By Amy Dalrymple | Editor
“The teacher shortage in North Dakota is an urgent, statewide workforce issue and it deserves a statewide response.” - Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, on the need to improve teacher recruitment and retention.
Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, speaks during a press conference at the Capitol on Oct. 5, 2026, announcing a proposal for an annual teacher bonus. Others photographed, from the left, are Rep. Jim Jonas, R-West Fargo, Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, and Rep. David Richter, R-Williston. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
By Michael Achterling
North Dakota lawmakers and state officials announced Monday a proposal that would award yearly bonuses to teachers to boost recruitment and retention.
Estimated bonuses for the first year would be about $3,400 per teacher, if lawmakers support the proposal during the 2027 legislative session.
The Support Teachers and Youth Succeed stipend, or STAYS, would use 10% of the earnings from the Common Schools Trust Fund, divided evenly among the state’s full-time public and private school teachers.
More than 230 North Dakota teaching positions went unfilled last year, according to state data.
Don Morgan, center-right, CEO of the Bank of North Dakota, announces the launch of a stablecoin pilot program during a banking forum in Medora on Oct. 5, 2026. The chair of the bank’s advisory board, Karl Bollingberg, center-left, joined Morgan on stage alongside nearly two dozen people involved in the Roughrider Coin’s development. (Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor)
By Jacob Orledge
The Bank of North Dakota announced Monday it has launched a pilot program for its Roughrider Coin.
Four local banks and credit unions are using the state’s unique banking model, led by the Bank of North Dakota, to learn about possible benefits and pitfalls of the stablecoin financial technology.
“The way money moves is drastically changing, and we are utilizing our incredibly powerful financial tool to be on the forefront of that change,” said Don Morgan, CEO of the Bank of North Dakota. “We believe it will benefit the state over the next decade in huge ways.”
A box used by Agridime, now known as American Grazed Beef, to ship frozen meat products to consumers. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)
By Jeff Beach
A North Dakota cattle broker has pleaded guilty to a charge stemming from an investigation that found a beef marketing company operated as a Ponzi scheme.
Taylor Bang of Killdeer pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Texas, according to court records.
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture on Monday ordered Taylor Bang Cattle Sales to cease any livestock related sales. Bang’s guilty plea triggered the cease and desist order and the revocation of Bang’s livestock dealer license.
Bang was among five people charged earlier this year in the Agridime investigation. The charges were filed in Texas, where Agridime was based.
North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lisa Fair McEvers, center, speaks during a hearing on Oct. 2, 2026. The other justices, from left, are Jon Jensen, Jerod Tufte, Douglas Bahr and Mark Friese. Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
By Jack Dura
The North Dakota Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for later this month in a court case challenging the eligibility of four Republican legislative candidates.
Three Republican Party officials, two of whom lost their primary elections in June, want the court to essentially invalidate the candidacies and overturn the potential general election victories of four GOP House nominees.
The court scheduled oral arguments by videoconference for Oct. 21.
EARLIER ND MONITOR NEWS AND COMMENTARY
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FROM STATES NEWSROOM
President Donald Trump speaks at the Mitchell Center at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama on Oct. 2, 2026, as he campaigns in GOP-leaning states ahead of the midterms. (Photo by Dan Anderson/Alabama Reflector)
By Jonathan Shorman
President Donald Trump wants to sharply curtail mail ballots. He’s called them “inherently corrupt” and baselessly condemned them as a major source of fraud.
But with Republicans falling behind in the polls, the president is now urging his supporters to vote in the midterm elections any way they can, including by mail.
The White House has also sent emails through a government account promoting voter registration in recent days and Trump is continuing a string of campaign rallies in typically conservative states, including Nebraska on Monday night. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed that members of the military, who tend to support Republicans, have a day off to vote.
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