Newly released records reveal late North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem had undisclosed communications with former Sen. Ray Holmberg during a criminal investigation into Holmberg’s sexual exploitation of minors — raising troubling questions about transparency and oversight. Meanwhile, documents show state and federal officials knew of credible allegations against Holmberg as early as 2015, but no charges resulted until a later federal probe secured his conviction. Now, scrutiny is intensifying over how warning signs were handled — or ignored — for years.
Following new revelations that a University of North Dakota official may have known about Ray Holmberg’s sex crimes years before his arrest, North Dakota lawmakers rejected a last-minute bill that would have made legislators and higher education officials mandatory reporters of child sexual abuse. Despite growing public outrage and calls from Democratic leaders for reforms, a Senate committee voted 4-1 to block the proposal, arguing it was unnecessary and too late in the session to take up. Meanwhile, questions continue to mount about missed opportunities to intervene and protect potential victims.
As the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly wraps up, lawmakers have elected the 2025-26 Legislative Management Committee to guide the state’s interim work ahead of the next session in 2027. The 17-member panel will oversee which studies to pursue, appoint interim committees, and stand ready to reconvene the Legislature if needed. With potential federal funding cuts looming, the committee's choices in the coming months could significantly shape North Dakota’s political and fiscal landscape.
A bill to clarify the start date for North Dakota’s new legislative term limits law failed in the House Monday, deepening uncertainty about how and when voter-approved limits will be applied. Lawmakers rejected House Bill 1300 by a 61-28 vote after a divided conference committee effort. The defeat leaves a separate resolution — proposing to expand term limits to 16 years per chamber — as the only term limits measure headed to voters in 2026.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" movement — which targets seed oils like sunflower and canola — is raising alarms among North Dakota farmers. With North Dakota leading U.S. production of these crops, growers warn that Kennedy’s rhetoric, combined with tariff talk, is already hurting prices and threatening planting decisions heading into 2025.
As Canadians head to the polls, a tight election could result in a fragile Conservative minority government, a Liberal comeback, or a chaotic hung Parliament — all with major stakes for Canada's U.S. relations, global diplomacy, and domestic stability. Rising tensions with President Trump, voter anger, and strategic voting are shaping a night that could redefine Canada's political landscape.
A massive and unprecedented blackout swept across Spain and Portugal on Monday, stranding tens of thousands of travelers, knocking out communications and power, and forcing cities to a standstill. Authorities say the cause remains unknown, but stress it was not a cyberattack, as both countries scramble to restore full power by Tuesday.
