5 things to know today: Cyber attack, Drone seeding, Officer strike, Bike rentals, Going digital
1. Sanford Health target of attempted cyber attack
Sanford Health sustained an attempted “cyber security incident” and is working to contain its impact, the health care provider’s top executive said Wednesday, Aug. 4.
“Sanford Health has experienced an attempted cyber security incident, and we are taking aggressive measures to contain the impact,” Sanford president and CEO Bill Gassen said in a statement. “Providing patients with exceptional care is our top priority, and we are doing everything possible to minimize disruption.”
So far, Sanford officials believe that no personal or financial information has been compromised, but the investigation continues, Gassen said.
Read more from The Forum’s Patrick Springer
2. Public sees first North Dakota drone test for seeding
Spectators at the North Dakota State University Agronomy Seed Farm annual field days, July 19, 2021, get a glimpse of one of the Mobile Recon LLC’s drones under test to determine whether they could effectively plant cover crops. Photo taken July 19, 2021, at Casselton, North Dakota. Mikkel Pates / Agweek
A Grand Forks, North Dakota, company has launched a study to learn how their heavy-lift drones can seed cover crops.
The initial study is six months to a year and recently took flight at North Dakota State University’s Agronomy Seed Farm in Casselton, North Dakota. About 75 people attending a summer field days at the research farm on July 19, 2021, got to see the drone and hear their plans.
Read more from Forum News Service’s Mikkel Pates
3. Canadian border officers to strike Friday
U.S. and Canadian flags flutter at the Canada-United States border crossing at the Thousand Islands Bridge, which remains closed to non-essential traffic to combat the spread of the coronavirus in Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 28, 2020. REUTERS/Lars Hagberg/File Photo
Vaccinated American travelers anxious to pay a visit to Canada could see lengthy delays at border crossings, as Canadian border officials are set to strike beginning Friday, Aug. 6.
The impending strike is referred to as a “job action” by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the union that, along with the Customs and Immigration Union, represents more than 9,000 Canada Border Service Agency employees. The strike comes just three days before the country is set to allow American leisure travelers across the border for the first time in nearly 18 months. BSA and CIU workers are striking after talks stalled on hammering out a new contract.
Read more from Forum News Service’s Adam Kurtz
4. Why Fargo’s popular rental bikes are in storage collecting dust
Great Rides Bike Share bicycles sit mothballed in a warehouse in downtown Fargo on July 28, 2021.
David Samson / The Forum
Interest in bicycles and bicycling has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a highly-visible and popular bike rental program here remains shelved, for the time being.
The nearly 100 shiny, green bicycles from Great Rides Bike Share have been gathering dust inside a downtown warehouse since late 2019, when they were last put into storage before the pandemic hit.
Great Rides Director Tom Smith said he’s still hoping for a fall launch when students come back to the campus of North Dakota State University, a partner in the program.
Read more from The Forum’s Robin Huebner
5. Fargo’s Downtown Community Partnership switching to digital gift cards
Fargo’s Downtown Community Partnership is going digital with its gift card program. (Photo courtesy of Downtown Community Partnership
The Downtown Community Partnership is going digital with its gift cards.
The organization is shifting from physical gift card sales to e-cards, which can be purchased online and sent by text or email.
E-cards can also be printed for those looking to include them with a card or a gift.
The digital Downtown Fargo Gift Card can be purchased at Downtownfargo.com where you can also view a list of the more than 30 participating locations.
