North Dakota Drought Response: Gov. Kelly Armstrong declared a statewide drought emergency and activated the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program, making up to $2 million available for new livestock water projects, with cost-share up to $10,000 per project. Health & Human Services Leadership: Armstrong appointed Conner Swanson to lead the ND Department of Health and Human Services, effective Aug. 29, succeeding Pat Traynor. Children’s Cabinet Coordination: Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden released the Children’s Cabinet annual report, highlighting progress on coordinating services for children and families after the cabinet’s move into the Governor’s Office in 2025. Water Infrastructure for Tribal Communities: Mandaree opened the Bruce A. Fox Water Treatment Plant, funded with $33.3 million in federal support for the Fort Berthold Rural Water system. Rural Water Fight: Wahpeton-area rural landowners asked the ND Department of Water Resources to reconsider dismissal of their challenge to a proposed dairy water agreement tied to the Wahpeton Buried Valley Aquifer. Privacy & Tech Policy: A new NYU scorecard found North Dakota’s license plate reader laws still fall short on privacy protections, and a separate report notes growing pushback against autonomous trucks as states write rules. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported some of the week’s lowest prices in ND counties, including $3.75 midgrade in Grand Forks County and $3.99 regular in Dunn County.