BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota lawmakers are considering a bill to restrict the sale and purchase of catalytic converters. Advocates say the bill is designed to cut down on an epidemic of catalytic converter thefts. Catalytic converters have become a hot item for thieves because they contain platinum and other precious metals. The materials are worth thousands of dollars per…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – By the narrowest of margins, the North Dakota Senate has passed a bill to allow for annual legislative sessions. The sponsor, Williston Republican Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, says the additional session would be a “short session” to take care of budget matters. One Senator was absent, and the vote was tied 23 to 23. Lt. Gov. Brent…
BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Legislature is considering a bill that would legalize marijuana for recreational use with restrictions. Backers of legislation believe the recent legalization of the drug by voters in Montana and South Dakota means it’s likely inevitable that it will happen in North Dakota. Lawmakers say they want to be ready with rules to control and…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota Senate has passed an amendment that would prohibit NDSU from accepting grant money from Planned Parenthood. The $10.5 million grant would be used to train teachers how to talk with students about sex. Some state lawmakers and Christian groups have called on NDSU to end the program. Turtle Lake Republican Sen. Howard Anderson…
BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota House has killed a bill that would have allowed someone performing an abortion to be charged with murder. The House voted 22-77, defeating the bill that would have carried a life sentence. The bill also sought to make it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison to help women get abortions,…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota Senate has rejected a bill that would prohibit abortion clinics from operating within 30 miles of a school. Opponents of the measure say it would supersede the authority of local governments to make zoning decisions. Turtle Lake Republican Senator Howard Anderson says if the bill passed, the state would, in effect, be “banging…
BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Senate has killed a bill seeking to ban companies such as Apple and Google from requiring app developers to exclusively use their app store and payment system. Only 11 of the chamber’s 47 senators voted in favor of the bill Wednesday. Republican Sen. Kyle Davison, of Fargo, said his bill sought to “level the…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – North Dakota lawmakers put the brakes on a bill to raise the speed limit on Interstate highways to 80 miles an hour. The bill says the speed limit would be raised if and when the North Dakota Dept. of Transportation determines the interstates can support that speed. Another section of the bill would have set a…
BISMARCK, N.D. – Some pro-gun North Dakota legislators are taking another shot at allowing people to carry concealed guns at sporting and athletic events. Dickinson Republican Luke Simons’ bill also would cut nearly two dozen items from the state’s list of dangerous weapon. Almost all of the testimony Monday was centered around narrowing the list of dangerous weapons. No one…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota House has rejected the so-called “mug shot” bill. The bill would have prohibited police from releasing mugshot photos of suspects arrested and booked into jail. Supporters of the bill say the photos can cause harm to someone who was jailed, but later found not guilty. Finley Republican Rep. Bill Devlin, who opposed the…
