Politics / Elections

ND Republicans call for 2024 ballot measure that would eliminate property taxes

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Republicans in the North Dakota legislature are pushing to pass a resolution where people can vote on a ballot measure to eliminate property taxes. The measure would prevent all state and political subdivisions from levying a property tax in 2025. Subdivisions with bond issues would still collect property taxes until the bonds are paid off. Former…

Fargo City Commission Votes 4-1 To Oppose State Anti-LGBTQ Bills

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) — Fargo City Commission votes 4-1 to oppose a series of state bills filed by Republican legislators targeting LGBTQ+ residents in the state. The only no vote came from Commissioner Dave Piepkorn. Cody Schuler, advocacy manager with the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota told commissioners the legislation amounts to a “culture war” that takes away…

Minnesota House approves $1.9B public works package

Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, speaks at a news conference at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday, March 6, 2023, about a $1.9 billion public infrastructure package for fixing up roads, bridges, water systems, college facilities and parks and trails across the state. She was joined by Democratic Rep. Fue Lee, of Minneapolis,…

Gov. Walz to transfer power during anesthesia for colonoscopy

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will temporarily transfer power to Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan on Monday while he’s under general anesthesia for a colonoscopy, his office said Sunday. The 58-year-old governor sent a letter Sunday to House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senate President Bobby Joe Champion informing them of his plan, as per state law. The…

MNGOP calls post from State Rep. Keeler of Moorhead a ‘racist rant’

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – Minnesota Republican Party Chairman David Hann calls a Facebook post by DFL State Representative Heather Keeler of Moorhead, “racist.” The Republican Party shared an article by Alpha News claiming she made a post on her personal page. It references native children that says, in part, quote, “I’m sick of white Christians adopting our babies and rejoicing….

Minnesota moves to crack down on catalytic converter thefts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate voted Thursday to make it harder for thieves to sell stolen catalytic converters, a crime that has skyrocketed across the country in recent years. Thefts of the pollution control devices from cars and trucks more than quadrupled from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020, and jumped dramatically again in 2021 to over 52,000,…

FirstLink advocates for access fee for 988 suicide & crisis lifeline

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A Fargo nonprofit pushes for a North Dakota Senate bill that would charge an access fee to citizens every time someone dials 988 during a behavioral health emergency. It’s similar to North Dakotans paying 50 cents every time you hear a tornado siren except people would only pay 30 cents. FirstLink handled more than 15,000 calls…

Minnesota Republican Leaders Offer “Give It Back” Plan To Deal With Surplus

ST. PAUL (AP/KVRR) — Leaders of the Republican minority at the Minnesota Legislature roll out a $13 billion “Give It Back” plan in response to the states latest budget surplus forecast. Republicans announced their plan a day after state budget officials released an updated forecast showing that the surplus has remained stable at $17.5 billion. Higher-than expected revenues helped offset…