Bill delivers hope for ND ag, energy future

July 16, 2025

The media narrative surrounding the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) has been filled with misinformation and political theater, leaving most North Dakotans confused about what this legislation means for our state. As leaders representing North Dakota’s two most vital economic sectors, we want to set the record straight about how this “Big Beautiful Bill” delivers transformational benefits for agriculture, energy, and every working family in our state. We thank Senator Hoeven, Senator Cramer, and Congresswoman Fedorchak for their leadership in securing passage of this critical ...

North Dakota schools need federal funds now

July 15, 2025

North Dakota’s public schools and the students they serve find themselves once again being negatively impacted by political gamesmanship — and it is unacceptable. The recent decision by the U.S. Department of Education to withhold millions in federal education funds from our state is already beginning to damage our schools, shortchange our students, and strain educators who are already doing more with less. These funds are not a luxury. They are essential resources intended to support low-income students, students with disabilities, and vital programs that help both rural and urban ...

Communications’ future: AI revolutionizes connection

May 17, 2025

As we navigate the complexities of modern life in Minot, it is hard to ignore the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) that are transforming the way we communicate. From chatbots to virtual assistants, AI-powered communication tools are becoming increasingly prevalent in our personal and professional lives. AI is revolutionizing communication by providing tools that augment various tasks for communicators. This article explores the diverse applications of AI in areas like writing, editing, content generation, social media management, research, inspiration, and even ...

Students will thrive in phone-free schools

March 29, 2025

When we stood up this week in support of legislation to require phone-free schools in North Dakota, we approached it as giving something back to students: the freedom to learn and grow with far less distraction and stress. As parents of a combined six children who have attended 15 different schools in several districts, we’ve had a front-row seat to the impacts of smartphones and social media use in schools on mental health and academic performance. We’ve seen how inconsistent phone policies from school to school and classroom to classroom can create confusion and frustration ...

Legislature looks to help hungry students

March 22, 2025

I am writing to communicate and affirm the North Dakota Legislature’s historical and ongoing commitment to ensuring no student goes hungry during the school day. In 2023, a significant step was taken with the passage of House Bill 1494. The “no-shaming” bill guaranteed every child in school could eat a full breakfast and lunch, each school day, regardless of the family’s ability to pay. No school can deny a child a school breakfast or lunch. This law reflects the legislature’s unwavering belief in the importance of access to nutritious meals for all students. After passing ...

North Dakota poised to grow electrical grid

March 15, 2025

The February cold snap served as a powerful reminder that reliable electricity is a non-negotiable, life­ sustaining necessity in North Dakota. Interruption in the flow of electricity impacts human life, safety, business viability and food production, processing and preservation. Beyond our personal needs, health care, commerce, manufacturing, energy production and national security all require a reliable and uninterrupted electric power supply. But it’s not enough just to have electricity. We need to be able to move it, and North Dakota is on track to dramatically grow our electric ...