Native News
Monday Morning (June 15, 2026): Articles You May Have Missed This Past Weekend
Happy Monday!
Here are some of the articles you may have missed this past weekend:
Trump Administration Agrees to Pay North Dakota $27.8 Million in Final DAPL Protest Settlement
North Dakota will recover nearly $38 million from the federal government for expenses related to the 2016-17 protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), following a final settlement announced this past week by North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley.
The agreement requires the federal government to reimburse the state $27.8 million for costs incurred during the protests. Combined with a previously secured $10 million payment, the total recovery amounts to nearly $38 million.
The settlement resolves a long-running dispute over the financial burden placed on North Dakota during months of demonstrations centered near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and federal lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Senate Deadline Passes, Protecting Grand Staircase Plan
The Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition is celebrating after a key U.S. Senate deadline passed Thursday without action on legislation that sought to overturn the 2025 management plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
The coalition said the Senate’s failure to act on S.J.Res. 109 before the June 11 deadline means the measure would now require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster rather than a simple majority, making its passage far less likely.
Although companion legislation, H.J.Res. 151, could still receive votes in Congress, coalition members welcomed the missed deadline as an important victory for Tribal co-stewardship and consultation efforts.
Haaland Unveils Renewable Energy Plan Aimed at Lowering Utility Costs in New Mexico
Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), the Democratic nominee for governor of New Mexico, has unveiled a plan to expand the state’s renewable energy sector with the goal of lowering utility costs for residents while strengthening New Mexico’s role as a national energy producer.
The proposal focuses on taking advantage of the state’s abundant natural resources—including its estimated 300 days of sunshine each year, significant wind potential, and geothermal energy opportunities—to meet growing electricity demand and reduce long-term costs.
According to the campaign, rising energy demand from expanding data centers and increasingly extreme temperatures has placed additional strain on the power grid, contributing to higher utility bills for households. Haaland’s plan argues that large energy users should bear more responsibility for the infrastructure needed to support their operations rather than shifting those costs onto consumers.