A recap of recent events and happenings in the administration of Gov. Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Strinden





The Scope
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*January 16, 2026*

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PaYS
*State of North Dakota collaborates with U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success to connect soldiers with workforce opportunities*

The state of North Dakota, in its role as an employer, signed a U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) Program agreement with the North Dakota Army National Guard at the state Capitol connecting soldiers to civilian workforce opportunities.

The PaYS Program brings together the U.S. Army and a diverse network of private industry, academic institutions, and state and local public organizations. Through the program, soldiers are offered job interviews and potential employment opportunities upon completion of their initial entry training to help them prepare for their futures.

“We value what our soldiers bring to the table and the perspectives they share,” Gov. Kelly Armstrong said. “Their military training prepares them with skills that often take years to develop in the workforce. We’re already proud to work alongside many current soldiers and veterans on Team ND, and we look forward to welcoming even more through the PaYS program.”

Armstrong added that North Dakota remains dedicated to becoming the most military-friendly state in the country, and this collaboration exemplifies the state’s effort to fulfill that mission.

“The Army Partnership for Your Success program connects men and women who serve their nation to civilian employers who need a dedicated and reliable workforce,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general. “This is a testament to the unwavering support North Dakota provides to its military and is a shining example of smart, effective collaboration.”

The PaYS program is part of a long-term U.S. Army effort to help soldiers forge professional relationships with businesses and encourage business owners to look to the Army as a plentiful and reliable recruiting source.

Since PaYS began in 2000, more than 1,275 employers have partnered with the program, and more than 100,000 interviews have occurred. Soldiers interested in the program can register at www.armypays.com [ [link removed] ] and can view state careers at www.nd.gov/careers [ [link removed] ].

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special session
*Armstrong to deliver State of the State address to special session of Legislature on Jan. 21 *

Gov. Armstrong will deliver a State of the State address to a special session of the 69th Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the House of Representatives chamber of the State Capitol, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck.

The address will begin at approximately 10 a.m. CT and will be livestreamed on the Governor’s Office website at www.governor.nd.gov [ [link removed] ].

Armstrong issued an executive order [ [link removed] ] convening the Legislature for a special session starting Jan. 21 to address the funding awarded to North Dakota [ [link removed] ] by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support the first year of a statewide Rural Health Transformation Program.

The North Dakota Constitution requires the governor to present information on the condition of the state, together with any recommended legislation, to every regular and special session of the Legislature.

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Lt. Gov. Strinden speaks at North Dakota's Gateway to Science in Bismarck on Jan. 12, 2026.
NDSU and North Dakota’s Gateway to Science launch partnership

Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden joined North Dakota State University and North Dakota’s Gateway to Science in a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a partnership that will expand STEM programming for K–12 students across North Dakota.

“I’m honored to be here today celebrating a partnership that is truly about our kids and their futures,” said Lt. Gov. Strinden. “When we invest in K-12 education, we’re investing early, when curiosity is highest and possibilities feel endless. This partnership ensures that ZIP code does not determine opportunity, that every child deserves access to engaging, high-quality learning experiences.”

The agreement leverages NDGTS’s Gateway to Science on the Go mobile outreach program and NDSU’s academic resources to deliver high-quality, hands-on STEM experiences to schools statewide, with a focus on rural and underserved communities. Together, the organizations will co-develop STEM activity kits aligned with NDSU’s engineering and agricultural technology curricula, host collaborative outreach events, and provide educational initiatives designed to spark curiosity and inspire future innovators.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to making STEM education accessible to every student in North Dakota,” said Beth Demke, CEO of North Dakota’s Gateway to Science. “By combining our mobile outreach capabilities with NDSU’s academic strengths, we can bring engaging, hands-on learning to classrooms across the state.”

NDSU College of Engineering Dean Alan Kallmeyer shared his excitement for the partnership, saying, “NDSU is proud to collaborate with North Dakota’s Gateway to Science to connect classroom learning with real-world applications. These experiences will help students see the possibilities in engineering and technology and encourage them to pursue education and careers that strengthen our state’s workforce.”

Co-branded materials and content will highlight engineering and precision agriculture, which are fields where North Dakota is a national leader in integrating technology into agricultural practices. New STEMzone kits will offer specialized experiences in engineering and precision ag, with activities designed for middle and high school students and focused on careers in these growing fields.

GTS NDSU
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Diamond
*Armstrong appoints Judicial Referee Scott Diamond of Fargo to East Central Judicial District judgeship*

Gov. Armstrong appointed former prosecutor and current Judicial Referee Scott Diamond of Fargo to an open judgeship in the East Central Judicial District, effective Feb. 1.

Diamond served five years as a city prosecutor in Fargo from 2008 to 2013, prosecuting violations of city ordinances from pre-charge review of police reports to conclusion through a plea or trial, and also spent four years as an assistant city solicitor for Lincoln, Rhode Island. From 2013 to 2023 he served as an alternate municipal court judge for the cities of Fargo and West Fargo, while also operating Diamond Law Firm in Fargo, primarily representing criminally convicted defendants before the North Dakota Supreme Court. He has served as a judicial referee for the East Central Judicial District since 2023, presiding over cases involving domestic relations, evictions, small claims and traffic offenses. Diamond began his 24-year legal career as an associate attorney for the Rosenquist Law Firm in Grand Forks and Larimore.

A native of Grand Forks, Diamond earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and his law degree from the UND School of Law in 2001. He is a past president of the Cass County Bar Association and a past member of the North Dakota Municipal Judges Association. He also served on the West Fargo Planning and Zoning Commission from 2013 to 2018 and is a current board member and contributor to the State Bar Association’s Gavel Editorial Board.

The East Central Judicial District judgeship vacancy was created by the Oct. 10 resignation of Judge Nick Chase, who was appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota. Three attorneys were named as finalists for the judgeship, which is chambered in Fargo.

The East Central Judicial District covers Cass, Steele and Traill counties.

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*IN OTHER NEWS*

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Applied Digital

Gov. Armstrong and U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer visited Applied Digital's future Harwood facility as part of the Secretary’s nationwide "America at Work" Listening Tour. The conversation focused on workforce development, skilled trades and creating opportunities for trade workers.



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we the people

Gov. Armstrong attended the We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution high school state finals, and congratulated the team from Kidder County, who will advance to the national finals this April.



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SW roundtable

Lt. Gov. Strinden attended an informative roundtable discussion with southwest North Dakota educators and legislators in Dickinson to hear about the strengths and barriers to supporting all our children and families. 



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Leadership BisMan

Gov. Armstrong participated in a Q&A session with members of the Leadership Bismarck-Mandan group hosted by the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC. 



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Cook

Lt. Gov. Strinden attended the farewell reception for NDSU President Cook and Dr. Kate Cook, thanking them for their service to the university and the state of North Dakota. Cook has been named president of Iowa State University.



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