Politics / Elections

House defeats bill to streamline North Dakota Ethics Commission

Rebecca Binstock, executive director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 31, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota House overwhelmingly defeated a bill that aimed to give the Ethics Commission more freedom over how it investigates potential ethics violations. The Ethics Commission pushed for House Bill 1360 as a…

Petition approved for measure that would change N.D. window tint law

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) – The Secretary of State’s Office has approved a petition for a measure that would change North Dakota’s vehicle window tinting law. Under current law, windshield tint must allow at least 70% of light through, driver’s and passenger front window tint must allow at least 50% of light through, and windows behind the driver can be any…

Jury selection begins in civil trial brought by Dakota Access Pipeline developer against Greenpeace

Opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline demonstrate in Bismarck in August 2016. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A behemoth defamation lawsuit brought by the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline against Greenpeace began its trial in a Mandan courtroom on Monday. Energy Transfer, a Texas-based oil and gas company, accuses Greenpeace of using underhanded…

North Dakota resolution urging end to same-sex marriage advances

Rep. Bill Tveit, R-Hazen, speaks during a Jan. 27, 2025, committee hearing. On Feb. 24, 2025, Tveit advocated for a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn same-sex marriage. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota House of Representatives passed a resolution Monday proclaiming the interpretation of marriage as between one man and one…

Sen. Cramer Suffers Concussion and Brain Bleed After Fall At Home in North Dakota Sunday

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Sen. Kevin Cramer revealing on social media that he suffered a severe concussion, seizure and slight brain bleed on Sunday. Cramer says he slipped on ice at his Bismarck home while walking down a hill to his dock and fell hard. He says he didn’t remember anything from the fall until after arriving at Sanford Health…

Free school meals bill fails in the North Dakota House

FARGO, ND – JAN. 22, 2025: Students eating lunch at Carl Ben Eielson Middle School in Fargo on January 22, 2025. Free school meal advocates in North Dakota are calling on the state legislature to prioritize permanent funding to pay for meals.BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A bill to provide free meals to North Dakota K-12 students failed in…

Bill to protect 911 dispatchers, 211 and 988 operators discussed in committee

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill that would grant 911 dispatchers, operators working 211 information, and 988 suicide hotlines from lawsuits. Currently, North Dakota has no protections for 911 and other hotline operators. SB 2145 would not protect operators from lawsuits made due to gross negligence or misconduct. Similar efforts have been made…

Funeral Set For Rep. Josh Christy, Flags To Be Lowered In North Dakota on Friday

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Funeral services will be held Friday for Fargo Republican Rep. Josh Christy who died last Tuesday in Bismarck at 43. The services will start at 11 a.m. at Living Waters Lutheran Church in south Fargo. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Fargo. Gov. Kelly Armstrong has directed all U.S. and North Dakota flags to be…

Changing term limits targeted in North Dakota Senate resolution

Voters participate in the primary election on June 11, 2024, at the Bismarck Event Center. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Legislators, citizens and outside proponents for term limits last week debated the legitimacy of North Dakota’s term limits law and whether the Legislature can force another statewide vote on the issue. The debate came…

Dozens Show Up Downtown Fargo to Support Federal Workers

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Around 70 people standing together outside the downtown Fargo Federal Courthouse for about two hours. The group gathering in support of federal workers and against what the Trump administration has been doing since taking office, especially creating DOGE. Many of the signs held by the people downtown, showed their distrust of Elon Musk who is in…