News

Gov. Doug Burgum thanked North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) Director Bill Panos for his impactful service to the state after Panos submitted his resignation effective Sept. 9, citing family obligations in his home state of California. Burgum announced NDDOT Deputy Director of Engineering Ron Henke will serve as interim director.

Gov. Doug Burgum today highlighted the benefits of the FM Area Diversion for the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo metro area and the entire state of North Dakota during a groundbreaking ceremony for the 30-mile diversion channel, a key piece of the comprehensive flood protection project.

Gov. Doug Burgum has directed all government agencies to fly the United States and North Dakota flags at half-staff until midnight Thursday, Aug. 4, and encourages North Dakotans to do the same at their homes and businesses, in honor and remembrance of U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski of Indiana. Walorski, 58, and two of her staff members died as a result of a head-on collision Wednesday, as did the driver of the other vehicle, according to the Elkhart County (Ind.) Sheriff’s Office.

Gov. Doug Burgum announced the late Dr. Merton Utgaard, award-winning musician, educator, and founder and long-time director of the International Music Camp, as the 47^th recipient of the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, the state’s highest commendation for its citizens.

Gov. Doug Burgum announced the retirement of Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI) Director Bryan Klipfel effective Dec. 31, thanking him for his more than 13 years of exceptional leadership of the agency and nearly 46 years of dedicated service to the State of North Dakota.

Gov. Doug Burgum sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) conduct an expedited review of Fufeng Group’s recent purchase of land in Grand Forks for a wet corn milling plant.

Gov. Doug Burgum announced that the Cavalier County Job Development Authority (CCJDA) has executed binding agreements for international data center developer Bitzero Blockchain Inc. to acquire and redevelop the historic Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex at Nekoma, N.D., commonly known as “The Pyramid.”

Gov. Doug Burgum announced an expanded partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy skills-to-job program called Skills for All that will be available to all residents in North Dakota.

Gov. Doug Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford applauded the start of carbon storage operations at the Red Trail Energy LLC ethanol facility near Richardton, made possible by North Dakota being the first state in the nation to obtain regulatory authority from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over Class VI underground storage wells in 2018.

Gov. Doug Burgum was elected to the National Governors Association’s Executive Committee during the NGA Summer Meeting in Portland, Maine – the first summertime gathering of the nation’s governors since 2019.