North Dakota
Health, Human Services changes likely, Armstrong says after first Cabinet meeting • North Dakota Monitor
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong signaled a possible shakeup at the Department of Health and Human Services after his first Cabinet meeting Monday.
Armstrong appointed Dirk Wilke as interim director of the department last Wednesday and has yet to name a new state health officer. In November, Health and Human Services Commissioner Wayne Salter and State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi indicated they would not be continuing in their roles after Gov. Doug Burgum left office.
Armstrong appoints interim Health and Human Services director
Armstrong said the state health officer role could change.
“I have some ideas on restructuring that,” said Armstrong, who took office Sunday. “When we combined Health and Human Services, we really kind of created a position that, I think, we have an opportunity to do some unique things with that.”
He said he wants to work with the Legislature to look at Health and Human Services in a post-pandemic world.
“I think there’s some opportunities that may need some legislative fixes, so I need to build some consensus on what we have for ideas for that first,” he said.
Armstrong said he plans to name a permanent director after a robust recruitment and selection process.
He also said he plans to meet with legislators in coming weeks to discuss the more than 50 property tax measures that are expected to be introduced during the legislative session. He said he wants to make sure they can get as many lawmakers as they can on the “same page” during the early weeks of the session.
“It’s a priority for the citizens of North Dakota,” Armstrong said. “It’s a priority for the administration and it will probably be the biggest change from Gov. Burgum’s budget.”
Armstrong said he wasn’t opposed to the Legislature consolidating dozens of bills surrounding property tax reform into one or two larger bills aimed at tackling the issue.
“What we can’t have is paralysis by analysis,” he said. “Eventually we’ll have to get on the same page … it needs to be the most significant relief and reform we can deliver that’s durable.”
His definition of durable, Armstrong said, means the reforms must still work even if the prices of oil and agricultural commodities drop.
He said his budget will be available on Jan. 13 and submitted to the legislative appropriations committees two days later. Armstrong will address a joint session of the Legislature on Jan. 7.
He said Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden will be a main point of contact on K-12 education and school choice. He added he plans to sit down with Strinden to go over possible additional responsibilities in coming weeks, which could include chairing the State Investment Board.
“Michelle is going to be a huge part of this entire administration, but a lot of it is going to depend on where she feels her time is best spent,” he said.
When asked if free school lunches could become a reality for North Dakota students this year, Armstrong said he wants to tackle the property tax reforms first so he knows what that overall cost is before addressing anything else.
Members of Armstrong’s Cabinet are:
- Joe Morrissette, director of the Office of Management and Budget
- Chris Schilken, commissioner of the Department of Commerce
- Corey Mock, chief information officer of North Dakota Information Technology
- Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard
- Col. Daniel Haugen, superintendent of the North Dakota Highway Patrol
- Ron Henke, director of the Department of Transportation
- Pat Bertagnolli, executive director at Job Service North Dakota
- Dave Glatt, director of the Department of Environmental Quality
- Art Thompson, director of Workforce Safety & Insurance
- Colby Braun, director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Jeb Williams, director of the Game and Fish Department
- Cody Schulz, director of the Parks and Recreation Department
- Lise Kruse, commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions
- Brad Hawk, executive director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission
- Andrea Travnicek, director of the Department of Water Resources
- Tim Karsky, commissioner of the Securities Department
- Dirk Wilke, interim commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services
- Reice Haase, interim commissioner of the Department of Labor and Human Rights
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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.
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