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July 2026 Economy at a Glance

The July 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some notable data includes: Year to Date permit values are up significantly in 2026 compared to 2025 for both Watford City and McKenzie County permits Watford City hotel occupancy rate increased by 10 percentage points from 49.2% in May 2026 to 59.2% in June 2026 Census data […]

From the 1980s Bust to Today’s Shale Revolution | Living in McKenzie County: Season 2, Episode 23

In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast, host Vawnita Best gathers a panel of community leaders to dive into the history and resilience of McKenzie County. Featuring Tim Taylor, Steve Stenehjem, and Neal Shipman, this episode takes listeners on a journey from the early days of homesteading through the booms and […]

July Lineup: Events, Activities, & Homefest! | Living in McKenzie County: Season 2, Episode 22

In this bonus episode of the Living in Mckenzie County Podcast, host Jessie Veeder Scofield welcomes Long X Arts Education and Outreach Coordinator Oksana Zvyagelskiy, Rough Rider Center Assistant Director Josh Nollmeyer, and Watford City Parks and Rec’s Recreation Manager Krystal Picklesimer. The group takes a look at the various events and activities that will […]

June 2026 Economy at a Glance

The June 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some notable data includes: West Texas Intermediate Oil prices in April 2026 averaged $100.32 per barrel, which is over $36 more than April of 2025. However, April production showed 9,807,740 barrels, nearly 1.4 million barrels less than the 11,202,716 barrels of oil produced in April 2025 May […]

Williston Basin Petroleum Conference Recap & Industry Outlook | Living in McKenzie County: Season 2, Episode 20

   In the latest episode of Living in McKenzie County, host Meghan Taunton welcomed McKenzie County Commissioner Joel Brown and North Dakota State Senator Dale Patten to discuss the future of energy in North Dakota and to provide insights from the recent Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, where industry leaders gather to discuss the latest […]

May 2026 Economy at a Glance

The May 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note includes: The average price per barrel of West Texas Intermediate Oil in March 2026 was $91.38, over $23 above the average price for March 2025 Hotel occupancy was up to 45.1% in April 2026, up from 37.7% in April 2025 2025 […]

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Grand Opening! | Living in McKenzie County: Season 2, Episode 19

Medora, North Dakota is gearing up for a momentous occasion on July 4th with the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and its celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. On the latest episode of Living in McKenzie County, Doug Bolken hosts Theodore Roosevelt Library Foundation board member Gretchen Stenehjem, and Brock White with the […]