Contrary to most, I was not surprised that Congress has failed to repeal and replace “Obamacare”. “Repeal and Replace” has been the unifying slogan of the Republican party since 2009. That slogan may have become fact except for one minor detail. Like the Democratic party, the Republican party is merely a coalition of various diverse
Read & Share
Scott Pruitt, the EPA’s top administrator, will be visiting North Dakota next week, and the Waters of the U.S. rule making is expected to be a hot topic of conversation. Between agricultural and energy industries and our cultural disposition toward property rights, environmental regulations and rules have big impacts on North Dakota, and it sounds
Read & Share sourced from: Williston Herald
The process by which North Dakota citizens and organizations bring issues to the ballot for consideration is going up for a review. The initiated measure process of petition carrying and signature gathering that allows a form of direct citizen legislation has been criticized in recent years. One of the arguments against, issues like the recently
Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune
The response could be described as a lot of interest. Earlier in July, the ND Department of Health asked for a letter of intent for parties interested in participating in the business side of the state’s medical marijuana industry. That request drew letters from 97 different parties. The formal application process is expected to open
Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald
WIth roads and bridges in need of repair, Rob Port with the Say Anything Blog becomes an unlikely proponent of an increase in the state’s gas tax. Read his arguments here.
Read & Share sourced from: Say Anything Blog.com
The police and highway patrol have been empowered to get serious about littering. Starting August 1, the fine for throwing out that cigarette will be something you notice if you get caught; it’s going from $100 to $500. The Grand Forks Herald has more on the story.
Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald
The yields are starting to come in, and it’s what would be expected in a drought year. Numbers vary widely across the state, but in the areas with less rain, the yields per acre are down from the averages of the recent good years. The Bismarck Tribune has the story on the early data. Hopefully,
Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck TribuneIn our country and more and more in our state, we put people in jail. For a long time, we’ve viewed incarceration as the only solution to the problem of criminal activity and recidivism. But is it? More importantly, is there a better solution? A recent trip to Norway by our state’s top correction officers
Read & Share sourced from: Mother Jones
Last winter, the ND Senate narrowly defeated a bill that would have allowed retail operations to open on Sunday mornings. Now, supporters of the regulatory rollback are going to take the issue directly to the voters. Secretary of State Al Jaeger approved circulation of a petition that would put the issue on the ballot.
Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune
The proposed (and partially funded) Red River water supply project draws water from the McClusky Canal. But in years of extreme drought, the Corp of Engineers is proposing to lower the operating level of Lake Audubon. That puts the water supply in jeopardy. What are the solutions? Lawmakers and project officials are looking for them.
Read & Share sourced from: InForum
The number of rigs active in North Dakota is holding steady the past few months and production is still above a million barrels per day, but there’s a worker shortage in the fracking industry that’s delaying completion of many already-drilled wells. There’s also some transition taking place in the amount of oil moved by rail
Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune
Necessity is the mother of invention, and we’ve experienced that first hand here in the North Dakota oil patch. The necessity was to survive an OPEC supply assault intended to force shale operators out of the market with lower prices. The invention was better, more efficient ways to drill. And as the term of the
Read & Share sourced from: ReutersIn the article below, you’ll find a call from an influential North Dakota blogger to close some of North Dakota’s higher education institutions. It’s a sign that it’s time to challenge conventional thinking when it comes to education. To that end, this article from EdSurge is timely; it provides examples of schools and higher-education-esque start-ups
Read & Share sourced from: EdSurge
Rob Port at Say Anything Blog comments on a growing group of people talking about the need to reform and reevaluate the way and where of how North Dakota does higher education. His reform concept — close down a few of the state’s colleges and universities. That argument will no doubt trigger a debate, which
Read & Share sourced from: Say Anything Blog.comA proposed Corp of Engineers plan to reduce the operating elevation of Lake Audubon during periods of extended drought has caught the attention of those in the Eastern part of the state. Back in 2005, the operating elevations between Lake Audubon and Lake Sakakawea reached 41 feet; the difference between the two lakes raised concerns
Read & Share
Rob Port has been among the most outspoken critics of the state’s university system, but the language coming from UND President Mark Kennedy is getting his attention. Moving forward, Mr. Kennedy will focus UND’s efforts on graduation and providing value for students. That philosophy is a departure from focus on another common metric — enrollment.
Read & Share sourced from: Say Anything Blog.com