council will vote on it on August 4th—steps that will impact local services.

Boater Safety Class

5-7 p.m. — Outdoor Recreation — Free entry — Learn essential safety skills for enjoying time on the water this summer.