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U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, spoke about the connection between North Dakota, the United States and Norway at the 12th annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference held April 17, where he delivered the congressional keynote address.

WASHINGTON – North Dakota’s deep Norwegian roots reflect the broad, long-standing relationship between the United States and Norway, one built on shared values, cultural ties and security cooperation.

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, spoke about the connection between the two countries at the 12th annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference held April 17, where he delivered the congressional keynote address.

He described the bond as historic and strategic, but also personal. His great-great-great grandfather, Erik Hjelden, fought in the Norwegian War of Independence prior to Norway adopting a constitution on May 17, 1814, Norway’s Independence Day known as Syttende Mai.

Starting in the 1870s, Scandinavian immigrants from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland settled across what is now North Dakota. Today, one-third of the state’s population is of Norwegian descent, and North Dakota has the highest percentage of citizens with Norwegian ancestry of any state in the nation.

“I love the theme of this year’s conference, ‘From Seabed to Space,’ because I do think the size of the country is not nearly as important as the dynamic that happens when one plus one equals more than two,” Cramer said. “At a time when there’s talent on the factory floor, and talent in the executive suites, and talent in the engineering room, that we may have one or the other, maybe all. But together the dynamic of it is so much greater.”

Cramer emphasized how this foundation now supports a modern defense partnership. He said the United States and Norway are working together on Arctic security, aiming to strengthen interoperability and improve readiness across multi-domain operations. This alliance plays a key role in addressing today’s international security challenges.

Cramer also recognized the U.S.-Norway partnership through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as the history between the two countries.

“When you look at a globe, it illustrates why the Arctic is so important,” continued Cramer. “None of us can protect our silo without protecting our country, without protecting our continent, without protecting our hemisphere, without protecting ourselves. We protect one another by protecting ourselves, and we protect ourselves by protecting one another.”

Throughout his years in Congress, Cramer has been active in the House and Senate Friends of Norway caucuses. He hosted former Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S. Anniken Krutnes when she visited North Dakota in 2024, highlighting the state’s Norwegian heritage, economic strength and its role in advancing U.S.-Norway defense and national security cooperation. During the visit, Krutnes and Cramer emphasized the importance of strong alliances and the longstanding partnership between the two nations during various community stops, including events at the Sons of Norway Kringen Lodge and First Lutheran Church. The visit also focused on defense priorities, with a briefing at the North Dakota National Guard’s 119th Wing regarding the mission of the “Happy Hooligans,” before concluding with a public reception ahead of the Fargo premiere of the Norwegian film Songs of Earth.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — He’s won an Emmy, two James Beard Awards and has published best-selling cookbooks. Ted Allen’s rise to fame led him on an unforgettable path.

“I think there’s a lot of luck in life, but also a little bit of hustle certainly doesn’t hurt,” Allen says.

That mentality has driven Ted his entire life. His life began in 1965 in the Children’s Hospital in Columbus. Ted’s father moved the family to central Ohio for his work as a CPA.

“This all started out in a small apartment on Broad Street.” Ted days. “Later in Columbus, we lived on a street called Conestoga Drive. The view from our front yard,I could see them building up the soil, the berm to create the beltway that now exists around the city of Columbus.”

The Allen family moved to Indianapolis when Ted was 7. He went on to earn college degrees in psychology (from Purdue) and journalism (from NYU), but it was his passion for food and wine that drove his career path.

“Chefs are in the business of making happiness, as are winemakers, and they also tend to do it in really exciting or very beautiful places,” he says. “The whole food and wine world is in pursuit of happiness and joy. And who doesn’t want to be a part of that culture?”

Allen became a writer for Chicago Magazine and Esquire. While at Esquire in 2003, he got an audition for a new reality-style show on Bravo: Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

“I was the only one who wasn’t from New York City. I’m from the Midwest, as you know. I was from Columbus, Ohio, and I didn’t talk like them. I was different.”

Allen earned the role of food and wine expert in the cast, and the show went on to win an Emmy Award. His profile soared.

“Grateful again, nothing but grateful. It was a trip getting famous.”

That led to Ted’s next big break as the host of one of television’s longest-running shows. He’s hosted nearly 1,000 episodes of “Chopped” and other Food Network shows under the “Chopped” brand. He’s also published best-selling cookbooks.

Ted and his husband, Barry, met while they were both working in Chicago, and oddly enough, Barry was also born in Columbus. He still has family members in central Ohio.

Allen’s traveled the world, but in his trips back to Columbus, he’s found world-class culture.

“I tasted the food and thought, I’m in Soho, New York,” he says. “This was a moment when it really gelled for me that the culinary revolution of the United States is certainly not confined to New Orleans, San Francisco, New York. It is everywhere. And Columbus was an excellent example of that. The food was just killer.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) -Nebraska softball defeated South Dakota 4-1 in the opening game of its first NCAA Regional at Bowlin Stadium since 2013.

South Dakota took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Wahoo native Autumn Iverson hit a home run to left field that struck the scoreboard. The Coyotes started five players from Nebraska in their lineup.