By Amy Dalrymple | Editor
“A producer can just pump up the volume through technology and whatever, and we're missing out on a lot of tax revenue.” - Rep. Don Vigesaa, one of the state’s top budget writers, on a tax break for low-producing oil wells that continues even if those wells are restored to peak levels.
This oil well operated by XTO Energy in Williams County, pictured Sept. 2, 2026, is certified as a stripper well. It produced 280 barrels of oil per day in May, eight times the threshold for the tax exemption, state data shows. (By Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
By Jacob Orledge
An obscure tax incentive to keep older oil wells afloat is potentially costing North Dakota hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue, even as many of those wells no longer meet the program’s criteria.
The state is on pace to lose $66 million in tax revenue this year from the more than 700 oil wells that no longer qualify for the tax break but continue reaping the benefits, a North Dakota Monitor investigation found.
Unlike other top oil-producing states, North Dakota’s tax exemption is permanent even when a well begins producing more oil.
“I just don't think this is good policy,” said Rep. Jon Nelson, R-Rugby. “I'm disappointed that we’ve let this go this long without taking some action.”
A construction worker wields a hammer on the job at the Mill Creek Residential project in Paramus, N.J., in May 2026. The supply of skilled workers in construction and other trades is under pressure from aging, immigration enforcement and a rush to build data centers. (Photo by Tim Henderson/Stateline)
By Tim Henderson
A perfect storm of harsh immigration enforcement, aging journeymen and a building boom for data centers is wreaking havoc on the nation’s supply of skilled trade workers.
Automakers and construction contractors say they need more access to workers through accelerated training, steady immigration and a cultural shift to encourage young people to do the hard, dirty work of skilled trades. They’re looking for plumbers, electricians, carpenters, machinists and technicians — specializations increasingly in short supply.
The Chi Phi fraternity house at the center of a rape allegation stands on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Nineteen states, including New York, limit mental incapacity under sexual assault law to cases of involuntary intoxication, such as being drugged against one’s will. (Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
By Amanda Watford
A former Cornell University student’s allegations of gang rape in 2024 have renewed attention on a difficult area of sexual assault law.
A person can be awake, responsive and even able to move during a sexual encounter while still being so intoxicated or impaired that they cannot understand what is happening or make an informed decision about sex.
But whether that person is considered legally incapable of consenting can depend on the state and, in some cases, on how the person became intoxicated.
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The state-owned Bank of North Dakota has launched a pilot program for Roughrider Coin, a dollar-backed digital asset that uses blockchain technology.
Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge joins host Craig Blumenshine to discuss how the stablecoin technology may help complete financial transactions more quickly and the four North Dakota banks and credit unions that are participating.
But questions remain about how the technology will work, what risks it may carry, and whether it will eventually affect everyday banking customers.
A Closer Look with the Monitor is a partnership with Prairie Public's Main Street.
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FROM STATES NEWSROOM
Cher Stanturf, her daughters and neighbors touch base on Oct. 10, 2026, the morning after Hurricane Isaias ripped through their mobile home park in Pensacola, Florida. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)
By Ralph Chapoco Michael Moline Jay Waagmeester
Hurricane Isaias made landfall Friday night in Destin, Florida, packing 110 mph winds that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across a large swath of the Southeast. Heavy rains from the storm’s remnants could still cause major flooding over the weekend, forecasters warned.
At least four deaths in Florida and Alabama have been attributed to the storm, which made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane.
Abortion foes plan to push pill restrictions in the states | Sofia Resnick
South Dakota wildlife officials offer hunting license refunds as deer disease reports continue | South Dakota Searchlight
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