Politics / Elections

Property taxes eliminated for 50,000 North Dakota households under new legislation

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong talks about the impact of the state’s property tax relief efforts at a Dec. 19, 2025, press conference at the Capitol. To his right are Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus and Rep. Craig Headland. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK , N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Roughly 50,000 North Dakota households…

US Army Corps says oil should keep flowing through Dakota Access Pipeline in long-awaited study

Opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline demonstrate Nov. 1, 2023, ahead of a public hearing in Bismarck on the draft environmental impact statement. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)WASHINGTON, D.C. (North Dakota Monitor) —  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday issued a long-awaited Dakota Access Pipeline environmental impact statement, recommending that the pipeline keep operating but…

Poll: Inflation dents North Dakota holiday spending spirit

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota News Cooperative) — Inflation is hitting North Dakotans on a daily basis and impacting holiday spending, data from the latest North Dakota Poll shows. A total of 53% of respondents said everyday necessities like groceries and gas have become less affordable over the past year. The impact is affecting some holiday spending, with 31% of respondents…

Pipeline developer goes to ND Supreme Court seeking to block Greenpeace Netherlands lawsuit

Betsy Elsberry, an attorney representing Greenpeace International, delivers oral arguments before the North Dakota Supreme Court on Dec. 18, 2025. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A court case involving Greenpeace and the Dakota Access Pipeline developer went before the North Dakota Supreme Court on Thursday, with justices asked to stop a counter-suit…

North Dakota law accidentally lists fake critical minerals based on coal lawyers’ names

David Straley, attorney for North American Coal, speaks in favor of a bill to develop critical minerals in North Dakota at a March 27, 2025, hearing. The law lists stralium and friezium among critical minerals, an apparent reference to Straley and another coal industry attorney. Straley says they were not responsible for adding the fake names. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North…

Prosecutor says 14 Minnesota programs are targeted for fraud and the state is swamped with crime

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — At least 14 state-run programs in Minnesota have been flagged for fraud, a prosecutor said Thursday as he announced new charges in several schemes. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said during a news conference that federal officials suspect a significant portion of roughly $18 billion paid out by Medicaid to Minnesota programs was fraudulent. “What we…

North Dakota finds option to relieve prison overcrowding

Five bunk beds sit vacant in the sleeping quarters of an empty inmate pod at the Burleigh/Morton County Detention Center on Dec. 17, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota’s prison system will use the Burleigh/Morton County Detention Center to house inmates instead of using the Grand Forks County jail to address its…

Clay County gives preliminary pay raises to the sheriff, county attorney and others in 2026

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — Clay County Commissioners have given preliminary approval to a pay raise for Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting. Clay County Attorney Brian Melton and chief assistant county attorneys would also get raises. Empting told the commission that the responsibilities in his position have grown substantially over the past few years, but the compensation hasn’t changed. Empting says…

North Dakota ag producers could ‘walk away’ from health insurance, Farmers Union warns

Lance Boyer, sales director of financial products for the North Dakota Farmers Union, talks about expiring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits during the annual meeting of the North Dakota Farmers Union on Dec. 12, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Seven in 10 North Dakota Farmers Union agriculture producers will be affected by…

Committee names new member to North Dakota Ethics Commission, ending impasse

Jared Huibregtse, a Mandan project manager for an engineering firm, speaks Oct. 3, 2025, during an interview for three open seats on the North Dakota Ethics Commission. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota leaders appointed Jared Huibregtse to the North Dakota Ethics Commission on Tuesday, ending a nearly two-month stalemate over who to…