Pesticide Liability Fight: Pesticide makers are pushing “liability shield” laws to block lawsuits from people harmed by 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. Federal Courts & ND Impact: North Dakota is set to receive $27.8 million from the federal government to cover Dakota Access Pipeline protest costs from 2016-17, with Gov. Kelly Armstrong and AG Drew Wrigley calling it overdue and shifting the bill to Washington. Defense & National Security: A B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing all eight crew; officials say the cause is under investigation and could take months. ND Ethics & Trust: A new Ethics Commission survey finds about two-thirds of respondents lack confidence in state officials acting ethically, with conflicts of interest and misuse of office topping concerns. Education Costs: ND lawmakers finalized an estimate that a November ballot measure for free K-12 school meals would cost about $124–$134 million every two years if approved. Local Governance: Williams County begins ditch mowing June 17 and imposed rain-related road restrictions with a 6-ton axle limit in Zones 1 and 2. Public Safety & Accountability: A former Minot police officer is suing the city over alleged discrimination and a hostile work environment tied to incidents in 2023-24. State Government Operations: ND will deploy 50 National Guard troops for July 4 events tied to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opening.