Chris Elstoft, left, Australia’s diplomat to the Midwest, speaks with Gov. Kelly Armstrong during a visit to Bismarck on Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo provided by the North Dakota Governor’s Office)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota technology could be of interest to producers in Australia, said the country’s Midwest diplomat, who made the first trip here in years to…
FARGO, N.D (KVRR) — The City of Fargo presented it’s 2026 preliminary budget to both the public and commissioners, late Monday morning. This year’s budget was complicated by the new state law capping property tax revenue. The preliminary budget contains a 3 percent cost of living adjustment as well as cutting over $4.5 million in operation and personnel costs. With…
NEW YORK (AP) — The requests have come in letters, emails and phone calls. The specifics vary, but the target is consistent: The U.S. Department of Justice is ramping up an effort to get voter data and other election information from the states. Over the past three months, the department’s voting section has requested copies of voter registration lists from state election…
John Bjornson, right, director of Legislative Council, speaks during a meeting of the Legislative Management Committee next to Emily Thompson, center, director of the Legal Division of Legislative Council, and Allen Knudson, left, legislative budget analyst and auditor for Legislative Council, on June 26, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Legislature is adding…
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – It’s been a common refrain from educators and even parents frustrated at their child’s amount of screen time. Electronics are making it exceedingly difficult for kids to focus, especially in school. Thanks to HB 1160 – those distractions should be eliminated, starting on August 27 for the 2025-26 Fargo Public school year. “It’s also going to…
ST. PAUL (KVRR) — As one of Minnesota’s first openly transgender lawmakers, State Representative Leigh Finke of St. Paul shares how she has been working to bring awareness to the LGBTQ community. Since taking office, Finke’s mission has been to provide equality laws and obtain gender affirming care for people within the state and outside of the state. As states…
Chris Schilken, commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Commerce, speaks during a meeting of the Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency on July 30, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Department of Commerce immediately identified a cost saving Wednesday during the first meeting of the state’s DOGE task force – eliminating bonuses…
House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, speaks on the House floor in December 2024. Ista recently asked the Ethics Commission to analyze whether it would be an ethics violation for him to attend a study tour paid for by the government of Israel. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — At least one North Dakota lawmaker has…
North Dakota Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong holds a map of a proposed natural gas pipeline on Thursday, June 26, 2025, during a meeting of the Industrial Commission at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/Prairie Public/KFG) The two companies that have proposed natural gas pipelines to bring gas from the Bakken to central and eastern North…
Nicole Mitchell & Sen. Bruce AndersonST. PAUL (KVRR) — Gov. Walz has called for a special election to fill two vacancies in the state senate. Seats formerly held by Sen. Bruce Anderson of Buffalo and Sen. Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury will be on the ballot on November 4. Anderson, a Republican, died this month at 75. Mitchell, a Democrat, resigned…
