Here is your InForum Minute morning briefing for Friday, Sept. 24.

Judge puts Fargo mayor's term eligibility question on fast track

FARGO — A Cass County District Court Judge said Thursday, Sept. 23, that she will expedite her review of the question of whether Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney is eligible to run for reelection in June 2022.

Based on a directive from Fargo City Commissioners, the city of Fargo filed a petition with the court in August asking whether city code prevents Mahoney's name from being placed on the June primary ballot for the city election.

The petition essentially reflects a clash of opinion between City Attorney Erik Johnson and Mahoney, as Johnson has expressed more than once his position that Mahoney is not eligible to run again based on city code, while Mahoney maintains that is not the case. Full story here.

North Dakota panel solidifies draft of new legislative districts

BISMARCK — North Dakota leaders tasked with reconfiguring the state's political geography have come to terms on a draft of the state's new legislative districts.

The 14 Republicans and two Democrats on the state redistricting committee, a reflection of the Legislature's GOP supermajority, met Thursday, Sept. 23, to approve a map of 47 districts with roughly equal populations. The full Legislature will consider the proposed district lines at a special session in early November.

Images of the map likely won't be public until next week as staffers review the draft, but the panel discussed in detail the major implications of the proposal. Full story here.

$400 million soybean crushing plant in works for Casselton

CASSELTON, N.D. - A multinational company wants to build a $400 million soybean crushing plant near here, a Department of Commerce official told the Cass County Board of Commissioners.

The plant is planned to go east of the Tharaldson Ethanol plant, Josh Teigen, director of the Commerce department's Economic Development and Finance division, told the County Board on Monday, Sept. 20.

Teigen said a purchase agreement is in place. He declined to name the company involved. Full story here.