North Dakota
Letter: A salute to ND’s leadership for a stellar special session
It’s not often that people find cause to pause and extend words of appreciation towards political figures, especially in these tumultuous times. However, I firmly believe in giving credit where credit is due, and I would like to extend my heartfelt kudos to Gov. Doug Burgum and the North Dakota legislators for their exemplary conduct during the recent special legislative session.
The challenges faced by states, both fiscal and societal, have been immense in recent times. And it’s all too easy to get mired in the complexity of issues or to be sidetracked by political rhetoric. But what we witnessed during this special session was a display of focus, discipline, and genuine commitment to the welfare of North Dakotans.
The agenda was clear, the discussions were constructive, and the outcomes were actionable. Keeping a legislative session “tight, efficient, and focused” as they did is no minor feat, and it reflects a collective maturity and sense of purpose. This approach not only ensured that time was utilized optimally but also meant that every discussion was laser-focused on the pressing issues at hand.
Beyond just the tangible outcomes of the session, I was equally impressed by the demeanor and decorum displayed by our representatives. Civil discourse in our society seems to be a rarity these days, but our ND leaders proved that it is possible to engage in robust discussions without descending into chaos or partisanship. Their conduct throughout was a testament to their dedication to their roles and their respect for the institution they represent.
It makes me, and I’m sure many other North Dakotans, extremely proud to be represented by such individuals. Their approach serves as a blueprint for other states and even nations to emulate. If there’s one thing that citizens yearn for in their leadership, it is consistency, sincerity, and a genuine commitment to service – and our governor and legislators displayed all of these qualities in abundance.
In conclusion, I’d like to once again congratulate Gov. Doug Burgum, and our dedicated ND legislators for their commendable work. The spirit of North Dakota was well and truly alive in that session, and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of their decisions in the days to come.
Aimee Copas is executive director of the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders.
North Dakota
Two people hospitalized following domestic assault and shooting in Fargo, suspect dead
FARGO — Two people were injured in a separate domestic aggravated assault and shooting Saturday, Nov. 23, and the suspect is dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Fargo Police Department said.
Fargo police were dispatched at 2:19 a.m. to a report of a domestic aggravated assault and shooting in the 5500 block of 36th Avenue South, a police department news release said.
When officers arrived, they learned the suspect had committed aggravated assault on a victim, chased that person into an occupied neighboring townhouse and fired shots into the unit.
Another person inside the townhouse was struck by gunfire, police said. Both victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Officers found the suspect’s vehicle parked in the 800 block of 34th Street North by using a FLOCK camera system to identify a possible route of travel from the crime scene, the release said.
Police also used Red River Valley SWAT’s armored Bearcat vehicle to get close to the suspect’s vehicle to make contact with the driver, who was not responding to officers’ verbal commands to come out of the vehicle.
The regional drone team flew a drone to get a closer look inside the suspect’s vehicle. Officers found the suspect was dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the release said.
This investigation is still active and ongoing. No names were released by police on Saturday morning.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Red River Regional Dispatch at 701-451-7660 and request to speak with a shift commander. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting keyword FARGOPD and the tip to 847411.
North Dakota
Illinois State Gets 1st Win Over North Dakota, 35-13
(AP) — Wenkers Wright ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns and No. 13 Illinois State knocked off North Dakota for the first time, 35-13 in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday.
The Redbirds are 9-2 (6-2 Missouri Valley Conference) and are looking to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2019 and sixth time in Brock Spack’s 16 seasons as head coach.
Illinois State opened the game with some trickery. Eddie Kasper pulled up on a fleaflicker and launched a 30-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Loyd to cap a seven-play, 70-yard opening drive.
Simon Romfo tied it on North Dakota’s only touchdown of the day, throwing 20 yards to Nate DeMontagnac.
Wright scored from the 10 to make it 14-7 after a quarter, and after C.J. Elrichs kicked a 20-yard field goal midway through the second to make it 14-10 at intermission, Wright powered in from the 18 and Mitch Bartol caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Rittenhouse to make it 28-10 after three.
Seth Glatz added a 13-yard touchdown run to make it 35-10 before Elrichs added a 37-yard field goal to get the Fighting Hawks on the board to set the final margin.
Rittenhouse finished 21 of 33 passing for 187 yards for Illinois State. Loyd caught eight passes for 121 yards.
Romfo completed 11 of 26 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown with an interception for North Dakota (5-7, 2-6).
Illinois State faced North Dakota for just the fourth time and third time as Missouri Valley Conference opponents. The Redbirds lost the previous three meetings.
North Dakota
Photos: Championship scenes from North Dakota Class A, Class B state volleyball
FARGO — Top-seeded Langdon Area-Munich lived up to its billing Saturday night at the Fargodome.
The
Cardinals earned a 15-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-16 victory
against No. 2-seeded South Prairie-Max to earn the North Dakota Class B volleyball state championship.
Bismarck Century spoiled West Fargo Sheyenne’s bid for a three-peat. The
Patriots scored a 25-21, 18-25, 25-15, 25-22 victory
for the Class A state championship.
Century won its 10th state title in program history.
Below are championship scenes from Saturday night at the Fargodome:
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.
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