NEW TOWN, N.D. — A Kansas man has died in a two-vehicle crash in northwest North Dakota, according to state troopers.

The crash happened at 3:36 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, closing State Highway 23 between Highway 22 and 104th Avenue Northwest for several hours, according to a news release.

A 43-year-old El Dorado, Kansas, man was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado east on Highway 23 about 14 miles west of New Town when he rear-ended a 2012 Kenworth semi, according to the release. The pickup driver, who was not wearing his seat belt, died at the scene, state troopers said.

The semi driver was not injured, the release said. He was wearing his seat belt, according to the Highway Patrol.

New Town is about 95 miles north of Dickinson.

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.

Submitted Photo
Several midwestern states, including North Dakota, have been looking over plans submitted by Summit Carbon Solutions for what’s described as one of the largest carbon capture and storage projects in the world. Photo from Adobe Stock.

More regulatory action is needed, but a controversial pipeline project in North Dakota is moving forward after a permit was recently approved.

Supporters and opponents are now eyeing the next steps.

The state’s Public Service Commission gave Summit Carbon Solutions the green light for a siting permit for its planned route in North Dakota.

The company wants to construct a multi-state pipeline in the Midwest to capture carbon pollution from ethanol plants and store the emissions underground in North Dakota.

The commission last year rejected Summit’s initial permit request.

Zach Cassidy, CO2 pipeline organizer for Dakota Resource Council, said the latest outcome raises a big question.

“Who in our state government, or our local governments, has the power to make safety decisions on this pipeline for their residents?” said Cassidy. “Because if county commissioners can’t do it, and if the PSC won’t do it, that means that no one is looking out for us.”

He’s referring to rulings that state law supersedes counties pursuing zoning restrictions.

Cassidy said in North Dakota, Summit still needs a storage permit and opponents will focus on that, along with legislative changes.

The company praised the decision, noting it will soon reapply for a permit in South Dakota, which also initially said no.

The project has led to backlash over concerns such as public safety and landowner rights.

Summit also says it has secured more than 80% of land easements needed for the North Dakota route.

Ahead of last Friday’s unanimous approval, Commission Chair Randy Christmann strongly encouraged the company not to rely on practices such as eminent domain as it keeps reaching out to landowners.

“It is something that burdens families for generations,” said Christmann. “Eminent domain should never be abused.”

Summit insists it remains committed to working collaboratively with affected landowners and communities.

Beyond the Dakotas, the company is awaiting a permit decision in Minnesota. It already secured permit approval in Iowa. Nebraska also is included in the multi-state plan.

BISMARCK — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum granted clemency Monday, Nov. 25, to a fair-feathered hen named Grace, allegedly saving the turkey from what could’ve been a fateful demise come Thursday.

Grace flocked to the state Capitol in Bismarck from Fullerton to be a part of the annual, Thanksgiving-spirited event hosted by the North Dakota Turkey Federation.

She was chosen for the gig after successfully dodging the truck that took her compatriots to “their next stop,” where they will be staged to join people for Thanksgiving in a “different way,” according to Burgum.

President George W. Bush was the first president to officially pardon a turkey, according to

White House Archives,

but Burgum said the tradition has been a part of North Dakota’s culture since the 1970s when Gov. Art Link was in office.

North Dakota produces around

1 million turkeys

every year. That’s 39 million fewer than Minnesota —

the national leader

in turkey production.

The Turkey Federation will donate 32 frozen turkeys, split evenly between the Heaven’s Helpers Soup Cafe and the Abused Adult Resource Center in Bismarck.

Michelle Erickson,

Abused Adults Resource Center

executive director, said the center is about 2,000 shelter bed nights ahead of where the center was last year — a measure that refers to a single night a person spends sleeping in a bed provided by a shelter.

“The staff is overwhelmed, to say the least,” Erickson said. “Donations like this continually help us out and help our clients.”

Heaven Helpers Soup Cafe

founder and Director Mike Meyer said he serves upwards of 350 people daily— approximately a quarter of whom he says are experiencing homelessness.

“Our numbers have really been up as costs go up,” he said.

Those interested in donating or volunteering with either of the nonprofit organizations can find more information at

soupcafe.org

or

www.abusedadultresourcecenter.com/get-involved.