north dakota legislature

North Dakota lawmaker to be reimbursed attorney fees for lawsuit over her Facebook page

State Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, speaks on the House floor during a meeting of the Legislative Management Committee on Nov. 14, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota lawmakers voted Thursday to reimburse Sen. Janne Myrdal for the nearly $50,000 the senator spent defending herself after a constituent sued her for blocking him on Facebook….

Hogan, Ista will lead North Dakota Dems in legislative session

House Minority Leader Zac Ista, left, and Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan. (Photos provided by North Dakota Legislative Assembly)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Democrats Sen. Kathy Hogan of Fargo and Rep. Zac Ista of Grand Forks will be minority leaders for the upcoming session, the party announced late Wednesday. Hogan also was minority leader in the 2023 session. Ista…

Republicans keep Lefor, Hogue as leaders for 2025 legislative session

Republicans Rep. Mike Lefor, left, and Sen. David Hogue have been reelected as majority leaders for the 2025 legislative session. (Photos provided by North Dakota Legislative Assembly)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) House Majority Leader Mike Lefor and Senate Majority Leader David Hogue will maintain their leadership roles for the upcoming North Dakota legislative session. Lefor, of Dickinson, and Hogue, of…

How did those 3 names next to my presidential candidate get there?

The names of potential presidential electors are shown on a sample ballot next to their pledged candidates. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (Michael Achterling – North Dakota Monitor) When North Dakotans cast ballots during the presidential race, they are not voting for their chosen candidate directly. Instead, they are voting for the three names next to their chosen candidate –…

Group seeking more money, answers to high maternal mortality in North Dakota

Dr. Dennis Lutz, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Dakota Medical School, shares updates about the school’s maternal mortality program. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (Mary Steurer – North Dakota Monitor) A state-funded group that researches maternal mortality wants the Legislature to increase its funding five-fold to $240,000 for the 2025-2027 budget cycle. North Dakota’s 26-member…

State superintendent says school choice should supplement, not replace education funding

Clockwise from bottom left, Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, and Shane Goettle participate in a work group during a meeting of the North Dakota Educational Opportunities Task Force on Sept. 26, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (Mary Steurer – North Dakota Monitor) The state should not fund school choice programs at the expense…

Lawmakers to propose Legacy Fund Transparency Act

From left, state Reps. Bernie Satrom and Mitch Ostlie and state Sen. Cole Conley, all Republicans of Jamestown. (Photos provided by the Legislative Assembly)BISMARCK, N.D. (Mary Steurer – North Dakota Monitor) Three Republican lawmakers from District 12 plan to bring legislation during the 2025 legislation session to require the state to publish all investments of Legacy Fund money online. The…

Former state senator Ray Holmberg continues to violate release conditions while awaiting sentencing

Holmberg pleaded guilty to taking multiple trips to Prague to pay for sex with children.

Ray HolmbergFARGO (KVRR-KFGO) – Former North Dakota state Sen. Ray Holmberg continues to violate the conditions of his release as he awaits sentencing for child sex tourism. Holmberg pleaded guilty in August to taking multiple trips to Prague to pay for sex with children. A federal court filing says Holmberg violated his release, which includes internet restrictions, by accessing social…

North Dakota regulators inch closer to Summit pipeline decision

Administrative Law Judge Hope Hogan, left, and Public Service Commissioner Sheri Haugen-Hoffart conduct a hearing April 22, 2024, in Mandan on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)(Jeff Beach – North Dakota Monitor) A North Dakota state agency on Monday moved closer to making a decision on what developers are calling the world’s largest carbon capture…