A provision significantly limiting the sale of intoxicating hemp products made its way into legislation to reopen the federal government just a day before the Senate approved the bill. Its inclusion follows years of pressure from states and the marijuana industry. While[...]
Section: Laws & Regulations
News |
Bismarck Says ‘No’ to Backyard Chickens
For now, Bismarck’s backyard dreams of farm-fresh eggs are on hold. City commissioners have once again said no to allowing chickens within city limits, ending an appeal that sought to loosen long-standing restrictions. The decision followed concerns about fire hazards and the[...]
News |
As Sports Betting Explodes, States Try To Set Limits To Stop Gambling Addiction
Walk into a Massachusetts casino and you’ll find something unusual: state workers in green polos handing out tissues and luggage tags, trying to warn gamblers about addiction. It’s an awkward setup—preaching moderation on the casino floor itself—but it reflects America’s fractured approach[...]
Commentary |
Port: ‘Gamblers will find us. They always do.’
North Dakota’s “charitable” gambling industry has grown into something almost unrecognizable. What began as pull-tab jars for good causes now fuels billion-dollar revenues — and blurred lines between charity and commerce. As nonprofits buy up bars and open venues built entirely around[...]
Curio |
Denver study shows removing parking requirements results in more affordable housing being built
For decades, city codes treated parking spots as sacred — even when that meant fewer places for people to live. But Denver’s decision to drop mandatory parking requirements flips that logic on its head. Researchers say the move could boost housing construction[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
News |
Bismarck City Commission to determine future of chicken ownership
Bismarck’s long-running debate over backyard chickens is finally coming to a head. City commissioners will vote tonight on whether to let residents keep hens within city limits — a decision that’s divided the community almost evenly. The proposal would allow up to[...]
Commentary |
Port: Wrigley says he’s not yet certain about legality of Trump’s National Guard deployments to states
When politics and the military mix, the questions get thorny fast. On a recent Plain Talk podcast, a discussion about President Trump possibly deploying the National Guard to Minnesota raised a deeper one: what would North Dakota’s leaders do if asked to[...]
News |
Judge rules in favor of North Dakota’s ban on transgender care for minors
A North Dakota judge has upheld the state’s 2023 ban on gender-affirming care for minors, ruling that lawmakers acted within their authority to restrict treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The decision follows a weeklong trial that featured testimony from doctors,[...]
News |
Massachusetts opened the door for ADUs this year; 550 Approved
Massachusetts is seeing early results from a new housing law aimed at easing costs and expanding options. In just six months, more than 800 homeowners applied to build accessory dwelling units — small, independent spaces often called “granny flats” or “in-law apartments”[...]
News |
State lawmakers select consultant for term limits study after questioning its need
North Dakota lawmakers chose a consultant to conduct a study on the effects of the state’s term limits law, but some lawmakers questioned the need for the study at all. Members of the Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee heard presentations Tuesday from[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
News |
West Point Faculty Speech Policy Draws Constitutional Challenge
A longtime West Point law professor is taking the academy to court, arguing that new rules requiring faculty to seek approval before outside speaking engagements violate the First Amendment. Tim Bakken, who has taught at the academy for 25 years, filed a[...]
Commentary |
Port: We do not have Fourth Amendment rights if the government can punish us for exercising them
North Dakota’s Supreme Court is weighing a case that cuts to the heart of constitutional protections. At issue is whether a man charged in a fatal crash could be threatened with an added criminal charge for refusing a breath test. His defense[...]
Curio |
Chicago eases parking mandates to spur affordable housing development
Chicago is taking aim at one of the quiet drivers of housing costs: parking mandates. A new policy eliminates minimum parking requirements for projects near CTA rail stations and high-volume bus routes, a move city leaders say will cut construction costs and[...]
Curio |
Oregon moves toward state-level zoning in push for ‘missing middle’ housing
Oregon is stepping in to tackle its housing crunch with two new laws aimed squarely at boosting “missing middle” options—duplexes, townhomes, and small multi-unit dwellings that have long been squeezed out by restrictive zoning. The measures give the state power to override[...]
News |
North Dakota Supreme Court allows landowner challenge to CO2 storage law to proceed
North Dakota’s Supreme Court has reopened a high-stakes fight over property rights and carbon storage, sending a case back to district court that could shape the future of carbon pipelines and energy projects across the state. At the center is a 2009[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
Commentary |
Port: North Dakota is not prepared for this gambling boom
North Dakota’s gambling landscape has transformed from small blackjack tables in corner bars to a booming, $2.4 billion industry driven by electronic pull tabs. Supporters point to charities as the beneficiaries, but critics see nonprofits operating more like casinos with tax exemptions.[...]