Blizzard Warning western and central North Dakota this afternoon through Saturday morning.

Blizzard conditions will develop across the U. S. Highway 2 and 85 corridors this afternoon, and across the remainder of western and central North Dakota this evening. Northwest winds to 50 mph combined with snow currently on the ground and one to two inches of new snow will cause near zero visibilities. Conditions will improve Saturday afternoon.

Travel will be extremely hazardous, if not impossible. If you absolutely must travel, take a winter survival kit, inform others of your travel plans, and be ready for the challenges you could face if stranded. Dress for the outside weather, not the inside car temperature.

Blizzard Warning remains in effect from 6 pm CST /5 pm MST/ this evening to noon CST /11 am MST/ Saturday.

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The Energy Infrastructure and Impact Office (EIIO) is accepting grant applications from eligible political subdivisions for funds from the Energy Impact Grant program.

Political subdivisions, including counties, park districts, water resource districts, townships and other eligible public entities impacted by oil and gas development are welcome to apply for grant funds available to address infrastructure impacts resulting from energy activity.  The Land Board has established specific grant rounds for cities, airports, K-12 schools, higher education, sheriff's departments and emergency response services. This grant round will focus on those other eligible political subdivisions not given consideration by their own specific grant round.

Projects that demonstrate cooperative efforts between multiple entities and requests for one-time projects related to advancing or improving physical assets will receive priority consideration. An advisory committee made up of city, county and other officials will make recommendations to the Land Board for the allocation of grant funds.

The Land Board has allocated $4 million in energy impact money for this grant round. 

The application form and list of required supporting documentation are available on the North Dakota Energy Impact Grant web page www.nd.gov/energyimpact. This internet site contains a PDF form that can be filled in and printed; or a MS Word version of the application form that can be completed on-screen.  Please be sure to note in the narrative description area how your political subdivision qualifies based on each of the requirements noted.

North Dakota's congressional delegation and the governor Thursday came out in favor of expediting improvements to rail tanker car standards and bringing improved cars into the nation's tanker car fleet.

They agreed that Monday's fiery derailment near Casselton was an example of the need to review and improve railway communication and safety.

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CASSELTON - In this tiny North Dakota town, the shock of watching a dozen oil tank cars erupt into flames just a mile or two from residents' homes and businesses stirred little anxiety over the safety of the thriving oil-by-rail business.

Here, in the eastern part of a state whose booming agriculture and oil economy is hugely reliant on railways, residents and officials expressed few signs of alarm over the surging number of trains carrying flammable crude from the Bakken shale...