MINOT, N.D. — A few days ago, on March 24, Gov. Doug Burgum issued an executive order to the North Dakota Department of Transportation, asking for some changes in policy because of the COVID-19 outbreak. You can read it in full below. The part of the order which got the most attention was the removal…
Mailbag: Readers Ask About the Schools Still Open, a ‘Rent Vacation’ for Businesses and What Snowbirds Should Do
MINOT, N.D. — Hello readers, and welcome to the second edition of this mailbag column wherein I respond to your praise and criticism and questions. If you’d like to send something to be included in the next column, fire it off to rport@forumcomm.com. Your messages may get edited for clarity and brevity. Now, to the…
Guest Post: North Dakota Teachers Say “We’re All in This Together”
This guest post was submitted by the following teachers: Dean Aamodt, Wahpeton; Melessa Bosch, Minot; Jessica Brandt, Central Cass; Dr. Karyn Chiapella, Scranton; Nanci Dauwen, West Fargo; Kayla Dornfeld, Mapleton; Mary Eldredge Sandbo, Des Lacs; Andrea Fox, West Fargo; Lynae Holmen, Minot; Linda Hope, Langdon; Annette Hovey, New Rockford; Leah Juelke, Fargo; Julia Koble, Minot;…
Coronavirus or Not, Candidates and Ballot Measure Committees Still Need Signatures
This cycle statutory measures have to collect nearly 15,000 signatures. Constitutional measures must receive approximately 27,000. Per Secretary of State Al Jaeger, there’s no getting around those requirements. “There are no plans to change any signature requirements and timelines for candidates,” he told me. “The signature requirements and timelines for measures are set in the…
Plain Talk: Should We Be Letting Prisoners Out of Jail During the Coronavirus Crisis?
The coronavirus crisis has prompted policy makers in North Dakota, and across the nation, to look at reducing jail and prison populations by letting some low-risk offenders, and some folks in jail pre-trial because they can’t make bond, out into the general population. Is that the right move? On this episode of Plain Talk Dane…
Based on Smartphone Data, North Dakota Gets a ‘B’ for Social Distancing
MINOT, N.D. — Social distancing is probably our best line of defense when it comes to coronavirus. You can’t get it if you’re not exposed to it, right? But social distancing is hard, and if you ‘re not doing it, your smartphone may be ratting you out. The Social Distancing Scoreboard is a project launched…
North Dakota Land Board Owes Oil Companies an Apology
Last month the Land Board backed down from the hardline position Smith took, noting that they’d still continue with collection efforts, but approving a friendlier timeline for repayment efforts. Yet Ness was absolutely right when he argued that the legal dispute over these royalties is not over yet, and the Land Board really has no…
Cramer Says “You’Re Retarded” Tweet Aimed at Pelosi Was a Typo
MINOT, N.D. — The political battle over a coronavirus relief package is getting ugly. Over the last 24 hours Sen. Kevin Cramer has been on the offensive, with most of his ire aimed at Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. He’s accused Pelosi of adding a “Disney World wish list” of amendments during an appearance…
Burgum’s Shutdown of Schools and Businesses Seems to Be Slowing the Coronavirus Spread
MINOT, N.D. — It’s hard to describe how painful the coronavirus quarantine has been for North Dakotans and all Americans. The kids aren’t going to school. Many of us are working from home. Social events are canceled. Businesses are closed. Worry and anxiety are rampant. And that’s before we talk about the economic toll of…
Plain Talk: Democratic House Candidate Criticizes His Party for Delays in Coronavirus Relief Bill
On this episode of Plain Talk, Zach Raknerud pointed out that many North Dakota Democrats are afraid to do interviews with me. “I don’t think that’s right,” he said. He’s the candidate North Dakota Democrats endorsed to challenge Republican Congressman Kelly Armstrong this cycle. He made that point while arguing that he intends to offer…