ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTROCHESTER, Minn. — Gov. Tim Walz and state officials Thursday, Sept. 3, pointed to a rise since July in the case positivity rate — from 4.3% to 5.5% — in their continued appeal for residents to exercise caution in social gatherings, especially over the coming holiday weekend.The portion of positive cases related to community spread — no known origin — also has triggered state officials' concern, rising from 27.8 % to 33.5% over the same period.In a departure for the normally tight-lipped health officials, at Thursday's news conference state Director of...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTROCHESTER, Minn. — Gov. Tim Walz and state officials Thursday, Sept. 3, pointed to a rise since July in the case positivity rate — from 4.3% to 5.5% — in their continued appeal for residents to exercise caution in social gatherings, especially over the coming holiday weekend.The portion of positive cases related to community spread — no known origin — also has triggered state officials' concern, rising from 27.8 % to 33.5% over the same period.In a departure for the normally tight-lipped health officials, at Thursday's news conference state Director of...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTFARGO — They’ve been sworn at and hung up on. Some of the people they’re calling refuse to answer their questions.For contact tracers in North Dakota who are trying to minimize the spread of COVID-19, those occurrences used to be infrequent.Now, they’re happening dozens of times a week, according to Brenton Nesemeier, state health department field epidemiologist and director of field services, who works out of Fargo.Related:“I'm told I don't know how to do my job, that I'm ruining kids’ and people’s lives. I know other contact tracers have been told the same thing...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTFARGO — They’ve been sworn at and hung up on. Some of the people they’re calling refuse to answer their questions.For contact tracers in North Dakota who are trying to minimize the spread of COVID-19, those occurrences used to be infrequent.Now, they’re happening dozens of times a week, according to Brenton Nesemeier, state health department field epidemiologist and director of field services, who works out of Fargo.Related:“I'm told I don't know how to do my job, that I'm ruining kids’ and people’s lives. I know other contact tracers have been told the same thing...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT|FARGO -- North Dakotans, you're about to give away millions of dollars to out-of-state oil companies. Again. If you care. History shows you don't.The money is yours, by law and affirmed by the state supreme court. It was to be spent on public schools, the same ones funded by the taxes you like to gripe about so much. If you care.The headlines you've been reading in recent weeks about natural gas royalties, supreme court rulings and the North Dakota Board of University and School Lands probably looked like a pile of indecipherable governmental and legal...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT|FARGO -- North Dakotans, you're about to give away millions of dollars to out-of-state oil companies. Again. If you care. History shows you don't.The money is yours, by law and affirmed by the state supreme court. It was to be spent on public schools, the same ones funded by the taxes you like to gripe about so much. If you care.The headlines you've been reading in recent weeks about natural gas royalties, supreme court rulings and the North Dakota Board of University and School Lands probably looked like a pile of indecipherable governmental and legal...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTAndrew Armacost has been chosen as UND's next president.The State Board of Higher Education chose Armacost on Tuesday, Dec. 3, after spending an hour interviewing each finalist. He takes over for former UND President Mark Kennedy, who was selected to be the president of the University of Colorado system this spring. Joshua Wynne has been serving as UND's interim president since June.“This is a distinct honor for me,” Armacost told reporters after the meeting. “I’m so proud to be able to be called president of the University of North Dakota. I’ve had the chance over...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTAndrew Armacost has been chosen as UND's next president.The State Board of Higher Education chose Armacost on Tuesday, Dec. 3, after spending an hour interviewing each finalist. He takes over for former UND President Mark Kennedy, who was selected to be the president of the University of Colorado system this spring. Joshua Wynne has been serving as UND's interim president since June.“This is a distinct honor for me,” Armacost told reporters after the meeting. “I’m so proud to be able to be called president of the University of North Dakota. I’ve had the chance over...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT| News reportingNews reportingBased on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.Jake Sanderson expected to be in Montreal for this year's NHL Draft.He was going to spend a couple of June days in the city with his family, go to the Bell Centre for the event, walk across the big stage under the bright lights, receive a jersey and pose for pictures with an NHL franchise after becoming a first-round pick.It won't happen that way.The coronavirus pandemic shifted it to a virtual event that will...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT| News reportingNews reportingBased on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.Jake Sanderson expected to be in Montreal for this year's NHL Draft.He was going to spend a couple of June days in the city with his family, go to the Bell Centre for the event, walk across the big stage under the bright lights, receive a jersey and pose for pictures with an NHL franchise after becoming a first-round pick.It won't happen that way.The coronavirus pandemic shifted it to a virtual event that will...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTNov. 2 marks the 130th anniversary of statehood for North Dakota and its southern neighbor.Although President Benjamin Harrison signed them both into statehood the same day – Nov. 2, 1889 – which state actually entered the U.S. first? Was it North Dakota or South Dakota?It’s possible even President Harrison didn’t know for certain. And it’s prompted debate ever since.According to legend, Harrison had his secretary of state, James Blaine, cover both proclamations with a sheet of paper before they were signed. Then, Harrison shuffled them.At 3:40 p.m. EST, Harrison...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTNov. 2 marks the 130th anniversary of statehood for North Dakota and its southern neighbor.Although President Benjamin Harrison signed them both into statehood the same day – Nov. 2, 1889 – which state actually entered the U.S. first? Was it North Dakota or South Dakota?It’s possible even President Harrison didn’t know for certain. And it’s prompted debate ever since.According to legend, Harrison had his secretary of state, James Blaine, cover both proclamations with a sheet of paper before they were signed. Then, Harrison shuffled them.At 3:40 p.m. EST, Harrison...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTMitchell Miller is no longer a part of UND's hockey team.UND President Andrew Armacost announced in a letter to campus Friday morning that he made the decision to remove the freshman hockey player from the team, but said Miller is welcome to remain at UND as a student.The move comes in the wake of an in-depth report by the Arizona Republic detailing Miller's admitted assault, bullying and racial abuse of a Black, developmentally disabled classmate in eighth grade in Sylvania, Ohio.UND initially said Monday it was standing by Miller, but that changed Friday."I have...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTMitchell Miller is no longer a part of UND's hockey team.UND President Andrew Armacost announced in a letter to campus Friday morning that he made the decision to remove the freshman hockey player from the team, but said Miller is welcome to remain at UND as a student.The move comes in the wake of an in-depth report by the Arizona Republic detailing Miller's admitted assault, bullying and racial abuse of a Black, developmentally disabled classmate in eighth grade in Sylvania, Ohio.UND initially said Monday it was standing by Miller, but that changed Friday."I have...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT|Let me get this straight. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says he won't mandate masks in public because it would be too difficult to enforce. Gosh, if that's that's the bar for regulations, we shouldn't need any laws at all. Imagine a Utopia without speed limits, DUI enforcement or stop signs — bumper cars 24/7 with no seat belts and exploding gas tanks.It sounds glorious in a Mad Max sort of way. Defund the police yesterday.The reason this concept makes so much sense is that Americans, and North Dakotans in particular, believe in personal responsibility. Plus,...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT|Let me get this straight. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says he won't mandate masks in public because it would be too difficult to enforce. Gosh, if that's that's the bar for regulations, we shouldn't need any laws at all. Imagine a Utopia without speed limits, DUI enforcement or stop signs — bumper cars 24/7 with no seat belts and exploding gas tanks.It sounds glorious in a Mad Max sort of way. Defund the police yesterday.The reason this concept makes so much sense is that Americans, and North Dakotans in particular, believe in personal responsibility. Plus,...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBOWDLE, S.D.-- A 3.2 magnitude earthquake was detected in South Dakota, Dec. 8.The United States Geological Survey says the quake hit just before midnight with an epicenter in Walworth County.It was most intensely felt in nearby Bowdle, SD, which is 7 miles from where the USGS registered the epicenter.Bowdle is 35 miles away from the South Dakota and North Dakota border.It's not yet clear if the earthquake caused any damage or if anyone was hurt.ADVERTISEMENTThe project, a partnership between Fairview Health Services and Tennesee-based Acadia...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTBOWDLE, S.D.-- A 3.2 magnitude earthquake was detected in South Dakota, Dec. 8.The United States Geological Survey says the quake hit just before midnight with an epicenter in Walworth County.It was most intensely felt in nearby Bowdle, SD, which is 7 miles from where the USGS registered the epicenter.Bowdle is 35 miles away from the South Dakota and North Dakota border.It's not yet clear if the earthquake caused any damage or if anyone was hurt.ADVERTISEMENTThe project, a partnership between Fairview Health Services and Tennesee-based Acadia...WW…

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTUpdated 12:54 p.m. TuesdayBISMARCK — North Dakota's hospitals have reached their limit, and the coming weeks could push them past their capabilities, Gov. Doug Burgum said at a news conference on Monday, Nov. 9.Due to a major shortage of health care staffing, the state's hospitals have a severe lack of available beds. Rising COVID-19 hospitalizations and high noncoronavirus admissions, some resulting from residents who deferred health care earlier in the pandemic, have caused the crunch on medical centers.Burgum said hospitals are implementing their...…ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTUpdated 12:54 p.m. TuesdayBISMARCK — North Dakota's hospitals have reached their limit, and the coming weeks could push them past their capabilities, Gov. Doug Burgum said at a news conference on Monday, Nov. 9.Due to a major shortage of health care staffing, the state's hospitals have a severe lack of available beds. Rising COVID-19 hospitalizations and high noncoronavirus admissions, some resulting from residents who deferred health care earlier in the pandemic, have caused the crunch on medical centers.Burgum said hospitals are implementing their...WW…