North Dakota Democrats believe Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be a champion for rural America and reacted positively in the first hours after Kamala Harris picked Walz as her running mate. State House Minority Leader Rep. Zachary Ista, D-Grand Forks, said Walz seems to have a “down-to-earth, Midwest demeanor,” that he thinks will play well on the Harris ticket this fall. Vice President Harris named Walz her running mate on Tuesday after officially becoming the Democrats’ nominee for president. “You can really see how effective of a football coach he...

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said the administration’s proposed plan ‘stifles North Dakota’s energy development’ and its production. The Biden administration unveiled its final resource management plan for North Dakota on Aug. 9, which suggests restricting future coal leases on federal lands in the state. The BLM also proposed closing oil and gas leases in any areas of North Dakota identified as having “low developmental potential” or state-designated drinking water source protection areas.

The Biden administration this week issued a proposal to significantly reduce the amount of federal land in North Dakota that can be used for mining coal in the future, The Hill reports. Under the plan, the amount of federal land eligible for coal development would drop by more than 90%. The administration said the move won't affect coal production levels through 2040, but noted it would "preclude the development of future mines." The proposed restrictions apply only to land owned by the federal government. North Dakota is the fifth largest...

A long-serving prominent former state senator out of North Dakota entered a guilty plea in federal court, admitting he traveled to Prague during his political tenure for the purpose of sexually abusing young boys. Ray Holmberg — a Republican lawmaker who served in North Dakota’s Legislative Assembly from 1997 until his June 1, 2022 resignation over allegations connecting him to another suspected child sex abuser – traveled about 14 times to the Czech Republic’s capital city where “young boys provided commercial sexual services” to the lawmaker, federal prosecutors said in...

WDAY RADIO NEWS — Microsoft says hackers based in Iran have been trying to break into the account of a “high ranking official” on the U.S. presidential campaign. The internet researchers say the hacks discovered last June were part of Iran’s continued attempts to influence the U.S. presidential election. Their report didn’t mention the “high ranking official” by name. U.S. intelligence officials report that they’ve seen an increase in phony social media accounts from Iran intended to sow political division in the U.S. The Iranian UN mission in New York...

A high-profile former North Dakota lawmaker who was one of the most powerful members of the Legislature pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge that he traveled to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor. Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, was indicted in October 2023 for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and receipt and attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material. The Republican served more than 45 years in the North Dakota Senate before resigning in 2022. He initially...

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A high-profile former North Dakota lawmaker who was one of the most powerful members of the Legislature pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge that he traveled to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor. Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, was indicted in October 2023 for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and receipt and attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material. The Republican served more than 45 years in the North Dakota Senate before resigning...

The Minnesota Twins shutout the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Monday night. David Festa struck out nine batters over five innings and picked up the win. The bullpen tossed four clean scoreless innings to secure the victory. Manuel Margot hit a solo home run and Royce Lewis hit an RBI sacrifice fly. Ryan Jeffers grounded into a double play that scored Minnesota’s third run. The Twins and Cubs will continue their series on Tuesday evening with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. Pablo Lopez will get the nod for Minnesota while...