Section: Politics & Government

Here’s how much public media relies on federal funding, and what could happen next

by: MinotVoice  |  

Public media has fought off funding threats before—but this time, the stakes are higher. With the White House reportedly planning to eliminate federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, stations across the country—especially in rural and underserved areas—face an uncertain future. While some networks have grown less dependent on government dollars, others, particularly those

Read & Share   sourced from: Current

Fedorchak to host Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, May 1

by: MinotVoice  |  

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak will host a statewide telephone town hall on Thursday, May 1, at 7:00 p.m. CT. North Dakotans must sign up on her website by noon that day to participate. This is the second in a series of live events where Fedorchak will take questions and discuss legislative priorities directly with constituents. Full

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North Dakota House passes Department of Commerce budget after debate over amendments

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by: MinotVoice  |  

After two days of heated debate, the North Dakota House passed the Department of Commerce budget last Thursday with a 61-31 vote. Lawmakers clashed over late additions, including funding for drones, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, and a $75 million development fund line of credit. Critics warned the bill risked violating the state’s single-subject rule,

Read & Share   sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

North Dakota House, Senate at odds over proposed gas tax increase

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by: MinotVoice  |  

For the first time in two decades, North Dakota lawmakers are seriously debating a gas tax increase — but agreement remains out of reach. The House narrowly advanced a 5-cent hike to help fund road repairs and unlock federal dollars, while the Senate unanimously rejected a smaller 3-cent proposal. Supporters argue the tax is a

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Lawmakers Fail to Override Vetoes on School Choice and Library Content Bills

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Two high-profile vetoes from Governor Kelly Armstrong will stand after North Dakota lawmakers failed to gather enough votes to override them. Efforts to revive a plan for education savings accounts and to impose stricter content screening in schools and public libraries both fell short of the two-thirds majorities needed. The debates revealed sharp divides —

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Armstrong Signs bill requiring phone-free K-12 public schools in ND

by: MinotVoice  |  

Governor Kelly Armstrong signed House Bill 1160 into law, requiring North Dakota’s K-12 public schools to implement “bell-to-bell” phone-free policies starting August 1. The new law mandates that personal electronic devices be securely stowed and inaccessible during the school day, while allowing exceptions for instructional use, medical needs, and individualized education plans. Leaders say the

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SNAP spending at farmers’ markets grew 431% over a decade and held steady post-pandemic

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Farmers’ markets aren’t just for foodies anymore—they’ve become a growing lifeline for low-income families. SNAP spending at markets has jumped over 400% in the last decade, fueled by pandemic-era boosts and programs like Illinois’ Link Up, which doubles benefits at the market. But that progress is now under threat. Proposed USDA budget cuts could shrink

Read & Share   sourced from: Investigate Midwest

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong vetoes controversial library bill

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Governor Kelly Armstrong has vetoed a bill that would have required public and school libraries to move certain books out of reach of minors. Senate Bill 2307 aimed to expand an existing 2023 law by applying similar restrictions to school libraries and adding enforcement steps. Armstrong called the bill redundant, expensive, and difficult to implement,

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Hot Springs County GOP sues Wyoming Republican Party for allegedly ‘interfering’ in local elections

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

When party rules collide with state law, things can get messy—even in Wyoming. After holding local elections by the book, leaders of the Hot Springs County GOP say they’re being overruled by their own state party. Now they’ve gone to court, alleging that secretive meetings and “provisional ballots” not grounded in any bylaw threaten the

Read & Share   sourced from: WyoFile

Lawmakers ask for $50 million for Theodore Roosevelt library

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Lawmakers in North Dakota’s House are weighing in on a request for an extra $50 million to support the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library’s long-term operations. The ask is part of the broader commerce budget, and while the library continues rising in the Badlands, questions are surfacing about the timing and transparency of the request. One

Read & Share   sourced from: KX News

Term Limits Make the Case on Second Thoughts

by: Jim Maxson  |  

A few short years ago, the voters of North Dakota imposed term limits on North Dakota legislators. I voted against that measure, being of the opinion that voters have an opportunity at every election to limit the terms of serving legislators by simply not voting for them. Conversely, yours truly limited his own service in

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When Going Viral Means Going Low

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

When social media rewards bad behavior, it reshapes the incentives for public servants. A new study from a team of computational social scientists suggests that U.S. state legislators who spread low-credibility information or use hostile language—especially during politically volatile periods—can boost their visibility online. But not all harmful content has the same effect. This research

Read & Share   sourced from: The Conversation

Conference committee on property tax bill meets

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by: MinotVoice  |  

North Dakota lawmakers have started hashing out the details of a new property tax relief bill, and while there’s agreement on some fronts, the toughest questions are still ahead. The House wants to bump the primary residence credit to $1,650—$200 more than the Senate’s version—and both sides agree on a 3% cap for local tax

Read & Share   sourced from: KFYR

City Council Agenda | April 21, 2025

by: MinotVoice  |  

The Minot City Council will hold its regular meeting on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 10 3rd Ave SW. Residents in need of special accommodations are encouraged to contact the City Clerk’s office at 857-4752. City Council meetings can also be live-streamed from

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Wisconsin governor can lock in 400-year school funding increase using a veto, state Supreme Court says

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Two years ago, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers used a uniquely powerful partial veto to turn a two-year school funding increase into a 400-year guarantee. It raised eyebrows then—but now the state Supreme Court has weighed in. In a 4-3 decision, the court upheld the maneuver, confirming that Wisconsin governors can still reshape legislation by vetoing

Read & Share   sourced from: Associated Press

Viewpoint: North Dakota newspapers thankful for legislative votes

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Cecile Wehrman leads the North Dakota Newspaper Association, and she’s spent the legislative session keeping an eye on efforts that could weaken the public’s access to government information. In her view, this year brought good news. Lawmakers across party lines rejected proposals that would sideline newspapers in favor of government-run websites, instead reaffirming the role

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald