National – Page 5 – TheMinotVoice.com

Hegseth directs Pentagon to find $50 billion in cuts this year

by: MinotVoice | February 20, 2025

The Pentagon is facing a $50 billion budget shakeup as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders cuts to fund President Trump’s priorities. The directive targets bureaucracy, climate initiatives, and diversity programs, aiming instead at border security and a proposed “Iron Dome for America.” But trimming this much—about 8% of the budget—raises questions. Similar cuts a decade

Read & Share sourced from: Associated Press

B-52H Stratofortress from Minot AFB Running Training Operations in England

By: Staff Sgt. Kristen Heller, Minot Air Force Base | February 20, 2025

Ground crews play a crucial role in ensuring the readiness of military aircraft. Recently, U.S. Air Force personnel conducted post-flight checks on a B-52H Stratofortress at RAF Fairford in England. This event followed the completion of a Bomber Task Force deployment mission, underscoring the Air Force’s ongoing commitment to maintaining long-range strike capabilities. The careful

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Air Force Base

FEMA halts enforcement of flood protection rule for public buildings

by: MinotVoice | February 20, 2025

FEMA is stepping back from a key rule meant to protect public buildings from flood damage, a move experts say could put communities at risk. The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard required structures in flood zones to be rebuilt with future flooding in mind, but FEMA has quietly paused enforcement under a directive tied to

Read & Share sourced from: New York Times

Hoeven urges Sentinel program be done concurrently at ICBM bases

by: MinotVoice | February 18, 2025

Minot Air Force Base is at the heart of a major modernization effort, and North Dakota leaders want to keep the upgrades moving swiftly. Sen. John Hoeven is pushing for simultaneous improvements at all three ICBM bases—Minot, F.E. Warren, and Malmstrom—arguing that concurrent construction will save time and money as the aging Minuteman III missiles

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

The Fruits of Democrats’ Soul Searching – There Are None

By: Tom Bowler, Inside Sources | February 17, 2025

For all of the soul searching that came out of their losses at the polls in November, the Democrats haven’t really changed, and they won’t. Even when they can see that they’ve lost the working class. Democrats’ claim to fame has always been as champions of the downtrodden, saviors to the victims of oppression. When

Read & Share sourced from: Inside Sources

Letter: The 51st State? Canada Sets Terms

By: David Wessel, Regina | February 17, 2025

The President of the USA by the name of Donald Trump has bandied about the idea of Canada joining the USA. I think this is a boffo idea, which could be achieved after a few minor pre-conditions are met: Canada would of course become thirteen American states, each with two Senators. If Wyoming and Alaska

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‘Saturday Night Live’ turns 50: Here are 12 iconic moments

by: MinotVoice | February 16, 2025

“Saturday Night Live” started with fresh faces taking on countercultural themes, challenging norms and pushing boundaries. Fast forward fifty years, and it has transformed from a Saturday night novelty to a linchpin of mainstream comedy. Iconic sketches, like Steve Martin’s King Tut and Tina Fey’s portrayal of Sarah Palin, exemplify how the show not only

Read & Share sourced from: Associated Press

Factory farming and the true cost of a burger / Public News Service

By: Alex Gonzalez, Public News Service | February 16, 2025

The New York Times and Washington Post are getting pushback for recent editorials defending large-scale factory farms. Some environmental groups argued the columns made one critical assumption, that there is no other option. Peter Lehner, sustainable food and farming program managing attorney for the advocacy group Earthjustice, noted while the Times and Post’s editorials claim

Read & Share sourced from: Public News Service

Uncounted throng of Wyomingites fired by Trump administration

by: MinotVoice | February 15, 2025

Federal employees across Wyoming are waking up to pink slips, but clarity remains elusive. Layoffs swept through multiple agencies, leaving workers stunned, communities uncertain, and critical services in limbo. Those affected—many on probationary status—describe a chaotic process with little explanation, deepening fears for public lands, permitting backlogs, and strained resources. While state leaders praise the

Read & Share sourced from: WyoFile

North Dakota continues to seek restrictions on China influence in state

by: MinotVoice | February 14, 2025

What started as a local land-use dispute near a North Dakota Air Force base has grown into a nationwide push to limit Chinese investment. Since the Grand Forks controversy and a Chinese surveillance balloon’s flight over the U.S., lawmakers in dozens of states have pursued restrictions—targeting farmland purchases, drone use, and public investments. Supporters argue

Read & Share sourced from: KX News

EPA orders most workers back within weeks, breaking union covenants

by: MinotVoice | February 13, 2025

The EPA is calling its workforce back to the office, setting a tight timeline that will see most employees returning full-time by early spring. The move, in line with a new White House directive, has already sparked union resistance, with leaders calling it a violation of existing contracts. As legal challenges take shape, questions remain

Read & Share sourced from: Government Executive

Read, Watch, Listen: Fellow Countrymen

by: Josh Wolsky | February 12, 2025

Nearly 160 years ago, Abraham Lincoln gave a remarkable address at the moment of his second inauguration to the office of President. If you only have time for one item in our news feed this morning, this should be it. President Lincoln’s words follow next. At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office

Read & Share sourced from: Youtube

NOAA’s vast public weather data powers the local forecasts on your phone and TV (Here on TheMinotVoice, too)

by: Josh Wolsky | February 12, 2025

When severe weather strikes, you probably rely on local forecasts to stay informed. But have you ever considered the intricate web of data that fuels those forecasts? At the heart of it all is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). From satellites and buoys to advanced computer models, NOAA collects and processes vast amounts

Read & Share sourced from: The Conversation

Trump administration targets Education Department research arm in latest cuts

by: MinotVoice | February 11, 2025

President Trump is pulling the plug on a research arm within the Department of Education, leaving educators and policymakers in the dark. The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which has long provided data on student achievement and best teaching practices, is seeing its contracts canceled, according to employees who spoke with NPR. The move, directed

Read & Share sourced from: NPR

North Dakotan following Doug Burgum to Interior Department

by: MinotVoice | February 10, 2025

Andrea Travnicek, a former member of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum’s Cabinet and Minot native, has been nominated to the position of U.S. assistant secretary of the Interior. If confirmed, she will work alongside Burgum, who recently took on the role of Interior secretary. Travnicek brings extensive experience from her previous government roles, including her

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

MHA Nation Chairman releases Statement on Future Working with Secretary of Interior Burgum

by: MinotVoice | February 7, 2025

Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has stepped into a significant role as Secretary of the Interior and head of the National Energy Council, following confirmation by President Trump. In response, MHA Nation Chairman Mark Fox released the following statement: In my role as chairman, my top priority is to pursue opportunities for the prosperity

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