B-52 Crash: A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert, with officials saying initial indications are the crash was not survivable and all eight aboard were presumed dead; the cause remains under investigation and the flight was tied to a radar modernization test mission. North Dakota Politics & Public Life: Former North Dakota House Minority Leader Merle Boucher, a longtime District 9 Democrat-NPL figure, died June 11 at 79; colleagues praised his focus on Native rights, care for vulnerable people, and respectful, bipartisan leadership. Local Government: Minot City Council moved forward on a temporary animal “pound” plan, accepting proposals from Animal Empowerment League and Hairball Haven and approving a warehouse lease to handle dog and cat services as costs come in above the city’s $200,000 budget. Law Enforcement Accountability: McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office fired Deputy Jared Drake after a DUI arrest while attending training in Bismarck, citing violation of agency policy and professional standards. State Policy Watch: North Dakota’s NDHSAA board approved elections of three board members for the 2026-27 school year, including new Class B Northeast and Class A East representatives. Traffic Safety: North Dakota police issued 3,604 citations during the May “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement push, including 2,536 seat belt violations and 7 DUI arrests, as part of Vision Zero efforts to cut traffic deaths.