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McFeely: Prairie Public funding restored, for now, as common sense prevails

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McFeely: Prairie Public funding restored, for now, as common sense prevails


FARGO — The uninformed, performative outrage over public broadcasting that contaminated North Dakota Sen. Shawn Vedaa and a subcommittee of which he is a member was thwarted final week. Prairie Public Broadcasting’s state funding was restored by the Legislature in Bismarck, for now.

What occurs subsequent is anyone’s guess as a result of this can be a physique managed by Republicans and it’s 2023, when the wingnuts have extra energy than is nice for anyone. Significantly entities seen as “liberal” and “woke” akin to public broadcasting.

Until you are Fox Information mendacity to the lots for enjoyable and revenue, Republicans do not assume a lot of the dastardly media.

Story replace: The Senate appropriations committee final week reinstated $2.9 million in state funding for Prairie Public Broadcasting after it was earlier axed by an appropriations subcommittee, and the funding was then authorized on a vote of the total Senate. The invoice that features the funding, SB 2015, now strikes to the Home after crossover.

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Vedaa led a push in subcommittee to chop Prairie Public’s $2.9 million from Gov. Doug Burgum’s price range

propsal, which included the state’s regular base funding of $1.2 million plus one other one-time $1.7 million for transmitter restore, as a result of he was upset “you do not see promoting on there selling a conservative view.”

It wasn’t clear to what “promoting” the Velva senator was referring, as a result of public broadcasting would not have promoting. And why Vedaa believes promoting ought to be balanced in its political beliefs — does he need advertisements for the NRA combined in with these from Greenpeace throughout “Clifford the Massive Pink Canine,” despite the fact that public TV would not run advertisements? — can also be a thriller.

Previous to writing a column two weeks in the past concerning the potential funding lower, I messaged Vedaa searching for touch upon his motives. He did not reply.

Within the assembly throughout which Vedaa urged his fellow members to chop state funding, he stated, “I believe it is time we get up and say, ‘Hey, if you would like our taxpayer cash then run a program that’s palatable to each side.’”

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Possibly he needs “White Energy Hour” to run proper after “Sesame Avenue” to advertise another view of variety and inclusion to younger minds. Who is aware of?

Minot Sen. Karen Kresbach, the Republican vice chair of the appropriations committee, was the champion of reinstating the funding into SB 2015. She put ahead an modification in committee to that finish, voicing assist for public media to her colleagues. The committee voted 10-6 (nonetheless too shut) in favor of the modification.

The total Senate authorized the invoice, which now sits within the Home.

There’s all the time the possibility that some doughhead within the Home, both on his or her personal or with Vedaa’s encouragement, tries to slash Prairie Public’s state funding once more. It isn’t secure to place something previous North Dakota Republican politicians with their penchant for punching down on LGBTQ youngsters and banning books, however public broadcasting is secure for now.

It’d once more change into any individual’s lazy cause-du-jour, because it was Vedaa’s, however with gentle shined on the subject by this column and suggestions from level-headed politicians and the general public, it’s going to be immeasurably tougher to harm the vitality of public broadcasting in North Dakota.

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Mike McFeely is a columnist for The Discussion board of Fargo-Moorhead. He started working for The Discussion board within the Nineteen Eighties whereas he was a scholar learning journalism at Minnesota State College Moorhead. He is been with The Discussion board full time since 1990, minus a six-year hiatus when he hosted a neighborhood radio talk-show.





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North Dakota

NDGF taking proactive measures to prevent aquatic nuisance species from spreading

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NDGF taking proactive measures to prevent aquatic nuisance species from spreading


BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Aquatic nuisance species are nonnative plants, animals and pathogens that can threaten our aquatic resources. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is taking proactive measures to stop the spread of ANS into our waterbodies by conducting watercraft inspections at popular boat ramps statewide.

“We got watercraft inspectors that are working throughout this summer around the state of North Dakota to check boats, to educate boat owners to do the right things at ramps, make sure boats are all clean, drain, dry before recreating here,” said Ben Holen, NDGF Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator.

What can anglers or watercraft recreationists expect when they come to an ANS inspection?

“A watercraft inspector will ask a few questions, only takes a couple minutes, and then they look at the hull of the boat. They’re looking at the engine area, looking at the anchor and also looking at all drain compartments, making sure all water is out of that watercraft. Everything is drained. Everything is cleaned, drained, dry before you get on that water body,” said Holen.

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These watercraft inspections are voluntary and most people are cooperative and thankful the Game and Fish Department is spearheading efforts to stop the spread of ANS.

“We see a lot of our fishermen are really educated about aquatic nuisance species. They’re pulling their plugs every time, removing vegetation, doing the right things. Occasionally there are slip-ups, but that’s why our inspectors are out here making sure that those boats are good to go,” said Holen.

It’s not only fishing boats that are inspected, it’s all watercraft.

“So whether you’re a jet skier, a kayak, a canoer, a wakeboarder, you all play a part in curbing the spread of aquatic nuisance species in North Dakota,” said Holen.

The purpose of these inspections is to educate the public so they can help curb the spread of ANS.

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“We can’t be at every ramp, every single circumstance, so hopefully some of these recreationists can take the tools that they learn from watercraft inspectors and apply them on their own when they’re out there recreating on their own and do a self-inspection,” said Holen.

The Game and Fish Department is committed to safeguarding our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.

“So we really, really like to keep it that way and keep these resources pristine for a long time,” said Holen.

For more information on Aquatic Nuisance Species, visit gf.nd.gov

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How gas prices have changed in North Dakota in the last week – 7/19/2024

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How gas prices have changed in North Dakota in the last week – 7/19/2024


STACKER — The typically busy summer driving season tends to lead to more demand for gasoline and, in turn, higher prices at the pump. But that hasn’t happened this summer, and analysts aren’t sure of the reason.

“[Drivers] appear to be staying off the road, and the recent scorching heat is possibly to blame. Maybe things will pick up soon,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement Thursday, adding that prices could dip even lower.

Prices are several cents above their levels a month ago, but a gallon of gas is still cheaper than it was this same time last summer. The U.S. has been producing a large amount of gasoline to bolster domestic supply, another factor that can push prices downward. The total amount of gasoline in the U.S. supply is slightly above the five-year average, according to Energy Information Administration data.

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in North Dakota. Gas prices are as of July 19.

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North Dakota by the numbers
– Gas current price: $3.39
– Week change: $0.00 (0.0%)
– Year change: -$0.08 (-2.3%)
– Historical expensive gas price: $4.80 (6/15/22)

– Diesel current price: $3.65
– Week change: -$0.01 (-0.2%)
– Year change: -$0.13 (-3.3%)
– Historical expensive diesel price: $5.62 (6/25/22)

Metros with most expensive gas in North Dakota
#1. Minot: $3.48
#2. Bismarck: $3.48
#3. Grand Forks (ND only): $3.27
#4. Fargo-Moorhead (ND only): $3.24

States with the most expensive gas
#1. California: $4.72
#2. Hawaii: $4.70
#3. Washington: $4.27

States with the least expensive gas
#1. Mississippi: $3.00
#2. Louisiana: $3.10
#3. Texas: $3.12

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This article originally appeared on Stacker, and was produced and distributed through a partnership with Stacker Studio. It has been republished pursuant to a CC by NC 4.0 License.



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Why is driving deadlier on North Dakota roads in the summer?

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Why is driving deadlier on North Dakota roads in the summer?


BISMARCK — With serious and fatal crashes consistently rolling in during the 100 deadliest days on the road between Memorial Day and Labor Day, North Dakota safety leaders are cautioning drivers about the “false sense of security” bright summer days can spark.

That sense of safety when the snow clears has earned North Dakota the unfortunate accolade of being named the state with the most reckless drivers by

Travel and Leisure.

While many point to high rates of intoxicated driving, cheap speeding tickets and the state’s rural road networks as reasons for crashes or reckless driving, officials in the state see a clear trend between summer driving conditions and catastrophic collisions.

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During the 100 deadliest days, fatal crashes are twice as likely, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s 2022 Crash Summary

report.

Since the end of May, there have been nearly 50 serious-injury or fatal crashes statewide, according to a Forum analysis of reports from the North Dakota Highway Patrol. Approximately one-third of those crashes were fatal, surpassing last year’s numbers at this point in the year.

Several of those crashes involved motorcyclists not wearing helmets and drivers or passengers not using seat belts.

A recent crash near Jamestown that left two children dead,

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as well as the driver and another child critically injured, has officials emphasizing the risks of summer driving. The mother of the two boys said they were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Combining risk factors like not using restraints or safety gear with faster summer driving speeds can be a recipe for disaster.

“The clear roads and the good weather conditions often give people a false sense of security. They know that they can travel faster,” said Karin Mongeon, director of NDDOT’s Highway Safety Division.

“Really, the winter weather in North Dakota slows people down,” she said.

Mongeon works closely with Vision Zero, a government initiative created in 2018 aiming to decrease statewide fatalities by preventing reckless driving behaviors.

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Motorists drive through the busy intersection at 13th Ave and 45th Street in Fargo on Friday, July 19, 2024.

Chris Flynn / The Forum

The program prioritizes areas of concern based on statewide data submitted by county law enforcement. Prominent dangerous behaviors include drunken driving, lack of seat belt use and speeding.

Mongeon said that although any number above zero is devastating, there has been a decrease in road-related deaths in North Dakota since the initiative began.

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From 2017 to 2022, fatalities decreased by over 15%, dipping below 100 and the national average for the first time in decades, according to the 2022 NDDOT crash summary. Of the 98 fatalities in 2022, 69% of people were not wearing seat belts, 38% of crashes were alcohol-related, 31% involved speed and or aggressive driving and 48% involved lane departures.

071724.DrivingFatalitiesBymonth.NDDOT

Driving fatalities skyrocket in the warmer months in North Dakota.

Contributed / North Dakota Department of Transportation

A 2023 report is set to be released in September, which will denote 106 deaths. Despite the spike, Mongeon said she anticipates the downward trend to continue.

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Education and outreach have proven to be vital components of Vision Zero, according to Sgt. Jenna Clawson Huibregtse, the Highway Patrol’s safety and education officer.

Schools can designate themselves as Vision Zero schools, leaving it up to the students to pick their initiative, like distracted driving or wearing seat belts. Coordinators recruit by attending community events and sending representatives to school board meetings.

The Highway Patrol also recently began releasing crash information regularly on social media. Crash reports are also available on

the agency’s website.

“We’ve noticed that if we attach a face and a name and put all of our information in one place, that it is making a difference,” Clawson Huibregtse said.

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“We live in such a great state; there’s responsible people driving every single day making good decisions, but we want people to be aware of the reality of what’s on the road and what our troopers see every day,” she said.

Another Vision Zero approach to safer roads involves physically rebuilding them.

Wider center and shoulder lines, roundabouts in place of intersections and more rumble strips are some projects keeping state engineers like Justin Schlosser busy. Since implementing more roundabouts alone, overall crash numbers have decreased by a

third, according to an NDDOT traffic study published earlier this month.

“If there’s a crash (in a roundabout), you’re going to have some kind of sideswipe or rear-end, which are typically less severe injury crashes than an angle crash, usually the most severe type of crash you can get into,” Schlosser said.

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“There’s just a bigger emphasis on driver safety and making sure that we don’t lose any lives on our roadways, but Vision Zero has definitely put a higher emphasis on that and helped us get in the right direction,” he added.

Clawson Huibregtse pointed to another factor in reckless driving — speeding tickets.

North Dakota has some of the lowest citation fees in the nation, with amounts ranging from $5 to $100, depending on the zone. Offenders traveling 16 to 20 mph above the speed limit, for example, pay $15. Thirty-six to 45 over is a $70 fine and 46 mph-plus results in a $100 fine, as stated in the

Century Code.

“It’s just not a deterrent at all for people to not behave recklessly when they know that there’s really no financial penalty,” Clawson Huibregtse said. “And it shouldn’t come down to that, it should come to the life and limb thing, but it just comes down to people’s pocketbooks sometimes.”

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Increasing citation amounts has been struck down at past legislative sessions. But with more public interest in the issue, Clawson Huibregtse said she wouldn’t be surprised if the topic resurfaces this coming session.

“We hope, the more we work together across agencies, that we’re going to bring that number to zero, or as close as we can to zero,” she said.





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