AGP Executive Report

Kratom Policy Push: North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong is urging lawmakers to ban kratom “in all its forms,” citing overdose deaths and arguing the product is too lightly regulated. Wildlife Research: North Dakota Game and Fish is asking hunters to voluntarily submit deer jawbones so biologists can estimate age and better track the deer population. Air Quality Rule Update: The EPA has proposed fully approving North Dakota’s regional haze plan, reversing a prior partial rejection and setting up a public comment period. Agriculture Science: USDA researchers at the North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory report that a corn-soybean-spring wheat-sunflower rotation can improve soil health and stabilize yields in dry years. Education Metrics: New federal data show mixed six-year bachelor’s completion rates across North Dakota counties and student groups, including University of North Dakota results for Asian and white students. Defense Tech Procurement: A U.S. Army Corps update outlines a large underground communications network tied to the Sentinel ICBM program, with major infrastructure work planned across the region.

Trade Policy: North Dakota Sen. Paul Thomas helped pass a Midwestern Legislative Conference resolution backing Canada-U.S. agricultural free trade, citing decades of growth and the role cross-border food supply plays for affordability and reliability. Wildlife Research: North Dakota Game and Fish is asking hunters to voluntarily submit deer lower jaws so biologists can estimate age and better track deer population structure. Higher Ed Outcomes: New federal data show Grand Forks County’s University of North Dakota posted a 68.6% six-year bachelor’s completion rate for Asian students (2018 cohort, through 2024), while other counties tied to ND public four-year schools show varied completion rates by race/ethnicity. Defense Tech: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is moving forward with a Sentinel Utility Corridor underground communications network for the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM program, estimated at $1.4B–$2B. Energy Costs: Labor Day weekend brought record-high U.S. gasoline prices, with the national average forecast to top $4. Air Quality Policy: The EPA proposed fully approving North Dakota’s regional haze plan, reversing a prior partial rejection and opening a public comment period. Education & Health Workforce: Grand Forks CTE teacher Katie Hatt Rokke was named North Dakota CTE Teacher of the Year, highlighting hands-on career training. Public Tech Transition: BRIDGE office hours continue for Infinite Campus scheduling and attendance, with extra sessions planned in September. Local Data Collection: Williston is using a portable traffic count trailer at 16th Ave W and 26th St W to measure vehicles and pedestrians as it weighs whether a traffic signal is needed.

Defense & Infrastructure: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is moving ahead with a $1.4B–$2B underground communications network to support the Sentinel ICBM “Sentinel Utility Corridor,” linking launch and command sites across Montana’s Malmstrom area. Energy & Policy: The EPA has proposed fully approving North Dakota’s regional haze plan, reversing a 2024 partial rejection and setting up a 30-day public comment period. Local Tech & Transportation: Williston is using a portable traffic count trailer at 16th Ave W and 26th St W to measure vehicles and pedestrians for possible future signal decisions—without reading license plates. Higher Ed Outcomes (ND): New federal data show Cass County’s Asian bachelor’s completion rate at 50% (2018 cohort, measured through 2024), Ward County’s Hispanic/Latino rate at 29.6%, and Grand Forks County’s white rate at 62%. STEM & Agriculture: NDSU highlights its research arboretum, while regional farming coverage points to soil-health benefits from sunflower-inclusive rotations and ongoing work on crop and soil management. Business & Tech Jobs: North Dakota’s taxable sales rose 3.86% in Q2 2026, with manufacturing up 70.6% and professional/scientific/technical services up 8.7%.

Higher Ed Outcomes: New federal data show Cass County’s six-year bachelor’s completion for Asian students hit 50% for the 2018 cohort (18 of 36), below the statewide 55.8%, while Ward County’s Hispanic/Latino completion was 29.6% (8 of 27), also below the statewide 39.8%. More UND/ND System Oversight: UND is facing a new state board review framework that could flag low-completion programs, with three UND programs among those potentially affected. Biomedical Research Funding: HHS awarded $408,184 to the University of North Dakota to support biomedical research and training through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Air Quality Policy: The EPA proposed fully approving North Dakota’s regional haze plan, reversing a 2024 partial rejection and opening a 30-day public comment period. Energy & Carbon Tech: Project Tundra’s updated structure adds Reliant Carbon Capture & Storage to lead development, ownership and operations for a planned capture site near Milton R. Young Station, with CO2 utilization options also in play. Local Tech/Infrastructure: Williston is using a traffic count trailer at 16th Ave W and 26th St W to guide whether a traffic signal is warranted, with the city saying it doesn’t read license plates or collect personal data.

AI & Data Centers: Applied Digital and IREN are being pitched as ways to invest in “neocloud” infrastructure, with Applied Digital tied to high-performance computing sites and IREN tied to energy-heavy operations. Air Policy: The EPA has proposed fully approving North Dakota’s regional haze plan, reversing a 2024 partial rejection and setting up a 30-day public comment period. State Economy: North Dakota Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus reports Q2 2026 taxable sales and purchases rose 3.86% year over year to $7.39B, led by retail trade and manufacturing gains. Higher Ed Oversight: UND says three of its programs could be reviewed as “low completion” under a new State Board of Higher Education policy. STEM & Research Funding: HHS awarded UND $408,184 to support biomedical research and training. Agriculture Science: NDSU released 2026 soybean iron deficiency chlorosis scores to help growers pick more tolerant varieties for 2027. Cybersecurity: NDSU researchers highlight hardware-focused security risks and urge chip designers to strengthen protections. Carbon Capture Project: Project Tundra’s development structure shifts responsibility to Reliant Carbon Capture & Storage, with CO2 utilization options including enhanced oil recovery.

Clean Air Policy: The EPA has proposed fully approving North Dakota’s regional haze State Implementation Plan, reversing a 2024 partial rejection and saying the plan has enforceable limits and schedules to improve visibility in protected federal areas; the proposal opens a 30-day public comment period. Carbon Capture & Power: Project Tundra is getting an updated development structure: Reliant Carbon Capture & Storage will take on development and operations for the Milton R. Young Station capture facility, targeting up to 5 million tons of CO2 annually, while Minnkota keeps storage responsibilities and explores CO2 use for enhanced oil recovery. STEM Research Funding: HHS awarded UND $408,184 to support biomedical research and training through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Higher Ed Oversight: Under a new State Board of Higher Education policy, three UND programs are flagged as potentially low-completion and could be reviewed under a five-year graduate-count threshold. Cybersecurity Research: NDSU researchers published work aimed at exposing a hardware-related security threat and urging chip designers to strengthen defenses. Agriculture Tech & Data: NDSU released 2026 soybean iron deficiency chlorosis scores and published an online soil and fertilizer resource to help growers manage inputs with modern field tools. Education & Mental Health: North Dakota hosted a Western Governors’ Association workshop on mental health, including a panel on youth mental health in the digital age.

Workforce & Culture: Prairie Business highlighted the 2026 “50 Best Places to Work” across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, with nearly 1,400 nominations and a mix of repeat and new honorees spanning engineering, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, and tech. Higher Ed & Talent Pipeline: Iowa State’s new president, David Cook, says workforce and talent retention are the big challenge he’s hearing statewide, pushing for more applied learning and internships tied to local needs. Public Safety: North Dakota officials are pressing for tougher penalties for drivers who flee traffic stops after a Fargo-area fatal crash tied to an attempted stop. Data Centers & Transparency: The North Dakota Legislature rejected a bid to ban non-disclosure agreements between data center developers and public agencies, keeping the NDA fight alive. Healthcare Tech: Sanford Health in Fargo is using robotic Whipple surgery for faster recovery, spotlighting one patient’s return to normal activities. Agriculture Tech & Soil: Research and local events are spotlighting reduced-tillage and strip-till approaches to cut erosion and protect Red River Valley soils, including sugarbeet nitrogen impacts. Cybersecurity: A vendor breach tied to Thomson Reuters’ C-Track exposed sensitive court-linked data across multiple jurisdictions, including North Dakota, prompting investigations and credit monitoring. Opioid Data Access: The CDC launched a single public overdose data dashboard that merges multiple tracking systems as overdose deaths continue to trend downward.

Kratom Policy Clash: North Dakota lawmakers advanced competing kratom bills—one would regulate natural kratom for adults 21+ (House 86-6) while another pushes a broader ban on kratom and derivatives (Senate 46-1)—setting up a potentially messy special session as the measures move to second votes. Court Tech Security: A vendor breach tied to Thomson Reuters’ C-Track exposed sensitive court-related personal data in multiple states, including North Dakota Supreme Court information, prompting investigations and credit-monitoring guidance. Defense Tech in Grand Forks: Army Under Secretary Mike Obadal toured Grand Forks’ Point Defense Battle Lab and the GrandSKY UAS tech park, highlighting North Dakota’s unmanned systems ecosystem and rapid development partnerships. UAS/Drone Ecosystem Boost: The North Dakota STEM Ecosystem named new board officers and awarded support services through Gateway to Science, aiming to strengthen STEM education and workforce pathways. Agriculture Research & Conservation: Research and local farmer discussions spotlighted strip-till and reduced tillage approaches to cut erosion and protect Red River Valley soils, including sugarbeet nitrogen impacts. Public Health Data Upgrade: The CDC merged overdose tracking into a single public dashboard, alongside a reported 12.3% drop in provisional overdose deaths for the 12 months ending March 2026. Data Center Watch: Reports surfaced about possible data center land activity near Casselton, while officials and the public continue to weigh costs and impacts. Native Language Funding: $6.5 million in new support expands Native language immersion initiatives in Bureau of Indian Education schools. Safety Service: AAA is bringing back Tow to Go for Labor Day, offering free rides for impaired drivers and their vehicles in North Dakota and nearby states.

Defense Tech in Grand Forks: U.S. Army Under Secretary Mike Obadal toured the Point Defense Battle Lab and the GrandSKY UAS tech park, highlighting North Dakota’s role in counter-UAS development and rapid test-and-deploy collaboration. Court Data Security: Thomson Reuters’ C-Track vendor breach exposed sensitive court-linked data tied to appellate courts across multiple states, including North Dakota, with the North Dakota Court System saying Supreme Court-related information may be affected while other systems were not. Water Infrastructure Funding: Stutsman County officials continue pursuing federal funding options for the Crystal Springs watershed initiative, including exploring the PROTECT Formula Program and coordination through Sen. Cramer and Sen. Hoeven staff. Ag Soil Research & Events: University research and regional farmers are pushing strip-till and reduced tillage to cut erosion and protect nitrogen for sugarbeets, with a Northwest Minnesota Tillage Expo focused on practical soil-loss solutions. STEM Ecosystem Leadership: North Dakota STEM Ecosystem elected new board officers and awarded support services to the state’s Gateway to Science to expand STEM education and workforce pathways. Tech for Accessibility: A Spiritwood Lake man helped a blind teen try Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, describing improved independence for someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Kratom Policy Pressure: Residents and lawmakers in the region are weighing kratom bans or stronger controls, with Fort Peck community members urging action.

Defense Tech in North Dakota: Army Under Secretary Mike Obadal toured Grand Forks’ Point Defense Battle Lab and the GrandSKY UAS tech park, highlighting rapid development and counter-UAS work with university and Pentagon partners. Court Systems & Cybersecurity: The North Dakota Court System said a C-Track vendor incident may have affected data tied to the state Supreme Court, while district courts/Odyssey and nCourt financial systems were not impacted; officials urged people to monitor accounts and credit. STEM Workforce Building: The North Dakota STEM Ecosystem elected new board officers and awarded a one-year support contract to the Gateway to Science to coordinate statewide STEM initiatives, communications, fundraising, and grants. AI Glasses for Accessibility: A Spiritwood Lake man helped a friend’s blind son try Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, describing gains in independence and day-to-day self-sufficiency. Data Centers Policy Watch: A North Dakota committee meeting weighed data center growth, grid impacts, cooling and water use, and how state regulatory frameworks apply. Ag Tech & Operations: RealAg Radio focused on grain storage/handling and field efficiency upgrades, including equipment changes aimed at keeping drills moving during tight planting windows.

UAS & Satellite Careers: Grand Forks is pushing its Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems and Satellite Systems job pipeline, pointing residents to listings and internships tied to local programs like BVLOS operations and the region’s UAS tech ecosystem. Weather Tech: NOAA awarded a $1.1B Mesonet contract to bring drone-collected data into weather forecasting, expanding how the National Weather Service observes conditions that drive storms. Defense & Submarines: The USS North Dakota returned to the fleet after Portsmouth’s extended drydocking, and the Navy is also defining requirements for a NextGen Submarine Rescue System aimed at global rescues within 72 hours. Nuclear Security Systems: Northrop Grumman won an $86.1M Air Force task order to maintain the Remote Visual Assessment monitoring network for Minuteman III missile silos, including Minot, ND. Public Health & Rural Care: A new KFF analysis warns rural hospital obstetrics closures could force Medicaid patients to drive much farther for inpatient maternity care. Energy & Grid Resilience: Rural electric co-ops updated efforts to reduce wildfire risk using a coordinated resilience consortium. Policy Watch (ND): North Dakota’s Ethics Commission is asking for more staff as complaint volume rises, and lawmakers are weighing kratom regulation in a special session.

UAS & Satellite Jobs Push: Grand Forks leaders are promoting North Dakota’s uncrewed and autonomous systems ecosystem, pointing to BVLOS capability, a UAS undergraduate program, and the GrandSky R&D park, while sharing career and internship openings through local workforce listings. AI in Classrooms: A new report finds AI tutoring platforms still struggle to keep students engaged, with researchers saying human-led, relationship-based tutoring has stronger results so far. Weather Tech Funding: NOAA awarded a $1.1B mesonet contract to expand drone-fed weather data into forecasting, aiming to improve predictions for tornadoes, fog, and winter precipitation. Data Center Politics: Lawmakers heard public concerns about AI and data centers in North Dakota, with residents pressing for transparency and a pause on new permits while others argued for economic and workforce benefits. Naval Tech & Maintenance: USS North Dakota returned to the fleet after a major Portsmouth drydocking overhaul, including modernization and first-time technical alterations for the Block III Virginia-class submarine. Public Health & Regulation: North Dakota’s special session is set to tackle kratom regulation after Democrats criticized lawmakers for delaying research and action.

AI & Data Centers: Lawmakers in Bismarck heard public pushback on AI and data center proposals, with residents pressing for more transparency and warning some projects are moving too fast; legislators are also weighing a temporary pause and limits on nondisclosure agreements. Nuclear Security Tech: Northrop Grumman won an $86.1M Air Force contract to maintain the Remote Visual Assessment missile-silo monitoring system across Minot and other northern bases through 2031. Rural Health Access: A new KFF analysis says rural hospital obstetrics closures can mean hour-plus drives for Medicaid patients, with closures accelerating as payment and enrollment changes loom. State Ethics & Oversight: The North Dakota Ethics Commission is asking for more staff after complaint volume surged, including many cases involving officials it can’t fully investigate. Agriculture Research: NDSU Extension highlighted the century-old Ceres wheat variety in 2026 research plots, showing how far breeding has come in height and performance. Public Safety/History: Crews will investigate and relocate human remains found near the North Dakota governor’s residence, using ground-penetrating radar and contracted archaeologists. Tech in Daily Life: Google Wallet added Ohio state IDs on Android, extending the growing list that already includes North Dakota. Defense & Service: MacQueen opened a new Bismarck service center to expand support for refuse and recycling fleets statewide.

Tech & Civic Engineering: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora is drawing big crowds fast, with visitors now able to see artifacts from Roosevelt’s 1909–10 Smithsonian expedition to Africa, including specimens and mounted animals. Defense Tech & Maintenance: USS North Dakota (SSN 784) has returned to the fleet after an extended drydocking at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, with modernization work aimed at boosting readiness for modern deployment. AI Infrastructure & Local Concerns: A proposed Wisconsin Rapids data center is facing community pushback that includes environmental worries and residents’ concerns about Russian ties tied to project leadership. Digital IDs: Google Wallet for Android added Ohio state IDs, expanding the list of supported digital IDs that already includes North Dakota. Public Safety & Heritage: Crews are set to investigate and relocate human remains found near the North Dakota governor’s residence, after radar surveys flagged possible anomalies. STEM in the Sky: UND named a Maple Grove flight instructor, Eric Lundstrom, Certified Flight Instructor of the Month for July. Agriculture Research: NDSU Extension highlighted the 100-year-old Ceres wheat variety in research plots, showing how far breeding has come.

NDSU Wheat Research: Carrington Extension Center researchers are showcasing the 100-year-old spring wheat variety “Ceres,” developed by NDSU and released in 1926, with 2026 plots already showing a noticeable height advantage over nearby varieties. Defense & Maintenance: The USS North Dakota (SSN 784) has returned to operational service after a 40-month modernization at Portsmouth, while a GAO report flags major submarine maintenance delays that have cost the Navy thousands of operational days and billions in idle sustainment costs. AI Governance: A North Dakota Legislative Research Council brief argues against using general-purpose chatbots in government after reported high hallucination rates on legal questions, warning that bad outputs could mislead the public and lawmakers. AI Infrastructure in ND: NDSU’s Challey Institute is lining up fall public events, including a panel on what AI data-center growth could mean for North Dakota’s electric grid, ratepayers, and agriculture. Rural Connectivity: A Brenda-Waskada reeve says unreliable cell service in Waskada is a safety issue and calls for a concerted push for rural coverage. Rural Health Oversight: A KFF Health News report says a $50B rural healthcare program is moving fast but lacks transparency, raising fraud and performance concerns. Aviation Training: UND named Maple Grove native Eric Lundstrom its Certified Flight Instructor of the Month for July. Agriculture & Energy: A transformer-related company deal would expand oil and gas lease purchases in the Williston Basin, tying new drilling plans to North Dakota and Montana.

AI in Government: North Dakota’s Legislative Research Council is weighing a draft brief warning that chatbots can hallucinate on legal questions often enough to mislead lawmakers and the public, pushing for tighter limits on AI use in government. Higher Ed Cybersecurity: The ND University System lifted its TikTok ban on campus devices, citing updated security reviews and changes in app ownership, while keeping IT approval and cybersecurity checks in place. NDSU & Soil Tech: NDSU Extension will host an End of Summer Soils Field Day near Wyndmere on Sept. 3, focusing on soil fertility, testing, cover crops, and on-farm soil management. Drones & Defense Tech: North Dakota continues to position itself as a drone warfare proving ground, with military and contractor events highlighting counter-UAS advances. Agriculture & Rural Tech: NDSU Extension also plans Big Iron Farm and Construction Show exhibits on farm safety, rural stress, weed ID, and data-center impacts, tying tech to everyday rural needs. Energy & Industry: A new transformer-manufacturing push in Marion is linked to Callan Power’s Williston Basin lease purchases, with plans for Red River formation drilling.