Dakota Access Trial: Former Greenpeace employee tells jury he emphasized nonviolence at Dakota Access Pipeline protests

As the trial against Greenpeace unfolds in North Dakota, a key question emerges—did the organization incite illegal actions, or did it simply support a grassroots movement? Energy Transfer, the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline, claims Greenpeace encouraged destructive tactics to derail the project. But former Greenpeace employee Cy Wagoner refutes those claims, testifying that

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Judge blocks illegal long-term care insurance rate increases imposed on North Dakota consumers

BISMARCK, N.D. – A North Dakota district court judge has approved a motion for summary judgment by Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread to block an illegal rate increase on consumers of a financially troubled long-term care insurance company operated by the state of Pennsylvania. In 2021, the Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, a long-term care

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Dakota Access Pipeline developer outlines damage claims, rests case against Greenpeace

A high-stakes legal battle over the Dakota Access Pipeline has reached its midpoint, with Energy Transfer arguing that Greenpeace’s advocacy crossed into defamation and financial sabotage. The company claims it incurred hundreds of millions in losses due to protests and reputational damage, while Greenpeace counters that the lawsuit is an attempt to silence environmental activism.

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Mexico tells Supreme Court that U.S. gunmakers are to blame for heavily armed cartels

Mexico and the United States are pointing fingers over the violence fueled by drug cartels, but this time, the dispute isn’t just political—it’s in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. Mexico is suing American gun manufacturers, arguing that the flow of military-style weapons from the north is arming the very cartels responsible for its

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Low-level marijuana offenders could pay a fine, skip court, under North Dakota bill

For years, North Dakota’s courts have been bogged down by low-level marijuana cases—thousands of them, each requiring multiple court appearances for offenses that often end in a simple fine. A bill moving through the Legislature aims to change that. If passed, House Bill 1596 would treat possession of less than half an ounce like a

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Jury hears opening statements in bellwether trial between Dakota Access Pipeline owner and Greenpeace

A high-stakes courtroom battle is unfolding in Mandan, North Dakota, where pipeline giant Energy Transfer is suing Greenpeace for $300 million over its role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. The case, deemed the most complex civil trial in state history, could have far-reaching consequences for free speech and protest rights. Energy Transfer argues Greenpeace

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Port: ‘This is an attack,’ DOCR director says of attorney general’s sentencing campaign

Tension is brewing in North Dakota’s criminal justice system as the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation clash over proposed sentencing reforms. During a recent committee hearing, DOCR Director Colby Braun accused Attorney General Drew Wrigley of launching an unwarranted attack on his agency. Disagreements surfaced over the accuracy of fiscal

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Mac Schneider resigns as North Dakota US attorney

Mac Schneider, the U.S. Attorney for North Dakota, officially resigned on February 16, signaling the end of his tenure which began in December 2022. In a social media post, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with his team in fulfilling the Justice Department’s mission. Raised in a family of lawyers in Fargo, Schneider’s

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Minot Judge Douglas Mattson to retire

North Central Judicial District Judge Douglas L. Mattson has announced that he will retire effective June 1, 2025. In a letter to Governor Kelly Armstrong and Chief Justice Jon Jensen, Judge Mattson said, “To the voters who allowed me to serve, I truly thank you. It has been a humbling honor.” Judge Mattson was first

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North Dakota sheriff calls release of inmate to ICE impersonator ‘perfect storm’

A mix-up at the Williams County Jail led to a brief but embarrassing escape when a man posing as an ICE agent walked in and took custody of an inmate—no questions asked. Sheriff Varlan Kvande calls it a “perfect storm” of timing and assumptions, as the real ICE agent arrived just minutes too late. The

Read & Share   sourced from: Dickinson Press

Ray Holmberg to be sentenced next month for traveling abroad with plans to sexually abuse children

A former North Dakota senator, Ray Holmberg, faces sentencing next month for traveling abroad with intentions to sexually exploit minors. His hearing is set for March 26 in Fargo, where he could receive up to 30 years in prison. Holmberg, who served in the North Dakota Senate for decades, pleaded guilty after admitting to seeking

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