State – TheMinotVoice.com

Former employee sues head North Dakota National Guard office for ‘extremely egregious’ misconduct

by: MinotVoice | February 7, 2025

On January 10, 2023, Kathleen Ronning-Schimetz submitted her resignation from the North Dakota National Guard’s Office of the Adjutant General, highlighting seven years of alleged harassment and misconduct. Her resignation letter detailed a pattern of hostility and discrimination, including inappropriate comments from supervisors and a reported sexual assault from a colleague. Following her resignation, an

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Registration open for 2025 North Dakota Reclamation Conference

By: Miranda Meehan , NDSU Extension Service | February 7, 2025

The 2025 North Dakota Reclamation Conference, themed “Future of Reclamation in North Dakota,” will bring together industry leaders, researchers and stakeholders to explore the evolving reclamation needs associated with the state’s growing energy sector. The conference will be held March 4-5 at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City, North Dakota. The conference will include

Read & Share sourced from: NDSU Extension Service

Major property tax bill clears committee with flexibility on caps

by: MinotVoice | February 7, 2025

House Bill 1176, which proposes a nearly $500 million plan to increase the property tax credit for homeowners and cap local governments’ tax increases at 3%, has cleared its first committee vote. Initially set to increase the tax credit to $1,550, the amended bill brings it down slightly to $1,450. While it has drawn some

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Amid Local Control Attack; Fargo leaders defend citizen-initiated approval voting at state Capitol

by: Josh Wolsky | February 7, 2025

Fargo is currently at a crossroads, with state lawmakers aiming to ban the city’s approval voting system through House Bill 1297. This voting method, introduced via a grassroots effort in 2018, has allowed locals to select multiple candidates they approve of in elections, a shift seen as more democratic by supporters. As the bill faces

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Reading Skills Are in Sharp Decline. Rescuing Them Won’t be Easy.

by: Josh Wolsky | February 6, 2025

In Brownsville, Texas, Dolores S. Perez, affectionately known as Ms. D, is dedicating her Fridays to helping young students grapple with reading. Since she began tutoring post-pandemic, her impact has grown significantly. While she brings joy and personalized lessons to her students, recent federal data reveals a troubling trend: reading scores among fourth and eighth

Read & Share sourced from: EdSurge

Colorado and Connecticut saved residents hundreds of thousands of dollars on their utility bills

by: Josh Wolsky | February 6, 2025

Utility bills are climbing across the U.S., but costs like lobbying fees and corporate advertising are often hidden in those charges. A recent report highlights how some states are starting to tackle this issue, banning utilities from passing on these expenses to customers. In Colorado, Connecticut, and Maine, new laws are already helping residents save

Read & Share sourced from: Grist

NDSU crop budget projections show minimal returns for 2025

by: MinotVoice | February 6, 2025

Farmers in North Dakota face challenging projections for 2025, as NDSU Extension’s recent budget estimates show minimal or negative returns for most crops. Ron Haugen, a farm management specialist at NDSU, emphasizes that these budgets serve as regional guides, highlighting variability in returns based on individual circumstances. With lower soil fertility and rising fertilizer costs,

Read & Share sourced from: NDSU Extension Service

North Dakota sees 6% decline in childhood Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccinations

by: MinotVoice | February 5, 2025

North Dakota has seen a notable decline in MMR vaccination rates—over 6% from 2012 to 2021, according to a recent CDC study. Immunization experts in Fargo are raising alarms, pointing to a rise in misinformation linked to social media as a contributing factor. The MMR vaccine is critical in protecting children from measles, mumps, and

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Bill seeks to expand North Dakota’s oil footprint with tax breaks

By: Jeff Beach, North Dakota Monitor | February 5, 2025

A bill seeks to encourage drilling for oil outside of North Dakota’s highly productive Bakken Formation and take advantage of the Trump administration’s desire for U.S. energy dominance. “Drill, baby, drill is real,” Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council said Tuesday, repeating a Republican mantra for oil and gas development. Ness was

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Listen here: Chuck Suchy song proposed as official North Dakota waltz

By: Ann Estvold, ND Newspaper Association, North Dakota Monitor | February 5, 2025

A North Dakota House committee unanimously endorsed a bill to name a song called “Dancing Dakota” as the official state waltz. Composer and Mandan folk musician Chuck Suchy performed the song for a legislative committee last week. House Bill 1397 designates “Dancing Dakota” as the state waltz and establishes the position of official state troubadour. A

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota House votes to cease funding for public broadcasting

by: MinotVoice | February 5, 2025

North Dakota’s House has voted to eliminate state funding for public broadcasting, a move that contrasts with earlier committee recommendations. House Bill 1255 passed with a 61-32 vote and is slated for further consideration by the Appropriations Committee before heading to the Senate. Supporters argue that the bill addresses perceived biases in Prairie Public Broadcasting,

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

South Dakota opens bids in state-funded $7 million cybersecurity effort to protect local governments

by: MinotVoice | February 5, 2025

South Dakota is stepping up its cybersecurity game. The state is looking for a company to assess the vulnerabilities in local government networks, a critical move given the rising threat of cyberattacks. With $7 million in state funds on the table, the initiative—led by Attorney General Marty Jackley’s office and Dakota State University—aims to shore

Read & Share sourced from: South Dakota Searchlight

North Dakota Sets New Airline Passenger Record in 2024

by: MinotVoice | February 5, 2025

North Dakota’s air travel industry soared to new heights in 2024, setting an all-time record for airline passenger boardings at the state’s eight commercial service airports. According to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission’s (NDAC) newly released annual report, a total of 1,246,520 passengers boarded flights in the state this year—a 10% increase from 2023 and

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Montana Republicans work toward party labels for judicial candidates

by: Josh Wolsky | February 4, 2025

The Montana Legislature is at a crossroads, with Republican lawmakers pushing to turn judicial elections into a partisan affair. Two competing bills have emerged: one mandates party affiliations for judicial candidates, while the other makes it optional but still carries the tag “Undisclosed” for those who choose not to declare. Supporters argue this approach educates

Read & Share sourced from: Helena Independent Record

Landowners Can Post Private Land Electronically for 2025-26 Hunting Season

by: MinotVoice | February 4, 2025

Landowners in North Dakota can now electronically post their private land for the 2025-26 hunting season through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website. Those interested can log in via My Account to update their land designations. This year, landowners with a profile on the department’s mobile app have an added feature: they can

Read & Share sourced from: ND Game & Fish

Port: A state spending cap proposal, brought to you by vibes, not numbers

by: Josh Wolsky | February 4, 2025

A bill meant to cap North Dakota’s state spending is facing scrutiny—not for its boldness, but for its lack of substance. House Bill 1502, introduced by Rep. Christina Wolff and backed by Minot City Council member Mike Blessum, aims to limit general fund growth to 3% per biennium. But when pressed for data, Wolff admitted

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