BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Lawmakers in Bismarck are closer to passing a bill to ban public libraries from having explicit sexual material. The senate passing the bill to create and enact a new section of the North Dakota Century Code by a vote of 39-7. That is a veto-proof margin. The aim of the bill is to keep offensive material…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — For the second time, the North Dakota Senate has turned down a bill that would have provided free school meals for some kids by a vote of 27 to 20. On Monday, the measure failed in the Senate by just one vote. The House bill would have given cost-free lunches to students at or below 200…
BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota will not follow Minnesota’s lead in offering free school lunches. The state Senate defeating a House bill providing free lunches to students at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, by one vote at 24-23. The national program gives free meals to kids below 130% of the poverty level and reduced meals to those…
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – With pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly cutting 70 percent of the cost of a commonly prescribed form of insulin, advocates say it’s a first step in the right direction. They say more work needs to be done. “Honestly, if I hear one more story about the price of eggs, I’m probably going to lose it because I…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A Fargo nonprofit pushes for a North Dakota Senate bill that would charge an access fee to citizens every time someone dials 988 during a behavioral health emergency. It’s similar to North Dakotans paying 50 cents every time you hear a tornado siren except people would only pay 30 cents. FirstLink handled more than 15,000 calls…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — The North Dakota House passed a bill to raise speed limits from 75 to 80 miles per hour on most of Interstates 29 and 94. The bill allows cities like Fargo and Grand Forks to limit speeds on the interstates within city limits. “For a long time, we’ve had a prevailing speed on I-94 and 29…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — North Dakota Republican lawmakers are pushing to pass a bill aimed at “obscene performances” in front of kids. “This bill is vague and I believe that’s intentional. What this bill is is targeting drag performers. It is an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that is targeted at those particularly around performing,” says Cody Schuler, the Advocacy Manager for the…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR-Prairie Public) – The State Senate has rejected a measure that its sponsor says would limit pronouns used to reference a person’s sex or gender identity to a person’s determined sex at birth. The measure carried a $1500 fine for misusing the pronoun. It failed on a vote of 39-8. West Fargo Republican Sen. David Clemens was the…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – Following passage in the House, the North Dakota Senate has approved a measure prohibiting the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 schools. The bill was introduced by Fargo Republican Rep. Jim Kasper. “I want to be sure that critical race theory is not taught in North Dakota schools, period,” Kasper said. Bismarck Democratic Senator Erin…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – By a single vote, the Senate has approved merging the state Health Department with the Department of Human Services. As amended in the Senate, the bill calls for a gradual merger, aided by an outside consultant. That consultant would be paid for through the use of federal COVID-19 relief funds. West Fargo Republican Sen. Judy Lee…
