ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — North Dakota's Republican Gov. Doug Burgum plans to travel to Iowa next week to campaign for President Donald Trump.Burgum campaign spokesman Mike Schrimpf said the governor will make the trip "because he understands how important it is to re-elect the president this year."Burgum will be one of about 80 Republican elected officials and prominent supporters to promote the president's reelection campaign during the Iowa Caucus on Monday, Feb. 3. Others making the trip to Iowa include Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, U.S. House Leader Kevin McCarthy, Education...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — North Dakota's Republican Gov. Doug Burgum plans to travel to Iowa next week to campaign for President Donald Trump.Burgum campaign spokesman Mike Schrimpf said the governor will make the trip "because he understands how important it is to re-elect the president this year."Burgum will be one of about 80 Republican elected officials and prominent supporters to promote the president's reelection campaign during the Iowa Caucus on Monday, Feb. 3. Others making the trip to Iowa include Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, U.S. House Leader Kevin McCarthy, Education...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed an executive order Monday, May 11, that will allow school facilities to reopen for summer programs starting June 1. Local boards and superintendents have the ultimate decision of whether to reopen the facilities and allow students to attend the programs in person.Burgum called the move a "soft opening" leading up to next school year when the state aims to reopen schools to all students. Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler noted that summer school programs must be limited to 15 people and...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed an executive order Monday, May 11, that will allow school facilities to reopen for summer programs starting June 1. Local boards and superintendents have the ultimate decision of whether to reopen the facilities and allow students to attend the programs in person.Burgum called the move a "soft opening" leading up to next school year when the state aims to reopen schools to all students. Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler noted that summer school programs must be limited to 15 people and...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said he intends to allow closed businesses to reopen on Friday, May 1.Last month, Burgum ordered the closure of concert venues, movie theaters, gyms, nail salons, massage parlors and barber shops, as well as restaurants and bars for on-site service.The governor said at a press conference Monday, April 27, that businesses can reopen at the end of the week if the state continues to see a low rate of positive tests for COVID-19. However, the affected businesses will be required to meet standard operating rules that...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said he intends to allow closed businesses to reopen on Friday, May 1.Last month, Burgum ordered the closure of concert venues, movie theaters, gyms, nail salons, massage parlors and barber shops, as well as restaurants and bars for on-site service.The governor said at a press conference Monday, April 27, that businesses can reopen at the end of the week if the state continues to see a low rate of positive tests for COVID-19. However, the affected businesses will be required to meet standard operating rules that...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT|| News reportingNews reportingBased on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.MANDAN, N.D. — Jenn Kary watched nervously as the coronavirus spread across North Dakota. Her calculation of the infection rate convinced her the pandemic was worse than state officials made it out to be.Kary has an autoimmune disease, so she took extra precautions and almost never ventured from her Mandan home. She even created a Facebook page to shed light on the severity of the state's outbreak.Despite her...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT|| News reportingNews reportingBased on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.MANDAN, N.D. — Jenn Kary watched nervously as the coronavirus spread across North Dakota. Her calculation of the infection rate convinced her the pandemic was worse than state officials made it out to be.Kary has an autoimmune disease, so she took extra precautions and almost never ventured from her Mandan home. She even created a Facebook page to shed light on the severity of the state's outbreak.Despite her...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT|BISMARCK — In the first months of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, North Dakota has emerged as a national leader, getting hundreds of thousands ofand immunizing more than a quarter of its population by late March.But top public health officials have asserted that “vaccine hesitancy” — skepticism or cynicism about taking the quickly authorized vaccines — will be North Dakota’s most daunting challenge on its path to herd immunity, and already, the pace of inoculation has slowed as the state has expanded eligibility for the vaccines to the general public.Nowhere is this...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT|BISMARCK — In the first months of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, North Dakota has emerged as a national leader, getting hundreds of thousands ofand immunizing more than a quarter of its population by late March.But top public health officials have asserted that “vaccine hesitancy” — skepticism or cynicism about taking the quickly authorized vaccines — will be North Dakota’s most daunting challenge on its path to herd immunity, and already, the pace of inoculation has slowed as the state has expanded eligibility for the vaccines to the general public.Nowhere is this...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — Like many of his Republican colleagues in the North Dakota Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner doesn't want recreational marijuana use to be legal in his state, but the Dickinson lawmaker said he sees the writing on the wall.Neighboring South Dakota and Montana recently passed legalization measures, and Minnesota legislators are moving in that direction. Wardner and other Republicans believe a citizen-initiated legalization ballot measure will pass sooner or later at the ballot box in North Dakota, and if the Legislature doesn't preempt it,...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — Like many of his Republican colleagues in the North Dakota Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner doesn't want recreational marijuana use to be legal in his state, but the Dickinson lawmaker said he sees the writing on the wall.Neighboring South Dakota and Montana recently passed legalization measures, and Minnesota legislators are moving in that direction. Wardner and other Republicans believe a citizen-initiated legalization ballot measure will pass sooner or later at the ballot box in North Dakota, and if the Legislature doesn't preempt it,...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — A friend of North Dakota Rep. Luke Simons is mounting an online fundraiser to pay for the Dickinson Republican's legal fees afterand legislative staff surfaced last week.District 38 GOP Chairman Jared Hendrix confirmed to Forum News Service that he started ato cover Simons' legal costs as he fights back against "nasty political attacks." Hendrix, a former campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, said hiring a lawyer has burdened Simons' family with an unexpected expense, and he wanted to help his friend.A page for the fundraiser includes a message...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — A friend of North Dakota Rep. Luke Simons is mounting an online fundraiser to pay for the Dickinson Republican's legal fees afterand legislative staff surfaced last week.District 38 GOP Chairman Jared Hendrix confirmed to Forum News Service that he started ato cover Simons' legal costs as he fights back against "nasty political attacks." Hendrix, a former campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, said hiring a lawyer has burdened Simons' family with an unexpected expense, and he wanted to help his friend.A page for the fundraiser includes a message...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — In an unprecedented move, the North Dakota House of Representatives has expelled embattled Rep. Luke Simons over recently surfaced sexual harassment allegations.The Republican-dominated lower chamber voted 69-25 on Thursday, March 4, to remove Simons from office after a heated three-hour debate. The expulsion resolution required a two-thirds majority to pass.Simons is the first lawmaker to be expelled from the Legislature since North Dakota became a state, according to legislative officials.He declined to comment after the vote, referring questions to...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — In an unprecedented move, the North Dakota House of Representatives has expelled embattled Rep. Luke Simons over recently surfaced sexual harassment allegations.The Republican-dominated lower chamber voted 69-25 on Thursday, March 4, to remove Simons from office after a heated three-hour debate. The expulsion resolution required a two-thirds majority to pass.Simons is the first lawmaker to be expelled from the Legislature since North Dakota became a state, according to legislative officials.He declined to comment after the vote, referring questions to...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — An ultra-conservative group of North Dakota lawmakers has propelled forward a bill that would do away with the state's seat belt requirement for most residents. The proposal cuts against longstanding efforts by other legislators to tighten the existing seat belt law.Under, adult drivers and occupants would no longer have to buckle up in the car, though the safety measure would still be mandatory for those under 18. After hearing arguments about public safety and personal freedoms, the House Transportation Committee voted 8-6 on Thursday, Jan. 28, to give...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — An ultra-conservative group of North Dakota lawmakers has propelled forward a bill that would do away with the state's seat belt requirement for most residents. The proposal cuts against longstanding efforts by other legislators to tighten the existing seat belt law.Under, adult drivers and occupants would no longer have to buckle up in the car, though the safety measure would still be mandatory for those under 18. After hearing arguments about public safety and personal freedoms, the House Transportation Committee voted 8-6 on Thursday, Jan. 28, to give...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — A top North Dakota Republican official has apologized for a series of anti-LGBT statements that delegates approved as a part of the state party's official extended policy platform.North Dakota GOP Executive Director Corby Kemmer said the party regrets any offense caused by the rhetoric, which the state's only openly gay legislator says promotes harmful lies and bigotry.Delegates from the state's dominant conservative party recently voted in favor of a package of 53 resolutions that assert the group's values and policy positions on all kinds of political...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — A top North Dakota Republican official has apologized for a series of anti-LGBT statements that delegates approved as a part of the state party's official extended policy platform.North Dakota GOP Executive Director Corby Kemmer said the party regrets any offense caused by the rhetoric, which the state's only openly gay legislator says promotes harmful lies and bigotry.Delegates from the state's dominant conservative party recently voted in favor of a package of 53 resolutions that assert the group's values and policy positions on all kinds of political...WW…