General News

Senate proposes $3 million for a consultant to a new State Hospital

By Dave Thompson • Apr 14, 2021

In the Senate’s version of the budget for Human Services, $3 million has been set aside to hire a consultant, that would look at plans for a new State Hospital in Jamestown.

"The old State Hospital is old," said Sen. Dick Dever (R-Bismarck), who chaired the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services.

Dever said at one time, the State Hospital had 3000 residents.

"We're looking at building a new State Hospital that would have 75 to 100 beds," Dever said.

Group wants to limit initiated Constitutional measures to a single subject, and require a 60% vote

By Dave Thompson • Apr 14, 2021

A group thinks it’s too easy to amend North Dakota’s Constitution.

Right now, an initiated Constitutional amendment can be passed with a 50-percent-plus one vote.

“Protect North Dakota’s Constitution” has submitted its own amendment, that if passed by voters, would require a 60 percent majority. The group’s measure would also limit those amendments to a single subject.

Second fire at Mid America Steel building ruled arson

By Danielle Webster • Apr 13, 2021

A fire that occurred at the former Mid America Steel building in Fargo on Sunday has been ruled as “intentionally set.”

This is the second fire that has occurred at that location believed to be arson – the first fire took place on March 22nd.

The Fargo Fire Department said in a statement they are continuing to work with Fargo Police to determine who is responsible for setting the fires.

234 new cases, 2 deaths confirmed of individuals with COVID-19

By Danielle Webster • Apr 13, 2021

The state health department has confirmed two more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,473.

The patients were a man in his 60s from Ward County, and a man in his 70s from Williams County.

Deaths are reported to the state health department by facilities or by official death record, and can take up to ten days to be confirmed.

In Corrections budget bill, New England would lose inmates

By Dave Thompson • Apr 13, 2021

The state House has passed the budget bill for the Department of Corrections.

In the bill, approximately 30 women inmates from the Dakota Women’s Correctional and Rehabilitation Center in New England will be moved to the Youth Correctional Center in Mandan. The New England Facility is operated through a contract with the Southwest Multi-County Correction Center.

Rep. Randy Schobinger (R-Minot) told the House the Department wants to keep the New England facility open and operating, with perhaps a new mission.

Mask mandate bill passes -- on its way to Gov. Burgum

By Dave Thompson • Apr 13, 2021

A bill to prevent the Governor or other state officials from imposing a mask mandate as a health protection is now on its way to Gov. Burgum.

That, after the House agreed with the Senate changes to the measure.

As introduced, HB 1323 would have prohibited state and local officials from imposing a mask mandate. The Senate changed it to state officials only.

Rep. Jason Dockter (R-Bismarck) told the House this is a reasonable compromise.

"The mask mandate is a local issue, and it will stay a local issue," Dockter said.

64 new COVID-19 cases found

By Danielle Webster • Apr 12, 2021

According to the state health department’s coronavirus dashboard, 64 new individuals from 15 counties have tested positive for COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the new statewide positive total to 104,808.

These results were from a pool of 1,358 tests for a daily positive rate of 5.78 percent.

41 of those positives were PCR tests, and 23 were antigen tests.

The cases broken down by county are:

Nearly 45 percent of ND residents have received one COVID-19 shot

By Danielle Webster • Apr 12, 2021

The state of North Dakota continues to distribute COVID-19 vaccine statewide.

According to the state health department’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, the state has received roughly 66,000 more doses of vaccine over the past seven days.

To date, North Dakota has received more than 466,600 doses of vaccine. More than 475,000 total doses have been administered. Some vials of vaccine contain more doses than is officially listed.

UPDATE: Senate approves K-12 spending bill

By Dave Thompson • Apr 12, 2021

The state Senate has approved the bill that funds K-12 schools.

That includes new language on what school districts are to do with the increased state funding.

The Senate is proposing a one percent increase in per-pupil payments in each year of the upcoming biennium. This, as school districts will be receiving federal money due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But that federal money comes with strings attached.

State confirms 48 new coronavirus infections

By Danielle Webster • Apr 11, 2021

According to the state health department’s coronavirus dashboard, 48 new individuals from 13 counties have tested positive for COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the new statewide positive total to 104,745.

These results were from a pool of 2,214 tests for a daily positive rate of 2.72 percent.

34 of those positives were PCR tests, and 14 were antigen tests.

The cases broken down by county are:

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