North Dakota
Port: Bill would require personal details about those requesting public records
MINOT, N.D. — North Dakota has glorious statutes defending the general public’s entry to public information.
The legislation begins with a presumption that each document is open to public inspection until there’s a particular statute excluding it. If a authorities entity denies you entry to a document, it should cite the statute permitting you to take action. If they are not following the legislation appropriately, residents can file a criticism with the Lawyer Common’s Workplace and ask for a assessment. You may also take the matter to the courts.
Ellie Potter/Discussion board Information Service
The opposite presumption within the legislation is that the general public does not want a cause to entry public information. There isn’t a requirement justifying or explaining why you need entry to the information, nor do it’s a must to present particulars about your self. The alternative is true. The legislation particularly prohibits our state authorities from asking you about your motivations or your id.
Part 44-04-18
of the North Dakota Century Code reads, partially: “A public entity could require written clarification of the request to find out what information are being requested, however could not ask for the motive or cause for requesting the information or for the id of the individual requesting public information.”
That our state information are public is all of the justification any citizen must entry them.
Sadly, this openness is usually abused. A latest instance comes from earlier this yr when the disciples of sure conspiracy-mongering grifters
inundated state election officers with information requests
. The legislation requires that every of those requests be taken critically by public officers, irrespective of how inane, which leads to a number of time and vitality spent satisfying them.
This can be a dangerous factor. Protecting entry to public information open is a continuing battle.
As I famous again in September,
many in authorities view this stage of entry to state information as folly. A nuisance. Even a menace. They’re on the prowl for justifications to shut it down.
Which brings us to the present legislative session.
Home Invoice 1198
, launched by Rep. Mike Lefor, a Dickinson Republican and the Home Majority Chief, would require that these making open information requests establish themselves and supply private contact data.
Listed below are the modifications Lefor’s invoice would make in situ:
Screenshot
I am going to not impugn Rep. Lefor’s motivations for this invoice, as a result of they’re comprehensible. It’s painful to look at unserious cranks waste the time and sources of our public officers with frivolous requests. It’s rank abuse of an vital instrument for accountability and transparency.
That stated, it is a harmful highway to stroll.
There are legitimate causes to make nameless requests for information. Do not forget that open information requests are themselves open information. Beneath this proposed legislation, somebody attempting to analysis a hot-button political subject, akin to abortion, might see their house addresses, cellphone numbers, and different particulars get shared with the opposition.
Authorities whistleblowers are one other consideration. I’ve written dozens of tales over time based mostly on information collected by an insider who made nameless open information requests.
However probably the most compelling cause? The state does not actually have a necessity for this data. If a document is public, does it actually matter which member of the general public is requesting entry to it?
We won’t begin judging requests for public data on their deserves. That may be a subjective factor. I’m a prolific requester of public information, and I can inform you that fairly often, some political leaders and public servants on this state have thought I used to be losing everybody’s time with some quixotic tilt at a windmill. Perhaps typically they have been even proper, however it should not matter. The general public’s entry to the general public’s information should not hinge on some subjective opinion concerning the motivations of these requesting the information.
Generally we could not like the explanation why an individual, or group of individuals, are requesting information, and typically we might imagine they’re losing money and time, and people are issues we’ll simply have to simply accept.
Chalk it as much as the price of doing enterprise as an open and accountable state authorities.
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North Dakota
United Liberian Association of North Dakota to celebrate Liberia Independence Day
Fargo — “We have been in the Fargo Moorhead area, you know, most of the time. You know the community. You know our host. They don’t see us. You know, very often. we want to ensure that, you know, we showcase, you know, the number of people, the Liberian people, that live here,” said Zlandorper Behyee, Treasurer of ULAND.
The United Liberian Association of North Dakota is celebrating Liberia Independence Day in Fargo for the 15th year, and organizers say instead of a hosting it in a community hall, they’re bringing the festivities outdoors.
“We’re looking at unity, coming together, bringing our community together, recognition and also diversity within our community where we live,” said ULAND President Ebenezer Saye.
Liberia was the first nation on the African continent to gain its independence from the U.S. on July 26, 1847.
Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, the organization will host a soccer game for boys and girls at the Pepsi Soccer Complex in north Fargo.
At 5 p.m., there will be a formal program with city officials.
Throughout the festivities, organizers say there will be African music, food, and traditions.
My name is Anne Sara, better known as Sara.
I was born an only child in Port-au-prince, Haiti and moved to the U.S at the age of 2.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is where I was raised.
After graduating with my bachelor degree at Albright College, I moved to Florida to continue my studies.
WDAY is the reason why I moved to North Dakota.
North Dakota
North Dakota State Fair kicks off Friday
![North Dakota State Fair kicks off Friday North Dakota State Fair kicks off Friday](https://gray-kvly-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EHA2H2I5RJCWRNI6V7AMEKATMU.jpg?auth=7af842109c66fa375a188e8800f2edbaee152e9aa81f0d684f078002cc910d39&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
MINOT, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The 2024 North Dakota State Fair opens on Friday, July 19, and runs through July 27 with a lineup packed full of entertainment, rides, and family fun.
Fair organizers say the Grandstand Showpass is your ticket to some hot acts in the country music scene, such as Lainey Wilson, Sawyer Brown, Turnpike Troubadours, and Thomas Rhett, along with a demolition derby and the MHA Indian Horse Relay. You can catch all of the acts with the Showpass for $130.
Single ticket shows are also available, including Mötley Crüe with special guest White Reaper, Machine Gun Kelly with Shaboozey opening the show, and hip-hop icon Lil Wayne.
Tickets are available for $85 for Mötley Crüe, $75 for Machine Gun Kelly, and $65 for Lil Wayne, with both standing room and reserved seating options available.
A season gate pass for all nine days at the fair costs $25. You get tickets online by using the “TICKETS” link at www.ndstatefair.com
It’s the 59th year of the North Dakota State Fair tradition in Minot. Fair officials say they drawing over 300,000 visitors annually.
Copyright 2024 KVLY. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
North Dakota delegates react to former President Trump’s RNC speech
![North Dakota delegates react to former President Trump’s RNC speech North Dakota delegates react to former President Trump’s RNC speech](https://gray-kfyr-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCMVPBGUGNHPPM7KUPYZCC2E7Q.png?auth=05675eb255701cdb0919242d0dd11984a8a15914363b79095e3eeda7f917f376&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
MILWAUKEE (KFYR/KMOT) – The Republican National Convention wrapped up on Thursday with former President Donald Trump accepting the Republican nomination for president.
We got the chance Thursday night to speak with members of the North Dakota delegation. When we spoke to the delegates, they talked about the enthusiasm that former President Trump brought onto the stage just a week after that assassination attempt on his life.
“Well, it was exciting. He told his story in a very frank way. And it sounds like a very unique way he’s done. It’s not like he’s going to tell it that way again,” said Ben Koppelman, delegate.
“His message was amazing is we just got to make this country great again and get back to what we’re good at working hard drilling for oil, just making America great again,” said Mary Graner, delegate.
“Well, it was longer than I thought it was going to be for sure. But, you know, he gets portrayed as the guy that sows division, and he did just the opposite,” said Scott Louser, delegate.
“Amazing. I mean, breathtaking. It was so awesome. You just felt full of hope and gratitude and promise for our country,” said Wendi Baggaley, delegate.
We spoke with more of our delegates about a whole range of topics, and we will have more follow-ups in the coming days.
Copyright 2024 KFYR. All rights reserved.
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