Politics / Elections Archives - Page 26 of 357

School cell phone ban, legal marijuana edibles & 80 MPH on interstates go into effect August 1

Both pieces of legislation signed by Governor Armstrong don't have universal support - with opponents of the phone ban saying it cuts off students' access to communication in case of emergency, while marijuana advocates wonder why recreational consumption isn't yet legal.

July 31, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

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…

State representative brings awareness to LGBTQ community across Minnesota

July 31, 2025

Juliana Pelaez,

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…

North Dakota Commerce to eliminate extra legislative session pay as state begins DOGE effort

July 31, 2025

KVRR Staff,

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…

ND Ethics Commission OKs lawmakers’ expenses-paid trip to Israel as ‘educational’

July 31, 2025

KVRR Staff,

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…

Pitches for natural gas pipeline made to North Dakota Industrial Commission

July 31, 2025

KVRR Staff,

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…

Special election called to fill Mitchell and Anderson seats in MN state senate

July 29, 2025

TJ Nelson,

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…

Minnesotans push ahead with solar amid Trump opposition

July 28, 2025

KVRR Staff,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Minnesota Reformer) — More than 180 local households will see significantly lower energy bills after the solar array atop Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s new parking ramp powers up later this year. Abbott Northwestern — Twin Cities’ largest private hospital — will enjoy similar savings while hosting Minneapolis nonprofit Cooperative Energy Futures’ newest community solar garden for at least…

North Dakota version of DOGE to take a slower approach to cost savings

July 28, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Rep. Nathan Toman, R-Mandan, chair of the Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency, speaks during a subcommittee hearing of the Budget Section on June 25, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota’s version of DOGE is poised to begin work this week, but members say it won’t be just like the federal government version that…

North Dakota funds program to use drones to scout for weeds

July 28, 2025

KVRR Staff,

A drone flies over a farm field as part of a Grand Farm project to use drones to scout for weeds. A North Dakota Department of Agriculture grant will help continue the work. (Courtesy of Grand Farm)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A state-funded program will use drones and artificial intelligence to scout for noxious weeds in five North Dakota…

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Pipeline developer asks North Dakota judge to halt Greenpeace lawsuit in Europe

July 25, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Energy Transfer attorney Trey Cox, center, and other attorneys for the Dakota Access Pipeline developer speak to media March 19, 2025, outside the Morton County Courthouse. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline has asked a North Dakota judge to stop Greenpeace from counter-suing it in the Netherlands. Energy Transfer says…