Politics / Elections

Women’s Equality Day

FARGO — We’re marking an important day today: 105 years of women’s right to vote in the United States. August 26th is proclaimed Women’s Equality Day through the metro, and in both North Dakota and Minnesota. It’s partly due to the work of the local League of Women Voters. The League’s Lyn Dockter-Pinnick says suffrage wasn’t achieved as long ago…

Primary election held for candidates vying to fill Nicole Mitchell’s state senate seat in District 47

Nicole MitchellWOODBURY, Minn. (KVRR/FOX9) — A special primary is underway as candidates battle for the Minnesota Senate seat once held by Nicole Mitchell in Woodbury. The primary is for the DFL since there are two candidates: State Reps. Ethan Cha and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger. There is only one Republican running for the Senate District 47 seat, St. Paul teacher Dwight Dorau…

Sen. John Hoffman calls on Democrats to build trust in first speech since attempted assassination

State Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, gives a thumbs-up to Democratic National Committee members as he takes the stage in his first public appearance since he was shot nine times in June. (Photo by Madison McVan/Minnesota Reformer)MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Minnesota Reformer) — In Sen. John Hoffman’s first major public appearance since he and his family were the survivors of attempted political assassinations…

2 more pharmaceutical groups sue North Dakota over new law

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Three pharmaceutical groups have sued North Dakota in federal court over a new law that aims to stop pharmaceutical companies from limiting hospitals’ access to discount drugs. The law, House Bill 1473, makes it a class B misdemeanor for manufacturers to adopt policies that “deny, restrict, prohibit, or otherwise interfere” with pharmacies’ ability to obtain…

Early work underway to establish public charter schools in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota won’t see any charter schools open this year, but state education officials are busy behind the scenes laying the groundwork for next year. Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2241 during the 2025 session that authorized public charter schools in North Dakota, leaving South Dakota, Nebraska and Vermont as the only states without a…

Higher education board chair favors keeping interim leader of North Dakota colleges

Tim Mihalick, right, chairs a North Dakota State Board of Higher Education meeting in Bismarck on May 29, 2025. Next to Mihalick is interim chancellor Brent Sanford. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The chair of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education said Thursday that he will propose giving interim Chancellor Brent Sanford…

WBI to receive $500M state financial guarantee to build natural gas pipeline in North Dakota

Kelly Armstrong speaks during the Aug. 21, 2025, Industrial Commission meeting. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Industrial Commission on Thursday awarded WBI Energy an up to $500 million financial guarantee to build a pipeline that will bring natural gas to the state’s eastern communities. WBI’s project, which it calls Bakken East,…

New legislative committee seeks to advance solutions for strained rural emergency services

Firefighters from the West Fargo Rural Fire Department take part in a fire safety demonstration on Sept. 10, 2024, in West Fargo, North Dakota. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota fire departments and ambulance services are understaffed and facing financial constraints while at the same time responding to more calls and serving large…

2 natural gas pipelines compete for $500M financial backstop from North Dakota

North Dakota Pipeline Authority Executive Director Justin Kringstad listens to a presentation during a July 30, 2025, North Dakota Industrial Commission meeting. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Two pipeline companies are competing for a financial guarantee of up to $500 million from the North Dakota government to bring natural gas to the eastern half…