Ashley Gaschk is a middle school English teacher in Mandan.

BISMARCK, N.D. – The AFL-CIO in North Dakota has new leadership for the first time in six years.

Delegates to the North Dakota AFL-CIO convention elected Ashley Gaschk to a four-year term as President, Secretary-Treasurer – the top role in the state federation of labor unions.

Gaschk is succeeding outgoing president Landis Larson, who is retiring after 40 years of dedicated service to the labor movement – the last 6 of which were served as AFL-CIO president.

Gaschk said in part, quote, “Being a union member has improved my life in many ways, and I look forward to spending the next four years working to improve the lives of union members across our state.”

At the convention, the organization issued support for federal workers and United States Postal Service workers as well as opposition to Medicaid cuts.

Bismarck— Ashley Gaschk was elected to serve as the president and secreatary-treasurer of the North Dakota AFL-CIO at its convention.

“Being a union member has improved my life in many ways, and I look forward to spending the next four years working to improve the lives of union members across our state,” Gaschk said via news release. “On the job and in our communities, union members fight for fair pay and benefits, secure retirement, and expanded opportunities for all of North Dakota’s working families. I’m honored to have been elected and eager to get to work.”

Gaschk is an educator by trade, teaching middle school English in Mandan, N.D., since 2017. She is a member of the Mandan Education Association where she has served as a building representative, local union recording secretary, contract negotiator and delegate to the Missouri Slope Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Gaschk also taught in Minnesota, where she was a member of Education Minnesota. In addition to teaching, Gaschk worked as staff for the Transport Workers Union in the Legislative and Political Affairs department in Washington, DC. She later honed her organizing skills working as a field organizer for Working America, leading canvasses of union households in Minnesota.

Gaschk will replace Landis Larson, who is retiring after 40 years of service dedicated to the labor movement. He is a member of the International Association of Machinists local lodge 2525 and plans on staying active in the local labor movement. Larson served six years as North Dakota AFL-CIO president before announcing his retirement this spring.

“It’s been an honor to serve the labor movement. I’m proud of the work we’ve done and I know the future of the movement is in good hands” Larson said.

The North Dakota AFL-CIO convention also re-elected Deb Carter (United Steelworkers Local 560) as first vice president as well as Nick Archuleta (North Dakota United), Bob Wolf (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 714), and Dana Hillius (North Dakota United) as trustees.

The delegates to the 66th Annual North Dakota AFL-CIO convention passed resolutions in solidarity with federal workers, United States Postal Service workers and immigrant workers, as well as resolutions in support for Job Corp and in opposition to Medicaid cuts.

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FARGO — The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is urging drivers to use caution when traveling on roads near wildlife, especially in rural areas.

Deer and bears are commonly involved in vehicle crashes, with accidents most likely to occur between 5-7 a.m. and 7-11 p.m.

If a driver is close to hitting an animal, officials say it’s safer not to swerve. Swerving increases the risk of a more serious crash, such as a head-on collision or rolling into a ditch.

If a collision results in the animal’s death, drivers are only required to call 911 if someone is injured or if the animal creates a dangerous obstruction on the road.

“Just because one deer moves away from the road or one deer moves across the road doesn’t mean there aren’t more deer around there,” said Doug Leier, biologist with the Game and Fish Department. “Be very, very vigilant. Be watching. Just because you see one critter and it crosses or gets out of the way doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily safe.”

Leier recommends drivers stay alert and reduce speed in areas known for wildlife crossings.

Drew Berg started at The Forum as a Sports Reporting Intern in August 2024. He is currently a Broadcast Journalism and Multimedia Journalism student at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He also has experience in broadcast news working for MSUM’s Campus News program.