BISMARCK, N.D. — U.S. Census Bureau data show North Dakota is leading the nation in population growth and the number of residents in the state is at an all-time high. The bureau’s most recent estimate released Tuesday put the state population at 756,927 in July, or an increase of 16,887 residents in one year. Census data show North Dakota’s total ...

HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Land Board has approved a $126,000 oil and gas lease sale — in North Dakota. The board on Monday approved the sale to Davis Exploration LLC for Montana’s 8 percent ownership interest in more than 11 acres in North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields. Montana regularly holds lease sales for oil and gas rights on state ...

WILLISTON, N.D. — Officials in Williston are trying to draw more retail chains to the western North Dakota oil patch hub. Williston Economic Development and the Williston Convention and Visitor Bureau recently hired the retail data analysis company Buxton to identify the best retail options for the city and begin attracting stores. Based on survey results, the city is aiming ...

HOUSTON — A Department of Natural Resources decision on a Houston County mining operation was struck down in a final blow by the Minnesota Supreme Court. Last year, the DNR told mine owners Tracie and Michelle Erickson they needed a new conditional-use permit before they could operate their silica sand mine near the Houston and Fillmore County border in Yucatan ...

WILLISTON, N.D. — The Williston City Commission this week passed a $212 million budget for 2016 — about $65 million more than the city expects to bring in next year in revenue. City officials told the Williston Herald that they’re hoping oil prices will rebound next year, bringing in an influx of tax money for the boomtown Mayor Howard Klug ...

DES MOINES, Iowa  — A three-member Iowa board has no authority to grant access to private property for the construction of a proposed oil pipeline, landowners opposed to the project argue in a lawsuit. The lawsuit filed last month in district court in Cherokee County says the Iowa Utilities Board has no legal authority to give developers such as Dakota ...

Philadelphia Energy Solutions is pursuing a joint venture that would give the U.S. East Coast refiner greater control over its supply chain out of North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields, the company has disclosed in federal filings ahead of a initial public offering. PES, a joint venture partly owned by Carlyle Group LP , said in a filing that in early ...

Here are the top five stories from Bakken.com for the week of July 18th through July 24th. Enjoy! 5. ND cracks down on illegal water sales in the Bakken The North Dakota State Water Commission is cracking down on illegal industrial water sales in the Bakken oil fields where massive volumes of water are required for drilling operations, reports the ...

The North Dakota State Water Commission is cracking down on illegal industrial water sales in the Bakken oil fields where massive volumes of water are required for drilling operations, reports the Forum News Service. Last year, penalties for illegal water sales amounted to $1.6 million, fees imposed by agreements made between the Commission and the parties cited for violations. One ...

Burlington Northern Santa Fe is relocating 55 workers to Laurel this month from Glendive and Forsyth and planning other worker furloughs, rail officials said Wednesday. The move is an effort to consolidate operations to Laurel, the region’s largest rail yard, and reduce costs in response to a downturn in freight demands, BNSF officials said. The bulk of the shift, 45 ...