North Dakota
North Dakota House aims to bring back COVID-era remote participation rule • North Dakota Monitor
Members of the North Dakota House of Representatives may be able to participate in meetings and vote remotely if a recommended rule change is passed by the full chamber.
The House Rules Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to give the speaker of the House authority over whether lawmakers can participate remotely during floor sessions or committee meetings.
North Dakota Speaker of the House Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, who was elected to lead the chamber Monday, introduced the rule during the meeting and said members are going to need adequate reasoning to use the remote option.
“Currently, there is no remote participation and I’m, frankly, a believer in that, but there are circumstances where that may necessitate someone being allowed to participate remotely,” Weisz said.
He added going to a wedding, or a conference, would not be a good enough excuse to warrant remote participation. If a member broke a leg and was unable to make it onto the floor physically, he said, that situation could warrant remote attendance.
The change to the House rule adds “a member may not participate on the floor remotely unless the Speaker has determined circumstances dictate remote participation is necessitated.”
The Senate already has a rule to allow remote participation.
Emily Thompson, legal division director for the Legislative Council, said remote participation rules were put into place in both chambers as part of the 2021 legislative session during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the House’s rules expired before the 2023 session. She said the Senate has continued to operate under similar rules, but the remote participation authority resides with the Senate majority leader.
Thompson said the House speaker’s authority would also be needed for remote participation in committee meetings during the session.
The House and Senate will each vote on rule changes Wednesday.
House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said the Legislature has the technology and the ability to conduct remote participation for its members, but also believes remote access should be used sparingly.
“It better be a really good reason,” Lefor said.
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North Dakota
North Dakota voters to decide single-subject requirement for future constitutional amendments on June 9
BRECKENRIDGE — Coaches, teammates, friends and family gathered in the south parking lot of Breckenridge High School for another state tournament sendoff.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
This year, it was Troy Berndt taking the ceremonial convertible ride. He is headed to St. Michael-Albertville High School for the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet on June 4-6.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
He will be running in the third heat of the 400-meter prelims, scheduled for 4:52 p.m. June 4. There are seven athletes in each heat, 21 total, and nine will advance to the finals at 6:20 p.m. June 5.
The top two finishers in each heat advance, along with the next three best times. Berndt’s personal best time of 50.67 has him seeded 13th, but the 10th-, 11th- and 12th-seeded runners are less than five hundredths of a second ahead of him. The eighth- and ninth-seeded runners are also close, at 50.33 and 50.39, respectively.
Berndt dropped nearly seven-tenths of a second from his previous personal best at the Section 6A West Subsection Meet on May 21, running 51.35, and shaved another 0.68 seconds off at the Section 6A Championships on May 28 with a time of 50.67. If he keeps lowering his time, he will have a shot at reaching the podium against the best runners in Class A.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
Results and photos will be available online immediately following the race June 4 and in the June 10 print edition of the Wahpeton Daily News.
Corbin Lee is a sports reporter for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News-Monitor. Corbin can be reached by calling (701) 291-3551 or emailing corbin.lee@wahpetondailynews.com.
On this day in 1971, Rugby repeated as North Dakota’s high school sand greens golf champion behind medalist Dwight Stempson’s winning performance.
Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:
Rugby Repeats As Sand Greens Golf Champion
RUGBY, N. D. — Rugby repeated as North Dakota high school sand greens golf champion here Wednesday, posting a four-man total of 293 strokes for 18 holes.
Led by medalist Dwight Stempson’s medalist 36-35 — 71, the Panthers were eight strokes ahead of runnerup Stanley, which had a 301. Following were Garrison 311, Beulah 315, Leeds 322, Ashley 323, Bottineau 328, Pembina 329, Tioga 332, Parshall 341 and Hettinger 342.
Stempson and teammate Bruce Carlson each had one-under par 71s, but Carlson was unable to be at the regional and wasn’t qualified for individual honors.
Rounding out the Rugby totals were Delwin Wilson 40-37 — 77 and Dennett Hutchinson 35-39 — 74. Gary Kirchoffner, 41-39 — 80, was Rugby’s fifth entrant with the best four-of-five scores counted.
Runnerup Stanley was led by Steve Springan’s 34-38 — 72 and Joe Springan’s 36-38 — 74. Their two-man total of 146 strokes was good enough for the doubles title. Two strokes back with a 148 was the duo of Stempson and Wilson. Stan Saathoff and Mike Stepina of Garrison each had 76s for a 152 total and the Ashley combo of Steve Maier (76) and Dave Kretschmar (78) was fourth with a 154.
Stempson was the driving contest winner with a distance of 280 yards. Chris Knutson of Garrison headed the pitch and putt competition.
Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.
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