General News

598 new COVID-19 cases; seven more deaths

By Danielle Webster • 14 hours ago

The state health department has confirmed seven more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 927.

The patients were:

* Woman in her 90s from Foster County.
* Man in his 70s from Grand Forks County.
* Man in his 90s from Morton County.
* Woman in her 80s from Pembina County.
* Woman in her 60s from Sioux County.
* Woman in her 90s from Ward County.
* Woman in her 90s from Ward County.

Bankers Assoc: More optimism in farm country

By Dave Thompson • 16 hours ago

The president of the North Dakota Bankers Association believes there is reason for optimism in farm country.

"First off, USDA is forecasting a rise of over 20 percent in net farm income, compared to 2019," Rick Clayburgh said in an interview. "Certainly that's a positive sign as we're moving from 2020 into 2021."

Clayburgh said some of that was due to government support, because of COVID-19, lower commodity prices, and the trade dispute with China.

"The good sign is, we're seeing a rebound in some of our prices," Clayburgh said.

725 new COVID-19 cases; five additional deaths

By Danielle Webster • Nov 29, 2020

The state health department has confirmed five more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 920.

The patients were:

* Man in his 60s from Burleigh County.
* Man in his 60s from Burleigh County.
* Man in his 80s from Cass County.
* Man in his 70s from McKenzie County.
* Woman in her 80s from Rolette County.

725 new individuals from 44 counties have also tested positive for COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the new statewide positive total to 78,658.

ND COVID-19: 13 more deaths, 750 new cases

By Danielle Webster • Nov 28, 2020

The state health department has confirmed 13 more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 915.

The patients were:

797 new COVID-19 cases, five more deaths in ND

By Danielle Webster • Nov 27, 2020

The state health department has confirmed five more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 902.

The patients were:

* Man in his 50s from Cass County.
* Woman in her 80s from Foster County.
* Woman in her 80s from Foster County.
* Woman in her 80s from Stutsman County.
* Woman in her 90s from Walsh County.

797 new individuals from 46 counties have also tested positive for COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the new statewide positive total to 77,232.

Ten dead, 952 new COVID-19 cases

By Danielle Webster • Nov 26, 2020

The state health department has confirmed ten more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 897.

The patients were:

* Woman in her 80s from Burleigh County.
* Man in his 90s from Burleigh County.
* Woman in her 70s from Cass County.
* Woman in her 80s from Cass County.
* Woman in her 90s from Dickey County.
* Man in his 60s from Dickey County.
* Woman in her 80s from Foster County.
* Man in his 40s from McHenry County.
* Man in his 80s from McKenzie County.
* Man in his 80s from Ward County.

Audubon Dakota receives $7 million for its conservation forage program

By Dave Thompson • Nov 25, 2020

The state Industrial Commission’s Outdoor Heritage Fund has awarded $7 million to Audubon Dakota.

The money is to initiate the North Dakota Conservation Forage Program.

"The chief question is: How do we get more habitat on the landcape, but keep land working and producing food," said Audubon Dakota executive director Marshall Johnson.

Johnson said the plan is to enroll up to 30,000 acres of marginal cropland, to restore forage based cover.

Six more dead; 1,096 new coronavirus infections statewide

By Danielle Webster • Nov 25, 2020

The state health department has confirmed six more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 887.

The patients were:

* Man in his 70s from Cass County.
* Woman in her 70s from Cass County.
* Man in his 60s from Richland County.
* Woman in her 50s from Ward County.
* Man in his 90s from Ward County.
* Man in his 70s from Williams County.

1,096 new individuals from 44 counties have also tested positive for COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the new statewide positive total to 75,478.

Cities will get first 'Operation Prairie Dog" money

By Dave Thompson • Nov 25, 2020

Cities in North Dakota will be receiving money from the so-called “Operation Prairie Dog.”

That program allocates money from oil taxes. The money is to be used for infrastructure spending.

"Based on the oil forecast for the rest of this biennium, we would expect that only the very first bucket in the operation would be filled," said state Budget Director Joe Morrissette. "That bucket did fill up in the month of November."

October state revenue report 'a mixed bag'

By Dave Thompson • Nov 24, 2020

The October state revenue report was a mixed bag.

"We fell short of the original Legislative forecast by about 25 percent," said state Office of Management and Budget director Joe Morrissette.

However, Morrissette said it falls in line with the newer state revenue forecast, issued in September.

"And that forecast shows we'll be able to make it through this biennium, despite the shortfall, without having to call for an across-the-board state budeg reduction," Morrissette said.

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