BISMARCK (KVRR) – North Dakota’s COVID-19 emergency declaration will be lifted April 30 as the state continues to shift the focus of its pandemic response efforts to increasing vaccination rates. Gov. Doug Burgum declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 on March 13, 2020, two days after North Dakota had confirmed its first case of COVID-19. “Lifting this emergency…
BISMARCK , N.D. (KVRR) – Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a $680 million bonding package for infrastructure upgrades including flood control, roads, bridges and water projects. Burgum says the package will be funded with Legacy Fund earnings and without raising taxes. “With historic low interest rates, investing in infrastructure now is the financially conservative thing to do” Burgum said. “We…
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has signed legislation that eases restrictions on citizens’ rights to use deadly force in self-defense. The legislation signed Tuesday modifies the state’s “castle law” and would allow someone to use deadly force without retreating in certain circumstances. Its sponsor, Republican Rep. Ben Koppelman, called the legislation “the most consequential gun law change…
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a bill designed to protect schools and teachers from lawsuits arising from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Burgum’s endorsement comes after attorneys and school officials warned the legislation is unconstitutional and would spur costly and unwinnable legal fights. Hoping to fend off legal challenges, the House amended the bill…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – A bill to require North Dakota public grade school and high school athletes to compete in sports according to their birth gender is on its way to Gov. Doug Burgum’s desk. Grand Forks Democratic Sen. JoNell Bakke said the measure is meant to address a problem that doesn’t exist. “We are interfering in a personal issue…
BISMARCK, N.D. — Gov. Doug Burgum is signing a bill that’s aimed at creating a broader investment policy for the state’s voter-approved oil tax savings account. The bill sets targets for investing a greater portion of the Legacy Fund principal in North Dakota. It requires that the State Investment Board give preference to qualified investment firms with a presence in…
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is warning the state is headed to a “tough fire season.” He visited Billings County, where a fire had prompted him to call a statewide wildfire emergency. The governor says that even prior to calling the state of emergency this week, far more acres have already burned this year than all of…
BILLINGS CO., N.D. — (UPDATE: 8:43pm 04/01/21) — Around 9,600 acres have burned near Medora, North Dakota and containment of the grass fire which caused the evacuation of the small tourist town is at 15%. Interstate 94 is temporarily closed from Beach to Belfield with no detour in place. Drivers will have to use alternate routes. **ORIGINAL POST BELOW** Evacuations…
MENTOR, Minn. — A grass fire near Mentor, Minnesota which started Monday is now 90% contained and authorities say it was “human-caused”. Minnesota Incident Command reports the “Oxcart Fire” had no new fire growth overnight. Calmer weather helped keep the fire activity minimal within the perimeter of the 13,000 acre fire. Firefighters are working on mopping up smoldering hot spots…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – Gov. Doug Burgum has placed the North Dakota National Guard on standby to provide help if additional resources are needed to respond to a growing number of wildfires. In the event a statewide emergency is declared, the order enables National Guard members to support local, tribal, federal and state firefighting efforts. It also makes firefighter training…
