North Dakota

It’s been five years since audiences last saw Pentecostal preacher Becky Fischer, who became infamous for her charismatic role in the 2006 documentary “Jesus Camp.”

Finally ready to explain what really happened behind the scenes of the controversial film, which left many Christians, and non-Christians alike, angry and disturbed, Fischer has resurfaced to the public sphere once again with her latest book, Jesus Camp: My Story.

Questions like: “Why did [she] allow the movie to be made in the first place?” and “Why didn’t she renounce [the film] like many Christian leaders thought she should?” and lastly “Whatever happened to the featured children?” will be among the many issues addressed in the book. more >>

The epic Minot, North Dakota flood is in full-destructive force Friday, already flooding some 2,500 homes before the day ends. Another 1,500 homes, or a total of about 4,000 homes, are projected to be flooded by the end of Friday. About 11,000 people, or a quarter of Minot’s population, have been evacuated.

At 11:30 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service’s Broadway bridge gauge read 1,558.3 feet. The Souris River is predicted to crest at 1,564.6 feet at 1 a.m. Sunday. This weekend’s flood will be the biggest flood in the history of Minot, breaking the 1881 record of 1,558 feet.

"It's really tough to see," said Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D), who is originally from Minot, to The Herald. "I see homes of people I've known since I was a little kid, places that I've been many many times in the city and outside the city – and now they're underwater." more >>

Low-lying areas of Minot, North Dakota, are already submerged under several feet of water on Friday after the Souris River breached most of the flood levees and dikes in the city.

The Souris River is now predicted to crest on Saturday, days earlier than the previous estimation of Monday. More bad news is the river could rise several feet higher than expected because of greater release from Lake Darling Dam, jeopardizing the effectiveness of the main levee protecting the critical north-south thoroughfare.

“You hate to admit a defeat at anytime but as far as our permanent dike, it can’t [hold back] the kind of water that we’re going to see,” said Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman, according to CTV Winnipeg. more >>

North Dakota emergency workers are racing against time to build an unprecedentedly high flood levee before the Souris River crests and submerges Minot, the fourth largest city in the state, under water.

The U-shaped river that curves from Canada to North Dakota is predicted to rise between 1,562 and 1,563 feet by Sunday, smashing the 130-year-old record of 1,558 feet. The Souris River is expected to crest on Monday, several days earlier than previously thought. City officials hope workers can build the levee fast enough to save the important north-south thoroughfare, which weaves through the center of the city, from impending floodwaters.

“There is a tremendous surge on the way,” said Gov. Jack Dalrymple, according to The Minot Daily News. “There’s no question about that. We also know it is moving into North Dakota sooner than expected.” more >>

Up to 12,000 people will evacuate from Minot, N.D., today to escape the imminent onslaught of flood waters that will soon overflow levees along the Souris River and swallow much of the fourth largest city in the state.

Weeks of heavy rain have swelled the Canadian reservoirs in the Souris River basin, forcing dangerous water releases to the Souris River. The basin has received about 200 percent more rain water than normal in the last two months. The Souris River is expected to reach a record-breaking 1,560 feet by Monday, squashing the previous record set in 1881 of 1,558 feet.

Water pushing down the Souris River Valley will test Lake Darling Dam, which is expected to release up to 20,000 cubic feet per second later this week. more >>

The North Dakota House voted Friday to give final legislative approval to a bill that allows a parent with a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma to homeschool their children without supervision.

State representatives voted 51-38 to approve the Senate's version of HB 1171 after senators had voted 27-20 on Monday to pass the measure. The bill now goes to Gov. John Hoeven to be signed.

Dubbed by supporters as the "Homeschool Freedom Bill," the legislation would loosen current state standards that require homeschooling parents to hold at least a bachelor's degree to provide unsupervised instruction at home. more >>