North Dakota
Distracted driving lead cause of crashes involving farm equipment, North Dakota Highway Patrol says
DEVILS LAKE — A Sunday, May 28, crash between a passenger vehicle and tractor on U.S. Highway 2 near Devils Lake happened after a driver “misjudged the closing distance” between her car and the tractor, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
The crash,
which left a passenger with life-threatening injuries,
was one of two Memorial Day weekend crashes involving farm equipment on U.S. Highway 2. In Minnesota, a teenage passenger was
airlifted to Fargo with life-threatening injuries
after the vehicle he was riding in collided with a tractor on Monday, May 29.
While the crashes are still under investigation, Sgt. Wade Kadrmas, safety and education officer for the North Dakota Highway Patrol, says distracted driving is the leading cause of collisions with farm equipment on highways.
“Just like anything these days, distractions are huge,” he said.
In 2021, there were 44 crashes involving farm equipment in North Dakota, including one fatal crash, according to North Dakota Highway Patrol data. Five crashes resulted in incapacitating injury, and 12 resulted in non-incapacitating injury. The agency does not collect data for individual highways.
In Minnesota, there were 164 crashes involving farm vehicles across the state in 2022, with two fatalities and 61 injuries. The northwest region of the state, which includes Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Beltrami, Polk, Pennington, Red Lake, Clearwater, Norman and Hubbard counties, had 13 crashes involving farm equipment in 2022, with three injuries.
Farm equipment tends to be large and heavy, with slow acceleration and stopping times, said Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Troy Christianson.
“Motorists have to be well aware approaching it that they are traveling at a slower speed,” he said.
On four-lane, divided highways like Highway 2, the difference in speed between motorists traveling at or above the speed limit and slow-moving farm equipment leads to more severe crashes, Kadrmas said. In North Dakota, the posted speed limit on much of U.S. Highway 2 is 70 mph, while farm equipment may be traveling around 35 or 45 mph. In Minnesota, the speed limit on northwest Minnesota portions of Highway 2 is 65 mph.
“If people aren’t paying attention, and they’re not observing that slow-moving vehicle up ahead of them, it doesn’t take much for the distance to close between the two vehicles and a crash to occur,” he said.
Kadrmas has responded to several crashes where there have been no skid marks by a vehicle that hit the farm equipment.
“To me, that’s just an indication that the driver was not paying attention, did not see this huge combine or tractor on the roadway, and ran right into the back of it or sideswiped it,” he said.
Drivers of vehicles and farm equipment both have a part to play in preventing collisions.
“The general traffic needs to be aware of it and be courteous and patient with those type of vehicles,” Kadrmas said. “Then, the individuals moving that type of equipment also need to do their part and be courteous and ensure that their loads are visible.”
Christianson says drivers should only attempt to pass farm equipment when it is safe and legal to do so.
“Use caution when approaching farm equipment and just don’t assume that the farm operator sees you,” he said. “It’s also important if a farmer is traveling on the roadway and there is getting to be a line of cars backed up behind them, they should try to pull over at a field approach or somewhere where it’s safe to just allow the traffic to go by.”
Following the speed limit will help, too, Kadrmas said. The faster vehicles are moving, the quicker they close in on slow-moving farm equipment.
BISMARCK — North Dakota’s sole member of Congress, Republican Rep. Julie Fedorchak, hosted her third virtual town hall on Tuesday, June 10, where she fielded questions and concerns from residents about the “big beautiful bill” that recently passed in the House.
“There’s a lot of misinformation that’s been spread about this legislation, and what is and isn’t included in it, and what the overall goal is,” Fedorchak said while opening the town hall just after 7 p.m. “I want to set the record straight on a couple of those things.”
The federal legislation, which is on its way to the Senate after passing in the House by a single vote May 22, outlined more than $1 trillion in spending cuts that have sparked uproar across the country.
Of the cuts to federal agencies and their programs, North Dakotans shared concerns Tuesday related to regional Veterans Affairs hospitals, JobCorps and state Medicaid programs.
A Minot resident named Thomas asked if the philosophy of government is to “shut something down” instead of “fix it” with regard to
the closing of the JobsCorps campus in Minot.
The program provides free career training and education for late teens and young adults.
Fedorchak said she supports the program’s mission and shares concerns about its status in Minot.
After meeting with Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to discuss the changes, however, Fedorchak said she wasn’t able to obtain further details due to the pending legal cases related to the program — lawsuits filed against the Department of Labor after the cuts were announced.
As for the VA cuts, Michelle of Fargo said she was “disheartened” by
the decision to eliminate federal funding to related care facilities.
Veterans will still receive health care, the changes merely cut out the bureaucracy created by the Biden administration, Fedorchak assured her.
Dan in Bismarck said he’s worried about
cutting back on Medicaid
and that there’s “not enough savings” in doing so “to justify the amount of cuts they’re (Congress) proposing.”
The changes include a laundry list of exceptions and are meant to save the program for people who “need it the most,” Fedorchak responded, not able-bodied people and those without permanent legal status who are currently receiving the benefits, she said.
She also emphasized her support for new work, volunteer and education requirements within the program.
When it comes to increased spending, one resident was curious about how North Dakota’s international border would be impacted by more funding for the military and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Sky from Fargo expressed concern about the state’s dependency on workers who lack permanent legal status, namely for agriculture industries.
“A lot of our farmers, we’re an ag state, depend on a lot of these illegal immigrants. What’s going to be done so they can continue staffing so our economy doesn’t take a hit?” she asked.
Fedorchak said she hopes farmers are hiring legal workers, and that she is a proponent of making the visa process more efficient.
Alternative energy sources and how they relate to regional grid stability also came up intermittently.
Gordon, a wind turbine technician based in McKenzie, pointed to Trump’s distaste for wind energy and asked if Fedorchak felt the same. It was not clear if Gordon was from McKenzie County, or the unincorporated community in Burleigh County. Another caller from Fargo, Paul, was curious about moving to geothermal energy to strengthen the grid, pointing to the state’s “treasure trove” of it as a resource.
While Fedorchak said she supports eliminating existing tax credits for wind and solar energy, she also supports making the permitting process of all energy resources, including that of wind and geothermal resources, faster.
“Each resource has pros and cons and having a mix of them and a blend of them is best,” she said.
There were fewer viewers on Facebook during Tuesday’s town hall compared to the previous live streams, with the listener count not exceeding 50. The comment section was turned off by Fedorchak’s Facebook page.
Fedorchak is the only member of the state’s federal delegation who has hosted town halls since President Donald Trump was elected. Republican Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven have not announced any plans to host public forums in the near future.
Submitted Photo
Mae Streich, left, Bottineau, conductor pro-tem, escorts Lois Schaefer, new president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Department of North Dakota, to the podium to conduct her first council meeting
BISMARCK – A Bottineau woman now is president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary North Dakota Department.
Lois Schaefer and other VFW Department 2025-26 officers were elected and installed during the state VFW and Auxiliary Convention held in Bismarck, May 29-June 1.
Lois Callahan, national representative for the convention, served as installation officer.
Callahan will be elected and installed as the 2025-2026 national president at the VFW and Auxiliary National Convention in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 9-13. As national president, Callahan will visit every state. Her visit to North Dakota is scheduled for Aug. 22-24 during a fall workshop in Bottineau.
Schaefer’s theme as state president is the Rosie the Riveter theme “We Can Do It!”
Submitted Photo
Sharol Paulson, right, Minot, was honored with the title “The Legend” during the recent Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Department of North Dakota convention held in Bismarck. Brad Reed, 2025-26 senior vice commander for the VFW Department of N.D., escorts Paulson to dinner as part of her “royalty” title and many years of service to the auxiliary.
In her position as state president, Schaefer also will raise funds for a special project. Her project is Service Dogs for America based at Jud in LaMoure County, and her plans are to raise money for scholarships to assist veterans with the purchase of service dogs. The service dogs cost $25,000 each.
During the convention, Sharol Paulson, Minot, was crowned with the title “The Legend,” recognizing her for her many years of service with the auxiliary.
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Submitted Photo
Mae Streich, left, Bottineau, conductor pro-tem, escorts Lois Schaefer, new president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Department of North Dakota, to the podium to conduct her first council meeting
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Submitted Photo
Sharol Paulson, right, Minot, was honored with the title “The Legend” during the recent Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Department of North Dakota convention held in Bismarck. Brad Reed, 2025-26 senior vice commander for the VFW Department of N.D., escorts Paulson to dinner as part of her “royalty” title and many years of service to the auxiliary.
EPA issues air quality warnings due to Canada fires
In the U.S., smoke from Canadian wildfires was detected drifting through Montana, North Dakota and northern Minnesota.
Medora, a tiny community in North Dakota surrounded by the rugged landscape of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, has been named to HGTV’s list of the most charming small town downtowns.
The city – with a population of 121, according to Census Bureau data – is south of Interstate 94 in the far western part of the state.
“Nothing charms like a small downtown that beckons visitors with historic architecture and boutique shops or local culture and tree-lined streets,” HGTV said. “Many small-town downtowns are located in beautiful settings or have stunning views. Others welcome visitors with lively festivals, delicious foods or a nostalgic atmosphere.”
The network didn’t list any specific criteria for inclusion on the list, but said it “looked for vibrant towns that invite you in and encourage you to stay and explore.”
What did HGTV say about Medora?
HGTV highlighted Medora’s role as a gateway town for the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where visitors can take a scenic drive through the badlands, home to bison, mule deer, prairie dogs, horses and other wildlife.
The network also mentioned the community’s museums, fudge shops and the Old Town Hall Theater, and it recommended the Medora Musical, a “toe-tapping Broadway-style show,” and the Rough Riders Hotel, a “historic inn where Theodore Roosevelt himself once stayed.”
Were any other Midwest communities featured on HGTV’s list?
The network’s list also included:
- Marquette, Michigan
- Abilene, Kansas
- Deadwood, South Dakota
- Fish Creek, Wisconsin
- Galena, Illinois
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