Midwest

North Dakota lawmaker hit with misdemeanor charge in speculation case

Published

2 years ago

January 13, 2024

Press Room

North Dakota lawmaker hit with misdemeanor charge in speculation case

Republican North Dakota state Rep. Jason Dockter has been charged with a misdemeanor over a state-owned building owned by companies he’s tied to.
While vague, the complaint alleges Dockter voted “on legislative bills appropriating money to pay for property he had acquired a pecuniary interest in.”
Dockter has pleaded not guilty in the case, and is scheduled to be tried on May 3.

A North Dakota lawmaker faces a misdemeanor charge in connection with a state-leased building he has ownership ties to.

Republican state Rep. Jason Dockter, of Bismarck, was charged last month with speculating or wagering on official action. While the complaint offers few details, it says Dockter broke the law by “voting on legislative bills appropriating money to pay for property he had acquired a pecuniary interest in” and cites testimony from the state Ethics Commission’s executive director.

Prosecutor Ladd Erickson confirmed the charge involves a building leased in 2020 under the late attorney general, Wayne Stenehjem.

JUDGE CALLS FOR NEW NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT IN WIN FOR TRIBAL ADVOCATES

Dockter is a co-owner of companies that own and renovated the building, which was leased by the attorney general’s office to house divisions of the office. Dockter was friends with Stenehjem, but has said the relationship was not a factor in arranging the lease.

The building incurred a construction cost overrun of over $1 million under Stenehjem, who died in January 2022. Current Attorney General Drew Wrigley disclosed the cost overrun, which was covered by various attorney general funds, in June 2022 — shocking lawmakers, who raised concerns about trust and how the building project was handled.

Republican North Dakota state Rep. Jason Dockter chairs a legislative meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Jack Dura, File)

Soon afterward, records requests from the media revealed that Stenehjem’s assistant had directed the deletion of his state government email account days after his death, as well as that of his chief deputy after he resigned months later.

Those deletions added to the public uproar and Stenehjem’s assistant resigned around the time reporters found out.

Wrigley has said his office recouped about $625,000 after reconciling the initial estimate of the overrun with the building owner, but it’s unclear what the final number is.

Wrigley said his office has provided “every bit of information that is available to us and will continue to do the same up ahead. Like everyone else, we await the results of the process playing out.”

The controversy led to new leasing transparency and email retention laws by the Legislature, and also probes by North Dakota’s state auditor and a Montana investigator.

Dockter, who has served in the North Dakota House since 2012 and was reelected in 2022, declined to comment on the charge. A woman who answered the phone at Dockter’s attorney’s office said his attorney is also not commenting on the case.

Dockter has pleaded not guilty in the case and is scheduled for a jury trial on May 3.

The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of nearly a year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.

Read the full article from Here

North Dakota

Armstrong, Strinden celebrate grand opening of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora

Published

22 minutes ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

Armstrong, Strinden celebrate grand opening of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora

MEDORA, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden today celebrated the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora with local, state and federal officials, praising the new facility for bringing Roosevelt’s impactful legacy to life for current and future generations of Americans.

Armstrong quoted the Independence Day remarks delivered by a 27-year-old Roosevelt in 1886 in the governor’s hometown of Dickinson, in which Roosevelt expressed his affinity for “big prairies, big forests and mountains, big wheat fields, railroads, and herds of cattle, too,” among other things. Roosevelt said, “we must keep steadily in mind that no people were ever yet benefited by riches if their prosperity corrupted their virtue.”

“The values T.R. carried away from these Badlands — hard work, conservation, and active citizenship — these are not historical artifacts. They are North Dakota values,” Armstrong said. “And they are exactly the values this library will showcase to the world.”

The 96,000-square-foot library will be open year-round, with interactive exhibits offering an immersive experience for citizens young and old, from North Dakota and beyond.

“If this was just a library built in remembrance of our 26th president, that would be enough. But it is so much more than that,” Armstrong said. “With this grand opening today, we honor the spirit of one of the most consequential figures in the 250-year history as the greatest country in the history of the world. The spirit of resilience, honesty, bravery. The spirit of big dreams and big ideas, and the perseverance to do the hard work required to turn them into reality.”

Roosevelt sought solace and healing in Medora after his wife and mother died on the same day in February 1884, writing in his journal, “The light has gone out of my life.” He established the Elkhorn Ranch – now often referred to as the “cradle of conservation” – and would later say that he would not have become president if not for his experience in North Dakota.

“Now, people from all over the world can come to this exact place, stand where T.R. stood, and feel – not just understand, but feel – how it changed him,” Armstrong said. “That’s what this library makes possible. And North Dakota is genuinely proud to offer it to the world.”

For more information, visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library’s website.

Source link

Ohio

Water main break closes part of Glenwood Avenue

Published

29 minutes ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

Water main break closes part of Glenwood Avenue

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Part of Glenwood Avenue is closed due to a water main break in Youngstown.

Saturday afternoon, water could be seen flowing down Glenwood Avenue near Ravenwood Avenue.

The road is closed between Ravenwood Avenue and Clearmount Drive while crews repair the break.

Dominic O’Brien contributed to this report.

Source link

South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for July 4, 2026

Published

59 minutes ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 4 drawing

17-38-46-50-69, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from July 4 drawing

09-17-22-35-37, Star Ball: 05, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from July 4 drawing

08-09-18-25-30

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 4 drawing

17-20-37-40-43, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link