Politics / Elections

Gov. Tim Walz tells a House panel the Trump immigration crackdown hampered Minnesota’s fraud fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota’s governor and attorney general on Wednesday defended their efforts to combat fraud and told a U.S. House committee that their efforts have been hampered by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in the state. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee accused Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of stalling to fight fraud in government programs, saying they put politics ahead…

Judge weighs contempt against top Department of Justice official in Minnesota over ICE orders

The Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in downtown Saint Paul, Minn. (Ellen Schmidt/Minnesota Reformer)ST. PAUL, Minn. (Minnesota Reformer) — U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Bryan is weighing sanctions against the top Department of Justice official in Minnesota, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, for the federal government’s failure to promptly return the belongings of…

Governor praises Bank of North Dakota employee bonus program

The Bank of North Dakota is awarding employee performance bonuses as a way to improve retention. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — State officials have approved new staff performance bonuses to improve retention at the Bank of North Dakota, with the first installment totaling about $772,000. The North Dakota Industrial Commission, which oversees…

Democrat Rep. Zac Ista of Grand Forks, the minority leader, will not seek re-election

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)FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — North Dakota House Minority Leader Zac Ista announces that…

North Dakota rural health grant opportunities imminent as feds OK spending plan

Lawmakers on the Joint Appropriations Committee study legislation during a January special session convened to budget the first two years of the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program funding. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The federal government has approved most of North Dakota’s nearly $200 million plan implementing the first year of a massive rural…

State-mandated abortion law training now available for North Dakota doctors

The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks. UND staff, including two obstetrician-gynecologists, were commissioned by the state to create a new abortion laws training that is mandatory for doctors who perform abortions in North Dakota. (Photo courtesy of University of North Dakota)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A new training commissioned by the North…

Fargo City Commissioners put vote to ban flavored tobacco and nicotine products on hold

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo Cass Public Health’s effort to enact a ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products has been put on hold. City commissioners heard a lengthy discussion by public health staff who tried to clear the air saying only flavored tobacco and nicotine products would be banned, and regular non-flavored vapes would remain. They say the state’s…

GOP lawmakers introduce impeachment articles against Gov. Walz, AG Ellison

Courtesy: FOX 9ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR/FOX 9) — GOP lawmakers in Minnesota have introduced articles of impeachment against Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison. The two house resolutions include House Resolution 6 against Gov. Walz and House Resolution 7 against Ellison. They claim corrupt conduct by both democratic leaders. The resolution accuses Walz of “violating his constitutional oath…

North Dakota ethics commission chair to step down for out of state job

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Dr. Cynthia Lindquist is stepping down from chairing North Dakota Ethics Commission for an employment opportunity out of state. She has served as chair since last July. Lindquist was first appointed to the commission in 2019 and was reappointed to a four-year term in 2023. She currently serves as director, Tribal Initiatives & Collaborations, with UND….