AGP Executive Report

Legal & Risk Management: Pesticide makers are pushing “liability shield” laws to block lawsuits over products like glyphosate, as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule in July 2026 on whether federal law blocks state “failure to warn” claims—North Dakota is already among the states that passed similar protections. Construction & Local Infrastructure: Minot’s nearly $20M Puppy Dog Coulee storm sewer project is moving into Phase 7B, with a partial closure on 24th Avenue SW starting June 15 and ongoing traffic shifts tied to Phase 9 work. Health Policy & Medicaid: North Dakota HHS is tightening Medicaid provider oversight under a two-year revalidation strategy starting this summer, aiming to reduce fraud and strengthen enrollment audits. Energy & Transportation: Dickinson is routing traffic to a temporary paved bypass on the I-94 West Business Loop while crews work on the west/southwest half and prepare roundabout construction at 23rd Ave/County Rd 10. Agriculture & Markets: USDA’s June 12 feeder and stocker cattle summary shows price ranges for North Dakota feeder steers/heifers at Napoleon Livestock, alongside live cattle and feeder cattle futures updates. Pipeline & Public Costs: North Dakota will receive $28M from the federal government to cover law enforcement and other costs tied to Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Storm Recovery: FEMA awarded $817,641 for North Dakota storm recovery, including repairs for Minnkota Power Cooperative and replacement work at the University of Jamestown sports dome. Workforce Signals: A national hiring map shows North Dakota’s job openings down 8.7% since 2020, highlighting a tougher labor demand trend than many neighboring states.

Dakota Access Pipeline: North Dakota will receive $28M from the federal government to cover law enforcement and other protest costs from the 2016-17 DAPL demonstrations, with Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Sen. Kevin Cramer calling it overdue reimbursement. Animal Health & Ag Compliance: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas, and North Dakota is reminding owners about new interstate movement and veterinary requirements as quarantines expand. Water & Irrigation: An ND irrigation and drainage study says the state could add 1.3M acres of irrigation, pointing to major lost economic opportunity and potential for more value-added processing. Legal/Industry Risk: Pesticide makers are pushing state “liability shield” laws as the Supreme Court weighs whether federal law blocks state “failure to warn” lawsuits tied to glyphosate. Energy/Infrastructure: Dickinson traffic shifts to a temporary I-94 West Business Loop bypass while crews prepare roundabout work. Healthcare Expansion: Sanford will take over the former CHI St. Alexius Minot Medical Plaza for a new Sanford Landmark Clinic opening in fall 2026.

Dakota Access Pipeline: North Dakota will receive nearly $28M from the federal government to cover law enforcement and other protest costs from the 2016-17 DAPL demonstrations, with the U.S. also dismissing appeals and issuing a statement acknowledging shortcomings in its response. Rail Safety & Hazardous Transport: The NTSB says a fiery 2024 derailment near Bordulac was driven by a collapsed subgrade tied to inadequate culvert inspections, and it renews pressure for railroads to replace flawed tank cars and rethink how hazmat is positioned. Animal Health (Screwworm): USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas; North Dakota animal owners are reminded that CVIs and extra import requirements apply for animals coming from quarantined states. Agriculture Events: NDSU set dates for 2026 Research Extension Center Field Days across the state, bringing tours and demonstrations for producers and advisers. Livestock Markets: Napoleon Livestock Auction reported strong feeder cattle demand on June 11, with 1,946 head sold and prices varying by weight and class. Local Economy/Infrastructure: Cavalier County motorists complain about a Highway 1 rebuild causing delays and rough conditions, with ND DOT cutting speeds in the worst stretch. Community & Education: UND named its first Astronaut Scholarship scholar, and Valley City State University grad Kimberly Souba published two new books.

Federal Settlement for DAPL Policing Costs: North Dakota will receive nearly $28M from the U.S. to cover state policing costs tied to Dakota Access Pipeline protests, with the federal government also agreeing to drop appeals and issue an acknowledgment of shortcomings in its response. Agriculture & Weather: Winter wheat harvest is moving but rain is still slowing parts of the Plains; in the Dakotas, conditions are mixed and producers are watching crop progress closely. Waterfowl Watch: North Dakota’s spring breeding duck survey found an index of about 2.4M birds, down 9.5% from 2025, with habitat loss and grass/wetland declines flagged as key drivers. Local Infrastructure: Cavalier County motorists report frustration with a Highway 1 rebuild, citing slowdowns and heavy equipment impacts. Affordable Housing in Fargo: The Lashkowitz Riverfront Four & Nine complex opened downtown, adding 110 affordable units. Rural Community Health: A McIntosh County longevity story points to strong social connection as a major factor in long life. Telecom Expansion: Midco is rolling out Midco Mobile in Bismarck with a launch party and low introductory plan pricing. Energy/Tech Finance: Applied Digital priced $1.59B in junk bonds at 7% to fund a North Dakota AI data center expansion tied to CoreWeave.

North Dakota Politics: Rep. Julie Fedorchak won her GOP primary and will face Trygve Hammer in November, with Trump backing her reelection bid. Local Governance: Minot voters approved a Park District sales tax measure Tuesday, choosing maintenance-focused funding after a near-miss last year. Health & Workforce: ND HHS is launching a $1.5M mobile mammography funding opportunity to bring breast cancer screenings to rural and underserved communities in western North Dakota. Public Health: North Dakota is in “Quit Week,” pushing tobacco cessation support like medications and coaching, with ND Quits reporting strong follow-through after programs. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reports the lowest Dickey County diesel price at $4.79/gal for the week ending May 30, with North Dakota diesel averaging $5.04. Healthcare Innovation: Essentia Health Fargo began offering the Acessa radiofrequency procedure for uterine fibroids as a minimally invasive alternative to hormones or hysterectomy. Legal/Consumer Protection: Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a $4.87M multistate settlement with GS Labs over overpriced and delayed COVID-19 tests. Infrastructure & Water: Emerado remains under a “No Use Order” after a watermain break, pending repair and water testing. Business/Industry: A Fargo teacher-licensing lawsuit was filed by Capstone Classical Academy challenging North Dakota’s licensing rules for qualified private-school instructors.

North Dakota Politics & Housing: Fargo voters elected Josh Boschee as mayor, with his early focus on housing affordability and downtown priorities. State Government & Construction: Crews near the North Dakota governor’s residence in Bismarck found human remains and coffin fragments; archaeologists say they’ve identified nine more possible grave sites, and next steps are expected in weeks. Consumer Protection: Nebraska and Iowa are among 18 states reaching a $4.87M multistate settlement with GS Labs over overpriced and delayed COVID-19 tests; Washingtonians are set to receive nearly $1M in restitution. Energy & Infrastructure Law: A Dutch court ruled Greenpeace can proceed with its case against Energy Transfer tied to Dakota Access Pipeline protest lawsuits, keeping the dispute in international court. Agriculture & Trade: NDSU research estimates Indiana farmers lost about $607M in exports during China’s latest retaliatory tariffs, with soybeans taking the biggest hit. Livestock Health: USDA confirmed a New World screwworm case in the U.S.; North Dakota State University says it’s unlikely to affect meat, but it could keep the Mexico border closed and tighten cattle supply. Workforce & AI Buildout: Meta’s workforce initiative targets skilled-trade training for data center and infrastructure jobs as AI expansion strains labor markets. Local Tech & UAS: Williston’s Tech & UAS Summit highlights how drones and AI are being applied across regional industries.

North Dakota Politics: Minot voters kept Mayor Mark Jantzer in office and picked Stephan Podrygula, John MacMartin and Eric Locken for City Council, while Grand Forks County Commission primary winners Tony Hodny and Mitch McCoy head to November. U.S. House: Rep. Julie Fedorchak won North Dakota’s GOP U.S. House primary and will face Trygve Hammer in November. Statehouse Races: Connie Osowski advanced in House District 42; Levi Bachmeier and Tracy Foss moved on in the superintendent of public instruction race; and District 43 incumbent Eric Murphy lost his House primary. Local Infrastructure: Northwood voters backed a citywide street improvement advisory measure, setting up possible special assessments. Ag & Workforce: NDSU is expanding its AgTech program to build a data-and-computers-ready agriculture workforce, and the Midwest Agriculture Summit drew regional and international voices. Energy & Costs: Diesel and gasoline prices remain volatile, with rising fuel costs feeding into construction bid pressure. Tech/Data Centers: Applied Digital priced $1.59B in senior secured notes to fund a new 150 MW AI data center building at its Ellendale campus. Public Health: A Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa supplements has expanded to 119 cases across 36 states, including North Dakota.

Data Centers & AI Buildout: Applied Digital is raising $1.59B in senior secured notes to add 150 MW of IT load at its Polaris Forge 1 campus in Ellendale, expanding its North Dakota AI data center footprint. Rural Connectivity: Integrity Technologies Corp. (Grand Forks) is teaming with World Mobile to pursue integrated fiber backhaul plus fixed wireless/cellular solutions aimed at underserved rural and tribal areas. Health Care Oversight: Gov. Kelly Armstrong says North Dakota HHS is launching a Medicaid integrity strategy starting July 1, expanding oversight and revalidation for high-risk provider categories to curb fraud. Energy & Fuel Costs: GasBuddy reports show regular gas prices in North Dakota averaging about $4.04 for the week ending May 30, with local lows like $4.05 in Stutsman County and $4.19 in Emmons County. Agriculture & Weather: Drought conditions persist across parts of the Midwest, including North Dakota, with growers still needing timely rains to protect yields. Politics (Local Ballot Watch): Tuesday’s North Dakota primary includes a proposed constitutional “single subject” rule for future amendments, plus races for Fargo mayor and other local offices.

North Dakota Primary Watch: Voters across the state head to the polls Tuesday, June 9, with Williston races and statewide GOP and Democratic-NPL nominations on the ballot, including contests for U.S. House, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, and the Public Service Commission. Fargo Housing Dollars: Fargo approved its 2026 Action Plan for federal CDBG and HOME grants, earmarking about $1.3M to boost infrastructure and facilities in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. AI Power Push (Williston): Nixxy says it signed an LOI with Tachyon9 to pursue a publicly traded AI infrastructure and power platform centered on a North Dakota hyperscale campus, targeting up to 1GW generation and major GPU deployment. Energy Policy (Coal): The Trump administration is directing about $500M in Defense Production Act funding toward coal-fired power, including new plants and modernization—an effort tied to domestic mining and baseload reliability. Agriculture Update: USDA’s latest Crop Progress and Condition report shows corn ratings mostly steady while soybeans dip slightly. SNAP Restrictions: North Dakota is among states moving to limit what SNAP recipients can buy, with new “real food” rules rolling out on state schedules. Local Construction/Concrete: Solid State Concrete Fargo says it’s rolling out ACI-certified engineering protocols to support new development in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Rural Health & Drug Supply: Civica Rural Hospital Program launched with a $3.2M grant to help North Dakota’s smaller hospitals pool purchasing power and access cheaper generics, aiming to reduce the hit from drug shortages. Energy & Environment: NDDEQ is investigating a produced water spill from a pipeline near Cartwright, with nearby pasture and a spring reportedly impacted. Infrastructure & Construction: Solid State Concrete Fargo says it’s rolling out ACI-certified engineering protocols for new Fargo-Moorhead-area development in West Fargo, Horace, and Dilworth to better handle Red River Valley freeze-thaw stress. Utilities & Politics: Public Service Commissioner Jill Kringstad is seeking reelection in the June 9 GOP primary, focusing on energy development, affordability, and PSC oversight as data center growth becomes a bigger issue. Agriculture & Markets: North Dakota soybean crush capacity and market “baskets” keep expanding as farmers push for more domestic uses and resilience after past trade shocks. Transportation & Public Services: A bipartisan USPS bill would require better tracking and notifications after North Dakota and Minnesota were flagged among the worst regions for mail performance. Local Economy Watch: Gas prices stay volatile in the week ending May 30, with multiple counties reporting the lowest regular and premium rates via GasBuddy.

Coal & Power Funding: Trump’s Defense Production Act push is sending $700M to keep and restart coal plants, including support for facilities in North Dakota, as part of a broader grid-reliability and modernization effort. Energy & Land Conflict: Tribes from South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska are suing to stop exploratory graphite drilling near a sacred Black Hills site, arguing federal agencies violated law and that the project threatens wildlife and ceremonial land. Pipeline Legal Fallout: A Dutch court cleared the way for Greenpeace to continue its fight with Energy Transfer tied to Dakota Access Pipeline protests, keeping a major corporate-versus-activists dispute in play. Local Ag Workforce: NDSU Extension and 4-H ran a Youth Farm Safety Camp in Dickinson, training teens on tractor and livestock safety, emergency response, and ATV certification. Fuel Prices Watch (ND): GasBuddy reports the lowest E85 in McKenzie County at $3.49 (week ending May 30) and diesel lows around $4.95 in Stutsman County, with statewide averages shifting week to week. AI & Public Backlash: A national trend shows fast-growing opposition to data centers as residents raise concerns about water use and impacts on homes.

Coal & Power Funding: The Trump administration is pushing a $700M coal boost using wartime Defense Production Act authority, with North Dakota named among states keeping existing coal plants online and support tied to grid reliability and modernization. Pipeline Legal Fight: A Dutch court cleared the way for Greenpeace to pursue its case tied to Dakota Access Pipeline protest fallout, keeping a major fossil-fuel legal battle in play beyond North Dakota. Tribal vs. Mining: Nine tribes across SD, ND and NE sued to stop exploratory graphite drilling near a sacred Black Hills site, arguing federal agencies violated law and threatened wildlife. Farm Safety & Skills: NDSU Extension and 4-H ran a Youth Farm Safety Camp in Dickinson, teaching tractor, livestock, ATV, first aid and emergency response for ages 13–16. Ag Tech & Data: North Dakota is rolling out a new system to improve farm data reporting, aiming to modernize how growers track and report acreage. Fuel Watch (ND): GasBuddy reports show volatile but mostly steady prices late May: Stark County regular hit $3.89, Ward County E15 $3.92, and several counties logged single-station “lowest” deals around $4.00 regular. Health Spending: Minot Medicaid billings under Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare) jumped 54.8% in 2024, reaching $832,861.

Coal & Power Policy: The Trump administration is pushing nearly $700M into the U.S. coal industry, using wartime-style authorities to support existing coal plants and fund new builds, including money tied to North Dakota utilities and a potential California export terminal. Pipeline & Legal Battles: A Dutch court cleared the way for Greenpeace to pursue its case against Energy Transfer tied to Dakota Access Pipeline protests, keeping a major fossil-fuel legal fight alive beyond North Dakota. Energy Infrastructure Planning: FERC is collecting public input on the Bakken East Pipeline route through Stutsman County, with landowners focused on how quickly agricultural ground can be restored after construction. Agriculture Workforce & Safety: NDSU Extension and 4-H hosted a Youth Farm Safety Camp in Dickinson for ages 13–16, covering tractor and livestock safety, ATV training, first aid, and Stop the Bleed certification. Farm Economy Signals: North Dakota cropland values are flat after tight margins, while pastureland is holding up better, helped by stronger livestock markets. Housing & Community: North Dakota homeownership rates keep slipping, and local leaders are again tying housing availability to workforce stability. Local Business Pulse: Gas prices in multiple counties show a mixed but generally steady picture for late May, with several areas reporting the lowest regular rates near the high-$3 range. Civic/Logistics: Bipartisan senators introduced a Postal Delivery Accountability Act aimed at improving tracking and transparency for mail delays in North Dakota and Minnesota. Tech & Privacy: Facial recognition use keeps expanding, but new AI models are said to improve accuracy—raising fresh questions for public-facing systems.

Pipeline Legal Fight: A Dutch court ruled Greenpeace can pursue its case in the Netherlands tied to Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access Pipeline protest fallout, reviving an international legal battle even after a prior $345 million North Dakota ruling. Energy & Infrastructure: The Trump administration is set to push nearly $700M into U.S. coal power using Cold War-era Defense Production Act authority, including funding that reaches North Dakota. Bakken East Pipeline Scrutiny: FERC held a scoping meeting in Jamestown for the proposed Bakken East Pipeline, with landowners focused on how property will be restored after construction. Ag Safety & Workforce: Youth from across western North Dakota attended an NDSU Extension/4-H farm safety camp in Dickinson, training on tractors, livestock handling, ATVs, first aid, and fire/electrical safety. Potato Processing Buildout: Agristo’s North Dakota potato plant construction was extended one year, with production now expected around fall 2029. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported the lowest regular gas in Ward County at $3.89 (week ending May 30) and the lowest E15 in Stutsman County at $3.92. Health Spending: Minot Medicaid billings under “Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare)” jumped 54.8% in 2024. Local Ops & Roads: A soil settlement issue led to a southbound lane closure at a Minot U.S. 83/2 culvert project, and produced water spilled near Cartwright is under investigation.

Coal Power Push: Trump says he’s using the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to put $700M into coal power upgrades and new plants, with $425M aimed at extending 13 coal plants, including North Dakota’s Antelope Valley Station, plus additional funding for export infrastructure. Grid & Cost Pressure: Separate coverage shows electricity prices climbing fast in many states; North Dakota’s residential rates rose about 7.6% year over year, while the national story keeps pointing to grid investment and demand growth. Data Center Friction: Oliver County commissioners heard concerns about data center noise from a health expert, with Applied Digital responding that studies and conditions are already in place. Local Courts: Fargo activist Faith Dixon’s grant-misuse trial is set to begin June 9 in Bismarck, with potential prison time if convicted. Farm Tech: North Dakota is piloting USDA’s GEAR digital acreage reporting system to speed crop reporting and reduce producer workload. Energy Markets Watch: Oil and gas rig counts rose for a seventh straight week; North Dakota stayed at 26 rigs. Trade: U.S. Wheat Associates signed an Indonesia deal targeting minimum U.S. wheat purchases through 2030.

Coal & Power Funding: President Trump says he’ll use the Defense Production Act to push about $700M into reviving U.S. coal—modernizing plants and supporting mines, with North Dakota’s Antelope Valley Station getting over $27M for upgrades aimed at fewer outages and more capacity. Energy Costs: A new map shows residential electricity prices vary wildly—North Dakota averages about 12¢/kWh while some states pay far more, underscoring how power infrastructure shapes household bills. Data Centers & Community Impact: A health expert warns that data center noise can affect physical and mental health, adding to the usual water and air concerns. Ag Tech Growth: Fargo’s 701x closed an oversubscribed $10M Series B, says it’s profitable, and plans global expansion for its connected beef cattle platform. Legal/Business Risk: A $15M lawsuit involving Summit Carbon Solutions is moving toward trial in Delaware. Local Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports the lowest regular gas in Adams County at $4.09 (week ending May 30), with multiple ND counties seeing diesel lows near the $4.89–$5.09 range. Medicaid Oversight: Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced expanded Medicaid provider revalidation starting July 1 to strengthen fraud prevention and program integrity. Construction/Infrastructure: Ward County commissioners discussed a right-of-way reversal offer tied to County Road 12, showing how road infrastructure rules can shift landowner control.