ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — More than 100 demonstrators gathered outside the North Dakota Capitol on Monday, April 5, cheering their support for a bill under consideration in the Legislature that would ban mask-wearing mandates.House Bill 1323 would prohibit the state or any local governments in North Dakota from mandating an individual to wear a face mask, face shield or other face covering.Rally-goers on Monday, many holding signs expressing their support of the bill and sentiments against mask-wearing, heard from multiple speakers who are proponents of the mandate ban."We're...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — More than 100 demonstrators gathered outside the North Dakota Capitol on Monday, April 5, cheering their support for a bill under consideration in the Legislature that would ban mask-wearing mandates.House Bill 1323 would prohibit the state or any local governments in North Dakota from mandating an individual to wear a face mask, face shield or other face covering.Rally-goers on Monday, many holding signs expressing their support of the bill and sentiments against mask-wearing, heard from multiple speakers who are proponents of the mandate ban."We're...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — The North Dakota Department of Health announced on Wednesday, March 17, that at least four residents have tested positive in the last month for a new coronavirus strain that originated in California.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently added to itsthe coronavirus strains B1427 and B1429, which were first detected in California. Early research shows these variants are about 20% more infectious than other strains common in the U.S.Preliminary research indicates immunity after contracting and recovering from these strains may...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — The North Dakota Department of Health announced on Wednesday, March 17, that at least four residents have tested positive in the last month for a new coronavirus strain that originated in California.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently added to itsthe coronavirus strains B1427 and B1429, which were first detected in California. Early research shows these variants are about 20% more infectious than other strains common in the U.S.Preliminary research indicates immunity after contracting and recovering from these strains may...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — The state of North Dakota has computer systems so old that almost no one knows how to manage them.So few people have an expertise in the inner-workings of 1980s mainframe computers that state officials had to look overseas to the eastern European country of Latvia to find a pair of programmers to maintain the state's ancient technology.In an effort to modernize North Dakota's outdated mainframes and improve other technology programs, Gov. Doug Burgum earmarked nearly $105 million for information technology projects in the budget he proposed this month....…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — The state of North Dakota has computer systems so old that almost no one knows how to manage them.So few people have an expertise in the inner-workings of 1980s mainframe computers that state officials had to look overseas to the eastern European country of Latvia to find a pair of programmers to maintain the state's ancient technology.In an effort to modernize North Dakota's outdated mainframes and improve other technology programs, Gov. Doug Burgum earmarked nearly $105 million for information technology projects in the budget he proposed this month....WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — The North Dakota Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Gov. Doug Burgum in his petition to fill a state House of Representatives seat.The court issued its ruling on Tuesday, Nov. 24, that Burgum "does not have statutory or constitutional authority to make an appointment to fill the vacancy in this case."The vacancy comes after District 8, north of Bismarck, elected Republican candidate Dave Andahl, who died from COVID-19 in October.The authority to fill the seat now lies with the local District 8 Republicans, who last week nominated longtime House...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — The North Dakota Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Gov. Doug Burgum in his petition to fill a state House of Representatives seat.The court issued its ruling on Tuesday, Nov. 24, that Burgum "does not have statutory or constitutional authority to make an appointment to fill the vacancy in this case."The vacancy comes after District 8, north of Bismarck, elected Republican candidate Dave Andahl, who died from COVID-19 in October.The authority to fill the seat now lies with the local District 8 Republicans, who last week nominated longtime House...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — The North Dakota Department of Health on Friday, Nov. 6, reported the state's first case of a child developing multisystem inflammatory syndrome after they contracted COVID-19.Multisystem inflammatory syndrome is a rare and potentially deadly condition that affects children who have been infected with COVID-19 or been around someone infected with the coronavirus. Parts of the body like the brain, heart, lungs and kidneys can become inflamed, and the child can also experience fever, rash and vomiting, among other symptoms.Nationwide, 20...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBISMARCK — The North Dakota Department of Health on Friday, Nov. 6, reported the state's first case of a child developing multisystem inflammatory syndrome after they contracted COVID-19.Multisystem inflammatory syndrome is a rare and potentially deadly condition that affects children who have been infected with COVID-19 or been around someone infected with the coronavirus. Parts of the body like the brain, heart, lungs and kidneys can become inflamed, and the child can also experience fever, rash and vomiting, among other symptoms.Nationwide, 20...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTPARSHALL, N.D. — Seventeen-year-old Elvia "Rose" Ramirez wanted to be two things when she grew up: an artist and a cat mom.After completing her senior year at Parshall High School on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in the spring of 2021, she planned to marry her boyfriend of four years and possibly go to college.But COVID-19 cut Ramirez's life short.She died on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Sanford Children's Hospital in Fargo. She is the youngest person to die from COVID-19 so far in North Dakota.As one of nine children, Ramirez loved to help her siblings...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTPARSHALL, N.D. — Seventeen-year-old Elvia "Rose" Ramirez wanted to be two things when she grew up: an artist and a cat mom.After completing her senior year at Parshall High School on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in the spring of 2021, she planned to marry her boyfriend of four years and possibly go to college.But COVID-19 cut Ramirez's life short.She died on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Sanford Children's Hospital in Fargo. She is the youngest person to die from COVID-19 so far in North Dakota.As one of nine children, Ramirez loved to help her siblings...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTClarification: This story should have noted that Wyoming and Nebraska have quarantine exceptions for public schools similar to North Dakota’s statewide exception, and that Iowa makes such an exception for businesses and schools. We regret the oversight. (Added 4:30 p.m. Oct. 7)BISMARCK — Some public health experts are harshly criticizing North Dakota's new quarantine exception, saying the relaxed guidelines could cause the state to lead the U.S. in COVID-19 spread by an even larger margin.The new guidelines say that people who came into close contact...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTClarification: This story should have noted that Wyoming and Nebraska have quarantine exceptions for public schools similar to North Dakota’s statewide exception, and that Iowa makes such an exception for businesses and schools. We regret the oversight. (Added 4:30 p.m. Oct. 7)BISMARCK — Some public health experts are harshly criticizing North Dakota's new quarantine exception, saying the relaxed guidelines could cause the state to lead the U.S. in COVID-19 spread by an even larger margin.The new guidelines say that people who came into close contact...WW…