North Dakota News

North Dakota House approves change to state health insurance plan

Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, speaks on the House floor on Jan. 24, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota House voted 55-37 on Wednesday in favor of a bill that some worry will lead to state employees paying health insurance premiums — though supporters say that is not the intention of the proposal….

Ethics commissioners say bill would impose an arbitrary cutoff for investigations

Commissioners Murray Sagsveen, left, and Ronald Goodman, right, members of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, listen to a House committee hearing on March 18, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The Ethics Commission fears changes approved by North Dakota lawmakers earlier this week could allow alleged ethical violations by public officials to go unaddressed. “We’re going…

NDSU Will Launch An Affordable Course Materials Program This Fall Called “Bison Ready”

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — NDSU will be launching an affordable course materials program for its students starting in the fall. The program known as Bison Ready, will have a fixed semester rate of $325 for undergraduates and $55 for graduate students. Students will be automatically enrolled and will receive all digital materials, physical materials, and course kits with the program….

North Dakota’s AG Commissioner and Agronomists React To Potential End of Roundup

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Roundup, a widely used herbicide popular with farmers who plant corn, soybeans, and sugar beets may soon be disappearing from shelves. As the company, Bayer, says they may no longer be making the product in the coming months. “The company continues to get taken to court over frivolous lawsuits. They have to continue to pay and…

AmeriCorps Members Who Respond to Disasters and Help Nonprofits Cut By DOGE

FILE – As President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton mark the 20th anniversary of the AmeriCorps national service program, hundreds of new volunteers are sworn in for duty at a ceremony, Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)DES MOINES, Iowa (AP/KVRR) — Young volunteers who respond…

Gov. Armstrong Signs Bill Doing Away With Fargo’s Voter-Approved Voting System

North Dakota Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong gestures during a meeting at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s governor signed a bill Wednesday to prohibit the unusual voting system used by his state’s largest city. The bill signed by Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong bans ranked-choice and approval voting. Ranked-choice voting, in which voters rank their preferred candidates,…

Tokio, North Dakota man pleads guilty in 3-year-old’s death

TOKIO, N.D. (KVRR) — A Tokio, North Dakota man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter, two counts of child neglect and assault of a child with a dangerous weapon. Austin Lester, 29,  is charged with the neglect and death of a three-year-old child on the Spirit Lake Reservation in August 2022. Lester’s co-defendant Krissy Hinsley was also charged with Involuntary Manslaughter…

Former UND women’s soccer head coach suing university for retaliation, Whistleblower Act violation

Chris LoganGRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) – The former head coach of the University of North Dakota women’s soccer team has filed a federal lawsuit against the university, claiming it retaliated against him and violated the state’s Whistleblower Act. Chris Logan was the team’s head coach from December 2016 until last November when his contract was not renewed. According to the…

North Dakota lawmakers consider bill that could lead to state employees paying for health premiums

Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 21, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A committee of lawmakers on Tuesday endorsed a bill that would allow the state to shift health insurance premium costs onto employees. Senate Bill 2160, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Davison, R-Fargo, would change the state…

North Dakota Senate defeats bill that aimed to divest Legacy Fund from China

Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden, testifies against a bill that sought to authorize the State Investment Board to divest the Legacy Fund from Chinese investments. (Jeff Beach / North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Senate on Tuesday sank a bill that would have authorized the State Investment Board to divest from Legacy Fund holdings in companies…