North Dakota

North Dakota governor candidates debate Measure 2, ethics • North Dakota Monitor

Published

2 months ago

October 15, 2024

North Dakota governor candidates debate Measure 2, ethics • North Dakota Monitor

Candidates for North Dakota governor differed Monday on a ballot measure that would change the process for future voter-initiated measures to amend the state constitution.

Republican Kelly Armstrong, Democratic-NPL candidate Merrill Piepkorn and independent candidate Michael Coachman debated in front of a live audience of more than 100 people during a debate hosted by BEK TV and moderated by Steve Bakken and Joel Heitkamp.

Piepkorn, a state senator, said he opposes Measure 2, which was placed on the 2024 general election ballot by the Legislature. The measure would limit ballot initiatives to a single subject; increase the signature requirement for petitions; force ballot initiatives to be passed by the voters during the primary election and the general election; and require petition circulators to be eligible to vote in North Dakota.

4 major takeaways from North Dakota governor debate

Piepkorn said he believes the Republican-led Legislature only believes in local control until a certain point.

“It will just make things more difficult,” Piepkorn said. “It’s not a perfect system. But it’s a good system and it’s the best one we have, and we don’t need to change it.”

Armstrong said he isn’t sure how he will vote on Measure 2. He added it should be easier to change statutes via ballot petition, but people should “be more careful” with constitutional changes.

“I think it should be really hard to change the North Dakota Constitution,” Armstrong said.

He also said the measure doesn’t address out-of-state money influencing ballot initiative campaigns.

Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong speaks during a debate at the Bismarck Event Center on Oct. 14, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Coachman said he believes the Legislature doesn’t have the power to use the initiated ballot measure process because of the state’s constitution. He also objected to Measure 1, which cleans up outdated language in the constitution, and Measure 3, which affects the Legacy Fund, because they were placed on the ballot by the Legislature.

“If you don’t follow the constitution, what do you got?” Coachman said. “A Third World country.”

Energy industry

Piepkorn was critical of past legislation to lower the oil extraction tax, as well as tax exemptions for energy companies.

“Every session that I was on the Energy and Natural Resource Committee, the oil companies were back looking for another exemption, chipping away at the taxes that they pay,” Piepkorn said.

Armstrong defended incentives for the energy industry, which he said allowed the Bakken to be developed.

“We had smart policy that allowed people to come in here and invest and create generational wealth for this entire state,” Armstrong said. “And I think it’s a fantastic thing, not something to apologize for.”

Independent gubernatorial candidate Michael Coachman speaks during a debate at the Bismarck Event Center on Oct. 14, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Coachman accused Armstrong of personally benefiting from legislation during the 2017 legislative session related to oil and gas minerals under Lake Sakakawea.

A bill Armstrong sponsored that year ordered a review of the historical ordinary high water mark of the Missouri River before the construction of the Garrison Dam, which created Lake Sakakawea. The legislation sought to resolve uncertainty over mineral ownership. Millions of dollars had been held in escrow or in suspense amid ownership disputes.

Coachman said Armstrong failed to disclose that he would personally benefit from the legislation. Armstrong said Coachman’s claim is wrong and said he had zero mineral acres held in suspense by North Dakota.

Armstrong said he remains proud of that legislation, which he said returned royalties to North Dakota farmers and ranchers.

Armstrong, who earns most of his personal income from the oil and gas industry, said if elected governor he would recuse himself from voting on the North Dakota Industrial Commission on issues affecting his father’s operating company and any issue in which he has a unique interest.

Piepkorn said electing a member of the Democratic-NPL Party to the three-member Industrial Commission would bring “clarity and transparency” to the conversations.

Ethics

When asked if the Republican supermajority in the Legislature has created ethical concerns due to a lack of accountability, Coachman said lawmakers shouldn’t be taking advantage of the people of North Dakota to benefit themselves.

Democratic-NPL gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Merrill Piepkorn speaks during a debate at the Bismarck Event Center on Oct. 14, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

“They just keep protecting each other,” Coachman said.

Piepkorn said the Republican supermajority has created a sense of entitlement.

All three were asked about state Rep Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck, who was found guilty of a misdemeanor conflict of interest crime and continues to serve in the Legislature.

Coachman and Piepkorn said they would resign if they were found guilty of a similar crime.

Armstrong said he would never put himself in that position. When pressed on whether he would resign, Armstrong said: “I would have a hard time understanding how I would be able to represent my voters.”

Commerce department

In response to a question about the state Department of Commerce, Coachman said he would audit the department, along with other state government spending. If the audit shows the department is spending too much money, Coachman said he would “eliminate them.”

Piepkorn said members of Commerce often told legislators how much investment could come into the state if they changed some of the state’s laws.

“I think we really need to keep an eye on the Commerce Department,” Piepkorn said. “And also, be wary of corporate interests coming in and really taking over the state.”

Armstrong said the state should focus on transparency, accountability, workforce and affordable housing issues before any projects should be discussed.

“We don’t need a bunch of trillion dollar infrastructure projects in the state of North Dakota right now because we don’t have anywhere for those people to live and we don’t have the employees to do that,” Armstrong said.

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North Dakota

Best golf courses in North Dakota for 2024-25

Published

27 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Best golf courses in North Dakota for 2024-25

By:

GOLF’s Course Raters and Ran Morrissett, Architecture Editor

December 22, 2024

The Links of North Dakota is the top-ranked course in the state.

Courtesy

As part of GOLF’s rigorous ratings process for our newly released Top 100 Courses in the U.S. and Top 100 Courses You Can Play rankings, our fleet of 100-plus expert panelists identified the best golf courses in every state.

You can check out the links below to browse all of our course rankings, or scroll down to see the best courses in North Dakota. And if you’re looking to create your own trip in the future, you’d be wise to let GOLF’s new Course Finder tool assist you. Here, you can toggle all of our lists — Top 100 public, best munis, best short courses, best par-3s and more — or filter by price to create the perfect itinerary for your next trip.

Check out our all-new travel podcast Destination GOLF. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: APPLE | SPOTIFY | IHEART | AMAZON

Explore our all-new Course Finder

Golf courses near you? Search here!

Begin Browsing

The best golf courses in North Dakota (2024/2025)

SYMBOL GUIDE
# = Top 100 Course in the U.S.
Y = Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S.
V = Top 100 Value Course in the U.S.
P = Public/Resort

Ed. note: Some courses were omitted from our rankings because they did not receive enough votes.

1. Links of North Dakota (Ray) [V, P]

2. Hawktree (Bismarck) [V, P]

Award-winning architect Jim Engh is best-known as a maximalist, but Hawktree’s main lines of defense are all natural. This Midwestern marvel rambles through glacier-carved land near the Missouri River, forcing players to contend with high plains winds and water that’s in play on 11 holes. When you arrive at Hawktree, the first thing you notice are the sweeping prairie vistas — 14 holes are visible from the clubhouse. The next thing you notice are the trademark bunkers, filled with black coal slag instead of white sand. By the end of the round, you’ll be thinking, “I need to play more golf in North Dakota.”

Hawktree golf course in North Dakota. — A gorgeous vista at Hawktree.
Patrick Koenig

3. Bully Pulpit (Medora) [V, P]

4. Oxbow (Oxbow)

5. Fargo (Fargo)

How we rank our courses

For our newly released Top 100 U.S. and Top 100 You Can Play lists — a process that helped us create 50 best-in-state rankings — each panelist was provided a ballot that consisted of 609 courses. Beside the list of courses were 11 “buckets,” or groupings. If our panelists considered a course to be among the top three in the U.S., they ticked that first column. If they believed the course to be among Nos. 4-10, they checked that column, followed by 11-25, 26-50, and so on out to 250+ and even a column for “remove.” Panelists were also free to write in courses that they felt should have been included on the ballot.

Points were assigned to each bucket; to arrive at an average score for each course, we divide its aggregate score by the number of votes. From those point tallies, the courses are then ranked accordingly. It is an intentionally simple and straightforward process. Why? Because it historically has produced results that are widely lauded. Like the game itself, there’s no need to unnecessarily complicate things or try to fix something that already works so well.

The key to the process is the experience and expertise of our panel. Hailing from 15 nations and all the worldwide golf meccas, each of our 127 handpicked panelists has a keen eye for architecture, both regionally and globally. Many of our panelists have played more than 1,000 courses in 20-plus countries, some over 2,000. Their handicaps range from +5 to 15.

Because the nature of course rating is so intensely subjective, no one opinion carries the day. The only way, then, to build meaningful consensus is to incorporate this diversity of panelists and experiences into one ranking.

Need help unriddling the greens at your home course? Pick up a custom Green Book from 8AM Golf affiliate GolfLogix.

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North Dakota

Montana State defeats South Dakota 31-17 in FCS semifinals to advance to Frisco

Published

8 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Montana State defeats South Dakota 31-17 in FCS semifinals to advance to Frisco

11:34 pm, December 21, 2024

Montana State defeated South Dakota, 31-17, to advance to the national title game.

The Bobcat defense stepped up big in the second half, holding South Dakota to only three points. In the fourth quarter, Montana State came up with two fourth down stops and a key fumble recovery on the final defensive possession.

Denied ❌@MSUBobcats_FB forces the fumble and recovers to close it!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC pic.twitter.com/sXk20fQ8OC
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024
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Quarterback Tommy Mellot led the way offensively with 134 passing yards and a touchdown plus 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

It’s the first title appearance for Montana State since 2021. Fittingly enough, Montana State played — and lost to — North Dakota State in the title game that year, the first for head coach Brent Vigen and quarterback Tommy Mellott. The Bobcats and Bison will meet in Frisco, Texas to play in the FCS National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET.

Next Stop: Frisco ⏭🤠#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC / @MSUBobcats_FB pic.twitter.com/YzRv0wJ3Ln
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 22, 2024

Click or tap here for stats from the game

11:26 pm, December 21, 2024

11:19 pm, December 21, 2024

After Montana State stopped South Dakota in the redzone on fourth down, the Coyote defense forced a punt to get the ball back. South Dakota will get the ball down 31-17 with 4:46 remaining and two timeouts.

11:00 pm, December 21, 2024

One quarter remains until we find out who the second FCS title game participant is. Montana State has a 14-point lead over South Dakota, 31-17 entering the fourth quarter. The Coyotes added a field goal with 2:11 to play in the third quarter to cut the deficit.

When play resumes, South Dakota will have the ball facing second-and-three at its own 40-yard line.

See stats through three quarters below

10:31 pm, December 21, 2024

Tommy Mellott showed off why he’s one of the most electrifying players in the FCS. Mellott dropped the snap, made a defender miss, hurdled another defender and darted 41 yards into the endzone. Montana State leads 31-14

LIVING LEGEND 🤯
Appreciating every minute of @Tommy_Mellott pic.twitter.com/yv65Rh8VOV
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) December 21, 2024

9:57 pm, December 21, 2024

A field goal lat in the second quarter gave Montana State a 10-point lead entering halftime. The score was another addition to an explosive first half.

South Dakota scored two touchdowns of 55 and 45 yards on the ground. However, the pass game hasn’t been as explosive as Aidan Bouman only has 76 yards through the air going 0-2 on third down.

BOZEMAN’S OWN 💪💪
📺 ABC@kennetheideniv | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/mkYnfX0mGj
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 21, 2024

Montana State’s offense has been powered by Tommy Mellott. He’s 8-15 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown while rushing 13 times for 69 yards and a score. Mellott and the Bobcat offense have run 44 plays to South Dakota’s 16, while possessing the football for 20:28 to 9:24 for the Coyotes.

When play resumes, South Dakota will receive the second half kickoff.

9:30 pm, December 21, 2024

9:19 pm, December 21, 2024

It took just one play into the second quarter for South Dakota to tie the game up. Running back Charles Pierre Jr. rushed 45 yards to the house on the second big run for the Coyotes today.

Pierre Powers Ahead 🏃‍♂️
Charles Pierre Jr. takes it 45 yards to the house!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC / @SDCoyotesFB pic.twitter.com/ptvbHqoItq
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024
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9:15 pm, December 21, 2024

It’s been an explosive first quarter as both Montana State and South Dakota are moving the ball with ease for the most part. While both teams punted on their second possession, they scored quickly on their first.

Montana State’s third possession put them in front shortly before the first quarter expired as Tommy Mellott has two touchdowns, passing and rushing, for 90 yards passing and 29 yards rushing.

When play resumes, South Dakota will have the ball facing first-and-10 at the Montana State 45-yard line.

See first quarter stats below

9:10 pm, December 21, 2024

8:47 pm, December 21, 2024

South Dakota responded to a quick Montana State touchdown on its opening drive with a quick touchdown of its own. The Coyotes found the endzone in just five plays as running back Travis Theis ran 55 yards for a touchdown.

Theis for the Tie! 🙌@SDCoyotesFB RB breaks loose for a 55-yard touchdown to even the score!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC pic.twitter.com/oShCPoukkx
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024

8:41 pm, December 21, 2024

It took just six plays and a little over three minutes for Montana State to find the endzone in the FCS semifinals. Quarterback Tommy Mellott found wide receiver Taco Dowler for a 34-yard score to put the Bobcats up 7-0. It was the second time the duo connected on the drive as they connected for 20 yards on the first play of the game.

TACO TIME TACO TIME 🌮🌮@DowlerTaco x @Tommy_Mellott
📺 ABC#BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/HuyoCB2QTj
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 21, 2024

8:38 pm, December 21, 2024

The second FCS semifinal game is underway as No. 4 South Dakota battles No. 1 Montana State. The Bobcats received the opening kickoff.

8:12 pm, December 15, 2024

Here’s how to watch the 2024 FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State:

8:11 pm, December 15, 2024

Here are some of the top storylines and players to watch entering this year’s FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State.

Storylines

How they got here
- South Dakota ended the regular season with plenty of momentum after knocking off North Dakota State in a top-five matchup. Once the postseason started, the Coyotes rallied past Tarleton State in an explosive second-round win before beating UC Davis without ever trailing in the quarterfinals.
- Montana State has dominated the competition all season long as the only undefeated team remaining in the FCS. The Bobcats haven’t played a close game in the playoffs after averaging 50.5 points scored and a 32.5 margin of victory in two games.
Past matchups
- Montana State and South Dakota have only met once in the two program’s histories. The Bobcats won the lone matchup in 2008, 37-18.
Coaching
- Two Coaches of the Year will meet in the semifinals. Big Sky Coach of the Year Brent Vigen will face MVFC Coach of the Year Bob Nielson. Vigen was also named the Eddie Robinson Award winner as the FCS coach of the year.
What’s at stake
- South Dakota is in uncharted territory making its first-ever semifinal appearance. It’s only the fourth FCS playoff season in Coyote history. Meanwhile, Montana State is still chasing its 1984 FCS championship. The Bobcats have only made one return to the title game since (2021), the first year of the Brent Vigen-Tommy Mellott era.

Players to Watch

Here are some players to watch from South Dakota

MVFC Offensive Player of the Year: DL Mi’Quise Grace

South Dakota All-MVFC Players

1st Team | RB Charles Pierre Jr.
1st Team | FB Travis Theis
1st Team | OL Joey Lombard
1st Team | TE JJ Galbreath
1st Team | DL Nick Gaes
1st Team | DL Mi’Quise Grace
1st Team | DB Dennis Shorter
2nd Team | OL Joe Cotton
2nd Team | OL Bryce Henderson
2nd Team | DL Blake Holden
2nd Team | LB Gary Bryant III
2nd Team | DB Mike Reid

Here are some players to watch from Montana State

Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year: QB Tommy Mellott
Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year: DL Brody Grebe
Big Sky Freshman of the Year: RB Adam Jones

Montana State All-Big Sky Players

1st Team | QB Tommy Mellott
1st Team | RB Scottre Humphrey
1st Team | FB Rohan Jones
1st Team | OL Marcus Wehr (unanimous)
1st Team | OL Conner Moore
1st Team | DL Brody Grebe (unanimous)
1st Team | LB McCade O’Reilly
1st Team | DB Rylan Ortt
1st Team | PR Taco Dowler
2nd Team | OL Titan Fleischmann
2nd Team | OL Cole Sain
2nd Team | DL Paul Brott
2nd Team | LB Danny Uluilakep
2nd Team | DB Andrew Powdrell
2nd Team | P Brendan Hall

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North Dakota

North Dakota State defeats South Dakota State 28-21 in FCS semifinals to advance to Frisco

Published

16 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

North Dakota State defeats South Dakota State 28-21 in FCS semifinals to advance to Frisco

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.

When play resumes, North Dakota State will receive the second half kick. See first half stats below.

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