North Dakota
Bill sponsors ask North Dakota House to restore rural funding after Senate slashes $45 million
BISMARCK — Communities in North Dakota with 1,000 people or fewer could benefit from a proposed $5 million permanent investment fund that would create grants for making infrastructure improvements.
Repurposing vacant buildings for housing, fixing roads and bolstering local economic development are the kind of projects that would be funded by the Rural Community Endowment Fund, which
Senate Bill 2097
aims to establish.
The fund would be overseen by the State Investment Board and use its annual interest to fund competitive grant-making while preserving its principal amount.
Those grants would be awarded by a committee that also evaluates how they’re used.
The committee would consist of one commissioner who appoints nine people from rural North Dakota and a representative of a nonprofit organization that supports rural communities.
The original proposal sought to use $50 million of the projected $6.5 billion general fund,
but that was reduced by 90% to $5 million before advancing through the Senate.
In a House Political Subdivisions Committee hearing Friday, March 7, each of the three bill sponsors said the funding reduction should be reconsidered.
Contributed / North Dakota Legislative Assembly
“I personally don’t think it’s enough,” Rep. Mike Brandenburg, R-Edgeley, said.
Primary sponsor Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, said the price tag should be returned to $50 million while the state is in the “best position” it’s ever been in financially.
Contributed / North Dakota Legislative Assembly
“The viability of rural communities is important economically, but it is more important to preserve the base of our value system,” Mathern said. “Hard work, self resiliency and cooperation are values grown in rural North Dakota. We need more of this in our country.”
Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, also sponsored the bill.
Contributed / North Dakota Legislative Assembly
Strengthen ND, a rural community development nonprofit, called the legislation the “rural trust” bill.
“It’s the product of over a decade worth of conversations with rural community leaders across North Dakota” said Megan Langley, executive director of Strengthen ND.
“Time and time again, I have received calls from rural communities in need of funding for projects,” she continued. “Time and time again, there was nowhere to refer them. The resource they needed simply did not exist.”
Nine people testified in favor of the bill during the hearing, and none stood in opposition.
In addition to the three legislators who sponsored the bill, those in support included the North Dakota Farmers Union, Strengthen ND, the League of Cities, Rolla Job Development Authority and the Roosevelt Custer and Red River regional councils.
Of the more than 40 testimony entries online, one opposed the bill.
The effort is duplicative, wrote Alexander Public Schools Superintendent Leslie Bieber, who added she supports more state funding going to rural communities.
A House floor vote has not been scheduled.
North Dakota
Found guilty of manslaughter: Dickinson man to spend only about four and a half more years in prison
DICKINSON — A 70-year-old Dickinson man
charged with murder in 2024
was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in prison after the charges against him were dropped to manslaughter. According to court documents, he will only be in custody for about four and a half more years.
Nine years were suspended from Jeffrey Powell’s sentence along with 532 days or about one and a half years for time already served.
Barring future developments, Powell will be incarcerated at the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for
the death of 59-year-old Christopher Volney Ische
for about four and a half more years.
That’s just months more than the four-year minimum sentence, according to the Stark County State’s Attorney Amanda Engelstad.
The initial incident happened on July 3, 2024. Police said the shooting, which resulted in Ische’s death, happened around 7 p.m. in a residential neighborhood in Dickinson after a verbal altercation. Police also said Powell had stayed on the scene of the shooting and talked with officers.
At the time of Powell’s arrest, police said they presumed Ische’s death was an isolated incident. He has been held at Southwest Multi-County Correctional Center (SWMCCC) since the incident with a $2 million bond.
Powell
was initially charged with a Class AA felony
, which could carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Powell was found guilty of manslaughter of an adult victim, which is a Class B felony.
Powell pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge.
Engelstad said to The Press that the difference in charges was based on evidence presented in the trial and was an “appropriate resolution.”
Different sentencing rules applied to Powell, however, because of how North Dakota law interprets the use of a firearm in cases like this.
During the trial, the court found that Powell was a dangerous special offender pursuant to NDCC 12.1-32-09. This portion of North Dakota law allows the court to sentence above normal charges. In Powell’s case, a class B felony typically carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. With the dangerous special offender finding, the sentence can be a maximum of 20 years.
Engelstad said the State had argued for a sentence of 20 years.
“I’m disappointed in the outcome,” said Engelstad.
Additional terms of Powell’s sentence include five years’ supervised probation, along with no contact with the family of the deceased for the same length of time.
If Powell does not violate these terms, his probation will end in 2035. He is scheduled to be released from custody June 23, 2030.
A total of $775 in fees for Powell’s case, including criminal administration, facility admin and victim witness fees, were waived. He may be required to pay restitution. The State’s Attorney’s office has 60 days from the date of judgment to file an affidavit of restitution.
The view through a North Dakota Highway Patrol squad’s windshield. (Facebook)
(FOX 9) – Blizzard warnings are in for parts of both North and South Dakota, creating hazardous conditions for drivers on Thursday morning.
Blizzard warning in effect
What we know:
In North Dakota, the blizzard warning covers most of the northern two-thirds of the state, stretching into northwest Minnesota.
In South Dakota, the blizzard warning only covers three counties in the far northeast part of the state, including Day, Marshall, and Robert counties.
The National Weather Service is only forecasting between one and four inches of snow in North Dakota and two inches of snow in South Dakota, but whipping winds up to 70 miles per hour will greatly reduce visibility and cause damage to trees and power lines.
READ MORE: White-out conditions reported in NW Minnesota
What they’re seeing:
North Dakota Highway Patrol shared photos showing the blizzard conditions along Interstate 94 just east of Bismark. In the photos, it appears you can only see a few feet past the front bumper of the squad.
Another post shows snow whipping in the high winds in Grand Forks County. Troopers are urging residents to stay home in North Dakota if they are able.
Travel restrictions in place
Big picture view:
A travel alert is in effect for western parts of North Dakota while no travel is advised for central and eastern parts of the state. Troopers have restricted oversized loads from roads in the northwest and northeast regions of the state as of 5:30 a.m. and empty or light-loaded high-profile vehicles due to the high winds and icy conditions.
In South Dakota, officials warn that there are reports of multiple downed powerlines and trees blocking roadways. No travel is advised in Day and Marshall counties.
The Source: This story uses information from the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the National Weather Service.
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A 24-year-old suspect wanted on fraud charges in Florida was arrested in Bismarck following a multi-state investigation into alleged economic crimes targeting St. Lucie County, Florida residents in 2024.
Kylen Running Hawk was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 16, by Bismarck authorities working with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Running Hawk is being held at the Burleigh County Jail pending extradition to Florida.
Running Hawk faces three charges under Florida law:
- Fraud/swindle: Defrauding to obtain property valued at less than $20,000
- Fraud/impersonation: Use or possession of another person’s identification without consent
- Grand theft: Property valued at $750 or more but less than $5,000
Detective Cpl. Redler coordinated the cross-state apprehension, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Copyright 2025 KVLY. All rights reserved.
Maintenance delays Alaska Air Cargo operations, Christmas packages – KNOM Radio Mission
Arizona governor’s poll shows Katie Hobbs’ chances of beating Andy Biggs
OPINION | ROBERT STEINBUCH: Intent matters | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
California orders Tahoe Truckee schools to leave Nevada sports over transgender athlete dispute
Dangerous fire situation looming for parts of Colorado’s Front Range, as another day of strong winds lies ahead
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Video: Trump Mocks Obama, Biden in His Presidential ‘Walk of Fame’
Trump quietly signs sweeping $901B defense bill after bipartisan Senate passage
Mercosur signature delayed to January after Meloni asks for more time
Is ISIS making a comeback? : Sources & Methods
Texas Republicans launch ‘Sharia Free America Caucus’ aimed at defending ‘Western civilization’
-
Iowa4 days agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Washington1 week agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa6 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Maine3 days agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland4 days agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
Technology1 week agoThe Game Awards are losing their luster
-
South Dakota5 days agoNature: Snow in South Dakota
-
Nebraska1 week agoNebraska lands commitment from DL Jayden Travers adding to early Top 5 recruiting class