AGP Executive Report

State Rankings & Pride: Utah keeps the No. 1 spot in U.S. News’ 2026 Best States, while the Midwest/Upper Midwest surge continues—South Dakota climbs to No. 2, and North Dakota jumps to No. 4. Voting & Civic Life: The League of Women Voters held an election-safety info session in the Red River Valley, walking people through how votes are handled and certified in both Minnesota and North Dakota. Courts & Local Governance: A North Dakota judge is weighing a lawsuit challenging how Beef Commission members are chosen, with landowners also winning legal-fee awards in property-rights cases. Community Events: Valley City’s Music in the Park brings the Norsky Brothers; Dickinson hosts the North Dakota Ukrainian Festival; and Williston’s Gun’n For Garrett Memorial Shoot returns Aug. 15. Culture & Faith: Grand Forks’ B’nai Israel Synagogue highlights decades of Jewish community history in North Dakota. Food & Work: Five Guys opened in Dickinson and says early demand is strong, with a growing local workforce.

Beef Commission Court Fight: A North Dakota judge heard arguments on whether the state’s Beef Commission appointment process is unconstitutional, with ranchers challenging a law they say favors certain groups when board members decide how cattle sale fees are used. CDL Policy Clash: Twenty-three red states backed federal CDL restrictions in a lawsuit, arguing the rules protect road safety from “unqualified” drivers. Community & Culture: Valley City’s Music in the Park brings the Norsky Brothers for a freewill-offering show, while Dickinson hosted a Ukrainian Festival at DSU after heat forced a venue change. Local Sports & Events: Hometown racer Kody Scholpp won the Prairie Modified Nationals title in Estevan; Minnewaska’s all-sports kickoff welcomes broadcaster Marney Gellner on Aug. 12; Williston’s Gun’n For Garrett Memorial Shoot returns Aug. 15 to fund youth scholarships. Housing & Fairness: High Plains Fair Housing Center says HUD funding delays could force staff furloughs, just as North Dakotans rely on it to prevent discrimination and keep people housed. Outdoors & Land Stewardship: Grand Forks Prairie Partners invites the public to help remove invasive Russian olive trees at a Turtle River waterfowl production area on Aug. 1. Food & Daily Life: Five Guys opened in Dickinson in late May and reports strong early community support and hiring.

Pig iron push: A proposed North Dakota pig iron plant near Minot would turn Minnesota mine waste into steel-making feedstock, aiming for 2 million metric tons a year and about 650 jobs. Property rights in court: Judges ordered North Dakota to cover landowners’ legal fees in lawsuits tied to unconstitutional property-rights limits, with costs nearing $975,000. Fair housing funding crunch: High Plains Fair Housing Center says delayed HUD grant money could force furloughs and cut services for North Dakotans facing discrimination and eviction risk. Local outdoors help: Grand Forks Prairie Partners invites the public to remove invasive Russian olive and other woody plants at Kellys Slough area on Aug. 1. Deer hunting update: North Dakota has first-come, first-served deer gun licenses available in unit 3F2 starting Aug. 12. Food & culture: Salt + Scoria opens at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, spotlighting Indigenous flavors with wood-fired cooking. Community safety: Sanford highlights drowning prevention tips for families, stressing life jackets and close supervision around water.

Hunger Relief: Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto is teaming up with Safeway’s Nourishing Neighbors and local food banks on a “Team Up to Tackle Hunger” checkout fundraiser across Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska through Aug. 11. Fair Housing Under Pressure: North Dakota’s only full-service fair housing group, High Plains Fair Housing Center, says a delayed HUD grant could force furloughs and cut crisis services for people facing discrimination. Outdoor Community Work: Grand Forks Prairie Partners invites the public to help remove invasive Russian olive and other woody plants at the Turtle River Waterfowl Production Area on Aug. 1. Local Wildlife & Hunting: North Dakota Game and Fish says 95 deer gun licenses are available first-come, first-served in unit 3F2 starting Aug. 12. Health & Safety: Sanford is urging families to prevent child drownings, noting how quiet and fast it can be. Culture & Food: Salt + Scoria opens at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, spotlighting Indigenous flavors and wood-fired local ingredients. Courts & Community: The U.S. Senate confirmed North Dakota judge Dan Traynor to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Politics & Culture: New polling puts President Trump 19 points underwater nationally, with him “underwater in every major battleground state” 100 days before the 2026 midterms—an early sign of a tight, geography-driven political mood. Local Fair Housing: North Dakota’s only full-service fair housing group, High Plains Fair Housing Center, says a delayed HUD grant could force furloughs and cut services for people facing discrimination and eviction. Community Outdoors: Grand Forks Prairie Partners invites the public to help remove Russian olive and other invasive plants at the Turtle River Waterfowl Production Area on Aug. 1. Sports Spotlight: Cheyenne Frontier Days fans got a near-record ride from rookie bull rider Noah Lee, who won the semifinals despite a broken nose. Health & Safety: A Fargo-area educator warns drowning is often quiet and fast—life jackets and close supervision are key for kids near water. Indigenous Food & Place: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opened Salt + Scoria, spotlighting Indigenous flavors with wood-fired cooking and local ingredients. Wildlife & Recreation: North Dakota Game and Fish has 95 first-come, first-served deer gun licenses available in unit 3F2 starting Aug. 12.

Housing & Civil Rights: North Dakota’s only full-service fair housing organization, High Plains Fair Housing Center, says a delay in an already-approved federal grant could force furloughs of more than half its staff, even as calls keep coming from people facing discrimination and eviction. Community Action: Grand Forks Prairie Partners is inviting the public to a hands-on habitat workday Aug. 1 to remove invasive Russian olive and other woody plants near the Turtle River Waterfowl Production Area. Public Health: A new study finds lithium in household drinking water is a widespread, persistent exposure across western U.S. communities, including North Dakota/South Dakota, with tap water linked to lithium levels measured in people’s bodies. Outdoor & Family Safety: Sanford is highlighting drowning prevention as a leading killer of young children, urging life jackets and close supervision around pools and lakes. Local Outdoors: North Dakota Game and Fish is offering first-come, first-served deer gun licenses in unit 3F2 starting Aug. 12. Culture & Food: Salt + Scoria, a new signature restaurant at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, opens with wood-fired cooking and Indigenous flavors. Aviation Legacy: UND founder John D. Odegard is set for posthumous induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Fair Housing Funding Crunch: North Dakota’s only fair-housing organization, High Plains Fair Housing Center in Grand Forks, says a delayed $425,000 federal grant could force furloughs of more than half its staff, even as housing discrimination complaints keep coming in. State Fair Safety & Learning: At the North Dakota State Fair, 811 Day taught families how to plan safe digging around utilities, while Water Day focused on critical water needs with games, trivia, and giveaways. Health Watch: A new long-term study finds lithium shows up widely in household drinking water across western U.S. communities, with tap water linked to lithium levels measured in people. Time Change Debate: Proposed permanent daylight saving time is raising concerns for Jewish prayer schedules tied to sunrise and sunset. Community & Culture: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora unveiled Salt + Scoria, a wood-fired restaurant spotlighting Indigenous flavors and local ingredients. Legal & Local Life: The North Dakota Supreme Court upheld a Fargo woman’s felony theft conviction and a restitution order over $29,000. Education & Work: North Dakota judge Dan Traynor was confirmed to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, marking a major career step for a longtime federal jurist.

Local Safety: Sanford educator Steven Steinbrueck warns that child drownings are often quiet and fast, urging life jackets for kids near lakes and private pools. Indigenous Culture & Dining: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora unveiled Salt + Scoria, spotlighting Indigenous flavors with wood-fired cooking and local ingredients. Civic Life at the Fair: North Dakota State Fair “Water Day” brings water-focused groups, games, trivia, and giveaways to teach critical water needs. Community & Education: West Fargo Public Schools is racing to fill 34 special education openings before fall, including teachers, speech-language pathologists, and paraprofessionals. Judicial News: Senate confirms North Dakota judge Dan Traynor to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, a major career step for a Devils Lake native. Public Interest Tech: Fargo police say they’ve used Flock AI cameras to track a suspect 500+ times, while emphasizing monthly audits and public trust. Arts & Leadership: Plains Art Museum leader Andy Maus is named the next executive director of Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Sports & Roots: Josh Duhamel says he’d rather put money into Fargo, North Dakota, after selling an L.A. home.

Daylight Saving Debate: A new push for permanent daylight saving time could help some states most—especially across the South—while parts of the Upper Midwest and Northern New England could lose out, with a map showing the biggest winners and drawbacks. Judicial Shift: The U.S. Senate confirmed North Dakota Judge Dan Traynor to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, a major career move after years on the District of North Dakota bench. Public Safety & Tech: Fargo police say their Flock camera system has tracked a suspect more than 500 times, while officials stress audits and “public trust” as concerns about AI in policing grow. Local Education Leadership: West Fargo is racing to fill 34 special education openings, and Ketchikan’s new superintendent Kara Four Bear—hailing from the Dakotas—shared her plans for stabilizing a district under financial strain. Culture & Community: North Dakota State Fair programming spotlights Mandan Hidatsa and Arikira dancers, keeping tradition front and center for everyone. Health Policy: ND HHS is preparing Medicaid Expansion work requirements starting Jan. 1, 2027, with exemptions and verification steps outlined for members. Youth & Opportunity: A WalletHub study ranks states by “at-risk youth,” placing North Dakota among the least impacted while Louisiana tops the list. Arts, Sports & Small-Town Pride: Jamestown alumni launched an inaugural kids’ basketball camp, and the Dickinson Dolphins’ new coach is building confidence through tough-but-fun swim challenges.

Rural Aging & Community Care: CBS “Sunday Morning” spotlights North Dakota’s Aging in Community model, tackling loneliness for rural seniors by building neighbor-to-neighbor connections. Local Sports & Youth: Jamestown pro basketball alums Mason Walters and Boden Skunberg launch an inaugural kids’ basketball camp, turning hometown pride into a new community tradition. Historic Travel & Veterans: A Lewis & Clark historic military vehicle convoy rolls out from Bismarck this weekend, with public stops and stories from veterans and families. Big Culture Milestone: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library tops $500M in fundraising, and CEO Ed O’Keefe is set to lead New York public media next—after helping open the library July 4. Health Policy: North Dakota Medicaid changes are coming, including federal work requirements for some Medicaid Expansion members starting Jan. 1, 2027. Food & Family Budget: North Dakota grocers and shoppers brace for new SNAP restrictions tied to a Healthy Choice Waiver, limiting purchases like candy and sweetened beverages. Community & Recreation: Jamestown considers a 1% sales and use tax amendment tied to community development and parks projects, with a ballot question in the works. Sports Development: NDSU opens fall camp with a roster refresh—record transfers plus 29 freshmen—aimed at a new look heading into the Mountain West. Agriculture Innovation: NDSU hosts the third annual North Dakota Controlled Environment Agriculture Conference Sept. 17–18, focusing on precision tech for greenhouses and indoor farming. Local Growth & Industry: Mandan land purchase deals for a data center move forward, with county officials saying they have no jurisdiction over the process. Lifestyle & Arts: A new book excerpt explores “The Caitlin Clark Effect,” while local book club coverage highlights Will Weaver’s “Black Dirt, Bright Stars.”

SNAP & groceries: North Dakota grocers are bracing for new SNAP restrictions tied to the Healthy Choice Waiver, with bans on energy drinks, candy and sweetened beverages starting Sept. 1. Health & recovery access: North Dakota HHS marked 10 years of its Substance Use Disorder Voucher program, saying nearly 12,000 people have gotten help reaching treatment. Medicaid policy shift: Work requirements are set to roll out for some North Dakota Medicaid Expansion members in 2027, with 5,000–7,000 expected to be affected. Road safety: A sobriety checkpoint is planned July 25 in Griggs County, with alcohol-related crashes cited as a major rural risk. Community & culture: The North Dakota State Fair featured Native American dance performances, with daily showcases aimed at sharing traditions and bringing people together. Education & campus life: UND announced dean’s list and president’s roll honors for local students, while Grand Forks recognized longtime educator Jody Thompson in its Teachers Hall of Fame. Local spotlight: The Lewis & Clark route gets “History in Motion” as historic military vehicles travel through communities along the way.

Medicaid Update: North Dakota HHS is rolling out new federal work requirements for some Medicaid Expansion members starting Jan. 1, 2027—80 hours a month of work, training, education, or volunteering, with 5,000 to 7,000 people expected to be affected and possible “medically frail” exclusions. Road Safety: A sobriety checkpoint is planned July 25 in Griggs County, with saturation patrols after; ND Highway Patrol says 46 fatalities have already occurred this year, and 10 involved alcohol. Civil Liberties: The ACLU of North Dakota filed an amicus brief backing protesters challenging a road closure near the Standing Rock Reservation, arguing it violates First Amendment rights. Local Culture & Community: The 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse State Historic Site will add free guided tours during Buffalo Days, bringing guided civics conversations to the historic Jamestown courthouse. Agriculture & Education: The ND Department of Agriculture brought ag-in-the-classroom programming to the North Dakota State Fair, including an “Agriculture Acre” with demonstrations and Pride of Dakota vendors. Rural Heritage Spotlight: Carrington’s Rainbow Gardens is getting renewed attention as it reopens, tied to the legacy of Japanese immigrant Harry Hayashi and the gardens he built.

Medicaid & Work Requirements: North Dakota HHS says Medicaid Expansion members will face new work requirements starting Jan. 1, 2027, affecting about 5,000 to 7,000 people, with several exemptions listed. Education & Inclusion: A federal report finds students with disabilities are spending more time in mainstream classrooms, but lawmakers worry oversight could weaken as special education offices shift. Local School Updates: Dickinson Public Schools’ board reviewed progress on its high school reconstruction and set back-to-breakfast dates as pre-registration climbs. Politics & Voting Rights: The U.S. Supreme Court is again targeted for actions that critics say undermine the Voting Rights Act, with Louisiana used as a test case. Community Resilience: A look at “disaster fatigue” highlights how repeated flooding and recovery costs are wearing down communities. Culture & Food Trends: #BeanTok keeps pushing beans as a daily staple, while a separate study tracks what Americans are Googling most—North Dakota’s top definition is “weather.” Sports & Campus Life: Mountain West adds NDSU and UND to its football mix, and Williston State College reports a record summer enrollment. Business & Growth: Redpath marks a new Fargo office with a ribbon cutting and open house.

Medicaid & Work Rules: North Dakota HHS says Medicaid Expansion members will face new federal work requirements starting Jan. 1, 2027—80 hours per month of work, training, education, or volunteering for many adults ages 19–64, with exclusions for groups including Native Americans, caregivers, people with special health needs, pregnant people, and certain veterans. Politics & Elections: A northeast ND Democrat-NPL House candidate withdrew after being told her federally funded job violates the Hatch Act, leaving Democrats without a clear path to replace her on the November ballot. Education Spotlight: WalletHub ranks North Dakota among the top 10 states for public-school education, citing quality and school safety metrics. Student Debt Deadline: Borrowers are facing a Sept. 29 deadline tied to changes in federal student loan repayment options. Food Culture: The internet’s #BeanTok craze is turning lentils and beans into viral “protein power” meals, with diet experts pointing to beans’ fiber and nutrient benefits. Community & Health: Essentia Health-Sandstone reports a rapid stroke response that helped a patient regain speech and movement after clot-busting treatment and follow-up care. Local Growth: Williston State College hit a record summer enrollment, driven largely by online classes.

Prairie History & Community Pride: Rugby’s Prairie Village Museum is leaning into America’s 250th birthday with pioneer-era exhibits—buildings like a school, church, train car, saloon, and jail—so visitors can step inside late-1800s life. UND Hockey Spotlight: UND reworked head coach Dane Jackson’s contract after a breakout first season, including a Penrose Cup and a return to the Frozen Four, with enhanced pay supported by private donors. Education & Youth Opportunities: A North Dakota student, Cadence Fetsch of Valley City, heads to American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., for mock Senate sessions and real-world civics visits. Workforce & Local Growth: “Real. Good. Northeast North Dakota” is hosting a free virtual rural job fair July 23 with 20+ employers and 70+ openings across the region. Health Watch: The CDC reports measles cases are climbing nationwide, with summer travel raising the risk of new outbreaks—especially where vaccination rates lag. Local Parenting & Accountability: Dickinson parents of an injured infant are speaking publicly after a daycare operator was charged, pushing for stronger child care oversight. Agriculture Next Gen: Scholarships are backing young agriculture students, including $5,000 awards from Minnesota Corn to future ag leaders.

NDSU Women’s Basketball: Ashley Davis joins Jory Collins’ staff, bringing 18 years of Division I experience from Oklahoma State and a track record of NCAA tournament work. Civic Education: Valley City student Cadence Fetsch heads to American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., for mock Senate sessions and a Capitol Hill visit. Local Schools Leadership: Sherri Horsager was selected Valley City Public School Board president, with board officer elections and updates on negotiations, facilities, transportation, and policy reviews. Community & Culture: Archaeologists and students are digging at Lawrence Welk’s childhood homestead near Strasburg, using modern mapping to uncover everyday life details. North Dakota History on Screen: A new documentary, “Dakota Spotlight: Call Me Shelly,” explores the 1994 disappearance of Bismarck mother Michele “Shelly” Julson. Workforce & Quality of Life: “Real. Good. Northeast North Dakota” is testing a free virtual rural job fair July 23 with 20+ employers and 70+ openings. Public Health Watch: CDC reports measles cases keep climbing nationwide, with summer travel raising the risk of new outbreaks. Sports & Community Pride: UND reworks men’s hockey coach Dane Jackson’s contract after a Penrose Cup and Frozen Four run, while local events like “Run the Route” in Minot and a Fargo-area Ride to Fight Suicide raise community energy and support.