AGP Executive Report

Local Heritage: Bismarck’s Heritage Center is hosting a Halloween-themed “Haunted Museum” through Nov. 1, featuring local history and a scavenger hunt. Agriculture & Education: Napoleon student Teagan Erbele was elected Central Region vice president on the National FFA officer team, as the group prepares for its centennial. Hankinson-area farmer Joe Mauch is launching a drone sales, training and spraying business in 2027. Energy & Development: North Dakota’s Public Service Commission questioned whether first responders were adequately involved in planning for a proposed Cass County battery site. In Harmony Township, a data-center developer urged more dialogue ahead of a vote on a development moratorium. Elections: Early in-person voting has begun in North Dakota, with organizers encouraging Native voters to participate. Candidates also faced questions at local forums, while debate continues over ballot measures including Measure 1. Community: Four Horace residents bought the former grain elevator property for $130,000 and are weighing redevelopment plans, including whether the northern elevator can be saved. Sports: Langdon Area-Munich rallied for a 21-6 playoff win over Oakes, scoring 21 unanswered points.

Horace Redevelopment: Four residents bought the town’s abandoned grain elevators for $130,000. They plan to remove one and explore whether the other can be renovated. School Sports: Langdon Area-Munich rallied for a 21-6 playoff win over Oakes, scoring 21 unanswered points after halftime. Farm Innovation: Hankinson-area farmer Joe Mauch is launching an agricultural drone business in 2027, offering sales, spraying, training and service. Elections and Schools: Early voting is underway in North Dakota as voters prepare to decide Measure 2, which would fund free school meals; supporters call it family relief, while opponents question putting the program in the constitution. Local Investment: Grand Forks’ Town Square will get an $87,500 Knight Foundation grant for year-round activities, and six North Dakota communities received more than $4.2 million in development grants. Energy: North Dakota oil wells reached a record high, with production and prices also reported to be outpacing forecasts.

Prep Football: Langdon Area-Munich rallied from a 6-0 halftime deficit to beat Oakes 21-6 in the Class A playoff opener. Quarterback Eastyn Schaefer rushed for more than 200 yards and scored twice. Farm Innovation: Hankinson-area farmer Joe Mauch is launching Agri Spray Drone Solutions, offering drone sales, training, service and custom applications starting in 2027. Grand Forks: The Downtown Development Association won an $87,500 Knight Foundation grant to make Town Square more active year-round, including hiring staff and funding community-led events. School Meals: Supporters and opponents debated Measure 2, which would guarantee free school breakfast and lunch; the proposal could cost $124 million to $134 million annually. Voters decide Nov. 3. Local Elections: Early voting continues in Clay County and begins Oct. 27 in Fargo and West Fargo. Rural Workforce: Walsh County’s Career Builders program has helped place 58 workers at 17 employers, with a 91% retention rate among participants completing their three-year commitment. County Oversight: Foster County has caught up on years of overdue audits; officials say the audit backlog is separate from a former treasurer’s pending theft case.

Energy and Public Safety: North Dakota regulators questioned whether Casselton’s fire department has had enough input on a proposed Harmony Township battery-storage site, even though it would respond to emergencies there. Election 2026: Early in-person voting is underway in Clay County and begins Oct. 27 in Fargo and West Fargo; Election Day is Nov. 3. School Meals: Voters will decide Measure 2, which would provide free breakfast and lunch to K-12 students. Supporters estimate it could benefit 105,000 households; opponents warn against putting the program in the state constitution. Agriculture: The USDA extended the deadline for producers seeking conservation program funding to Nov. 13. At a Jamestown forum, Farmers Union President Matt Perdue said today’s farm pressures differ from the 1980s crisis, with lower interest rates and stronger land values. County Government: Foster County is catching up on audits dating back to 2013. Officials say the backlog is separate from a theft case involving a former treasurer. Wildlife: Changing crop practices and milder weather are reshaping when and where waterfowl migrate through North Dakota.

Elections: Early in-person voting has begun in some North Dakota counties, with the Sacred Pipe Resource Center helping Indigenous voters take part. Measure 1 would raise the threshold for constitutional amendments to 60%; supporters say it protects the state’s constitution, while critics warn it gives a minority more power and could block a future abortion-rights measure. Energy & Safety: At a hearing on the proposed Harmony battery project near Casselton, Public Service Commission members questioned whether the city’s fire department could be left responsible without a say in approval. Energy leaders in Minot also warned that North Dakota’s oil production could decline within five to 10 years without new ways to extend output. Agriculture & Infrastructure: North Dakota’s third bird-flu case of the year affected 60,600 commercial turkeys. A federal grant of up to $691,000 will help Bottineau County plan a rail-served grain elevator, while Gov. Kelly Armstrong says the Fargo-Moorhead diversion will protect nearly 260,000 people from catastrophic flooding. North Dakota Roots: Minot native Dale Brown, who led LSU basketball to two Final Fours, has died at 90.

Election 2026: North Dakota candidates are debating property-tax relief, schools and local budgets. In Rugby, voters rejected a 10-mill school levy; the district says falling enrollment and rising costs could force about $300,000 in cuts. Energy: North Dakota oil wells hit a record high, even as state energy leaders warn production could decline within five to 10 years without new recovery methods. Rural Infrastructure: Bottineau County received up to $691,000 in federal rail funding to help develop a grain elevator, move rail operations away from a school zone and boost handling capacity. Unmanned Aircraft: Grand Forks’ UAS Summit drew a record crowd and announced Project ATLAS, a new research effort involving UND, NASA and the North Dakota National Guard. Data Centers: Geronimo Power’s CEO called for a six-month pause on a proposed Harmony Township moratorium as debate continues over the project.

Bison Football: New Mexico had sold more than 29,000 tickets for Saturday’s North Dakota State matchup, a game with major Mountain West title implications. Public Utilities: In the PSC race, challenger Scot Kelsh says landowners feel steamrolled by major projects; incumbent Jill Kringstad defended recent changes to public hearings and her record on utility rates. Schools: Rugby voters rejected a 10-mill levy sought to offset declining enrollment. Without new funding, the district says it may need to cut about $300,000, potentially affecting classes and activities. Oil and Gas: North Dakota hit a record of more than 20,000 active oil wells in August, producing about 1.16 million barrels daily as higher prices spur faster development. Local Investment: Six communities received more than $4.2 million in state grants for infrastructure, housing and public safety projects. Higher Education: UND received 30 more days to respond to a federal inquiry into foreign funding disclosures, with its final submission expected in mid-November.

Community Investment: North Dakota awarded $4.2 million in Community Development Block Grants to six communities for infrastructure, housing and public safety projects. Homegrown Business: Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels, born in a North Dakota kitchen in 2011, has become Hershey’s biggest salty-snack brand, with $626 million in sales over the past year. Hershey sees a path to making it a billion-dollar brand. Ranching: McKenzie’s Black Leg Ranch and the Doan family received the 2026 Noble Land Stewardship Award for regenerative land management on their 21,000-acre ranch. Energy and Industry: Gevo expects its carbon business to generate more than $50 million in 2026 revenue; the company says a planned 2028 expansion at its North Dakota facility could roughly double revenue streams. Washington and North Dakota: Sen. Kevin Cramer sharply criticized President Trump’s envoy for calling Vladimir Putin a humanitarian, saying he would rather die in Russian prison than have someone make that remark on his behalf.

Business & Agriculture: North Dakota opened applications for its 2026 Automation Tax Credit, offering eligible manufacturers and animal-agriculture businesses credits of up to 15% on qualifying investments; applications are due Feb. 2. Fargo: Property owners who leave sidewalk snow uncleared will now face the full contractor charge from the first removal of the season, the city says. Energy & Technology: North Dakota oil production and prices are running ahead of forecasts as lawmakers begin shaping data center legislation. Consumer Alert: Attorney General Drew Wrigley warned residents about companies selling unproven stem-cell treatments, which he says may pose health and financial risks. Elections: Opponents of Measure 1 are urging voters to reject a proposed 60% threshold for constitutional amendments, arguing it would make citizen-led changes harder to pass.

Rail Investment: Red River Valley & Western Railroad won a $23.6 million federal grant to replace 26 miles of century-old track between Gwinner and Wyndmere and expand siding capacity near Wahpeton. Work could begin in 2027. Oil Outlook: North Dakota produced about 1.16 million barrels a day in August, 5.58% above the state forecast. The average realized price was $76.14 a barrel, also well above projections. Data Center Rules: Rep. Anna Novak is drafting legislation to protect ratepayers from data-center costs and address water use and facility decommissioning. Constitutional Measure: Supporters and opponents made a final push ahead of the Nov. 3 vote on Measure 1, which would require 60% approval for constitutional amendments. Child Safety: North Dakota lawmakers are weighing limits on AI chatbots’ interactions with minors, including bans on romantic role-play and encouragement of self-harm. State History: Archivists tested stains on reporter Mark Kellogg’s journal from the 1876 Little Bighorn campaign; the marks were likely coffee, whiskey and red wine—not blood.

Child Services: Grand Forks County expects its child protection department to be fully staffed by Nov. 2 — a milestone officials say they cannot recall happening in years. Extension Funding: Grand Forks County approved a budget fix to prevent a planned NDSU Extension office cut from deepening to 52%; the office will shrink its space to reduce costs and retain staff. School Meals: North Dakotans will decide whether to guarantee free K-12 breakfasts and lunches in the state constitution. Supporters say Measure 2 could save families up to $1,000 per student each school year; opponents question its cost and constitutional approach. Public Health: State leaders opened North Dakota’s new $70 million, federally funded laboratory in Bismarck, a 100,000-square-foot facility built to strengthen disease monitoring and environmental testing. Higher Education: NDSCS interim President Lisa Karch says enrollment has grown more than 30% since 2022, with the college aiming to generate 80,000 annual credits by 2030.

Deer Season: North Dakota canceled about 350 doe licenses in four hunting units after an EHD outbreak; hunters can return some other licenses for refunds as officials try to help herds recover. State Oversight: A performance audit linked Development Fund Board Chair Jim Albrecht and Vice Chair Rob Lindberg to transactions worth about $4 million that may involve conflicts of interest; the Commerce Department has not named the companies. AI and Data Centers: U.S. House candidates Julie Fedorchak and Trygve Hammer agree communities need a say in data center development but differ on federal oversight of AI. Health Care: Grand Forks Clinic and six affiliated entities filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but the owner says the clinic will stay open and continue seeing patients. Drought: USDA disaster declarations include North Dakota’s Golden Valley and McKenzie counties, plus six neighboring counties. Election Measure: Voters will decide whether constitutional amendments should require 60% approval, a proposal supporters say protects the constitution and opponents say limits voters’ power. Business: Activist investor Starboard is preparing to nominate directors at Bismarck-based Knife River, pressing the company to improve profit margins or consider a sale. Infrastructure: North Dakota is slated to receive about $24 million for rail upgrades.

Deer Season: North Dakota has canceled about 350 antlerless deer licenses in four southern units after an EHD outbreak. Hunters in 13 other units can return some tags for refunds as herds recover. Health Care: Seven Grand Forks Clinic-affiliated businesses filed for Chapter 11, but owner Dr. Khaled Rabadi says the clinic and its affiliates will stay open and continue serving patients. Separately, 2027 individual ACA plan rates are rising by an average of 7% to 19%, depending on the insurer. State Politics: Voters will decide whether future constitutional amendments should need 60% approval. Supporters say the higher bar protects the constitution; opponents say it limits voters’ power. Transportation: Federal grants will provide $23.6 million for Red River Valley & Western Railroad upgrades and about $691,000 for a Bottineau County crossing and grain-handling capacity. Energy: State and industry leaders are advancing a research effort to boost Bakken oil recovery, with Sen. John Hoeven pursuing $400 million in federal loan guarantees. Consumer Alert: Attorney General Drew Wrigley warns residents against unapproved stem-cell treatments promoted at local sales events, citing potential health and financial harms.

Bakken Oil: North Dakota officials and industry leaders are pushing ahead with a research project aimed at greatly increasing recoverable oil and extending the Bakken’s life by decades. Sen. John Hoeven is seeking $400 million in federal loan guarantees, and state funding may also be requested. Standing Rock Energy: A $200,000 solar-and-battery system is restoring reliable power to a buffalo barn, while providing backup during outages and shade for the herd. Data Center Debate: Candidates in Grand Forks and District 43 are weighing energy use, property taxes and local control as data center proposals draw scrutiny. Local Authority: A North Dakota judge ruled that the state’s decision on a carbon pipeline does not automatically override local zoning powers. Energy Costs: North Dakota and tribal communities were awarded $27 million to help cover heating and energy bills. Ukraine Policy: Sen. Kevin Cramer criticized President Donald Trump’s waiver of Russia sanctions and backed calls to investigate Starlink disruptions affecting Ukraine.

Standing Rock Solar: A Native-led nonprofit helped install a $200,000 solar-and-battery system at a buffalo barn, restoring reliable power and providing backup during outages. Reinforced panels were designed to withstand the animals. Cramer on Ukraine: North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer backed a congressional investigation into Starlink disruptions affecting Ukraine. He also said Ukraine’s president was enthusiastic about a proposal to halt strikes on Russian energy sites in exchange for expanded U.S. targeting support. Data Center Debate: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum touted a proposed North Dakota data center as an economic opportunity, while Grand Forks-area candidates raised concerns about power demand and urged local control. Bakken and Energy: State officials are advancing a second phase of field tests aimed at boosting Bakken oil recovery. Separately, a North Dakota judge ruled that state approval of a carbon pipeline does not automatically override local zoning. Farm and Household Costs: Candidates for agriculture commissioner debated tariffs, farm pressures and data centers. North Dakota and tribal communities were awarded more than $27 million for heating and energy costs.

Election 2026: Grand Forks groups will host a free Oct. 20 event explaining local ballot choices and ways to stay involved. Young Native organizers are also mobilizing to address voting barriers and strengthen tribal communities’ political voice. Data Centers: Grand Forks-area legislative candidates differ on how tightly to regulate major projects, with debate focused on community safeguards, power use and local control. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, meanwhile, cited a proposed North Dakota data center as he promoted deregulation. Energy and Agriculture: State officials are moving ahead with a new phase of Bakken oil recovery testing, while agriculture commissioner candidates have debated tariffs, farm pressures and data centers. Tribal and Community Support: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has renewed its legal fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline. North Dakota and tribal communities will receive more than $27 million for heating and energy costs. Transportation: Federal grants totaling about $24 million will support North Dakota rail upgrades.