Politics / Elections

Fargo Senator Tim Mathern proposes bill to make elected officials mandated reporters for child sex crimes

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — With the recent revelations in the Ray Holmberg case, North Dakota legislators are looking making law to make reporting similar incidents mandatory. State Senator Tim Mathern, of Fargo, held a press conference along with other fellow legislators to announce a bill that would require elected officials and those employed in higher education to report incidents of…

Suspect Arrested in Homeland Security Secretary Noem’s Purse Theft

WASHINGTON (AP) — A suspect has been arrested in connection with the theft last week of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ‘s purse as she ate at a Washington, D.C., restaurant, officials said Sunday. Noem’s purse was nabbed on Easter Sunday and reportedly contained about $3,000 in cash, her keys, driver’s license, passport and Homeland Security badge. The Homeland Security Department said Noem had…

Update on Condition of Rep. Kasper

Kasper has been a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2001.

FARGO, N.D. – We have an update on the condition of Representative Jim Kasper. As we reported, Kasper suffered a brain bleed on the morning of April 23rd. He was able to call an ambulance and was transported to CHI St. Alexius. While it was initially thought that Representative Kasper suffered a stroke, his medical team determined that no stroke…

Gov. Armstrong signs ‘Bell to Bell’ school phone bill

(Gov. Kelly Armstrong signs bill requiring that students not use their phones during the school day.)BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) – Gov. Kelly Armstrong said Friday as he signed a bill requiring K-12 public schools in North Dakota to adopt phone-free school policies that it may be the most impactful legislation of this session. The house bill requires all personal electronic communication…

North Dakota House kills final Education Savings Account bill of session

Rep. Ben Koppelman, left, R-West Fargo, asks a question to Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, on the House floor on April 24, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota House overwhelmingly rejected an Education Savings Account bill Thursday night, a day after the governor vetoed a similar bill. House members voted 78-14 against Senate Bill 2400, which…

Bill signed this week seeks to prevent health coverage delays for North Dakota patients

Gov. Kelly Armstrong signs a bill that seeks to prevent insurance prior authorization from blocking patients’ access to care in an April, 23, 2025, ceremony at the Capitol. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — New legislation signed Wednesday by Gov. Kelly Armstrong aims to protect patients from care-delaying snags in the health insurance prior authorization process. Prior…

Gov. Armstrong To Sign Bill Friday Banning Cell Phone Use During Class in Public Schools

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Gov. Kelly Armstrong will be joined by First Lady Kjersti Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden at a bill signing to ban the use of cell phones in public schools. He’ll sign the bill Friday at Centennial Elementary School in Bismarck. It directs K-12 public schools to require students’ cell phones to be securely stowed and…

North Dakota House advances $50M in state funds for presidential library

The last steel beam is hoisted into place at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora on Aug. 14, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota House advanced an amendment to the Department of Commerce budget Wednesday that would add $50 million in state funding and a $20 million Bank of North Dakota loan…

Gov. Armstrong Vetoes Library Restrictions And Private School Voucher Program

North Dakota Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong gestures during a meeting at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Republican governor on Wednesday vetoed bills to further restrict sexual content in libraries and to create a private school voucher program, rejecting two measures that have seen widespread support by GOP governors…