Cramer calls on Trump in wetlands battle

By Jeff Beach | Deputy editor

By Jack Dura

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer says he will block confirmation of future Trump nominees until the administration changes a Biden-era wetlands rule he said tramples on farmers.

Cramer, R-N.D., said the rule violates private property rights by creating enormous setbacks for drain tile from wetland easements. Those easements are pieces of private land the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased years ago to permanently protect habitat.

The North Dakota Wildlife Federation supports the rule.

By Michael Achterling

Infrastructure costs, potential for constant noise and close proximity to local schools were a few of the concerns raised Thursday by Morton County residents during an informational meeting regarding a proposed data center.

The Stark Power data center and natural gas generation campus in Mandan is still in its planning phase. The company has not submitted a zoning application since city and county officials are evaluating data center ordinance proposals.

By Cami Koons

President Donald Trump announced Friday he was suspending tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef to help lower the cost of the meat, in a move cattle producers said would not help their efforts to restore herd sizes. 

The president made the announcement in a Truth Social post where he said the imported beef will be sold at 25% below the current market prices.

U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., and the president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association were critical of the move.

On this week’s podcast episode, reporter Michael Achterling joins host Craig Blumenshine to talk about his reporting on technology in schools. Deputy editor Jeff Beach also describes how a state education official is urging lawmakers to let schools retain flexibility on deciding how to use AI. 

A Closer Look with the Monitor is a partnership with Prairie Public's Main Street.

By Jacob Orledge and Michael Achterling

North Dakota lawmakers will consider a temporary ban on nondisclosure agreements for data centers and other industrial developments during a September special session. 

Legislative leaders also voted Monday to consider a line of credit for a stalled Military Gallery project, advance a technical correction to a property tax credit and debate two bills related to regulating kratom, the reason the governor called the special session.

An overall moratorium on data center development did not advance. Nor did a proposal to add funding to state childcare assistance, which has nearly 1,900 households on a waitlist.

By Jacob Orledge

North Dakota lawmakers on Monday advanced two complementary proposals to regulate kratom and ban synthetic substances. 

The bill drafts, the result of a Kratom Working Group, will be considered in September during a special session called by Gov. Kelly Armstrong to address the substance’s lack of regulation in North Dakota. 

By Mary Steurer

Nearly 1,900 North Dakota families are on a waitlist for state childcare assistance.

A bill draft to be considered for North Dakota’s upcoming special legislative session would add $9 million in state funding to get some of the neediest families off of the growing waitlist.

“This is about low-income families who want to work,” said Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo, the primary sponsor of the bill draft to be presented to legislative leaders on Monday.

By Michael Achterling

As a new school year kicks off across North Dakota, student technology use is top of mind for education leaders and lawmakers with new policies being floated for the 2027 legislative session.

Participants in a recent survey of more than 2,200 North Dakotans said they think technology access is important to supporting teaching and learning. 

But respondents to the Department of Public Instruction’s 2026 North Dakota Community Survey on Education differed on when schools should issue tablets or laptops to students.

By Jeff Beach

Minnkota Power Cooperative is hoping to revive its stalled carbon capture project by adding a business partner and the possibility of using CO2 to produce more oil in North Dakota. 

Grand Forks-based Minnkota has for years been seeking to capture carbon at its coal-fired power plant near Center for what it calls Project Tundra. Minnkota now plans to have Reliant Carbon Capture & Storage to operate the carbon capture and CO2 delivery system. 

North Dakota’s Clean Sustainable Energy Authority on Tuesday recommended approval of $205 million in loans for the partnership — $45 million for Minnkota and $160 million for Reliant, which will build and own the carbon capture facility. The state Industrial Commission would have to provide final approval. 

By Jeff Beach

The leader of North Dakota’s public schools last week advised lawmakers to focus artificial intelligence regulations on companies providing AI and chatbots, but leave AI use in the classroom up to school boards and educators.

Levi Bachmeier, the state superintendent of schools, testifying in front of the Legislature’s artificial intelligence and data center committee, expressed concern about young students and their exposure to AI, especially chatbots, but recognized AI can be a valuable tool. 

His main concern stems from chatbots that act as companions and advisors to age groups that can be easily influenced. 

By Michael Achterling and Jacob Orledge

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong declared a drought emergency Tuesday for counties and tribal nations experiencing extreme and long-term drought conditions.

Nearly all of North Dakota, except part of Dickey County, is listed as abnormally dry or suffering moderate, severe or extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Armstrong, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and members of the North Dakota Water Commission voted unanimously to activate the state’s Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program and make up to $2 million available for those producers to begin new water projects.

By Jeff Beach

FARGO – Consumers would have more opportunity to save money on gasoline with higher levels of ethanol if Congress can remove a long-standing restriction, members of an ethanol industry roundtable said Monday. 

The U.S. House has passed a bill to allow year-round sales of gasoline with 15% ethanol, known as E15. Current rules do not allow E15 sales during the summer, though the federal Environmental Protection Agency granted a waiver this year. 

The roundtable, hosted by Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., mostly consisted of members connected to agriculture, which would benefit from easier access to corn-based ethanol. 

By Jacob Orledge

North Dakota lawmakers are looking for ways to engage communities across the state to gauge interest in hosting a future nuclear power plant. 

No facilities have been proposed, nor has a site been selected. But members of an interim committee studying the feasibility of advanced nuclear energy said having early conversations with local communities could prepare the ground for future development. 

“Without that success, I don’t think there’s a path forward,” said Sen. Dale Patten, R-Watford City, chair of the committee. 

Thanks for reading Monitor Weekend Wrap. Did you know our daily morning newsletter is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.