BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – May is American Wetlands Month and the Prairie Pothole Region has the highest wetland densities in the world.

“These wetlands provide many uses for wildlife, especially ducks providing breeding pair habitat, brood habitat, migration habitat. They’re very important for other wildlife species too, with the cover surrounding wetlands, for pheasants, deer and then also other migrating shorebirds and water birds,” said Mike Szymanski, waterfowl biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

While the state has lost nearly 60% of its wetlands over time, North Dakota remains the duck factory of North America.

“We are centered in the Prairie Pothole Region, and in the United States portion of the Prairie Pothole Region, North Dakota has about half of the breeding ducks,” said Szymanski.

Wetlands also benefit people in a variety of ways.

“Our hunters enjoy hunting waterfowl in the wetlands. Pheasant hunters get out, and especially, seasonal wetlands after they dry up a little bit and have good cattail cover. Bird watchers have exceptional opportunities to go out and check out wildlife and photograph and observe wildlife and waterfowl and wetlands,” said Szymanski.

There are many different types and sizes of wetlands in North Dakota.

“They all have different permanence on the landscape and different purposes for wildlife and purposes for ecological goods and services that wetlands provide for water quality, water storage and replenishment of aquifers,” said Szymanski.

North Dakota has wet and dry years, which is important for wetlands to recycle from time to time.

“It’s very important that wetlands go through these processes on a natural basis. However, they do periodically need to dry up to maintain fertility and production of food and vegetation for wildlife,” said Szymanski.

The next time you take a drive, and you see wetlands full of ducks, shorebirds and other wildlife, remember wetlands are also important for people and the entire ecosystem.

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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