Early voting in FargoBISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – A bill that limits early voting dates to 9 days before Election Day has been approved in the North Dakota House. Early voting is currently allowed up to 15 days before an election. Grand Forks Republican Representative Steve Vetter carried the bill on the House floor. “Although we want early voting, we don’t…
By: Amanda Rooker WASHINGTON – The Senate will move forward with a vote on Energy Secretary nominee Jennifer Granholm. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee approved her nomination in a 13-4 vote. Senator John Hoeven, who sits on the committee, pressed Granholm to support North Dakota’s energy industry if confirmed. “We’ve got to keep building our energy resources. And…
BISMARCK, N.D. – A proposal to reimburse North Dakota lawmakers for meals beyond their per diem payments could be included in a longer-term study of overall expense reimbursements. Republican Rep. Keith Kempenich introduced a bill Thursday that would reimburse state lawmakers from outside Bismarck for meals on days when they’re in session. A legislative estimate says the bill, called the…
By: Amanda Rooker WASHINGTON (KVRR) – Congress took new action on the Keystone XL Pipeline this week. Two new bills aim to revive the project’s construction. During his first day in office, President Joe Biden put a stop to the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. At the Capitol, several North Dakota lawmakers say a presidential permit is not required and introduced…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota Senate has rejected a bill that would have allowed bars to be open on Sundays beginning at 8 a.m. Currently, North Dakota bars are not allowed to open until 11 a.m. Mandan Republican Senator Doug Larsen argued in favor of the bill. “This could allow a business to serve a crew that works…
WASHINGTON (KVRR) – Senator Tina Smith introduces bills to fund mental health initiatives and help those with substance abuse. The Stopping the Mental Health Pandemic Act would give federal money to states, tribes and communities to address behavioral health needs that may have gotten worse during the pandemic. Money would be used for training, technology upgrades and suicide prevention. The…
FARGO (KVRR) – Three former U.S. senators from North Dakota are leaning on President Biden to nominate a Fargo lawyer and former state lawmaker from Grand Forks for U.S. Attorney. Former Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan have sent a letter to Biden, urging him to nominate Mac Schneider. “It is our greatest hope that you give Mac…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has raised $1.7 million for his likely 2022 reelection bid since he took office two years ago and finished 2020 with $1.3 million in the bank. Walz has not formally announced that he’ll seek a second term, but his campaign says that he raised an additional $550,000 last month, which was not…
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The Chamber holds an Eggs and Issues discussion with members of the legislation to talk about a $435.5 million bonding bill on the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project. At just under $800 million, House bill 1431 is proposing a series of projects in the Fargo-Moorhead area. One project in the bill will take a little over half of…
BISMARCK, N.D. — The way underage drinking is penalized in North Dakota may soon change. The state legislature is looking into two bills that would ease punishment for those drinking or possessing alcohol illegally. At first glance, the change being considered to one of the bills may be hard to see. “What my bill does is it changes one word…
