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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Are data centers a viable option in McKenzie County? In this episode of Living in McKenzie County, Meghan Taunton brings together County Commissioners Howdy Lawlar and Craig Hystad, and Nathan Brenna, a rancher and former attorney, to answer that question and discuss their recent trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The purpose of their visit was […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
In this episode of Living in McKenzie County, McKenzie County Economic Development Director Meghan Taunton engages with local experts to discuss the landscape of small business development in the area. The panel features Cyrena Weeks, Executive Director of the Tri-County Regional Development Council; Keith Olson, Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center; and Susan […]
The City of Alexander and community partners celebrated the successful grand opening and ribbon cutting of Bright Minds Daycare on Saturday, April 25, marking a significant milestone for childcare access and early childhood development in western North Dakota. The event, held at the new facility at 1115 Bruegger Street, brought together local leaders, families, and […]
The April 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note includes: Hotel occupancy and comprehensive apartment occupancy rates are now included on the Economy at a Glance. The hotel and apartment data will be updated monthly and quarterly respectively. McKenzie County births continue to rise with 287 babies being born in […]
