General News

Supco to decide if Measure 3 will be on the ballot

By Dave Thompson • Aug 21, 2020

The North Dakota Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether Measure Three should be on the ballot this fall.

The measure is a state Constitutional amendment, put on the ballot by initiative. It is wide-ranging, covering state election laws. It would, in part, create Legislative sub-districts for members of the North Dakota House, allow “approval voting,” do away with party primaries, and would put redistricting in the hands of the new state Ethics Commission.

ND Health Department confirms 274 new COVID-19 cases

By Danielle Webster • Aug 20, 2020

274 new individuals from 24 counties have tested positive for COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the new statewide positive total to 9,242. These results are from a pool of 7,738 tests for a daily positive rate of 3.54 percent.

Interim state health officer resigns, will return to private practice

By Dave Thompson • Aug 20, 2020

For the second time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s top health official is stepping down.

Gov. Doug Burgum said interim state health officer Dr. Andrew Stahl will be leaving at the end of the month. Stahl will be joining the staff at Sanford Health in Bismarck.

Stahl replaced Mylynn Tufte, who left the health officer position June 1.

During his weekly coronavirus briefing, Burgum said Stahl had told him early on that he wanted to return to private practice. He praised the work Stahl had done.

UND chosen for UAS Collegiate Training Initiative

By Dave Thompson • Aug 20, 2020

UND is one of the first institutions in the country selected for a new Collegiate Training Initiative for unmanned aerial systems.

That new initiative is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration.

UND has offered degrees in unmanned aerial systems since 2009, and was the first in the country to offer that degree.

"In the UAS program, we have about 185 students," said UAS program director Paul Snyder. He said UND has had a long relationship with the FAA.

Energy Issues and Answers, Part 3

By Dave Thompson • Aug 20, 2020

In Part Three of "Energy Issues and Answers: Oil Reclamation," Dave Thompson talks with North Dakota Mineral Resorces director Lynn Helms about the actual reclamation work at an oil well.

2 new COVID-19 deaths, 188 new cases found

By Danielle Webster • Aug 19, 2020

Two more individuals have passed away with COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the new statewide death toll to 130.

The patients were a woman in her 70s from McLean County and a woman in her 90s from Grand Forks County. They both had underlying health conditions.

Additionally, 188 new individuals from 27 counties have also tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the new statewide positive total to 8,968. These results were from a pool of 4,862 tests for a daily positive rate of 3.87 percent.

'Economic Resilience Grants' proving popular

By Dave Thompson • Aug 19, 2020

The state’s Department of Commerce says the demand for “Economic Resilience Grants” has been very strong.

Those grants are to help businesses provide a safe environment, and to help restore consumer confidence.

The department has $66 million from the CARES Act for that program.

Businesses can receive up to $50,000 – for a single location. And if the business has multiple locations, they can receive up to $100,000.

136 new cases of COVID-19 in ND today

By Danielle Webster • Aug 18, 2020

Two more individuals have passed away with COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the statewide death toll to 128.

The patients were a man in his 100s from Grand Forks County and a woman in her 80s from Burleigh County. They both had underlying health conditions.

Additionally, 136 new individuals from 19 counties have also tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the new statewide positive total to 8,782. These results are from a pool of 1,876 tests for a daily positive rate of 7.2 percent.

ND COVID-19; 1 new death, 60 new cases

By Danielle Webster • Aug 17, 2020

A woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions has passed away with COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 126. She was from Burleigh County.

Additionally, 60 new individuals from 15 counties have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the new statewide positive total to 8,647. These results were from a pool of 2,703 tests for a daily positive rate of 2.2 percent.

Interim committee meetings canceled; Legislative Council staffer tests positive for COVID-19

By Dave Thompson • Aug 17, 2020

(updated 1:46 pm)

Several Legislative interim committee meetings have been canceled this week, because a staffer at the Legislative Council has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Legislative Council director John Bjornson said the person who tested positive has limited contact with other staff or Legislators, but he said, “Out of an abundance of caution, the chairmen of the committees decided to cancel the meetings.”

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