North Dakota

Armstrong issues first veto as North Dakota governor

Published

9 months ago

March 22, 2025

Armstrong issues first veto as North Dakota governor

BISMARCK — North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued his first veto since assuming office Friday, citing concerns over the constitutionality of Senate Bill 2261.

The legislation sought to establish a prison industries workforce development tax credit — a non-refundable tax credit equal to 10% of the cost of purchased components of final manufactured products or labor from prison industries.

In his statement on the veto, Armstrong said the credit would have potentially created an incentive to purchase components from Rough Rider Industries – a self-sustaining state agency at the State Penitentiary which qualifies as a prison industry providing final manufactured products.

He said the bill creates an “uneven playing field” by giving Rough Rider Industries an unfair competitive advantage over out-of-state manufacturers. That would potentially violate the Dormant Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from enacting laws that discriminate against or unduly burden interstate commerce.

“Tax credits, when given to micro-segments of the economy, decrease state revenue and further saddle those still paying taxes with a higher percentage of the tax burden,” Armstrong said in his statement. “Any tax policy that creates this type of carve-out must be tied to a significant outcome that benefits the state’s economic interests. This bill does not do that. Combined with the aforementioned legal concerns, the juice in this case is quite simply not worth the squeeze.”

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong

North Dakota Office of the Governor

The bill passed the Senate in a 43-3 vote and passed the House of Representatives on a 56-33 vote.

To override the veto, both chambers of the Legislature vote and both need to reach a two-thirds majority in favor of the override. A two-thirds majority is 63 votes for the House and 32 votes for the Senate.

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North Dakota

North Dakota lawmakers from West Fargo announce bid for reelection

Published

10 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

North Dakota lawmakers from West Fargo announce bid for reelection

WEST FARGO — Three incumbents from West Fargo will run for reelection to their state legislative seats.

North Dakota Sen. Judy Lee and Reps. Jim Jonas and Austen Schauer, all Republicans, announced Sunday, Dec. 14, that they would campaign to represent District 13 in the state Legislature. The district covers much of north West Fargo.

Austin Schauer.

Special to The Forum

Lee was first elected to the North Dakota Senate in 1994. Jonas and Schauer have served in the state House since 2023 and 2019, respectively.

The three ran unopposed in the 2022 election. The next election for their seats is in 2026.

Jim Jonas, candidate for West Fargo School Board. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor — Jim Jonas.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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North Dakota

Bids awarded for construction of Highway 85

Published

22 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Bids awarded for construction of Highway 85

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (KUMV) – The North Dakota Department of Transportation awarded more than 150 million dollars in bids to continue expanding highway 85 south of Watford City.

More than $83.8 million will go to Park Construction out of Minneapolis for one segment. It covers about five and a half miles south of the Long X Bridge, going through another section of the badlands. It’s expected to be a three-year project due to the rough terrain.

The next segment covers 12 and a half miles south from the badlands to the highway 200 intersection. The winning bid went to Strata out of Grand Forks for $61.7 million. It will be a two-year project.

Funding for these projects were provided by both the state and federal government.

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North Dakota

Griffin’s 18 lead Western Illinois past North Dakota 69-66 in OT – WTOP News

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Isaiah Griffin had 18 points in Western Illinois’ 69-66 overtime win against North Dakota on…

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Isaiah Griffin had 18 points in Western Illinois’ 69-66 overtime win against North Dakota on Saturday.

Griffin had three steals for the Leathernecks (4-7). Karyiek Dixon scored 17 points while shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line and added 18 rebounds. Lucas Lorenzen shot 3 for 13 (1 for 9 from 3-point range) and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points.

Eli King led the way for the Fightin’ Hawks (4-9) with 13 points, two steals and four blocks. Greyson Uelmen added 13 points for North Dakota. Garrett Anderson had 11 points and six rebounds.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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