A Closer Look with the Monitor

A new website allows the public to view the financial interest statements of North Dakota officials and political candidates.Reporter Jacob Orledge talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about the new transparency requirements and six lawmakers who failed to meet the deadline.A Closer Look with the Monitor is available on major podcast platforms, or wherever you listen to Prairie Public.

The ongoing war in Iran has disrupted oil supply, pushed prices higher, and injected uncertainty into markets around the world.Here in North Dakota, those shifts are being felt, but not always in ways people might think.North Dakota Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about why the Bakken isn’t seeing a surge in new drilling, even as oil prices hover around $100 a barrel.

Under state law, North Dakota residents cannot vote while incarcerated for a felony. They can vote after they’re released, however, as long as they meet all other requirements. People can also vote if they’re serving time for a misdemeanor, or if they’ve been charged but not convicted. Volunteers with the League of Women Voters of North Dakota have noticed that many North Dakotans with criminal records don’t know their voting rights. North Dakota Monitor reporter Mary Steurer talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about steps the League of Women Voters and state agencies have taken to help educate people ahead of election season.

It has been 75 years since oil was first struck near Tioga, an event that helped transform not just a small North Dakota community, but the trajectory of the entire state.North Dakota Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge talks with Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street about how oil has shaped Tioga’s identity and North Dakota's economy – from boom and bust cycles to billions in tax revenue.

A legal fight over prescription drug pricing in North Dakota is now playing out in federal court, and at the center of it is a fundamental question. Who actually benefits from a program designed to help low-income patients? A new state law aims to protect access to discounted medications through the federal 340B program, but pharmaceutical companies argue the law goes too far and may even be unconstitutional. North Dakota Monitor reporter Mary Steurer talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about the lawsuit and a recent court hearing.

As the Applied Digital data center at Harwood takes shape, a new powerline and substation is needed to provide the electricity the AI-factory will need. North Dakota Monitor deputy editor Jeff Beach talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about his latest reporting on the Applied Digital project. A public hearing on the $75 million power system upgrades, which Applied Digital would pay for, is coming up April 2 in Fargo. Meanwhile, the company is looking for other sites to build in North Dakota, including Oliver County northwest of Bismarck.  Also, North Dakota Monitor editor Amy Dalrymple previews the upcoming North Dakota Republican Party state convention, which all statewide incumbents are boycotting this year.

An expanded property tax credit is proving to be popular with North Dakota homeowners, but a 3% cap on annual property tax increases is creating challenges for local governments.North Dakota Monitor reporter Mary Steurer talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about why the state now projects the expanded property tax credit will cost $20 million more than projected.Meanwhile, local cities, counties and school boards say the new cap is making budgeting stressful. Some suggest lawmakers change the law in 2027 to link the cap to inflation or exempt costs like public safety, infrastructure and election expenses.

In the new edition of A Closer Look with the Monitor, reporter Jacob Orledge talks with Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about two developments that could influence North Dakota's economy and financial future.First, a recent ruling from the North Dakota Supreme Court that could reshape how oilroyalties are calculated and paid. Legal experts say the ruling could also trigger a wave of new litigation.Then the conversation turns to the proposal from the Bank of North Dakota for the creation of a state-backed digital currency known as the Roughrider coin.‘A hell of a lot of royalties’: Supreme Court ruling likely to trigger litigation for oil companiesNext steps for Bank of North Dakota stablecoin to be reviewed this month

A North Dakota judge recently ordered Greenpeace to pay $345 million to the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline, an official order that came following a nearly yearlong tug-of-war over a Morton County jury’s verdict.North Dakota Monitor reporter Mary Steurer catches up with Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about the latest twists and turns in litigation involving Energy Transfer, a case that has drawn national and international attention. Also, Monitor editor Amy Dalrymple previews the upcoming Democratic-NPL state convention, which is expected to have a strong turnout with members reporting increased enthusiasm statewide.

Delays in the federal immigration system are creating frustration for North Dakota residents seeking legal immigration and employers who have come to depend on immigrants.Monitor deputy editor Jeff Beach and reporter Mary Steurer talk with Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about changes in the legal immigration system and how the flow of immigrants has slowed. An increase in visa fees could further limit skilled immigrant workers coming into the state. And North Dakota business leaders are looking for someone to champion legal immigration reforms. 

A North Dakota man is among five people facing federal criminal charges related to investments in a cattle and beef marketing company that was determined to be a Ponzi scheme. North Dakota Monitor deputy editor Jeff Beach talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about the latest development in the fraud case estimated to have cost investors $220 million.North Dakota was at the epicenter of that case, with about 150 investors who were affected, officials have said.Jeff also discusses his recent reporting on a key federal crop insurance option that North Dakota farmers won’t have this spring.

North Dakota has a small but growing number of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention cases moving through federal court. North Dakota Monitor reporter Mary Steurer talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about emergency petitions recently filed in the state seeking court review of ICE detentions. It’s part of a broader national surge tied to increasing immigration enforcement.  

An unwanted byproduct of North Dakota’s oil field could be the key to unlocking a new industry in the state within the next few years. An international company is proposing to begin extracting lithium, a key component of batteries produced for smartphones and other technology, from produced water by the end of 2027. It’s one of at least four similar projects in development in North Dakota.This week, a group of North Dakota landowners gathered in Bismarck to learn more about critical mineral development in the state and other emerging industries.North Dakota Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about the conference, and how landowners are hoping to be involved early when new projects are proposed.Orledge also discusses his recent reporting about two fake critical minerals listed in North Dakota law that appear to be inspired by coal company lawyers.Also, North Dakota Monitor editor Amy Dalrymple joins Craig to talk about voluntary early retirement incentives that are being offered to state employees.

A North Dakota ballot measure that would change voter-approved legislative term limits could face a challenge before the state Supreme Court.Monitor reporter Mary Steurer talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about a new lawsuit that could change what appears on the November ballot.North Dakota voters in 2022 approved a ballot measure that limits state lawmakers to serving no more than eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate.Last year, state lawmakers narrowly approved a resolution that aims to tweak those term limits. The resolution seeks to put another measure on the ballot to enable lawmakers to serve up to 16 years in either chamber. It would also make it so partial terms don’t count against term limits.A lawsuit filed by a former Minot lawmaker and a Grand Forks county commissioner claims the Legislature violated the constitution by creating the measure. The Supreme Court has not decided whether it will hear the case.Also, North Dakota Monitor editor Amy Dalrymple talks about recent changes to financial disclosure requirements for elected and appointed officials and how the public can access the information.

A southwest North Dakota hospital is at risk of closing due to severe financial trouble, but lawmakers are considering a bill this week that would give the hospital a lifeline.Three lawmakers introduced a bill designed to help the Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center in Elgin, North Dakota. Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about the financial difficulties for the rural hospital and the potential consequences if it closes.The bill seeks to provide a low-interest loan from the Bank of North Dakota to help the hospital keep the doors open while administrators implement cost-saving measures and apply for federal rural health care funding.

North Dakota lawmakers took final steps this week to prepare for a special session to authorize the spending of federal health care money.Monitor reporter Mary Steurer talks to Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street, about why the Rural Health Transformation Program is a big deal for North Dakota. They talk about how the state plans to use the money to help rural communities, and how officials are navigating the program’s tight window for granting funds.Also, Monitor editor Amy Dalrymple previews what the newsroom will be watching next week, and what the public needs to know about how to be engaged in the special session.

North Dakota’s farmers are looking for higher profits but things may get worse before they get better, ag industry experts say. North Dakota Deputy Editor Jeff Beach chats with Craig Blumenshine, producer and host of Prairie Public’s Main Street program, about why farmers may not be set up for success in 2026 and the challenges facing agriculture in North Dakota.Also, North Dakota Monitor Editor Amy Dalrymple gives a brief preview to the state government stories the Monitor is covering next week.