Politics / Elections

Cramer introduces bill to help service members prepare for civilian life

WASHINGTON — Service members who are about to leave the military may soon have someone to help them prepare to reenter civilian life, if a new federal bill gets enough support from members of congress. If passed, the new bill would require the military to give pre-separation counseling to service members leaving the military. While the military has advised leaving…

North Dakota enacts tenure policy requiring master’s, advanced degrees

A Bismarck State College sign is displayed on the side of a skyway on campus during Welcome Week at the school on Aug. 26, 2024. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education enacted a tenure policy requiring a master’s or other advanced degree for professors to receive tenure….

Retiring justice: Keep courts impartial, independent, not ‘lap dogs’

North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers listens to oral arguments Dec. 18, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers urged his colleagues to keep the judicial branch impartial as he closes out his 20-year career on the court this week. “My only words for anyone…

Essentia Health sends letter to U.S. Dept. of Education about loan caps for advanced nursing degrees

Essentia HealthFARGO (KVRR) — Essentia Health is sending a letter to the Department of Education, urging them to reconsider a rule that would affect student loan availability for students in graduate nursing programs by capping borrowing limits on student loans. The rule being considered by the department of education would classify certain higher education degrees as either professional or not…

Federal judge in Minnesota threatens Trump officials with contempt over violated orders

The Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building where many people detained by ICE are held. Glen Stubbe/Minnesota Reformer Thursday February 19, 2026ST. PAUL, Minn. (Minnesota Reformer) — A federal judge in Minnesota ordered officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Justice to appear before him and explain why they should not be held in contempt. U.S. District…

Walz unveils anti-fraud package after Trump administration threatens to halt Medicaid funds

Gov. Tim Walz introduces anti-fraud legislative packageST. PAUL, Minn., (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz denounced the Trump administration’s latest threat to withhold federal funds from Minnesota as another step in a “retribution” campaign as he unveiled a package of legislation Thursday intended to fight fraud in public programs, a persistent problem that provided an impetus for the federal government’s immigration…

Judge says he will order Greenpeace to pay an expected $345 million in oil pipeline protest case

Leaders and attorneys for several Greenpeace entities listen to a reporter’s question after a jury’s verdict at the Morton County Courthouse in Mandan, N.D., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota judge has said he will order Greenpeace to pay damages expected to total $345 million in connection with protests against the Dakota Access…

JD Vance says administration is pausing some Medicaid funding to Minnesota because of fraud concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance announced Wednesday that the Trump administration would “temporarily halt” some Medicaid funding to the state of Minnesota over fraud concerns, as part of what he described as an aggressive crackdown on misuse of public funds. Medicaid is the U.S. health care safety net for low-income Americans. As of late 2025, nearly 70 million…