North Dakota
Racist taunts at high school basketball games spur North Dakota legislation
BISMARCK — A string of racial taunting at North Dakota highschool basketball video games has prompted laws in Bismarck.
Home Concurrent Decision 3022
requires a legislative examine that seeks to make clear the function of training officers, faculty districts and athletics regulators in selling correct spectator habits at sporting occasions. The examine would come with a “clarification of (spectator) expectations and penalties for violating these expectations.”
The Home will doubtless vote on the decision subsequent week.
Rep. Jayme Davis, a Rolette Democrat and enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, stated she introduced the proposal after studying of two latest basketball video games the place younger followers made racist remarks and gestures towards non-white gamers.
Bismarck dad and mom accused followers in Jamestown Excessive College’s scholar part of directing racist chants and hand motions towards Bismarck Excessive College gamers throughout a sport on Jan. 31. Followers
allegedly yelled
the
N-word and made monkey noises
at a Black participant and aimed scalping motions at a Native American participant.
Jamestown faculty officers acknowledged scholar spectators had made disparaging and racially insensitive remarks through the sport, and a handful of unnamed college students
had been disciplined
for participating within the racist taunting.
About two weeks later, video captured at a basketball sport in Dickinson confirmed a younger fan
taunting Native American gamers
from Turtle Mountain Group Excessive College. Dickinson faculty officers stated they disciplined a scholar after the incident.
The North Dakota Excessive College Actions Affiliation
authorised a number of modifications
final month meant to strengthen its anti-harassment guidelines, however disgruntled dad and mom stated extra ought to be executed to carry offenders, faculty districts and referees accountable.
The shows of bigotry in Jamestown and Dickinson introduced Davis again to her basketball enjoying days within the mid Nineties when opponents and followers often hurled racist insults her approach.
The primary such incident got here at a match in fifth or sixth grade when a woman on the opposite crew advised her she smelled “like a grimy Indian,” Davis recalled.
As a highschool participant at Oak Grove Lutheran College in Fargo, opponents refused to shake her hand earlier than video games, Davis stated. Rivals referred to her as a “prairie N-word” all through her youth profession on the hardwood, she added. Finally, Davis stated she developed a thick pores and skin to racist remarks and therapy.
“I don’t need that for these children. I don’t need that to be a part of their norm,” Davis stated. “You shouldn’t have to fret in a sports activities competitors about being referred to as these names or being attacked in any approach.”
Rep. Lisa Finley-Deville, D-Mandaree, famous that her son and his predominantly Native American crew confronted racial taunting and cultural mockery throughout their run on the Class B state basketball match in 2010.
Davis stated there is not any accountability for harassers or faculties though the vitriol coming from the bleachers is now caught on digital camera. That’s why a examine on how one can deal with spectator misconduct is required, she added.
If the decision passes and legislative leaders elect to go ahead with the interim examine, lawmakers might obtain enter from a proposed job pressure made up of state training officers, a highschool sports activities regulator and tribal representatives.
The bipartisan laws acquired a “do-pass” advice from the Home Schooling Committee on Wednesday, March 8.
Jeremy Turley is a Bismarck-based reporter for Discussion board Information Service, which offers information protection to publications owned by Discussion board Communications Firm.
North Dakota
North Dakota Supreme Court Considers Motion to Reinstate Abortion Ban While Appeal is Pending
The North Dakota Supreme Court hears arguments involving abortion via Zoom on Nov. 21, 2024. (Screenshot Bismarck Tribune via the North Dakota Monitor)
(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota’s solicitor general called on the North Dakota Supreme Court to reinstate an abortion law struck down by a lower court until a final decision in the case is made, arguing that the ban must remain in effect because the state has a compelling interest in protecting unborn life.
“We say that not to be dramatic, but because the district court seems to have lost sight of that,” Phil Axt told justices Thursday.
The ban, signed into law by Gov. Doug Burgum in April 2023, made abortion illegal in all cases except rape or incest if the mother has been pregnant for less than six weeks, or when the pregnancy poses a serious physical health threat.
South Central Judicial District Court Judge Bruce Romanick vacated the law in September, declaring it unconstitutionally vague and an infringement on medical freedom.
He further wrote that “pregnant women in North Dakota have a fundamental right to choose abortion before viability exists.”
The law went into effect just weeks after the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled the state’s previous abortion ban unconstitutional and found that women have a right to seek an abortion for health reasons.
Axt argued Thursday that Romanick’s judgment striking down the 2023 law conflicts with the Supreme Court’s prior ruling, and that Romanick’s legal analysis contains “glaring errors.” Axt claimed there’s nothing in the state constitution that supports a right to abortion until the point of viability.
“It’s been clear since our territorial days that in order to justify killing another human being, there must be a threat of death or serious bodily injury,” Axt said.
Meetra Mehdizadeh, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said to reverse Romanick’s decision even temporarily would be to disregard many serious problems he identified with the statute.
The ban does not sufficiently explain to doctors when they may legally provide abortions — which chills their ability to provide necessary health care for fear of prosecution, she said.
“The district court correctly held that the ban violates the rights of both physicians and patients, and staying the judgment and allowing the state to continue to enforce an unconstitutional law would be nonsensical,” Mehdizadeh said.
Axt countered that the law is not vague, and that doctors are incorrect to assume they would face criminal penalties for good-faith medical decisions.
If doctors are confused about the ban, said Axt, “the solution is not striking down the law — it is providing some professional education.”
In briefs filed with the court, the state also argued that Romanick’s judgment vacating the law seems to conflict with his original order declaring the law unconstitutional.
While the order identifies a right to abortion until the point of fetal viability, Romanick’s judgment does not include any reference to viability. The state is now confused as to whether it can now enforce any restrictions on abortion, Axt said.
North Dakota still must observe abortion regulations established under other laws not challenged in the lawsuit, Mehdizadeh said.
Axt further claimed that Romanick’s judgment should be put on hold because it addresses a “novel” area of law, and because it takes a supermajority of the Supreme Court to declare a statute unconstitutional.
“Statutes should not be presumed unconstitutional until this court has had an opportunity to weigh in on the matter, and a super majority of this court is of that opinion,” Axt said.
Justice Daniel Crothers said he questioned Axt’s logic.
“Any novel issue where the district court declares something unconstitutional, it’s sounding like you’re suggesting that we should presume that it’s wrong,” Crothers said to Axt.
The appeal is the latest step in a lawsuit brought against the state by a group of reproductive health care doctors and a Moorhead, Minnesota-based abortion provider, Red River Women’s Clinic. The clinic previously operated in Fargo, but moved across the state line after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.
The ban, passed with overwhelming support by both chambers of the Republican-dominated Legislature, set penalties of up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 for any health care professionals found in violation of the law.
The arguments were only on whether Romanick’s decision should be put on hold during the appeal, not on the merits of the case itself, which the Supreme Court will consider separately. The justices took the matter under advisement.
North Dakota
Four western North Dakota volleyball teams punch a ticket to state semifinals
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – The quarterfinal round of the NDHSAA State Volleyball tournament played out in the Fargodome Thursday with four teams from the west side of the state advancing to the semifinals.
In Class A, Century avenged a quarterfinal loss from a year ago to advance to the semifinals. Meanwhile, Legacy upended West Fargo Horace in an upset.
The two teams will face off in the semifinals, which guarantees that a team from the west will make the Class A State Championship game. The Patriots are 2-0 against the Sabers this season.
In Class B, South Prairie-Max and Medina-Pingree-Buchanan both advanced to the semifinals in their first ever state tournament appearance.
The Royals defeated Kenmare-Bowbells 3-0. The Thunder defeated Central McLean 3-0. That guarantees that a team from the west will also make the Class B State Championship game as the Royals and Thunder will face off in the semifinals.
Copyright 2024 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
Cass County Deputy being investigated by the ND BCI resigns
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy who is under investigation by the the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) has resigned from the department.
Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner says he was contacted by the BCI in September saying they were initiating an investigation into Deputy Carson Quam for alleged criminal activity. Jahner says the Sheriff’s Office was unaware of any criminal activity Quam was potentially involved with.
On November 21, the Sheriff’s office announced that Quam is no longer an employee of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
Jahner says the information was not released in September because it was an active and ongoing investigation from another agency.
“Any time criminal allegations are made against one of my employees, my Office will always collaborate with the investigating and prosecuting agencies to assist throughout the investigation and potential prosecution, working to ensure the integrity of the case. If criminal activity is substantiated, it will not be tolerated. My Office will always strive through rigorous background checks, department training, and accountability to put the best deputies in our communities to protect and serve our citizens,” said Sheriff Jahner.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says it is unable to comment further pending investigation and review by the Grand Forks and Cass County States Attorney’s Offices. Valley News Live will continue to follow this situation as it develops.
Copyright 2024 KVLY. All rights reserved.
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