North Dakota
North Dakota House passes bill to shorten time for educators to attain lifetime licensure
BISMARCK — A bill that would reduce the time it takes for a North Dakota teacher to earn a lifetime educator license passed through the House by a substantial margin Friday, Jan. 24.
Representatives voted 79-12 to advance
House Bill 1238,
sponsored in part by Rep. Zachary Ista, D-Grand Forks.
The House Education Committee unanimously recommended the bill for passage Thursday, though the bill received mixed reviews among education circles during a hearing Tuesday.
The bill would make a teacher eligible for a lifetime license when reaching 20 years in their career, instead of the current 30-year mark.
Anyone with a lifetime license who intends to keep teaching shall report to the state’s licensing agency, the Education Standards and Practices Board, at least once every five years, the bill states.
Reporting could include any crime a teacher committed or other behavior that could lead to license revocation or suspension.
Nothing in the bill would prevent the board from taking its own action against a teacher’s lifetime license, if warranted.
The bill is a holdover from the last legislative session, Ista said, during which it received widespread support in the House but failed on a tie vote in the Senate, with one member absent.
One thing that is different this time is the reporting element, he said, which was a sticking point last time with ESPB.
Much of the support for HB 1238 comes in the name of improving recruitment and retention of teachers.
Ista said the bill would reduce continuing education expenses for teachers, estimating the average educator could save up to $1,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.
Contributed / Zac Ista
Also testifying in support Tuesday was Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, the union representing public education and public services employees in the state.
Archuleta said some opponents maintain the bill would cause teachers to stop taking educational credits they might otherwise have earned.
“Not only is that argument a slight to the professionalism of teachers, it also discounts entirely the fact that teachers … have to take coursework to make lane changes and advance on the salary schedule,” he said.
Testifying in opposition of House Bill 1238 were representatives from the state Education Standards and Practices Board.
Executive Director Rebecca Pitkin said most states require continuing education for license renewal.
“Teachers are the model of lifelong learning. Ongoing education, potentially until almost the end of a career, is critical,” she said.
Pitkin also said reducing ongoing education requirements for teachers would not promote the profession.
Cory Steiner, ESPB chair and superintendent of the Northern Cass School District, agreed.
“There could be unintended consequences, seeing education as ‘less than’ other fields, where it should be equal to or more than,” he said.
Pitkin said there are currently around 18,000 licensed educators in the state system, with around 10,000 of them currently working.
Providing neutral testimony was Ann Ellefson, director of academic support at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
Ellefson said the state’s teachers have easy access to an online educational hub offering professional development, training opportunities and educator resources.
Many of the courses are no cost or low cost across all North Dakota zip codes, she said, while some do charge a nominal $40 fee at registration.
There are 557 active users taking part in 68 courses that include child nutrition, North Dakota Native American studies, science of reading, mathematics and educator ethics, Ellefson said.
On the House floor Friday, Rep. LaurieBeth Hager, a Fargo Democrat and cosponsor of the bill, said the legislation would reduce red tape for teachers.
Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, said Friday the goal of the bill is to keep teachers in the profession.
Further action on the bill was not scheduled as of Friday.
North Dakota
Armstrong, Strinden celebrate grand opening of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora
MEDORA, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden today celebrated the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora with local, state and federal officials, praising the new facility for bringing Roosevelt’s impactful legacy to life for current and future generations of Americans.
Armstrong quoted the Independence Day remarks delivered by a 27-year-old Roosevelt in 1886 in the governor’s hometown of Dickinson, in which Roosevelt expressed his affinity for “big prairies, big forests and mountains, big wheat fields, railroads, and herds of cattle, too,” among other things. Roosevelt said, “we must keep steadily in mind that no people were ever yet benefited by riches if their prosperity corrupted their virtue.”
“The values T.R. carried away from these Badlands — hard work, conservation, and active citizenship — these are not historical artifacts. They are North Dakota values,” Armstrong said. “And they are exactly the values this library will showcase to the world.”
The 96,000-square-foot library will be open year-round, with interactive exhibits offering an immersive experience for citizens young and old, from North Dakota and beyond.
“If this was just a library built in remembrance of our 26th president, that would be enough. But it is so much more than that,” Armstrong said. “With this grand opening today, we honor the spirit of one of the most consequential figures in the 250-year history as the greatest country in the history of the world. The spirit of resilience, honesty, bravery. The spirit of big dreams and big ideas, and the perseverance to do the hard work required to turn them into reality.”
Roosevelt sought solace and healing in Medora after his wife and mother died on the same day in February 1884, writing in his journal, “The light has gone out of my life.” He established the Elkhorn Ranch – now often referred to as the “cradle of conservation” – and would later say that he would not have become president if not for his experience in North Dakota.
“Now, people from all over the world can come to this exact place, stand where T.R. stood, and feel – not just understand, but feel – how it changed him,” Armstrong said. “That’s what this library makes possible. And North Dakota is genuinely proud to offer it to the world.”
For more information, visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library’s website.
Filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court
North Dakota
Louis Michel Poeltl, Grand Forks, Chapter 13
Kaylen Rae Stanleyu, formerly known as Kaylen Bahl, Fargo, Chapter 7
Michelle Vasicek, formerly doing business as Luna Wolf Sales, Fargo, Chapter 7
Justin David Scheidt, Bismarck, Chapter 7
Barrett Van Wagner, Dickinson, Chapter 7
Carolyn Williams, Bismarck, Chapter 7
John Todd Ukkelberg, West Fargo, Chapter 7
Natasha Anne Lafrenz, Bismarck, Chapter 7
Daniel Peter Binstock Jr., Bismarck, Chapter 7
Rodney Nelson, Reeder, Chapter 7
Shawn Solberg, Dickinson, Chapter 7
Kansas Aime Yankton, also known as Kansas Cavanaugh, Devils Lakes, Chapter 7
Erica Lynn Truhlicka, Fargo, Chapter 7
Stephanie Renee Hagerott, formerly known as Renee Hehn, Bismarck, Chapter 7
Nathan Thomas Schneider, Lignite, Chapter 7
Daniel Scott Diehl, Dickinson, Chapter 7
Wayne Rynart Courchene, Williston, Chapter 13
David Emil Raymond, Grand Forks, Chapter 7
Krista Renee Reed, West Fargo, Chapter 7
Travis Cecil Tharp, Williston, Chapter 7
Tyrell Michael Ledoux, Bismarck, Chapter 7
William Joseph Horneman, Merrill, Wis., Chapter 13
Kaleb James Brockman, Gwinner, Chapter 7
Edgardo Luis Torres-Rivera, Williston, Chapter 7
Minnesota
Bankruptcy filings from the following counties: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Traverse, Wadena and Wilkin.
Alexander Rudkowski, New York Mills, Chapter 7
Brandon Nash and Kayla Lynne Korn, Alexandria, Chapter 7
Ronald G. and Cindy Jo Schmitz, formerly known as Cindy Mills, formerly doing business as Crystal Rock Healing, Pelican Rapids, Chapter 7
Michael James Jordan, formerly known as Michael James Block-Jordan, and Christina Rose Jordan, Wadena, Chapter 7
Darren Michael McClure, Alexandria, Chapter 7
Steven Madrid Torres, Perham, Chapter 7
Chapter 7 is a petition to liquidate assets and discharge debts.
Chapter 11 is a petition for protection from creditors and to reorganize.
Chapter 12 is a petition for family farmers to reorganize.
Chapter 13 is a petition for wage earners to readjust debts.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
BOWMAN COUNTY, N.D. — A 67-year-old Bowman, North Dakota, man is dead following a crash in southwestern North Dakota Friday morning, July 3.
According to a North Dakota Highway Patrol news release, at approximately 8:45 a.m. Friday, a 2019 Dodge Ram 1500, driven by the Bowman man, was traveling westbound on Highway 12 near mile marker 30, west of Bowman. The man experienced a suspected medical incident, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway to the left and enter the south ditch, the release said.
The vehicle continued westbound through the ditch, where the front of the vehicle struck a tree. After the impact, the vehicle traveled onto a gravel frontage road before coming to rest in the ditch. The man was transported by Bowman Ambulance Service to Bowman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The man was wearing his seat belt.
The crash remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
-
Health5 minutes agoJuly 4 heat delays America 250 celebration as State Fair guests share love of USA
-
Sports8 minutes agoToronto Maple Leafs top pick Gavin McKenna reveals that he’s changing his jersey number
-
Technology13 minutes agoChina’s robot-run hotel opens to public in 2027
-
Business20 minutes agoChina-backed AI tool behind fake Brad Pitt fight making Hollywood inroads
-
Entertainment23 minutes agoDon Was produced the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Ozzy. At 73, he found his voice in Detroit — and the Dead
-
Politics35 minutes agoCommentary: Happy Birthday, America! You’ve weathered another rough year
-
Sports43 minutes agoDodgers’ Eliezer Alfonzo praying his sister and stepmother will be found in Venezuela
-
World53 minutes agoReform UK’s Farage failed to disclose funds from convicted criminal: Report
