MINNESOTA (KVRR) – People from Moorhead to Detroit Lakes take part in a town hall to hear from their state senator and representatives. Minnesota has the only divided Legislature in the country, so passing anything requires some comprise. People wanted to know how State Senator Kent Eken and State Representatives Paul Marquart and Heather Keeler would like the Legislature to…
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — A man who is tied for the current longest-serving state senator in the nation is ready to retire. State Senator Ray Holmberg of Grand Forks announced that he will retire from the legislature at the end of his current term on November 30. Holmberg, a Republican, has served in the Senate since Dec. 1, 1976,…
MINNESOTA (KVRR) – Minnesota frontline workers and Democrats call for immediate action in the legislature to deliver a $1 billion package giving them a pandemic bonus. The plan gives 667,000 health care, nursing home, maintenance, child care, and education workers $1,500 bonuses. To qualify, someone must have worked at least 120 hours between March 15th, 2020, and June 30th of…
DILWORTH, Minn. (KVRR) – Longtime Democratic State Rep. Paul Marquart of Dilworth says he’s decided not to run for reelection. The former Dilworth mayor served 11 terms in the Minnesota House. He was first elected to the legislature in 2000. “At 65, it’s time to try new things and to spend more time with my family and those fun grandchildren,”…
Nicole Poolman BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – Bismarck Republican State Sen. Nicole Poolman says she will not be seeking re-election. Poolman, who’s been in the legislature since 2013, says she’s been noticing a lack of civility and respect. “We are living in divisive times, toxic times. I would be lying if I didn’t admit to being a little weary,” Poolman said….
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature has approved a new legislative map that reflects a continued loss of political clout in rural areas due to population shifts in the past decade. Though the map maintains 47 legislative districts, it creates three new districts in the state’s fastest-growing areas but erases an equal amount in population-lean rural regions. The new…
WASHINGTON & BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – Many health organizations like the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention say getting vaccinated for the coronavirus is the best way to get the pandemic behind us. The American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Biden in March gave $1.9 trillion in relief, in part, to help beat the virus. “The American Rescue Plan…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A panel of lawmakers on Thursday substantially completed a draft of North Dakota’s new legislative map that creates three new districts in the state’s fastest-growing areas but erases an equal amount in population-lean rural regions. The preliminary plan unanimously approved by the Republican-controlled committee also forces several incumbent lawmakers to run against each other to keep…
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota lawmakers have moved to raise the threshold on new legislation that limits spending of federal money by a governor-led panel. The law was passed shortly before the Republican-led Legislature adjourned in April. The legislation came after the Emergency Commission, headed by GOP Gov. Doug Burgum, largely determined how to spend $1.2 billion in federal coronavirus…
BISMARCK, N.D. – Some North Dakota tribal leaders want lawmakers to split legislative House districts that include reservations. The leaders told a legislative redistricting committee Wednesday such a move will increase the odds for electing American Indians to the Legislature. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Mike Faith told the Republican-led committee that sub-districts would result in better representation and communication….
