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Plain Talk: How can North Dakota compete with Minnesota’s free tuition program?

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Plain Talk: How can North Dakota compete with Minnesota’s free tuition program?


MINOT — Lawmakers in Minnesota have created a new tuition program, called North Star Promise, which will give an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 students from households with income levels at $80,000 or less free tuition at the state’s institutions of higher education.

North Dakota State University President David Cook said that situation has “catastrophic” potential for our state’s campuses. He joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss why and what can be done about it.

“The Legislature was very good to us,” he said, adding that the universities are “working hard, doing our due diligence” to put a proposal they feel will keep North Dakota competitive with Minnesota.

Cook answered questions about whether North Dakota should consolidate some of its 11 campuses or take other steps to find efficiencies that might, in turn, allow the state to be more generous with admissions.

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Also on this episode, Christopher Dodson, who for 28 years has been the voice of the Catholic Church in North Dakota’s halls of government, talks about his decision to step down amid health challenges.

He has stage 4 prostate cancer, and he opened up about it on the show. He also spoke about some of his successes in policy areas, some of the issues where the Cahtholic Church doesn’t get enough credit, how politics in our state have changed over the nearly three decades he’s worked here, and what it was like to help guide his church through the challenges of sex scandals.

“The clergy abuse crisis hit us hard,” he said. “It’s been very hard to be the face of the church after this evil.”

He said politics in North Dakota, like the rest of the nation, have become less civil in recent years, though he argued that our state is much more optimistic than it was in the 1990s when he began.

Finally, Friday co-host Chad Oban and I talk about

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the controversial lawsuit

filed against the state by Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski with backing from a group aligned with disgraced former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election lies.

To subscribe to the Plain Talk podcast, search for the show on services like

Spotify

or

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Apple Podcasts,

or

click here

for more information.

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Rob Port is a news reporter, columnist, and podcast host for the Forum News Service. He has an extensive background in investigations and public records. He has covered politics and government in North Dakota and the upper Midwest for more than two decades. Reach him at rport@forumcomm.com. Click here to subscribe to his Plain Talk podcast.





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North Dakota

Chargers Quarterback, Easton Stick hosting Quarterback Camp at North Dakota State University

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Chargers Quarterback, Easton Stick hosting Quarterback Camp at North Dakota State University


FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Some of the best young quarterbacks around will be making their way to NDSU to show off their skills and also become better.

Current Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback, Easton Stick is hosting a football camp for 50 players from 9th grade to college on Wednesday, June 19th, from 9 am to 5 pm at North Dakota State University.

During his time at North Dakota State University, Stick achieved an impressive 49-3 record as a starter, the most wins by a starting quarterback in Football Championship Subdivision history.

Stick was drafted in the fifth round in the 2019 draft by the Chargers. He recently re-signed with the team on a one-year deal in March.

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Why Windmill Blades May No Longer Land In North Dakota Landfills

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Why Windmill Blades May No Longer Land In North Dakota Landfills


North Dakota stands to benefit significantly from recent advances in windmill blade recycling, as it embraces an “All of the Above” energy status.

As a prominent wind energy producer, handling the disposal of end-of-life turbine blades has become a top priority.

Because of their complicated composition, these gigantic blades, which may be over 50 meters long, were traditionally meant for landfills. However, new recycling methods are changing the story, bringing economic and environmental benefits to North Dakota.

Researchers and businesses are developing innovative methods for breaking down and repurposing these long-lasting materials. One of the most promising ways is mechanical recycling, which involves cutting blades into little pieces and grinding them into fine particles.

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These particles can then be used as reinforcement in concrete or asphalt, increasing the strength and durability of the products while decreasing waste. This approach might greatly aid North Dakota’s infrastructure projects by delivering low-cost materials for road building and repair.

Another novel approach is thermal recycling, which uses high temperatures to degrade composite materials into reusable fibers and resins. This procedure not only reduces landfill use, but it also recovers important raw materials, helping to create a circular economy.

 

Additionally, chemical recycling is gaining popularity. This method employs solvents to dissolve the glue that holds the fiberglass together, allowing both the fiberglass and the resin to be extracted for other applications.

Implementing these strategies in North Dakota could lead to new business possibilities and jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries.

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North Dakota might play a vital role in implementing and profiting from these technologies.

Businesses are investing in collaborations and pilot programs to scale up recycling processes, with the goal of achieving zero waste in the wind sector by 2040. These improvements are consistent with North Dakota’s aims of promoting economic development and becoming a net-zero carbon state.

As wind energy grows, the successful recycling of windmill blades is a vital step toward reaching sustainability goals.

By converting garbage into resources, North Dakota not only solves environmental concerns but also prepares the way for a more resilient and environmentally sustainable future.

The partnership between academics, manufacturers, and politicians demonstrates the shared commitment to transforming obstacles into opportunities, ensuring that renewable energy remains a green and circular option for future generations.

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This proactive strategy has the potential to position North Dakota as a pioneer in sustainable energy techniques included in it’s “All of the Above” approach.

With the technology coming around to recycle and repurpose wind turbines, the only thing keeping North Dakota from creating more jobs and making our state and nation more energy independent is bias.

Forgotten 2000s Country Songs: 40 Great Country Hits, 2000-2009

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

 





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Events in Bismarck show support towards former President Trump

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Events in Bismarck show support towards former President Trump


BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Former President Donald Trump’s supporters showed their loyalty in a series of events around Bismarck on Saturday.

The events started with a Trump Rally on the North Dakota State Capitol grounds, featuring guest speakers showing their support through their speeches. The rally also had refreshments.

The second event was hosted at the Fox Island Boat Ramp, where former President Trump’s supporters could get together and spend a day on their boats, waving their flags.

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