Politics / Elections

Value of North Dakota oil rises as Iran war upends markets

Nathan Anderson, director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, and Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, provide their monthly briefing on the state of North Dakota’s oil and gas landscape on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota oil shipped on the Dakota Access Pipeline is…

First Mayoral Debate in 2026 Gives Audience Look at Candidates

The city of Fargo is certain to have a new mayor for the first time in over a decade as Dr. Tim Mahoney has reached his term limit.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Swaths of prospective voters packed the Fargo Theatre on the evening of April 21st to see the mayoral contenders in action. Four come with connections to Fargo city government – three current commissioners and the Chair of the Human Rights Commission – and one has served in the North Dakota State Legislature since 2012. All sought…

Interior Secretary Burgum defends Trump Administration’s approach to energy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR/NORTH DAKOTA MONITOR) — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is defending the Trump administration’s approach to energy production. He appeared before a U.S. House Appropriations panel on the administration’s $16 billion budget request for the Interior Department for the next fiscal year. Democrats accused the department of being submissive to oil and gas interests at the expense of renewable…

Elk River City Council votes to bring back the former Minnesota state flag

ELK RIVER, Minn. (KVRR/FOX9) — Elk River is the latest Minnesota city to adopt a resolution that would bring back the previous version of the Minnesota state flag outside city-owned buildings. During its Monday city council meeting, they said more than 75% of people surveyed in the city just northwest of Minneapolis supported the decision. The council’s vote was unanimous….

Carlson to remain in Mn House District 4A race after losing DFL endorsement to Yoney

Shelly Carlson / Erika YoneyMOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson says she is staying in the race for Minnesota House District 4A and plans to take part in the Democratic primary on August 11. Carlson lost the DFL endorsement over the weekend to political newcomer Erika Yoney. She is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and says there are no…

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving Trump’s Cabinet after abuse of power allegations

FILE – Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer listens as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, April 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is out of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, the White House said Monday, after multiple allegations of abusing her position’s…

UPDATE: Armed suicidal incident on North Dakota State Capitol grounds ends safely

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A tense situation involving an armed suicidal male on the state capitol grounds in Bismarck has ended safely according to North Dakota Highway Patrol. Law enforcement responded to the capitol grounds around 2 p.m. They say the man was armed with a pistol and made no threats to the public, only toward himself. People in the…

Red Lake Nation strongly opposes action approving mining in Boundary Waters watershed

RED LAKE, Minn. (KVRR) — Red Lake Nation has issued a statement opposing recent federal action to overturn long-standing protections for the Boundary Waters watershed. Last week, the U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to pass a bill to allow mining in the watershed. Red Lake Nation says sulfide-ore copper mining poses a well-documented risk of permanent water contamination. They say any…

Applications sought for North Dakota Ethics Commission

North Dakota Ethics Commission member Mark Western listens to Executive Director Rebecca Binstock during a Feb. 18, 2026, meeting at the North Dakota Capitol in Bismarck. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota is accepting applications for two seats on the state Ethics Commission. The board is looking for a commissioner to replace Chair…

State Legislators, Local Leaders Call for Bonding Bill to be Passed in 2026

Numerous Minnesota mayors cited desperately important infrastructure projects as the primary reason they needed this legislation to pass.

DILWORTH, MN (KVRR) – Minnesota state Senator Rob Kupec gathered local mayors and other officials for a news conference Sunday with the goal of gathering support for a bonding bill. The conference was held at the Dilworth Fire House as an example of what bonding bills can accomplish, as about half of the fire house’s $9 million price tag was…