Author: KVRR Staff

Abortion could be considered murder under fetal personhood proposal in North Dakota

A crowd listens to Ginna Cross, an out-of-state anti-abortion advocate, testify in favor of a bill to define a human being to include an unborn child on Feb. 5, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota lawmakers are weighing whether to allow women who obtain abortions to be charged with murder. House Bill 1373, referred…

Trio of bills addresses justice reform, crowded North Dakota jails

Exterior of the North Dakota State Penitentiary on Feb. 4, 2025. Bills under consideration by state lawmakers aim to address crowding at state prisons and jails. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — When parole and probation officers have to try to collect fees from people on supervised release, “it puts both parties in a difficult situation,” said…

Minnesota Republicans Update Recall Effort Against Absentee DFL House Members

ST. PAUL – One day after announcing a recall effort against all 66 DFL House legislators, Republican leaders announced they’ve collected more than 5,000 signatures on recall petitions. Minnesota Republican Chair Alex Plechash says the message is clear from Minnesotans – they want DFL lawmakers to show up for work or face recall elections. Republicans must collect 25 signatures in…

Legislative hearing at North Dakota State Penitentiary highlights rehabilitation programs

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee Human Resource Division hold a hearing at the North Dakota State Penitentiary on Feb. 4, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — There was a podium with a microphone and a sign-in sheet, just like any other legislative committee hearing. A key difference Tuesday was the series of seven locked doors…

North Dakota federal judge axes environmental rule

The William L. Guy Federal Building pictured on Dec. 18, 2024, in Bismarck. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A North Dakota federal judge on Monday delivered the latest blow to the federal Council on Environmental Quality, finding that the agency for decades has exercised regulatory authority it doesn’t actually have. U.S. District Court Judge Dan Traynor…

Ruling in North Dakota transgender health care case likely months out as trial wraps

South Central Judicial District Judge Jackson Lofgren presides over a trial to determine the constitutionality of North Dakota’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors on Feb. 3, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A seven-day trial over North Dakota’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors concluded Tuesday, though a final decision on the case is still…

Burgum orders review of national monument boundaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — As part of the Trump administration’s push to expand U.S. energy production, federal officials will review and consider redrawing the boundaries of national monuments created under previous presidents to protect unique landscapes and cultural resources. The review — laid out in a Monday order from new Interior Secretary Doug Burgum — is raising alarms among conservation groups…

Committee Tasked With Developing Convention Center in Fargo Gets Go Ahead

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO)– A 13 member city-run committee will be tasked with developing proposals for the planning and design of a new convention center in Fargo. The project was approved by voters in November when they passed a 3% lodging tax. Fifty-one percent of voters approved increasing the tax by 3% to 6%. It will be in effect for 25…

Project 2025 Protests Planned Wednesday at All 50 State Capitol Buildings

Protests against Project 2025 and President Donald Trump’s executive orders are planned for Wednesday at state Capitol buildings in all 50 states. The one day protest, also known as the 50501 Movement, are against Trump’s actions during his first few weeks back in the White House. Trump last fall denied he had anything to do with Project 2025. In North…

North Dakota tribal leaders seek to restore vehicle tax exemption

Lonna Jackson-Street, chair of the Spirit Lake Nation, speaks during a summit between state and tribal leaders on June 25, 2024. She testified last week in support of a bill that seeks to restore a motor vehicle excise tax exemption for tribal citizens. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A bill in the North Dakota House seeks…