Two of the nation’s top aviation safety experts have issued a dire warning to the NTSB, linking a wave of flight control incidents and crashes to a massive gyroscope scandal centered in Dunseith, ND. The retired Boeing and FAA whistleblowers say tens of thousands of critical aerospace components may have been fraudulently re-entered into global supply chains from a shuttered factory—posing threats to commercial jets, military aircraft, and space systems. The letter raises urgent questions for the FAA, Pentagon, and North Dakota officials accused of stalling action.
Minot police arrested 37-year-old Tyrome Darnelle West early Wednesday morning after a woman reported he assaulted, strangled, and held her against her will with a juvenile present. West was taken into custody following a search warrant execution and now faces multiple Class C felony charges, including domestic violence, felonious restraint, and terrorizing. The investigation remains ongoing.
The North Dakota House passed Senate Bill 2160 on a 55-37 vote, advancing a plan to shift state employee insurance to an Affordable Care Act-compliant model. Supporters say the change offers cost-saving flexibility and expanded benefits like preventive care coverage. Critics warn it could pave the way for state employees to start paying premiums — a major break from current policy. The bill now heads to the Senate for concurrence amid growing concerns from agencies and lawmakers about long-term impacts on workforce retention and state budgets.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong has signed two new laws aimed at curbing misinformation in North Dakota politics. Starting August 1, all political ads generated using artificial intelligence will require a bold, capitalized disclaimer under House Bill 1167. Meanwhile, House Bill 1204 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly or recklessly spread false political information — including via texts, phone calls, and social media. Lawmakers say the changes are meant to protect election integrity in an age of AI and viral disinformation.
North Dakota’s Ethics Commission says legislative changes approved this week—particularly a new 180-day deadline to resolve complaints—could force it to close unresolved cases, including 17 involving lawmakers. Executive Director Rebecca Binstock and commission members argue the timeline is arbitrary, undermines investigations, and may even violate the state constitution. With 28 cases already past the deadline, commissioners fear stalling tactics could allow ethics violations to go unpunished. A final decision on the bill heads to a conference committee, where the commission will push to restore lost staff funding and strip out policy provisions.
In his first public address since leaving office, former President Joe Biden blasted the Trump administration for gutting the Social Security Administration, accusing them of laying off 7,000 employees and undermining public trust in the program. Speaking in Chicago, Biden defended Social Security as a core American promise and pushed back on comments from Trump Cabinet members and billionaire Elon Musk calling the program outdated. The White House insists benefits are safe, while Trump’s nominee for commissioner vows to fix long wait times and payment errors.
