North Dakota

Measure 2 opponents want ND’s initiative process protected

Published

1 year ago

October 23, 2024

Measure 2 opponents want ND’s initiative process protected

A constitutional measure designed to make it more difficult to amend the state’s constitution will hurt North Dakotans more than it will hamper the outside interests being targeted, according to a former governor leading the campaign to defeat Measure 2 on Nov. 5.

The goal to make it more difficult for out of state groups to meddle with the state’s constitution is a good one, said Ed Schafer, governor from 1992-2000 and spokesman for North Dakota Citizens Protecting the Constitution.

“This particular piece of proposed legislation attempts to deal with that, and in some cases does – in most cases, doesn’t – deal with the problem,” he said. “It puts barriers in front of people to be able to engage in the direction of their government.”

Constitutional Measure 2 was placed on the ballot by the 2023 North Dakota Legislature. The measure states future initiated measures, either constitutional or statutory, must be limited to one subject. The new language would require that all measure sponsors be qualified electors and that only qualified electors may circulate petitions.

However, more controversial language increases the number of signatures required to place a constitutional initiated measure on the ballot from 4% to 5% of North Dakota’s population and requires voters to approve constitutional measures twice. The measure states voters must vote on a constitutional measure in a primary election and, if approved by a majority, vote again at the following general election to determine passage.

David Hogue

“There’s a consensus that the bar is not high enough for amending our state constitution. It should be harder to amend our constitution than to pass a bill,” said Sen. David Hogue, a co-sponsor of the Senate resolution behind the measure. “The process now is you identify an out of state, sympathetic, not for profit group, and you get them to fund it.”

It is too easy to be manipulated by out of state groups, he said. It’s too easy for outside groups to impose their policies on North Dakota because the state’s standards for amending its constitution are so low, he said.

Hogue compared voting on the measure twice to having Senate and House votes on bills.

“That is a way to raise the bar,” he said.

For opponents, raising the bar raises a barrier.

“I don’t see why we need to place a stronger barrier for people to get involved in guiding or directing our government,” Schafer said. “I am a real champion of people being able to interact and direct the people’s government.”

In a two election process, outside interests opposed to a measure could wait to see if a measure makes it past the primary to the general election, and if so, swoop in at that time with millions of dollars to defeat it, Schafer said. Two election cycles makes it more difficult for local campaigns or local opposition groups to compete with wealthy special interests, he said.

He cited the case of Marsy’s Law, approved by North Dakota voters in 2016 after a wealthy California resident originated and pushed the concept.

“What does this particular piece of initiated measure do to stop that? Nothing,” Schafer said of Measure 2. “If Measure 2 gets defeated, we still have the problem. But if it passes, we still have the problem of the outside money. We need to have transparency. People need to know where the money is coming from.”

Financial closure statements with the North Dakota Secretary of State show North Dakota Citizens Protecting the Constitution has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from out of state groups.

Schafer said the donations from groups that back the initiative and referendum process were unsolicited. There had been limited dollars spent on the campaign initially, but the N.D. Citizens Protecting the Constitution was looking earlier this month at increasing its efforts in light of a poll showing support and opposition to Measure 2 were running close to even.

Schafer also objected to the increased signature requirement for constitutional measures in Measure 2. As population increases, so does the signature requirement, intensifying the impact of even a 1% increase, he said. The measure proposes to raise the number of signatures currently required to get a constitutional measure on the ballot from 31,164 to 38,955.

Schafer said the one subject rule in the measure is the one positive feature, and if the measure is defeated, he would help with efforts to make that change in a future measure.

Hogue said the single subject rule for an initiated measure is common among states with an initiated measure process. Sixteen states with some type of statewide citizen-initiated measure process have a single-subject rule, while 10 states that provide for an initiative process do not, according to Ballotpedia.

: David Hogue

: Ed Schafer

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North Dakota

Nebraska Hoops Game Day: North Dakota

Published

3 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Coming off of one of its best weeks in program history, Nebraska looks to keep its record-setting start rolling tonight against North Dakota.

Here is what you need to know going into the game as the Huskers try to improve to a perfect 12-0…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (5-9, 0-0 Summit League)

Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: Big Ten Plus

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Nebraska projected starters

Jamarques Lawrence	G	Sr.	6-3/185	Lawrence scored 14 points with six assists in the win over Illinois, including a buzzer-beater 3-pointer. His game-winning three was NU’s first since Jan. 15, 2018 (James Palmer Jr. vs. Illinois).
Sam Hoiberg	G	Sr.	6-0/180	After his seven points, six assists, and five rebounds at Illinois, Hoiberg now leads the nation with a 5.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s also fourth in the Big Ten with 1.7 spg.
Pryce Sandfort	G	Jr.	6-7/210	Sandfort scored 26 of Nebraska’s first 37 points en route to a career-high 32 in the upset at Illinois. He’s now 11th in the Big Ten in scoring (17.1 ppg) and 12th in 3-point percentage (39.3%).
Berke Buyuktuncel	F	Jr.	6-10/240	Foul trouble and an elbow to the face limited Buyuktuncel at Illinois, but he still finished with three points, three rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in the win.
Rienk Mast	F	Sr.	6-10/250	Mast scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half at Illinois, along with his team-high seven rebounds. He’s now 10th in the Big Ten at 17.9 ppg while shooting 54.6% overall and 41.7% from three.

North Dakota projected starters

Eli King	G	Sr.	6-3/193	A former transfer from Iowa State, King is UND’s lone returning starter from last season. He averages 11.1 points and a team-high 2.7 steals per game.
Greyson Uelmen	G	RFr.	6-2/185	After redshirting last season, Uelmen leads the Fighting Hawks at 13.1 points per game while shooting 50% from the field. He also dishes out 2.2 apg.
Zach Kraft	G	So.	6-3/185	Kraft averages 8.0 points per game and leads North Dakota with 32 made 3-pointers at a 39.0% clip this season.
Garrett Anderson	G	Sr.	6-6/195	A transfer from Central Washington, Anderson averages 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He’s also second on the team with 20 made 3-pointers.
George Natsvlishvili	F	Jr.	6-10/239	A native of the nation of Georgia, Natsvlishvili joined North Dakota last season. The junior currently averages 8.6 points on 57.3% shooting with 4.9 rebounds per game.

3 keys to victory

Don’t get ‘fat and happy’

To borrow a quote from former Husker guard Emmanuel Bandoumel a few years ago, Nebraska cannot get “fat and happy” after its 11-0 start to the season. As impressive as NU has been thus far, it must stay dialed in amid finals week and the looming holiday break. The good news is that Nebraska was in nearly this exact situation two seasons ago when North Dakota came to Lincoln and led by as many as 14 points in the second half. The Huskers rallied back for an 83-75 victory, but that game was a major wake-up call during their NCAA Tournament run. NU must lock in from the opening tip until the final buzzer to do what it’s supposed to do and remain perfect.

Protect the basketball

If there’s one way North Dakota can make things interesting tonight, it will be by flustering Nebraska’s ball handlers with heavy pressure and forcing turnovers. The Fighting Hawks rank 25th nationally in defensive turnover percentage (21.3%) and 45th in defensive steal percentage (12.2%). The Huskers have been good about taking care of the basketball this season, ranking 21st in offensive TO% (13.9) and 27th in offensive steal percentage (7.3). UND runs many of the same defensive schemes as Nebraska, so NU should be no strangers to what it sees tonight. However, the Huskers must handle the pressure to keep the game under control.

Win the glass

While Nebraska shocked the college basketball world with its 83-80 win at Illinois, the Huskers made life unnecessarily difficult on themselves in the victory. That’s because the Fighting Illini managed to score 19 second-chance points off 13 offensive rebounds. That included seven offensive boards for 14 points during UI’s 14-point comeback in the first half. North Dakota is hardly the rebounding team Illinois is, ranking 314th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (25.6%). Still, Nebraska can’t let UND or any opponent get so many extra shots.

Quotable

“The getaway game is always a dangerous one. I dealt with it in the NBA with the All-Star break. You look forward to having a few days off and an opportunity to spend time with family, but you have to stay focused and go out and take care of business.”
-Head coach Fred Hoiberg on Nebraska needing to lock in for its finals week showdown against North Dakota.

Prediction

Nebraska (-29.5) 91, North Dakota 65

Robin’s season record: 10-1

Vs. the spread: 9-2

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North Dakota

Recap: Penn State wrestling sets NCAA history with 77th consecutive dual meet win

Published

15 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Recap: Penn State wrestling sets NCAA history with 77th consecutive dual meet win

Penn State goes two for two and sets a new NCAA record

12/20/2025 07:26:07 PM

Penn State won two matches at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals and has set a new NCAA Division I record with 77 consecutive dual meet victories. The Lions pass Oklahoma State’s previous mark of 76 by beating Stanford 42-0. Earlier in the day, Penn State shut out North Dakota State.

Here are the full results from both matches:

PSU vs. NDSU

125 pounds: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 31 Ezekiel Witt, NDSU, 6-5 (PSU 3-0)
133 pounds: No. 10 Marcus Blaze, PSU md. No. 29 Tristan Daugherty, NDSU, 11-3 (PSU 7-0)
141 pounds: Nate Desmond, Penn State d. Michael Olson, NDSU, 4-1 (PSU 10-0)
149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU TF No. 24 Max Petersen, NDSU, 19-2 (5:16) (PSU 15-0)
157 pounds: No. 8 PJ Duke, Penn State md. No. 21 Gavin Drexler, NDSU, 16-5 (PSU 19-0)
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU TF Boeden Greenley, NDSU 18-1 (3:45) (PSU 24-0)
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, Penn State F. Max Magayna, NDSU (1:38) (PSU 30-0)
184 pounds: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU TF Andrew McMcgonagle, NDSU, 19-4 (6:17) (PSU 35-0)
197 pounds: Josh Barr, Penn State TF Devin Wasley, NDSU, 19-3 (3:20) (PSU 40-0)
285 pounds: No. 13 Cole Mirasola, PSU F Drew Blackburn, NDSU (:33) (PSU 46-0)

PSU vs. Stanford
125 pounds: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 12 Nicco Provo, Stanford, 4-2 (PSU 3-0)
133 pounds: No. 10 Marcus Blaze, PSU F No. 6 Tyler Knox, Stanford (6:44) (PSU 9-0)
141 pounds: #Nate Desmond Penn State md. Lain Yapoujian, Stanford, 9-0 (PSU 13-0)
149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU d. 14 Aden Valencia, Stanford, 10- 4 (PSU 16-0)
157 pounds: No. 8 PJ Duke, Penn State d. No. 5 Daniel Cardenas, Stanford, 5-2 (PSU 19-0)
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU F. EJ Parco, Stanford (4:23) (PSU 25-0)
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU md. Lorenzo Norman, Stanford, 14-4 (PSU 29-0)
184 pounds: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU d. Abraham Wojcikiewicz, Stanford, 5-1 (PSU 32-0)
197 pounds: Josh Barr, PSU TF No. 19 Angelo Posada, Stanford, 19-3 (PSU 37-0)
285 pounds: No. 13 Cole Mirasola PSU TF Luke Duthie, Stanford, 21-6 (2:59) (PSU 42-0)

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North Dakota

Suffolk prosecutors intercept, return scammed cash to North Dakota grandmother

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Suffolk prosecutors intercept, return scammed cash to North Dakota grandmother

An 80-year-old North Dakota grandmother scammed out of $8,500 has her money back after Suffolk County prosecutors and postal inspectors traced the package of cash, which was mailed to a Shirley address, and returned it earlier this week, district attorney’s officials said.

Officials said the woman received a call Dec. 12 from someone pretending to be her granddaughter, saying she had been in a traffic accident in Suffolk County and needed bail money.

The caller said she was charged with three crimes and then handed the phone to a man posing as her lawyer, who gave the grandmother instructions on how to send cash through the mail, district attorney’s officials said.

The grandmother mailed the cash, but the man kept calling, pestering her for more money, prosecutors said. The woman, who eventually realized she had been scammed, called police in Devils Lake, North Dakota, and reported the con.

Detectives, who made no arrests, tracked the package to Shirley. The Suffolk County Financial Crimes Bureau then worked with inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to intercept the package two hours after it arrived on Wednesday and returned the money to the North Dakota woman.

“Our office is dedicated to combating scammers who prey on the senior citizen community, who criminals believe to be easy prey,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “Bad actors should know that Suffolk County will not be a haven for mailing scams, and that we will do everything within our power to prevent citizens from being swindled by predatory scammers.”

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.

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