Local News

Minnesota senator arrested, accused of soliciting a minor for prostitution

Justin Eichorn, of Grand RapidsUPDATE (8:30 PM 03/18/25) ST. PAUL (AP) — Senate and House Republicans are calling for Rep. Justin Eichorn to step down, but not Senate Democrats who stopped short of calling for him to quit. They have also stood up for Democratic Sen. Nicole Mitchell, of Woodbury, who was arrested last spring on a felony charge for…

Senate committee advances property tax package supported by Gov. Armstrong

Gov. Kelly Armstrong speaks in support of a property tax bill during a Senate committee hearing on March 17, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A property tax bill backed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong received a unanimous do pass recommendation Monday immediately following a Senate committee hearing. House Bill 1176, sponsored by Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck,…

Energy Transfer board chair says he sought settlement with Standing Rock in 2016

MANDAN, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Energy Transfer Executive Chairman Kelcy Warren claimed in court testimony he traveled to North Dakota in December 2016 to discuss a settlement with then-tribal chair David Archambault II to end protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. “I said, ‘David, I’m here to make a deal with you,’” Warren said in a video deposition shown…

Fargo City Supervisors Defend Amount of Overtime Paid During City Commission Meeting

Ben Dow-Public Works/Steve Dirksen-Fire Chief/Tom Knakmuhs-City Engineer  FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — City of Fargo staff gave a very thorough presentation to city commissioners about the amount of overtime paid to city employees and the pressures of staffing issues. It was prompted by a request from Commissioner Dave Piepkorn to require any overtime to be approved ahead of time, even though…

Witness: Man Had Gun And Threatened To “Kill People”, Arrested After SWAT Standoff in Grand Forks

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) —  A man is arrested in Grand Forks after a 45 minute SWAT standoff. 54-year-old Elroy Thomas was taken into custody on a warrant. Earlier, witnesses reported that Thomas had a gun in the hallway of the apartment building at 1706 Continental Drive and saying he was going to kill people. Several apartments were evacuated while…

Legislators amend resolution declaring pornography a public health hazard

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota lawmakers amended a resolution recognizing pornography as a health hazard. The resolution had already passed in the senate. The original resolution claimed that being exposed to sexually explicit content poses health risks and that early exposure leads to low self-esteem and body image disorders. It also said that porn can lead to brain development complications…

“Trump derangement syndrome” Introduced in MN Senate Mental Health Bill, Leader Calls It “Tongue in Cheek”

ST. PAUL (KVRR/FOX9) — Minnesota Republican lawmakers want the state to add “Trump derangement syndrome” to its definition of mental illness. The bill was introduced by five Republican lawmakers in the Minnesota Senate. The bill defines the syndrome as “acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons that is in reaction to the policies and presidencies of President Donald J….

Great Plains Food Bank Says Their Statewide Partnership With Farmers Is Uncertain

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Since launching in 2021, 7,900 food banks, food pantries, and communities in the U.S. have purchased food through two programs available through the USDA, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement and the Local Food for Schools. But now those programs are being canceled. “We have received about a million dollars through that program over the…