North Dakota

Plain Talk: Proponent and opponent debate North Dakota's Measure 5 legalization of marijuana

Published

2 months ago

September 27, 2024

Plain Talk: Proponent and opponent debate North Dakota's Measure 5 legalization of marijuana

MINOT — Steve Bakken is the former mayor of Bismarck, and the chair of the committee backing Measure 5, which seeks to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota.

Pat Finken is a longtime advertising professional and political activist. He’s a part of the coalition opposing Measure 5.

These gentlemen came together on Plain Talk to make their respective cases. The contrasts in their arguments, as you might expect, were sharp.

Bakken says Measure 5 is a “very conservative” legalization that gives state officials plenty of latitude to regulate lawful use of the drug. The measure “gives all the power to the state,” he said.

But Finken painted the measure as exacerbating North Dakota’s existing problems with substance abuse. “The marijuana of today is not safe,” he said. “It’s 10 times more powerful” than what Americans may have been smoking in past decades. He rejected the argument that marijuana legalization is inevitable, saying that even if North Dakota were the last state in the union without legal access for recreational use, he wouldn’t mind it.

“I’m perfectly content for North Dakota to remain an island,” he said.

Bakken, for his part, argued that Finken’s alarmism is out of date. “That reefer madness mentality goes back to the 50s.”

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

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North Dakota

Johnston leads Loyola Marymount against North Dakota after 27-point outing – WTOP News

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

North Dakota Fightin’ Hawks (2-2) at Loyola Marymount Lions (1-2) Los Angeles; Friday, 10 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Loyola Marymount…

North Dakota Fightin’ Hawks (2-2) at Loyola Marymount Lions (1-2)

Los Angeles; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Loyola Marymount hosts North Dakota after Will Johnston scored 27 points in Loyola Marymount’s 77-71 loss to the Saint Louis Billikens.

Loyola Marymount finished 12-19 overall with an 8-8 record at home during the 2023-24 season. The Lions averaged 11.9 assists per game on 25.9 made field goals last season.

North Dakota finished 18-14 overall a season ago while going 7-8 on the road. The Fightin’ Hawks averaged 75.3 points per game while shooting 44.3% from the field and 32.6% from 3-point range last season.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Copyright
© 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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North Dakota

Snow gives wildfire responders first chance to catch breath in months

Published

12 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Snow gives wildfire responders first chance to catch breath in months

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – First responders finally have a chance to catch a breath after an intense couple of months.

Hunter Noor with the North Dakota Forest Service said the snow is bringing some much-needed moisture to dry areas in the state. He said first responders and volunteers who have been working since October to manage the fires hope the snow continues because it could mean the end of a historic wildfire season.

“I’d like to say we are done, but I’m going to knock on wood when I say it, because you never know what Mother Nature’s going to throw at you. So, December— it could warm back up to 40, 50 degrees, you could have another wind event and see more fires— but looking at the forecast, looking at what they’re predicting, it looks like we’re going to slide into the winter season, hopefully pretty quietly,” Noor said.

He said more precipitation should help keep any potential fires at bay.

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North Dakota

Michigan State, North Dakota to reportedly play in Texas

Published

19 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Michigan State, North Dakota to reportedly play in Texas

Michigan State hockey has firmly cemented themselves as one of the best programs in college hockey. With being one of the nation’s best, the Spartans are given the opportunity to do some very cool things.

Reported by John Buccigross of ESPN, the Spartans are going to be playing against another one of the nation’s best, North Dakota in Austin, Texas, for the 2026 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game.

If it truly comes to fruition, this would be a very cool opportunity for Michigan State and their program for some massive exposure to the program.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner

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