There is a real problem on the campuses of North Dakota’s small state colleges and universities. Many non-academic buildings are falling apart. Buildings such as dorms and student unions.

The problem is the state will not fund non-academic buildings. The philosophy is that the small schools must raise the funds themselves. That’s not possible. The donor base is too small, and there aren’t enough students to pay for these costs with increased fees.

Funding dorms and student unions should be the state’s responsibility. These buildings are vital to all students on campus. Other facilities, such as college football practice complexes, should be paid for with private funding, because they don’t benefit all the students. In nearby states, the states that North Dakota is competing with for college students, dorms and non-academic buildings are paid for with public money.

Currently, there are college dorms across the state that need to be renovated. Other dorms are in such poor shape that they need to be replaced with new dorms. However, nothing is happening on those fronts because the colleges don’t have the money. North Dakota has the money. It’s time for the Legislature to step up and support the state’s smaller colleges and universities.

North Dakota Rep. Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck, should resign. Dockter was found guilty in a Bismarck court of a conflict of interest, for voting on legislation that he financially benefited from. Those were budgets for the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office. Even without the criminal conviction, Dockter should resign for making the sweetheart deal with former Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. That sleazy deal for a building project sent millions of dollars to Dockter’s companies.

Likewise, Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell, D-Woodbury, should resign

. Mitchell was charged with first-degree burglary after being found in her stepmother’s house in Detroit Lakes. I realize you are considered innocent until proven guilty, but the evidence against Mitchell is overwhelming. According to police, Mitchell entered the house through a window and was found in the basement at 4:45 a.m. wearing all-black clothing and a black hat.

Donald Trump’s whining about his gag order is getting old. That order was well-deserved because of Trump’s public comments blasting those connected to his trial. Trump’s complaints that he can’t defend himself are untrue. He can testify if he wants to. He likely won’t do it because he knows he authorized the hush-money payments.

Just wondering if Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach will ever stop ducking the media and actually talk to them. It’s her job. As a member of Congress, Fischbach needs to answer questions from the news media and appear on talk shows that aren’t MAGA echo chambers. Say what you will about North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer and North Dakota Rep. Kelly Armstrong, but they rightfully make themselves accessible to the media.

InForum columnist Jim Shaw is a former WDAY TV reporter and former KVRR TV news director.

The criminal court case earned the name the “bank night” case in the newspapers of the day, even if the charges had nothing to do with any banks or financial institutions.

The State Theater in Jamestown was accused of conducting a bank night which was against North Dakota’s lottery laws back in 1913.

Bank nights were common theater promotions back in that era. A drawing would be held and cash prizes awarded, hence the name bank night.

The Stutsman County state’s attorney interpreted this as an illegal lottery. Roy Metcalfe, State Theater manager, was arrested, tried and convicted on the lottery charge. Judge R.G. McFarland sentenced Metcalfe to 90 days in jail and a fine of $250.

The conviction was appealed by Metcalfe’s attorney to the North Dakota Supreme Court. North Dakota Gov. William Langer also filed papers in support of Metcalfe with the court, which ultimately denied the appeal.

About a week after the appeal was denied, Judge McFarland suspended the jail sentence and any remaining fines ending the case.

Long and short of the case, yes, it was illegal to hold a bank night at a theater in North Dakota in 1913, but the crime wasn’t worth locking the perpetrator away for three months.

Lotteries and raffles continued to be illegal in North Dakota for another six decades. The first change to those laws came in 1975 with an amendment to the North Dakota Constitution allowing some forms of charitable gaming and raffles.

Since then, other forms of gambling have been legalized in the state with full casinos limited to Native American reservations.

No word on whether any movie theaters are planning on resurrecting bank night.

Author Keith Norman can be reached at

www.KeithNormanBooks.com

The Iowa State football program added a new pass-catcher to its ranks Friday.

Former North Dakota State wide receiver Eli Green announced his commitment to the Cyclones on Twitter. Green has played in 27 games at the FCS level with a powerhouse Bison program. During those games, he hauled in 51 receptions for 969 yards and four scores. He can also be a rushing threat, having run 14 times in his career for 128 yards, good for 9.1 yards per carry.

The vast majority of his production came as a sophomore, catching 45 passes for 877 yards and three scores. He led the Bison with 1,197 all-purpose yards, including 118 on the ground and another 202 as a kick returner.

Green will join a Cyclones wide receiver unit led by seniors Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. That duo combined for 119 receptions for 1,803 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. The Cyclones’ offense also boasts talented young running back Abu Sama III and quarterback Rocco Becht looking to improve on an impressive freshman campaign.