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North Dakota voters approve age limit for members of US Congress

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North Dakota voters approve age limit for members of US Congress


North Dakota voters approved a ballot initiative during their primary election on Tuesday that would place an age limit on candidates in the state running for U.S. congressional seats.

The measure, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, prohibits anyone from running or serving in the U.S. House or Senate from North Dakota if they would turn 81 years old or older during their term.

However, several outlets have reported the constitutional amendment will likely be challenged in court.

A little over 60% of voters approved the measure during the state’s primary election.

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It reads: “No person may be elected or appointed to serve a term or a portion of a term in the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives if that person could attain 81 years of age by December 31st of the year immediately preceding the end of the term.”

If implemented, it would not affect any current U.S. Congress members from North Dakota.

The novel ban comes at a time when the age and fitness for duty of legislative leaders and presidential candidates are being heavily discussed — though age does not always lead to cognitive decline.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Politics

9:08 PM, Aug 12, 2023

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Should age limits be set for US elected officials in office?

The current Congress, the 118th, is the second-oldest Senate and third-oldest House in American history.

According to an NBC News analysis last year, the median age for U.S. senators is the highest on record at 65.

Currently, there are over a dozen senators over 75 years old, three of whom are over 80: Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa (90), Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont (82) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (82).

McConnell faced public pressure for freezing twice during press conferences last year and having to be escorted away, but he said it wasn’t due to a stroke. The longest-serving Senate leader will step down from the role next year, but plans to finish out his Senate term, which doesn’t end until 2027.

There are at least 20 U.S. representatives who are 80 years old or older, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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At 81, President Joe Biden is the oldest sitting U.S. president, and he would be 86 years old by the end of a second term if he is reelected. Former President Donald Trump turns 78 this week.

The two are the oldest candidates to seek the White House, and both have argued they are fit for the position despite their age.

They’re also among the oldest world leaders, according to a report from Pew Research Center. Data shows the median age of current global leaders is 62.



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Summit League tournament: Omaha women bounce North Dakota

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Summit League tournament: Omaha women bounce North Dakota


SIOUX FALLS — Ali Stephens had 17 points and 13 rebounds and 8th-seeded Omaha defeated 9th-seeded North Dakota 49-39 in the first round of the Summit League women’s tournament.

The Fighting Hawks had a tough time putting the ball in the hoop all night long, scoring just three points in the first quarter and having only marginally better luck from there.

UND (7-24) shot just 23.5 percent from the floor (12-for-51) and made 1-of-20 shots from outside the arc. Walker Demers and Mackenzie Hughes had 10 points each to lead the Hawks, with Demers adding eight rebounds.

Members of the Omaha women’s basketball team cheer for their teammates during the opening game of the Summit League tournament on March 4, 2026 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live

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Regan Juenemann had 10 points and five rebounds for the Mavericks while Avril Smith had seven points and 16 rebounds and Sarai Estupinan eight points, five assists and three rebounds. Omaha (6-26) shot the ball slightly better than the Hawks, going 16-of-53 from the field (30 percent) and 8-of-23 (35 percent) on 3-pointers.

With the win, the Mavs earn a date with top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
The Bison won both regular season matchups by more than 50 points.

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North Dakota’s Mataeya Mathern goes up for a shot during the opening game of the Summit League tournament on March 4, 2026 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live

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Oral Roberts 84, Kansas City 62 — Don’t look now but the team that started the conference season 0-10 and at one point lost 15 of 16 games might be the hottest in the Summit League.

Oral Roberts picked up their fourth straight victory on Wednesday night in the conference tournament opener, routing Kansas City at the Premier Center in the 8/9 “play-in” game.

Ty Harper had 22 points to lead the Golden Eagles (10-22), who took a 44-21 lead by halftime and never looked back. ORU shot 50 percent from the floor and made 13-of-27 3-pointers while the Kangaroos shot just 34 percent and made 6-of-24 from deep. Martins Kilups had 17 points for the Eagles and Connor Dow added 14.

Jayson Petty had 14 points to lead the Kagaroos, who finish the season 4-27. It was their final game under coach Marvin Menzies, whom the school announced earlier this season would not return next year.

With the win ORU advances to face top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Golden Eagles lost to NDSU 86-58 in Tulsa on Jan. 24 but they took the Bison to overtime in Fargo on Jan. 3 in a 79-77 loss.

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Matt Zimmer

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.





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The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion to the ND State Auditor – North Dakota Attorney General

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The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion to the ND State Auditor

March 4, 2026

Media Contact: Suzie Weigel, 701.328.2210

BISMARCK, ND – It is the opinion that federal law does not prevent the state from auditing P&A and even though P&A possesses confidential records, N.D.C.C. § 54-10-22.1 and 42 C.F.R. § 51.45(c) authorize the state auditor and the employees of the auditor’s office, to review the records without detriment to P &A.

Also, whether Rule 1.6 of the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct for licensed attorneys prohibits P&A from disclosing to the State Auditor the contents of a client file for the purpose of conducting a non-financial performance audit under N.D.C.C. ch. 54-10 when the requested file includes information about individuals and businesses in the private sector who chose to contact P &A.

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This issue was already addressed in a 1995 opinion of this office regarding P&A. The 1995 opinion highlighted that P&A has authority to contract with private attorneys to represent private individuals. 17 During that performance audit, auditors asked to see billings from the contracted attorneys. 18 P&A redacted the names of the individuals represented by the contract attorneys under the rules for attorney-client privilege or attorney-client confidentiality. 19 The names of individuals seeking services of P&A are protected under N.D.C.C. § 25-01.3. The opinion stated:

Thus, P&A’s records which indicate to whom its services were provided are available to the State Auditor for performance audit purposes. The State Auditor has
been given access by P&A to its records other than the attorney’s billings. Therefore, the State Auditor already has access to the names of the persons to whom P&A
provides services. State law requires that the State Auditor and his employees must keep such information confidential.

Here, P&A has not identified a specific record. Given that, I rely on the past opinions declaring that records made confidential by N.D.C.C. § 25-01.3-10 are available under N.D.C.C. § 54-10-22 to the State Auditor and the Auditor’s employees for audit purposes.

Link to opinion 2026-L-01

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Angler may have broken North Dakota’s perch record on Devils Lake

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Angler may have broken North Dakota’s perch record on Devils Lake


FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Wisconsin angler may have reeled in a new North Dakota state record yellow perch on Devils Lake.

Alan Hintz of Stevens Point, Wis., caught the fish while fishing with Perch Patrol Guide Service’s Tyler Elshaug. North Dakota Game Warden Jon Peterson weighed the perch at 2.99 pounds and measured it at 16.5 inches at Woodland Resort.

The current state record perch of 2 pounds, 15 ounces was caught by Kyle Smith of Carrington, N.D., also on Devils Lake, on March 28, 1982.

The catch is still considered unofficial. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department requires a four-week waiting period to verify all details before officially recognizing a new state record.

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Alan Hintz of Stevens Point, Wis., caught the fish that has unofficially weighed at 2.99 pounds and measured it at 16.5 inches(Perch Patrol Guide Service)

Steve Dahl with Perch Patrol Guide Service confirmed the details to Valley News Live. Dahl said overall perch numbers on Devils Lake are down this year, but anglers are seeing more fish weighing over 2 pounds.

Devils Lake is one of North Dakota’s most popular ice fishing destinations, known for producing trophy-sized perch.



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