North Dakota
North Dakota lawmakers throw out resolution against same-sex marriage: What to know
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More than nine years have passed since the U.S. Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal across the country with its ruling in the Obergefell v. Hodges case.
But a resolution considered – and ultimately rejected – by North Dakota lawmakers would have urged the court to overturn that decision.
The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Bill Tveit, a Republican from Hazen, was passed in February by the North Dakota House on a 52-40 vote, with one member absent or excused.
On Wednesday, a state Senate committee voted 6-1 to send the resolution to the full Senate, the North Dakota Monitor reported. More than 300 people submitted testimony ahead of a public hearing, with the vast majority in opposition.
Sen. Ryan Braunberger, a Democrat from Fargo, was the lone vote against the motion to advance the resolution to a Senate vote.
“I want my constituents to know that I disagree with this wholeheartedly,” he said. “This bill is coming from a place of hate.”
The state Senate spent less than 10 minutes debating the resolution Thursday before striking it down with a 16-31 vote, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported.
Tveit told The Associated Press that the Obergefell ruling “went totally against the Tenth Amendment, went totally against the North Dakota Constitution and North Dakota Century Code (state laws).”
“Why did I introduce it? Every one of us in this building took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the state,” he said.
Here’s what to know about the resolution and the Supreme Court’s nearly decade-old same-sex marriage ruling.
What did the North Dakota same-sex marriage resolution say?
The text of the resolution began by urging the Supreme Court to “restore the definition of marriage to a union between one man and one woman.”
The court’s ruling, it said, requires states to recognize same-sex marriage and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in “complete contravention of a state’s own constitution and the will of the state’s voters, thus undermining the civil liberties of those states’ residents and voters.”
It also said the Obergefell decision “arbitrarily and unjustly rejected the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman,” calling it an “illegitimate overreach.”
It concluded by urging the Supreme Court to overturn its ruling and restore “the issue of marriage and enforcement of all laws pertaining to marriage back to the states and the people.”
Which North Dakota officials supported of the resolution?
Tveit, the resolution’s sponsor, said Wednesday, “It’s past time for North Dakota citizens to speak their displeasure with this Supreme Court decision and call for restoration of the definition of marriage as only of the legal union between a man and a woman.”
Arthur Schaper, a field director for MassResistance, which was labeled an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the GLAAD Accountability Project, also spoke in support of the resolution on Wednesday. He said, “It is a crime against nature to teach anyone that they are born homosexual or transgender. These patterns of behavior are inherently harmful to individuals and they should not be granted a privileged status in marriage.”
Which North Dakota officials opposed the resolution?
Braunberger, the Democratic state senator from Fargo, said after Thursday’s vote, “Hopefully in the future, we don’t have to do these frivolous things and can work on real issues, like making sure everybody can put food on their table.”
On Wednesday, state Rep. Matt Ruby, a Republican from Minot who supported the resolution when it passed the state House, told the Senate committee he regretted his vote.
“I knew before we were done with that floor session that I had made a mistake,” he said. “I’ve regretted a lot of votes over my four sessions. This is the first time I’ve been disappointed with myself over a vote.”
Bradley King, a Bismarck resident, also testified against the resolution on Wednesday. He held up a picture of his daughter, a middle school teacher, and her wife, and said how proud he was to walk her down the aisle, the North Dakota Monitor reported.
“Right now, you are looking at one angry father,” King said. “I personally feel that this is an attack on my daughter.”
What is the Obergefell decision?
The Supreme Court’s decision is named for Jim Obergefell, who started a lawsuit with 30 other plaintiffs after his husband, John, died from ALS and the state of Ohio refused to allow Obergefell’s name to be on his death certificate, USA TODAY reported at the time.
“No American should have to suffer that indignity, that’s why John and I and the 30 plaintiffs who are a part of this lawsuit decided to fight,” Obergefell said.
The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision ruled the Constitution does not limit the marriage rights of same-sex couples and effectively legalized same-sex marriages across the country. The decision followed decades of legal battles over the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.
GRAND FORKS – The Alerus Center bustled with thousands of eager shoppers Saturday, Nov. 15, as the Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase opened for the start of its two-day event.
The facility became an enticing, can’t-miss mecca for those in search of unusual or unique items for themselves or Christmas gift-giving. It was expected to draw more than 9,000 visitors, one of the hundreds of vendors told the Herald.
Administered and hosted by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Pride of Dakota program is an opportunity for businesses and organizations to connect with people in this region and beyond. More than 500 member companies participate in the program.
The event is also held annually in several other cities throughout the state.
“I come here every year,” said Autumn Maurstad, of East Grand Forks. “It’s one of all my stops.”
She was shopping for Christmas gifts, along with her husband Adam Maurstad.
At the “Holly the Potter” booth, she held up a natural-colored ceramic mug. Holly Van Santen Knipe, of rural Grand Forks, is the creative potter who has operated this business for many years.
“This coffee cup just spoke to me,” Maurstad said. “The bottom is not too gritty, the handle is good, it holds nice – it’s the perfect coffee cup. I’ve been looking for the perfect coffee cup for two years; I broke my last one.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
Tanya and Rick Anderson, of Grand Forks, have operated Tan and Jay Creations for two years.
“We have something for everybody,” Tanya said.
They hand-assemble items including pens, zipper pulls, coffee stirs, key chains and other items.
The work takes “many, many, many hours,” Rick Anderson said.
“It keeps us busy, but I enjoy it,” his wife added.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
At the Pride of Dakota Showcase, the range of products are as vast and diverse as one could imagine – from the decorative to the functional, most of them handcrafted by North Dakotans. Available for purchase were artwork, food and beverage items, pet supplies, books, pottery, jewelry, photography, kitchenware, products to enhance personal health and well-being, and much more.
Carleen Hennenfent, a retired mortician from Bismarck, displayed her book, “Incomplete,” which offered insights on dealing with grief and the loss of loved ones – people as well as pets.
With memories that are stirred, the holidays can heighten that sense of loss, said Hennenfent, a grief educator. “It’s the nostalgia” that permeates the holiday season.
“People want yesterday to come back,” she said, “and they’re frightened of tomorrow. (It’s important) to live in the now, where at least we have some control.”
Nostalgia also plays a role in attracting customers to the traditional sock monkeys Keith and Leslie Ogden, of Cavalier, North Dakota, offered at their “Smitten with Mittens” booth.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
Leslie has been making these stuffed figures for 18 years, she said. Each one requires “two socks – original, red-heeled socks – one for the body and one for the extremities.”
When the Odgens go south for the winter each year, neighbors in their retirement community like to buy them for their grandkids, to carry on the memory.
Her husband Keith, a retired state trooper, was selling his second book, “More Humor on the Highway,” which recounts the fun incidents that happened and the funny things people said to him, as a trooper on the job, and regretted later.
“I don’t want to remember the bad things,” said Ogden, a native of East Grand Forks who worked 26 of his 28-year career in Cavalier.
His first book, “Humor on the Highway,” sold 2,500 copies in Pembina County, he said. “(People) wanted to see who’s in it.”
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
On Saturday, the Alerus Center parking lots were nearly full and, inside, lines formed as additional security measures were in place, with personnel checking purses and totes and wanding visitors before entering the venue.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
The Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase is also planned for Nov. 21-22 at Scheels Arena in Fargo and Dec. 5-6 at the Bismarck Events Center. Showcases were held earlier this fall in Minot and Dickinson.
Pamela Knudson / Grand Forks Herald
BISMARCK, N.D. (KUMV) – Representatives of the North Dakota University System gave lawmakers an update on how enrollment looks.
More than 47,000 people are attending one of the 11 public colleges in the state. That number includes online-only and dual credit students.
Brent Sanford, the University System Commissioner, said they’re seeing positive trends in various demographics, including an eight percent increase in freshmen.
“That’s something we’re not seeing nationwide so it’s a positive thing for our system. We have different demographics in North Dakota. We don’t have the cliff that some of our neighbors do like Minnesota and Iowa, so maybe that helps. We hope it’s also because we have good offerings,” said Sanford.
The university system said colleges and universities also saw a 17% headcount increase in high school students taking dual credit.
Copyright 2025 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
Destination Fordville to hold Fordville Fall Festival Saturday, Nov. 15 – hotdishes, mural unveiling and more
FORDVILLE, N.D. — A town in northwest North Dakota welcomes visitors to a fall festival, unveiling a piece of art crafted by a regional artist.
Destination Fordville, a nonprofit with the goal of improving the city with family friendly activities, announced in a press release the Fordville Fall Festival will be held Saturday, Nov. 15.
“The Fordville Fall Festival is all about celebrating creativity, community and the small town spirit that makes our region shine,” the release said. “We’re proud to showcase our local talent and bring people together for a fun, family friendly evening.”
The festival starts with the unveiling of a mural created by Hilary Nowatzki as part of the Rendezvous Region Mural Series, supported by the Rendezvous Region Tourism Council, North Dakota Department of Commerce’s Vibrancy Grant, the North Dakota Council on the Arts’ Community Arts Access Grant and Destination Fordville, the release said. The mural is located on the lot next to City Hall. The unveiling will be held at 4 p.m.
Other activities and events include the Hotdish Hoedown and the Apple/Pumpkin Throwdown at the Wells Drinking Well from 4 to 6:45 p.m. There will also be apple bobbing, a tattoo station and games for both kids and adults. Hayrides will be offered outside the Community Center. There will also be firepits guests can use to make s’mores, the release said.
All events are free and open to the public.
The full schedule for the festival and updates regarding the events are available at Destination Fordville’s Facebook page.
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.
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