“In the history of our country, the party who is not in the White House has accused the White House of abuse of power,” Armstrong said. “It started 200 years ago, it will continue into the future, except now, congratulations, it will be impeachment every single time one party controls the House of Representatives and…
Devils Lake’s New Age-21 Vaping Law Is Probably Illegal
MINOT, N.D. — Recently the Devils Lake City Commission passed a new ordinance raising the age at which it’s legal to purchase and use vaping products. The city also increased the penalty for the unlawful sale, purchase, and/or use of said products. The North Dakota Century Code sets the age for vaping at 18. Devils Lake has…
UPDATED: With Incumbent Kelly Schmidt Retiring, Fargo Republican Says He’s Interested in Running for State Treasurer
North Dakota Treasurer Kelly Schmidt, a Republican, has announced she won’t seek a fifth four-year term in office during the 2020 election cycle. “This is not something I have taken lightly,” she told Bismarck Tribune reporter Jack Dura. “I have thought about it. I have prayed about it. I have visited with my family about…
The Fisher Industries Border Wall Contract Is Among the Cheapest Awarded
There has been a lot of political furor, of late, over North Dakota-based Fisher Industries receiving a very large federal contract to build a portion of the controversial border wall between the United States and Mexico. The company is set to be paid $268 million to build 31 miles of border wall in the Cabeza…
Uproar Over Delay in Armenian Genocide Resolution Is the Perfect Distillation of Dumb Twitter Politics
News this week is that North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer has, at the behest of President Donald Trump’s administration, held up the passage of a bipartisan resolution about the Armenian genocide. On Twitter there was outrage (is there ever anything else on Twitter?) from Cramer’s political opponents. Here’s North Dakota House Minority Leader Josh Boschee…
Despite Controversy City of Minot Approves Roughly $1 Million Contract for City Manager
After initially trying to slip it through as a last-minute addition to the agenda, the Minot City Council approved this week a new contract for controversial City Manager Tom Barry. The Council also approved a substantial pay raise for themselves, though I think that move was sorely needed. “If we devalue public service by not paying…
Thanks to a Legislative Oversight, Can North Dakota Cities Even Make You Pay Higher Traffic Fines?
Serious constitutional questions may not be the only headache North Dakota cities face as they, enabled by state legislation passed in Bismarck earlier this year, raise traffic fines above state levels. The City of Fargo, for instance, is one of a few communities in our state which has chosen to take advantage of the change…
A Kid in Fargo Thinks Climate Change Might Kill Him Before He’s 50, How Did We Get to This Point?
In Fargo this week, there was a climate change town hall organized by Fargo City Commissioner John Strand. It was well-attended, featuring dozens of speakers with different ideas for how Fargo, as a community, could address the issue. Remember, for many of these people, we are beyond the point of debating whether or not some…
Fargo Choosing to Double Traffic Fines Just Opened a Legal Can of Worms
UPDATE: Since writing this post I’ve learned that other communities, such as Grand Forks, have also taken advantage of the Legislature’s green light to raise traffic fines. I had missed those local changes, though obviously, those changes are as unconstitutional as Fargo’s per the arguments below. Over the weekend, the Fargo Forum’s editorial board applauded the…
Minot’s City Manager Took the Fire Chief on a Pricey Trip to Nashville
Last month, October 20-23, the International City/County Management Association held its annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Minot City Manager Tom Barry attended the conference and brought along Minot Fire Chief Kelli Kronschnabel. This was interesting for a couple of reasons: Why was Kronschnabel, who is not a city or county manager, attending a conference for city and county managers,…