Federal Election Administration Fight: North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe says the U.S. Supreme Court had to hear North Dakota’s case against Trump mail-voting rules, arguing the required USPS portal and standardized processes were “impossible” to implement six weeks before Election Day. Foreign Influence & University Compliance: The U.S. Department of Education and State opened foreign funding investigations into the University of North Dakota (and Duke), alleging incomplete and untimely disclosures tied to foreign partners, with UND asked to provide records within 30 days. Agriculture & Cost Pressure: North Dakota farmers are bracing for fall harvest as diesel tops $6 a gallon, with growers warning the spike can erase profits and pushing more reliance on foreign labor via H-2A visas. State Capitol Finance Scrutiny: Lawmakers question whether a military gallery project can repay $55 million in state loans, citing limited fundraising progress and calling for stronger oversight. Wild Horses Policy: A bill backed by Sen. John Hoeven would set a minimum genetically diverse herd size at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, with monitoring and annual reporting requirements. Public Safety: A Mercer County deputy was cleared after a Beulah-area gunfight; separately, a man was arrested after barricading in Maddock. Energy & Defense: The Air Force and Northrop Grumman completed a major step toward the LGM-35A Sentinel missile, targeting first test flight in 2027. Border Security: RCMP detailed a high-speed Emerson border incident involving an armed suspect fleeing secondary screening, ending in arrest.