5 things to know today: gas prices, steam plant, virtual classes, Salvation Army food pantry,

032420.N.GFH.Simonson.jpg — The 1202 32nd Ave. South location of Simonson Neighborhood Store's billboard depicts the low gas prices. Korrie Wenzel / Grand Forks Herald

By Herald staff report and Lori Weber Menke

March 24, 2020 at 8:27 AM

1. North Dakota gas prices plummet to near historic lows, 99 cents a possibility

The coronavirus has caused the price of gasoline in North Dakota to drop 15 cents in the past week, and some industry analysts say the downward spiral could see gas plummet to 99 cents a gallon.

2. A bittersweet day: UND unloads last load of coal into old steam plant

032420.n.gfh.steamplant2.jpg — Tyler Ekstrom, an operator at the UND Steam Plant, checks the firebox on a boiler at the plant Monday. Photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

As the last pile of coal was unloaded into UND’s old steam plant Monday morning, with it went more than 100 years of university history. When that coal is consumed in the coming days, plant manager Craig Machart says it will be a “bittersweet” day.

3. Kirsten Baesler: Failed bill allowing virtual classes could have helped with closures

Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota superintendent of public instruction. Michael Vosburg / Forum News Service

A bill that failed last year in the North Dakota House of Representatives would have allowed school districts to propose plans for online learning in lieu of in-person classes and might now be “very applicable” had it become law, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler.

4. Salvation Army food pantry available by drive-thru only; donations accepted in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks

The Salvation Army will provide items from its food pantry via drive-thru only from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Lt. Matthew Beatty announced Monday, March 23.

5. Digi-Key is teaming with the University of Minnesota in hopes of ending the ventilator shortage

Digi-Key collaborates with the University of Minnesota to create a plan to make parts for low-cost respirators ⁠— devices that could save lives.