North Dakota

Coalition hopes to secure free school meals for North Dakota children this legislative session

Published

1 year ago

December 19, 2024

Coalition hopes to secure free school meals for North Dakota children this legislative session

FARGO — A new community coalition is on a mission to guarantee every North Dakota child has access to healthy meals at school, regardless of family income.

The Together for School Meals coalition launched this week with more than 30

local organizations

backing the cause.

Made up of professionals in fields ranging from food security organizations and family advocacy groups to teachers and administrators, the coalition seeks additional support ahead of the upcoming legislative session, which convenes Tuesday, Jan. 7.

The coalition will recommend to North Dakota legislators that they provide $140 million in state funding over the next two years to reimburse school districts for the cost of providing free meals to all students.

Formed by Prairie Action ND, the coalition aims to have breakfast and lunch included in the School Meals for All program.

Melissa Sobolik, CEO of the Great Plains Food Bank, said more than 156,000 North Dakotans relied on the food bank in 2023. They included more than one in every three children, making a permanent solution to food insecurity urgent.

“It’s the highest ever for those numbers in our 41-year history,” she said.

Robin Nelson, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club and Fargo school board member who is a spokesperson on legislative issues, said there are many benefits to every child getting healthy meals at school.

School attendance and academic success typically increase when children receive proper nutrition, she said, and anger issues decline when they’re not hungry and undernourished.

Nelson said it’s important to include all children in meal programs, not just those whose families are in lower income brackets.

“Some families hide that they are having issues with their bills. We just want to make sure that no child is left out, and provide every student with the optimal tools to help them succeed,” she said.

Coalition member Tony Burke, government relations director for the American Heart Association, said the U.S. is looking at a cost of $1.8 trillion for health care around chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, by 2050.

He said much of that is fueled by the increasing prevalence of obesity — a trajectory that could change if all children receive proper nutrition.

“We know everything we go after is research and evidence based. We know that investing now will save us in the long run,” Burke said.

During the last legislative session, a bill to provide free lunches at a cost of $6 million over two years for children in families at 200% of the federal poverty level,

fell one vote short of approval in the state Senate after passing in the House.

Lawmakers did end up allocating $6 million to school meals for qualifying families, but the funding was temporary.

A companion piece of legislation known as the anti-lunch shaming bill did receive approval,

ensuring that children who had unpaid school lunch bills weren’t shamed by being fed an alternate, cheaper lunch.

However, an unintended consequence of that bill, Nelson said, was that school districts were to forgive unpaid meal debt using dollars from the pot of funding that pays teachers.

“We do not want this (free meals) included in the per pupil payment. It needs to be separate,” Nelson said.

Fargo Public Schools currently has unpaid school meal debt of $72,000, which could reach $125,000 by the end of the school year, she said.

A new poll shows North Dakotans largely support state involvement in providing free school meals.

Results from the North Dakota News Cooperative poll released last month

showed 82% of respondents in favor and only 14% opposed. A total of 65% “strongly favor” providing free meals at schools.

Support was generally high among all age groups, while most opposition came from men over 55 years of age, the poll indicated.

Nelson said she and others in the coalition will track and advocate for all free school meals legislation during the session.

“That is the goal of this coalition, to make this a higher priority for our state legislators,” she said.

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North Dakota

Nebraska Hoops Game Day: North Dakota

Published

9 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Coming off of one of its best weeks in program history, Nebraska looks to keep its record-setting start rolling tonight against North Dakota.

Here is what you need to know going into the game as the Huskers try to improve to a perfect 12-0…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (5-9, 0-0 Summit League)

Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: Big Ten Plus

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Nebraska projected starters

Jamarques Lawrence	G	Sr.	6-3/185	Lawrence scored 14 points with six assists in the win over Illinois, including a buzzer-beater 3-pointer. His game-winning three was NU’s first since Jan. 15, 2018 (James Palmer Jr. vs. Illinois).
Sam Hoiberg	G	Sr.	6-0/180	After his seven points, six assists, and five rebounds at Illinois, Hoiberg now leads the nation with a 5.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s also fourth in the Big Ten with 1.7 spg.
Pryce Sandfort	G	Jr.	6-7/210	Sandfort scored 26 of Nebraska’s first 37 points en route to a career-high 32 in the upset at Illinois. He’s now 11th in the Big Ten in scoring (17.1 ppg) and 12th in 3-point percentage (39.3%).
Berke Buyuktuncel	F	Jr.	6-10/240	Foul trouble and an elbow to the face limited Buyuktuncel at Illinois, but he still finished with three points, three rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in the win.
Rienk Mast	F	Sr.	6-10/250	Mast scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half at Illinois, along with his team-high seven rebounds. He’s now 10th in the Big Ten at 17.9 ppg while shooting 54.6% overall and 41.7% from three.

North Dakota projected starters

Eli King	G	Sr.	6-3/193	A former transfer from Iowa State, King is UND’s lone returning starter from last season. He averages 11.1 points and a team-high 2.7 steals per game.
Greyson Uelmen	G	RFr.	6-2/185	After redshirting last season, Uelmen leads the Fighting Hawks at 13.1 points per game while shooting 50% from the field. He also dishes out 2.2 apg.
Zach Kraft	G	So.	6-3/185	Kraft averages 8.0 points per game and leads North Dakota with 32 made 3-pointers at a 39.0% clip this season.
Garrett Anderson	G	Sr.	6-6/195	A transfer from Central Washington, Anderson averages 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He’s also second on the team with 20 made 3-pointers.
George Natsvlishvili	F	Jr.	6-10/239	A native of the nation of Georgia, Natsvlishvili joined North Dakota last season. The junior currently averages 8.6 points on 57.3% shooting with 4.9 rebounds per game.

3 keys to victory

Don’t get ‘fat and happy’

To borrow a quote from former Husker guard Emmanuel Bandoumel a few years ago, Nebraska cannot get “fat and happy” after its 11-0 start to the season. As impressive as NU has been thus far, it must stay dialed in amid finals week and the looming holiday break. The good news is that Nebraska was in nearly this exact situation two seasons ago when North Dakota came to Lincoln and led by as many as 14 points in the second half. The Huskers rallied back for an 83-75 victory, but that game was a major wake-up call during their NCAA Tournament run. NU must lock in from the opening tip until the final buzzer to do what it’s supposed to do and remain perfect.

Protect the basketball

If there’s one way North Dakota can make things interesting tonight, it will be by flustering Nebraska’s ball handlers with heavy pressure and forcing turnovers. The Fighting Hawks rank 25th nationally in defensive turnover percentage (21.3%) and 45th in defensive steal percentage (12.2%). The Huskers have been good about taking care of the basketball this season, ranking 21st in offensive TO% (13.9) and 27th in offensive steal percentage (7.3). UND runs many of the same defensive schemes as Nebraska, so NU should be no strangers to what it sees tonight. However, the Huskers must handle the pressure to keep the game under control.

Win the glass

While Nebraska shocked the college basketball world with its 83-80 win at Illinois, the Huskers made life unnecessarily difficult on themselves in the victory. That’s because the Fighting Illini managed to score 19 second-chance points off 13 offensive rebounds. That included seven offensive boards for 14 points during UI’s 14-point comeback in the first half. North Dakota is hardly the rebounding team Illinois is, ranking 314th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (25.6%). Still, Nebraska can’t let UND or any opponent get so many extra shots.

Quotable

“The getaway game is always a dangerous one. I dealt with it in the NBA with the All-Star break. You look forward to having a few days off and an opportunity to spend time with family, but you have to stay focused and go out and take care of business.”
-Head coach Fred Hoiberg on Nebraska needing to lock in for its finals week showdown against North Dakota.

Prediction

Nebraska (-29.5) 91, North Dakota 65

Robin’s season record: 10-1

Vs. the spread: 9-2

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North Dakota

Recap: Penn State wrestling sets NCAA history with 77th consecutive dual meet win

Published

21 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Recap: Penn State wrestling sets NCAA history with 77th consecutive dual meet win

Penn State goes two for two and sets a new NCAA record

12/20/2025 07:26:07 PM

Penn State won two matches at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals and has set a new NCAA Division I record with 77 consecutive dual meet victories. The Lions pass Oklahoma State’s previous mark of 76 by beating Stanford 42-0. Earlier in the day, Penn State shut out North Dakota State.

Here are the full results from both matches:

PSU vs. NDSU

125 pounds: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 31 Ezekiel Witt, NDSU, 6-5 (PSU 3-0)
133 pounds: No. 10 Marcus Blaze, PSU md. No. 29 Tristan Daugherty, NDSU, 11-3 (PSU 7-0)
141 pounds: Nate Desmond, Penn State d. Michael Olson, NDSU, 4-1 (PSU 10-0)
149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU TF No. 24 Max Petersen, NDSU, 19-2 (5:16) (PSU 15-0)
157 pounds: No. 8 PJ Duke, Penn State md. No. 21 Gavin Drexler, NDSU, 16-5 (PSU 19-0)
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU TF Boeden Greenley, NDSU 18-1 (3:45) (PSU 24-0)
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, Penn State F. Max Magayna, NDSU (1:38) (PSU 30-0)
184 pounds: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU TF Andrew McMcgonagle, NDSU, 19-4 (6:17) (PSU 35-0)
197 pounds: Josh Barr, Penn State TF Devin Wasley, NDSU, 19-3 (3:20) (PSU 40-0)
285 pounds: No. 13 Cole Mirasola, PSU F Drew Blackburn, NDSU (:33) (PSU 46-0)

PSU vs. Stanford
125 pounds: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 12 Nicco Provo, Stanford, 4-2 (PSU 3-0)
133 pounds: No. 10 Marcus Blaze, PSU F No. 6 Tyler Knox, Stanford (6:44) (PSU 9-0)
141 pounds: #Nate Desmond Penn State md. Lain Yapoujian, Stanford, 9-0 (PSU 13-0)
149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU d. 14 Aden Valencia, Stanford, 10- 4 (PSU 16-0)
157 pounds: No. 8 PJ Duke, Penn State d. No. 5 Daniel Cardenas, Stanford, 5-2 (PSU 19-0)
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU F. EJ Parco, Stanford (4:23) (PSU 25-0)
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU md. Lorenzo Norman, Stanford, 14-4 (PSU 29-0)
184 pounds: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU d. Abraham Wojcikiewicz, Stanford, 5-1 (PSU 32-0)
197 pounds: Josh Barr, PSU TF No. 19 Angelo Posada, Stanford, 19-3 (PSU 37-0)
285 pounds: No. 13 Cole Mirasola PSU TF Luke Duthie, Stanford, 21-6 (2:59) (PSU 42-0)

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North Dakota

Suffolk prosecutors intercept, return scammed cash to North Dakota grandmother

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Suffolk prosecutors intercept, return scammed cash to North Dakota grandmother

An 80-year-old North Dakota grandmother scammed out of $8,500 has her money back after Suffolk County prosecutors and postal inspectors traced the package of cash, which was mailed to a Shirley address, and returned it earlier this week, district attorney’s officials said.

Officials said the woman received a call Dec. 12 from someone pretending to be her granddaughter, saying she had been in a traffic accident in Suffolk County and needed bail money.

The caller said she was charged with three crimes and then handed the phone to a man posing as her lawyer, who gave the grandmother instructions on how to send cash through the mail, district attorney’s officials said.

The grandmother mailed the cash, but the man kept calling, pestering her for more money, prosecutors said. The woman, who eventually realized she had been scammed, called police in Devils Lake, North Dakota, and reported the con.

Detectives, who made no arrests, tracked the package to Shirley. The Suffolk County Financial Crimes Bureau then worked with inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to intercept the package two hours after it arrived on Wednesday and returned the money to the North Dakota woman.

“Our office is dedicated to combating scammers who prey on the senior citizen community, who criminals believe to be easy prey,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “Bad actors should know that Suffolk County will not be a haven for mailing scams, and that we will do everything within our power to prevent citizens from being swindled by predatory scammers.”

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.

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