North Dakota
University of North Dakota among colleges named in federal racial discrimination probe
GRAND FORKS – The University of North Dakota is among 45 colleges at the center of a U.S. Department of Education probe for allegedly “engaging in race-exclusionary practices” in their graduate programs.
The department’s Office of Civil Rights announced the investigation, which encompasses the flagship universities of nearly two dozen states as well as elite institutions like MIT and Yale, in a Friday press release.
“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin,” read a statement attributed to Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “We will not yield on this commitment.”
The investigation alleges that UND and other colleges violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act for partnering with The PhD Project, a nonprofit focused on helping underrepresented groups obtain business degrees.
UND spokesperson Meloney Linder confirmed the university received notice of the investigation from the Education Department on Thursday.
“We are currently working with OCR to address the complaints, but beyond that we have no comment,” Linder said.
The Office of General Counsel, which handles legal matters for UND and reports to the North Dakota Attorney General, is making contact with the Education Department to get more information, Linder said.
The investigation is the latest in a series launched by the Trump administration against U.S. colleges and universities focused on hot-button social issues.
The Education Department is also investigating 60 colleges and universities for allegedly permitting antisemitism during anti-Israel protests that broke out across campuses after the onset of the Israel-Hamas War in October 2023.
It’s also investigating two universities and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association for permitting transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports.
UND is not named in either of those investigations.
Joshua Irvine covers K-12 and higher education for the Grand Forks Herald. He can be reached at jirvine@gfherald.com.
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) -A North Dakota woman is facing a federal involuntary manslaughter charge after a deadly crash on an American Indian reservation last fall.
A federal grand jury indicted Brittany Renne Laverdure on April 22, 2026, accusing her of killing a person while driving under the influence of multiple substances on or about Sept. 21, 2025, in Indian country in North Dakota.
Because the incident occurred in Indian country, the case falls under federal jurisdiction, specifically under 18 U.S.C. § 1153, which gives the federal government authority to prosecute certain crimes committed by Native Americans on tribal lands. The indictment identifies Laverdure as an Indian under that statute.
According to the indictment, Laverdure acted with “wanton and reckless disregard for human life amounting to gross negligence.” Prosecutors say she attempted to make a U-turn and pulled into oncoming traffic while impaired, without due care for the safety of others.
The victim’s name is not being reported at this time and court documents did not provide any further details on the incident.
An arrest warrant was issued April 23, 2026 and a special agent with the FBI arrested Laverdure on April 28, 2026, in Grand Forks.
Laverdure is scheduled to stand trial June 23, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Peter D. Welte in Fargo. The trial is expected to last four days.
Involuntary manslaughter under federal law carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – North Dakota has a new junior duck stamp winner.
On Saturday afternoon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held an awards ceremony for the state contest at the Heritage Center in Bismarck. 900 kids submitted entries.
16-year old, Gabe Coleman, from Baldwin, took first place overall with his entry which is an acrylic painting of a pair of blue-winged teal. Gabe has been entering the contest since he was in kindergarten, but this year is the first time he took best of show.
“For all my nine years, this is what I have been trying to do, and I finally achieved it this year. To win it is actually amazing”, said Coleman, who is a homeschooled sophomore.
Coleman has another reason to celebrate. As the top finisher in the state, his winning artwork advanced to the national competition. He ranked among the top 15 out of 13-thousand entries in the national contest.
Runner-Up Best of Show (Second Place) in the North Dakota contest this year went to first time-entrant Kamryn Nissen from Grand Forks. Kamryn, a sophomore at Thompson Public School, used colored pencils to design her entry of a mallard drake in eclipse plumage.
The Conservation Message winner was Brandi Agnew, a seventh grader from Menoken, with her message: “Protect the prairie; preserve the hunt.”
The call for entries is an educational program that uses science and art to encourage students to explore wildlife, conservation, and recreation.
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.
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