North Dakota

Port: Turns out tough enforcement laws for campaign finance violations are already on North Dakota’s books

Published

1 year ago

August 2, 2023

Port: Turns out tough enforcement laws for campaign finance violations are already on North Dakota’s books

MINOT, N.D. — North Dakota’s campaign finance laws are distressingly lax. They’re routinely violated with near impunity.

My reporting recently uncovered that an independent political action committee called the Dakota Patriot PAC failed to report

more than $80,000 in expenditures in their year-end report.

Last year, my reporting revealed that statewide candidate Melanie Moniz, who sought a seat on the Public Service Commission on the Democratic-NPL’s ticket,

made it all the way to October,

almost to Election Day, without filing a single disclosure report for her campaign.

The campaign for the term limits ballot measure last cycle was forced to file an amended campaign finance disclosure

after I reported a more than $28,000 discrepancy.

That came right after the term limits group dunked on state Rep. Jim Kasper, a Fargo Republican, for

failing to disclose in his campaign filings a $5,000 donation from their founder.

What are the consequences for these violations of campaign finance laws? Nothing, really. Just a few embarrassing headlines.

These are just the problems that got noticed.

A thorough review of the campaign filings made by candidates, political parties, and independent committees would likely find many, many more problems, though perhaps not as egregious as these examples.

I’ve long called for stricter campaign finance laws. We need more frequent reporting deadlines and reports that represent a more thorough accounting of campaign fundraising and spending. And, perhaps most importantly, I’ve repeatedly called for tougher sanctions for those who flout the laws.

Only, it turns out we already have a pretty good law on the books addressing that last point. I wasn’t aware of

Section 16.1-08.1-05

of the North Dakota Century Code until just recently, while I was researching some of these issues, but it gives the secretary of state’s office some broad authority to investigate discrepancies in campaign reports and exact meaningful fines for discrepancies.

Election officials can order an audit of a campaign if “a substantial irregularity is evident or reasonably alleged.” If that audit “reveals a violation,” the candidate, political party, or political action committee can be fined an amount equal to 200% “of the aggregate of contributions and expenditures found to be in violation or an amount sufficient to pay the cost of the audit, whichever is greater.”

Proceeds from the funds would be deposited in the state’s general fund. If the audit finds no issues, then the Secretary of State eats the cost of the audit.

To my knowledge, this law has not been used once during my more than two decades of reporting on state politics.

It’s good law, though it exempts local campaigns — city, county and school district offices — which is problematic. Last year, I reported on a $2,500 donation made by Fargo-based Epic Companies to mayoral candidate Shaun Sipma

in violation of state prohibitions against corporate campaign contributions.

Even with that glaring omission, our current secretary of state, recently elected Republican Michael Howe, ought to start using it to hold the politicians and activists accountable.

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

How to watch: No. 6 Alabama at North Dakota

Published

5 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

How to watch: No. 6 Alabama at North Dakota

After surviving the gauntlet stretch of its non-conference schedule, No. 6 Alabama will hope a chilly trip to the Great Plains won’t cool down its recent run. North Dakota native Grant Nelson will get a homecoming game as the Crimson Tide travels to face North Dakota on Wednesday night. The matchup will be the first leg of a two-for-one series with the Fighting Hawks traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2025 and 2027.

Wednesday will mark the first matchup between Alabama and UND. Nelson, on the other hand, boasts a 6-1 record against the Fighting Hawks, dating back to his time at North Dakota State. The Devils Lake, North Dakota native averaged 16.8 points and 5.28 rebounds while shooting 56% from the floor, including 10 of 21 (47.6%) from beyond the arc in those seven games. That includes his last outing against UND when he dropped 36 points and seven boards while shooting 13 of 20 from the floor.

Here’s everything you need to know about Wednesday’s game.

How to watch

Who: No. 6 Alabama (8-2) at North Dakota (4-8)

When: 8 p.m. CT, Saturday, Dec. 14

Where: Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Watch: CBS Sports Network (play-by-play: Alex Heinert, analyst: Shon Morris, sideline Missy Heidrick)

Listen: Crimson Tide Sports Network | SIRIUS/XM 134/201 (play-by-play: Roger Hoover, analyst: Bryan Passink)

Alabama’s projected starters

Mark Sears: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, graduate

Stats: 17.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.0 apg, 39.0% FG, 31.8% 3-pt

Labaron Philon: 6-foot-4, 177 pounds, freshman

Stats: 11.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.8 apg, 53.5% FG, 24.0% 3-pt

Jarin Stevenson: 6-foot-11, 215 pounds, sophomore

Stats: 4.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 38.5% FG, 24.1% 3-pt

Grant Nelson: 6-foot-11, 230 pounds, graduate

Stats: 12.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 51.2% FG, 27.6% 3-pt

Clifford Omoruyi: 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, graduate

Stats: 8.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, 71.4% FG

North Dakota’s projected starters

Eli King: 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, junior

Stats: 6.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.7 apg, 33.8% FG, 34.3% 3-pt

Mier Panoam: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, sophomore

Stats: 11.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 38.6% FG, 24.0% 3-pt

Treyshen Eaglestaff: 6-foot-6, 190 pounds, junior

Stats: 18.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, 42.4% FG, 37.1% 3-pt

Deng Mayar: 6-foot-8, 180 pounds, senior

Stats: 4.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 41.0% FG, 35.7% 3-pt

Amar Kulijuhov: 6-foot-8, 2225 pounds, senior

Stats: 11.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.4 apg, 53.4% FG

Focus for a full 40

Nate Oats knows he’ll have far more talent on the floor than his opposition on Wednesday night. The Alabama head coach even admitted as much during his Tuesday press conference. It’s hard to find a betting line for Wednesday’s matchup, but it’s safe to say the Tide is heavily favored.

While Alabama is confident about coming back from North Dakota with a win, Oats is hoping to see his team display better focus than it has at times this season. The Tide played with its food during non-conference wins against Arkansas State and McNeese State in November. Last week, it allowed Creighton to get back into the game twice before polishing off the Bluejays for an 83-75 victory. Regardless of the score Wednesday night, Oats said he wants to see his team play winning basketball for 40 minutes.

“We’ve got some guys that are really talented, want to be good, don’t quite realize the mental side of it, staying locked in on every possession to close the game,” Oats said. “We’ve got to play every possession. We can’t play the score. We’ve got to be locked in and try to get stops every possession.”

A name to know

North Dakota guard Treysen Eaglestaff leads the Summit League averaging 18.6 points per game and has recorded at least 12 points in all of his 12 starts this season. While the majority of that production has come against mid-major opposition, the 6-foot-6, 190-pound junior scored 13 points while shooting 3 of 6 from beyond the arc during a loss at Notre Dame in November.

“He’s a good shooter, can get to the rim, get to the free-throw line,” Oats said. “He’s good, and they know he’s good. They get him the ball all kinds of different ways.”

Oats said Alabama might treat Eaglestaff the way it did North Carolina guard R.J. Davis, by putting a bigger body on him. Davis scored 18 points during Alabama’s 94-79 win at North Carolina earlier this month. However, the Tide was able to hold the reigning ACC Player of the Year to 1 of 11 shooting from beyond the arc.

Game notes

— Wednesday’s matchup will feature two of the best rebounding teams in the nation. North Dakota ranks No. 8, averaging 15.08 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Alabama ranks No. 8, averaging 30.4 defensive boards.

— Nelson currently ranks fifth in the SEC averaging 8.0 rebounds per game.

— Wednesday’s game will be a drop in competition for an Alabama team that has faced eight programs that currently rank inside KenPom’s top 100. Six of those rank inside the top 50.

— Paul Sather is in his sixth season at North Dakota. With 65 victories, he is one of eight coaches in program history to reach the 60-win mark.

— North Dakota was picked to finish sixth in the Summit League while Eaglestaff and Amar Kuljuhaovic earned First Team All-Summit League recognition.

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North Dakota

Moorhead man arrested for DUI, assaulting ND State Trooper

Published

13 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Press Room

Moorhead man arrested for DUI, assaulting ND State Trooper

FARGO — A Moorhead man faces multiple charges after a run in with a North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Oscar Lee Jr., a 44-year-old Moorhead resident, was in a vehicle with children when a North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper made contact with him in a parking lot at 2535 23rd Ave. S., in Fargo, according to a release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

The trooper arrested Lee Jr. for driving under the influence. When Lee Jr. was placed under arrest, he “resisted” and kicked at officers, the release said. A trooper was struck several times and went to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Oscar Lee Jr.

Cass County Jail

Lee Jr. was arrested for driving under the influence and driving under revocation, the release said. He was also arrested for felon resisting arrest, assault on a peace officer and terrorizing.

Lee Jr. is being held in Cass County Jail, according to the release. No charges have officially been filed, according to North Dakota Court Records.

Lee Jr. pleaded guilty to felony terrorizing and reckless endangerment in 2022 and two separate misdemeanor DUI incidents in 2024.

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.

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North Dakota

New state plan targets falling reading scores in North Dakota

Published

20 hours ago

December 17, 2024

Press Room

New state plan targets falling reading scores in North Dakota

FARGO — Reading test scores are declining across the U.S., but North Dakota is working to reverse that trend.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” reported a significant decline in U.S. reading scores between 2019 and 2022.

A statewide plan in North Dakota is focusing on key areas of development: Phonics, vocabulary, comprehension and oral reading fluency, or reading aloud.

It’s called “The Science of Reading in North Dakota.”

“COVID played a big role in this. We certainly went backwards after COVID, and that’s unfortunate, but I think we’re taking the correct steps to move forward now,” Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, said. North Dakota United is the union of the North Dakota Education Association and the North Dakota Public Employees Association.

A recent survey by the National Literacy institute shows 21% of adults in the U.S are illiterate and 54% have a literacy rate below a sixth-grade level.

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