North Dakota
Port: Maybe don't spike the football on a man's grave
MINOT — State Rep. Josh Christy
tragically passed
away earlier this legislative session. Under state law, legislative vacancies are filled by an appointment made by the local political party the departed lawmaker belonged to.
Christy was a Republican, so last week the District 27 NDGOP
selected T.J. Brown
to replace Christy, and one MAGA-aligned group is declaring victory.
“We are proud to announce that TJ Brown has won the special election in North Dakota’s District 27!” an email sent out by former state Rep. Brandon Prichard states. The email was sent from Citizens Alliance of North Dakota. Prichard serves as the executive director of that group.
“Representative-Elect Brown will proudly serve the remainder of the 69th Legislative Session, bringing a strong voice for liberty to Bismarck.”
“This win is a testament to the power of grassroots support and the growing demand for leaders who put principle over politics,” the email continues. “We need more champions like TJ Brown standing tall for North Dakotans, and together, we’re making that happen.”
There are so many things wrong with this it’s hard to know where to begin.
The gleeful tone in the email is abhorrent given that Brown’s appointment to the Legislature was made possible by the death of a man who had a wife, children and friends who are still mourning him. The email even comes off as critical of Christy, making it seem as though he wasn’t a voice for liberty in Bismarck.
Certainly Christy’s
thoughtful and pragmatic approach to serving in the Legislature,
and his willingness to reach out and work with Democrats, are things Prichard and his ilk find objectionable, even if they’re the pillars of honorable public service. But that doesn’t justify spiking the football on the man’s grave.
Also, this was not a special election. It was an appointment. It’s understandable why Prichard might spin this that way given his abysmal track record as an activist. He, through Citizens Alliance, organized
a brutal smear campaign
against a slate of moderate Republican incumbents in last year’s primaries and mostly lost. Of the 18 candidates Prichard’s group endorsed in competitive Republican legislative primaries,
just four advanced to the general election.
Prichard also lost his own primary campaign.
Citizens Alliance of North Dakota is the local chapter of a national organization. The fundraising Prichard conducted was of dubious ethical founding. He raised funds for a federal political committee called the YR Victory Fund and distributed literature to contributors making it seem as though their donations would support the North Dakota Young Republicans group. But Prichard ultimately
transferred nearly all of the contributions
to the YR Victory Fund (outside of a payment for himself) to a separate federal committee he established for Citizens Alliance.
He then used that committee to campaign against incumbent lawmakers, prompting at least one contributor to
demand her money back.
I should note that I don’t know much about Brown. He may well be a fine choice to serve the people of District 27, but his affiliation with Prichard’s group — in so far as he’s signed a pledge of fealty to the group and its goals — doesn’t bode well.
WILLIAMS COUNTY, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol is urging drivers in northwest North Dakota to stay off the roads Thursday afternoon as blowing dirt creates near-zero visibility in some areas.
As of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, troopers were reporting low to no visibility in parts of the region, including along Highway 85 in Williams County near mile marker 212, where a crash occurred. The Highway Patrol shared a photo from the crash scene showing extremely reduced visibility.
Officials are asking people to stay home if possible. Those who must travel are urged to slow down, turn on their headlights, leave extra space between vehicles and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON — The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services has been recognized for its wildfire prevention efforts with a national Bronze Smokey Bear Award.
“These awardees demonstrate what fire prevention looks like in action,” said U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher. “Their efforts protect lives, support firefighters and make a real difference in communities across the country.”
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and with North Dakota experiencing another active spring wildfire season, each fire prevented is one that local responders don’t have to put out, underscoring the importance of each individual’s responsibility to work and recreate safely outdoors. The award to the N.D. Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) recognizes its efforts in communicating just that.
The communications team is led by Strategic Communications Chief Alison Vetter and is supported by Autonomous Systems and Communications Specialist Clint Fleckenstein.
According to information from the Forest Service, the team’s creative products are visually appealing, engaging and effective. The “Learn Before You Burn” tagline urges North Dakotans to visit the interactive N.D. Fire Declarations and Burn Restrictions map to learn their local restrictions, fire danger and red flag warnings before burning or recreating outdoors. Vetter and Fleckenstein consistently take initiative to address fire prevention issues proactively and go above and beyond to become the best possible storytellers of wildfire prevention messaging.
Alison Vetter
Their statewide efforts identify unique and effective avenues to communicate these important public safety topics, addressing top human-caused fire causes like open burning and equipment use through reels, interviews, Gas Station TV, visits with local students, and GoodHealthTV kiosks found in local health units, schools and other public buildings.
During the historic October 2024 wildfires, NDDES mobilized the Joint Information Center, responding to the elevated need for education, prevention and response to determine messaging needs in real time. This included topics like publicizing daily fire danger, sharing resources for affected landowners, advocating for defensible space and safety tips, and messaging ways to minimize fire risk when harvesting, hunting, or enjoying the outdoors. Alison and her team worked over the winter of 2024-2025 to identify prevention efforts and causes, and crafted effective communications strategies to reduce wildfire occurrence, which proved necessary into an active spring 2025 fire season as well. After the devastation of the October 2024 wildfires, they created a documentary to highlight the value and appreciation for those who responded to the call and showcase the unique way North Dakota communities show up for one another in crisis.
The 2026 Smokey Bear Awards will be presented at the National Association of State Foresters’ annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, in September.
North Dakota
Armstrong directs flags at half-staff Thursday in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong has directed all government agencies to fly the United States and North Dakota flags at half-staff on Thursday, May 14, and encourages North Dakotans to do the same at their homes and businesses, in observance of national Peace Officers Memorial Day.
The governor’s directive is in accordance with a proclamation issued by President Donald Trump, who also proclaimed May 10-16 as national Police Week.
Armstrong will join North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Supreme Court Chief Justice Lisa Fair McEvers in delivering remarks during a North Dakota Peace Officers Memorial Service at 7 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Hall of the State Capitol. North Dakota’s 69 fallen peace officers will be remembered and honored during the service, and the Capitol windows will be lit to display a “Thin Blue Line” as a mark of respect for all law enforcement officers, past and present.
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