The North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders wishes to express our heartfelt appreciation to Governor Doug Burgum and the North Dakota Legislators for their outstanding performance during the recent special legislative session.
In these challenging times, with fiscal and societal issues weighing heavily, it’s crucial to recognize exemplary leadership. This special session showcased a remarkable display of focus, discipline, and genuine commitment to the well-being of North Dakotans.
The agenda was clear, discussions were constructive, and outcomes were actionable. Maintaining such efficiency in a legislative session is no small feat and speaks to the collective maturity and sense of purpose of our leaders. It ensured optimal use of time and unwavering attention on pressing matters.
Beyond tangible outcomes, we were equally impressed by the demeanor and decorum of our elected officials. At a time when civil discourse can be scarce, North Dakota’s leaders engaged in robust discussions without resorting to rhetoric or partisanship, demonstrating their dedication to their roles.
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North Dakotans can be proud to be represented by such individuals, serving as a blueprint for others to follow. Citizens seek consistency, sincerity, and genuine commitment to service in their leadership, qualities abundantly displayed by Governor Doug Burgum and our Legislators.
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In conclusion, our gratitude goes to Governor Doug Burgum and our devoted legislators for their commendable work. The spirit of North Dakota shone brightly in that session, and we anticipate the positive impacts of these decisions in the coming days and years.
Executive director, ND Council of Educational Leaders
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North Dakota State and South Dakota State are tied at 14 apiece after the first half. It’s been a tightly-contested battle as most battles between the two rivals are.
South Dakota State has been able to lean on its running attack, gaining 111 yards to NDSU’s 53. Amar Johnson and Mark Gronowski have scored on the ground.
Meanwhile, Cam Miller has accounted for both North Dakota State touchdowns, scoring once with his legs and once with his arm. Miller also has been efficient, completing six of seven passes.
The biggest play of the first half was the lone turnover, a fumble by Amar Johnson that gave North Dakota State the ball in Jackrabbit territory.
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When play resumes, North Dakota State will receive the second half kick. See first half stats below.
MINOT — The activists pushing for President Joe Biden to sign, in the closing days of his administration, a sweeping executive order creating a new national monument out of roughly 140,000 acres of western North Dakota tell us their initiative
is led by our state’s tribes.
They also talk a lot about the importance of tribal sovereignty.
Let’s explore this.
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I’m not sure all of the tribes knew they were leading this project. That’s certainly not the impression I got after a discussion with Chairman Mark Fox of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. “When the entities came before to request support for a national monument, we just thought that would be nice without considering any possible impacts in terms of policy,”
he told me.
“We’re going to reconsider,” he added.
Fox stressed that he and his fellow tribal leaders aren’t necessarily against the national monument concept. He expressed enthusiasm for the new opportunities for preservation and tourism. Fox is concerned about the possibility that the monument could inhibit land use in the area — specifically, energy development, which is of vital importance to the MHA Nation.
“Depending on how large the designation is, it could impact some of our drilling. That’s where we lack clarity,” Fox told me. “We really didn’t have any of that information.”
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That’s not a great look for a coalition that has marketed this proposal as a tribal initiative.
What’s also unseemly are aspersions cast at Fox because of his diligence. State Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, a Democrat from Mandaree, a member of the MHA Nation, and a spokesperson for the national monument campaign,
told reporter Jeff Beach
“that misinformation is undermining the monument effort, including among tribal leaders.”
“They need to read the proposal,” Finley-DeVille said. “We’re not trying to take anybody’s rights away. We’re not trying to stop oil and gas.”
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That’s a tough claim to swallow when your coalition includes the Sierra Club, an organization committed to stopping oil and gas production, but the jab at Fox is what’s notable.
Finley-DeVille often talks about the importance of tribal sovereignty, and I agree with the sentiment, but I’d note that sovereignty is a two-way street. If you only respect tribal sovereignty when tribal leaders take positions you agree with, you’re not respecting tribal sovereignty.
I don’t think Chairman Fox is misinformed. I think his concerns are valid.
“Some entities have used this national monument declaration to stop drilling and stop energy production,” he said, and he’s right. The Biden administration has used these declarations to block or inhibit development around Spirit Mountain, in Nevada, and Bear Ears National Monument in Utah. “We don’t want it stopped at all either for ourselves or the state,” Fox told me.
Finley-Deville says Fox has been misled, but who has been misleading him? Finley-Deville is pursuing a new land declaration of the sort that has been used to block energy development elsewhere while working side-by-side with a deep-pocketed national organization that sees blocking oil and gas development as its mission but expects us to believe that she and her partners are “not trying to stop oil and gas.”
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Fox is skeptical. Can we blame him?
Rob Port is a news reporter, columnist, and podcast host for the Forum News Service with an extensive background in investigations and public records. He covers politics and government in North Dakota and the upper Midwest. Reach him at rport@forumcomm.com. Click here to subscribe to his Plain Talk podcast.
No. 3 South Dakota State travels to No. 2 North Dakota State in the semifinals of the 2024 FCS Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ABC. The Bison defeated the Jackrabbits 13-9 in Week 8.
The winner will advance to the FCS National Championship game, where they will face the winner of No. 4 South Dakota at No. 1 Montana State.
Adam Bock (LB): 94 Total Tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 2 INTs, 4 QBHs, 1 FR
Tucker Large (DB): 30 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 3 INTs, 4 PBUs, 1 FR
The stage is set for another epic battle in one of the most storied rivalries in FCS football. North Dakota State ended a five-game losing streak to South Dakota State earlier this season, but a trip to the FCS national championship is on the line this weekend.
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South Dakota State’s defense continues to impress, holding opponents to 4.5 yards per play and only 2.9 yards per carry. The Jackrabbits are led by one of the best linebacker duos in the nation: Adam Bock and Caleb Francl. The defensive line has improved throughout the season, helping the Jackrabbits force a negative play on almost 10% of all defensive snaps. In the first matchup, South Dakota State failed to generate much pressure on Miller and only recorded two tackles for loss. It will be important for the Jackrabbits to keep the North Dakota State offense behind the chains.
North Dakota State could not find any consistency on the ground, but Cam Miller delivered in the biggest moments of the first matchup. He led a 92-yard game-winning touchdown drive and connected with RaJa Nelson for two key touchdowns. The Jackrabbits will have to find a way to make Miller uncomfortable in the pocket and limit his ability to make plays outside the pocket. Miller has completed 72.9% of his passes and ranks No. 2 nationally in passing efficiency.
The inefficiency of South Dakota State’s passing attack was one of the biggest differences in October’s matchup. The Jackrabbits have found their rhythm through the air, passing for 200 or more yards in three of their past four games. In the past three games, Mark Gronowski has thrown for over 500 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The Bison must limit wide receiver Griffin Wilde, who has recorded 181 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the first two playoff games.
The Bison defensive line made a massive impact in the first game, generating pressure on over 40% of dropbacks. North Dakota State’s pressure impacted Gronowski’s ability to push the ball downfield, which is something to watch this weekend. The trend has continued for the Bison, who enter this weekend with the highest pressure rate in the postseason. Defensive tackle Eli Mostaert leads the Bison with 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.
This game may be decided by which team can establish the run, which will be a challenge for both offenses. North Dakota State’s CharMar Brown has been a workhorse for the Bison, leading the team with 1,081 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. South Dakota State enters the game with a more explosive rushing attack, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Amar Johnson leads the Jackrabbits with 1,145 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, but freshman Kirby Vorhees could be a player to watch due to his physical running style.
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In the first matchup, I picked the Bison because they appeared to have all the momentum. However, things have changed, as the Jackrabbits have continued to improve down the stretch and seem to be playing their best football. The improvement of the passing attack and explosiveness of the offense will be the difference here as Mark Gronowksi leads the Jackrabbits to their third consecutive national championship appearance.
Prediction: South Dakota State (27-24)
Behind The Numbers: 2024 FCS Playoffs Semifinals Preview 2025 FBS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker 2025 FCS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker 2025 FCS-To-FBS Football Transfer Tracker 2024 FCS Playoffs: Official Bracket, Schedule, Scores
Follow FCS Football Central on social media for ongoing coverage of FCS football, including on X, Facebook, and YouTube.
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