When it comes to electing City officials, Fargo has broken ranks with the rest of us. They no longer select the one candidate they want elected, they select all the candidates they approve of getting elected. Whoever gets the most approvals gets elected. It’s an adaptation Fargo turned to given the high number of candidates
Read & Share sourced from: InForum
Currently, candidates for local school board officers are not required to file campaign finance reports the same as other local office candidates. But two bills proposed in the current legislative session would change that. The bills propose to exempt school board candidates in districts with less than 750 students, but for all others, campaign finance
Read & Share sourced from: Dickinson Press
California, as a state, is set to ban parking minimums. Other cities in other states are following suit. It comes down to the fact that decades of forcing land into parking was a bad decision, it’s costing us lots of money, and we’re just waking up to the consequences. Get the full story at The
Read & Share sourced from: The Gaurdian
Given the enormous distrust that has developed in our elections over the past several years, this article from The Minot Voice archives seemed worth revisiting. And once again, my experience voting in this year’s election mirrors my past experiences. For those of you working our elections today and throughout the early voting process, you have
Read & Share
It is too early to speculate on the outcome of the Presidential race in 2020. If Trump does not get re-elected, however, there will be a chapter in American history and law for which there is no precedent. Michael Cohen, who was Trump’s personal lawyer, has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison for a
Read & Share
Under a strict set of requirements like minimum speed, roll cage, turn signals, and others, certain off-highway vehicles will be allowed on Bismarck streets. Owen Piehl with the Bismarck Tribune has the full story.
Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune
In Minneapolis, one City Council member proposed limiting landlords from rejecting potential tenants based on credit, past evictions, and criminal histories. The intent behind the policy — ensuring those with a checkered past have a chance to clean their slate. Landlords, property management companies and developers are pushing back with arguments that the policy will
Read & Share sourced from: MPR
Would you consider adding a tiny home in your backyard or a small apartment above a detached garage? While many would say yes, there’s a good chance that your city’s zoning law prohibits or restricts your ability to do so. In Durango, Colorado, they relaxed the laws and saw an increase in affordable housing. In
Read & Share sourced from: CityLab
Among the most contentious issues before Ward County leadership in past years is the ongoing policy that requires a land dedication as a part of platting land. A few years back, the County Commission failed to advance a proposed change that would have requirement. Since then, the County’s Planning Commission has seen a steady stream
Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News
When it comes to liquor, the City of Minneapolis chose to take a step back and do a little deregulating. As a step of confirmation, they offered the idea to the citizens through a city charter change; the public supported it overwhelmingly (72% yes). And now, in the first season that restaurants were offered the
Read & Share sourced from: Star Tribune
Property taxes — we all hate them. Naturally, as a result of our disdain, we seek to remove that which we don’t like. This attitude is prevalent in North Dakota. In the past, we’ve voted down initiated measures that sought to eliminate property tax; in the recently closed legislative session, the House killed a bill
Read & Share sourced from: Los Angeles Times
Whether through bans, taxes, or simple acknowledgment of the problem — people and countries across the globe are waking up to the scourge of plastic invading our natural environments. And in countries throughout Africa, they’re taking aggressive steps to reduce usage and impacts — particularly of plastic bags. It’s a local story because the impacts
Read & Share sourced from: Quartz
In sixteen years, benefits paid out by the Social Security Administration will exceed generated surpluses. The options of the federal government at that time will be to reduce payments to the retired and/or disabled, increase payroll taxes on employers, employees or both, raise the cap on taxable wages, increase the age of retirement, or all
Read & Share
How cities manage and regulate alcohol is a moving target; there’s no write answer — only what’s right for a place at that time based on the challenges they’re experiencing. As an example, Bismarck’s contemplating a license adjustment that would let more businesses into the game based on changing population. In Grand Forks, some Council
Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald
Minot’s had no shortage of landfill news over the past few years. Most recently, plans where advanced for a 20-25 year expansion on property adjacent to our existing site. And part of the challenge for communities with landfills are the extraordinary environmental protections that govern management and operation of these sites. If a California court
Read & Share sourced from: Scientific American
In a political move that could be described as eyebrow-raising, the North Dakota Grain Growers Association has voted to part ways with its national organization. Citing examples that go back more than a decade, the NDGGA didn’t feel they were being represented at the national level to a degree in accordance with their dues; the
Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald