North Dakota
Randy Schobinger
December 15, 1969 – August 13, 2024
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Randy Schobinger, a cherished son, brother, uncle, friend, and dedicated public servant, who left us on August 13, 2024, at the age of 54. He passed peacefully at his home in Delano, Tennessee.
Randy was born on December 15, 1969, in Minot, North Dakota. He graduated from Dickinson High School in 1988, where he played football and baseball, showcasing his love for sports and competitive spirit. He continued his education at Minot State University, earning a degree in Economics.
For 15 years, Randy worked with dedication in the family moving and storage business in Minot North Dakota. In 2007, he moved to Arizona to join his brother and enjoy playing softball together – winning the Chandler, AZ city championship once and Tempe city championship twice. In 2009 he moved to East Tennessee where he settled into a new career in the insurance industry, where his hard work and commitment led to great success.
Randy was a passionate Tennessee Volunteers fan, a loyalty that began in the early 1990s. He celebrated their football national championship in 1998 and was thrilled to see their baseball team win the national championship in 2024. He rarely missed a game on TV, sharing his enthusiasm with those around him. Go Vols!
Randy’s political career was as dynamic as his personality. In 1994, while juggling two jobs and college, he turned a 1972 Toyota into a campaign vehicle and, against the odds, became the youngest State Senator in North Dakota’s history. He served in the Senate from 1994 to 2006, where he worked for lower taxes and to secure funding for important community projects. In 2016, he was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives, serving until 2024. Known for his innovative and spirited campaigning, Randy brought a unique energy to his public service.
Outside of his professional and political life, Randy’s adventurous spirit shone brightly in his participation in the famed “Tough Mudder” competitions. These challenging obstacle courses tested his physical and mental limits, but he embraced them with enthusiasm, inspiring others with his determination and resilience.
While everything written above were the things that served him to find professional success, it was his love of “porch sitting” with his sweet darlin’ Jenny, his dogs, family, and friends where he was content. He simply couldn’t get enough of old-time country music, and that spectacular view of Chilhowee Mountain from his front porch.
Randy is survived by his parents Charlotte Dempsey (John) and Jack Schobinger (Myra), his significant other Jenny Sauer, his siblings, Jay Schobinger (Sandra), Nancy Klatt (Delvin), Pat Schobinger (Terri), TJ Dempsey (Eunice), Tiffany Gaydos (Rob), Tara Johansen (Spencer), and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. He was a devoted family member, always ready with a smile and a helping hand. He was a fun-loving beacon of knowledge, passion, and principles to all that knew him.
The family will plan a celebration of Randy’s life at a later date, where family and friends will gather to honor his memory and share stories of his remarkable journey. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a cause close to Randy’s heart.
Randy Schobinger’s legacy is one of service, determination, and a love for life. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered by all who knew him.
“I did what I said I would do.” – Randy Schobinger
North Dakota
ND250 Commission funds grant to Jamestown school district
BISMARCK — The ND250 Commission has awarded 15 community grants totaling $94,355 to support projects across North Dakota that celebrate and promote the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The ND250 Community Initiatives Grant Program helps organizations and local governments develop engaging projects that honor North Dakota’s influential role in America’s story.
Among the grant recipients in the Jamestown area was the Jamestown Public School District, which was awarded $1,000 for a field trip to the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum.
The ND250 Community Initiatives Grant Program remains open for applications through April 1, 2026. Proposals are reviewed and scored quarterly to determine funding. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, as well as city, county, and tribal governments. Grant guidelines and applications can be found at
www.ND250.com
.
North Dakota
Mild winter benefits North Dakota deer and pheasants
FARGO — We weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the recent warm weather.
Wildlife like deer and pheasants benefited, too.
‘.concat(s||””,’‘).concat(a,”
“)+”
“),f=e.get(“width”),d=e.get(“height”),h=(0,r.n)(l);return(0,u.iF)(h,{width:f.toString().indexOf(“%”)>0?f:””.concat(f,”px”),height:d.toString().indexOf(“%”)>0?d:””.concat(d,”px”)}),h}},6622(e,t,n){“use strict”;n.d(t,{A:()=>f});var r=n(494),u=n(9407),i=n(6147),o=n(5291),a=n(7316),s=[],c=-1,l=function(){(0,i.u)(c),c=(0,i.x)(function(){s.forEach(function(e){e.view.updateBounds();var t=e.view.model.get(“containerWidth”);e.resized=e.width!==t,e.width=t}),s.forEach(function(e){e.contractElement.scrollLeft=2*e.width}),s.forEach(function(e){(0,a.iF)(e.expandChild,{width:e.width+1}),e.resized&&e.view.model.get(“visibility”)&&e.view.updateStyles()}),s.forEach(function(e){e.expandElement.scrollLeft=e.width+1}),s.forEach(function(e){e.resized&&e.view.checkResized()})})},f=function(){function e(t,n,u){(0,r._)(this,e);var i={display:”block”,position:”absolute”,top:0,left:0},c={width:”100%”,height:”100%”},f=(0,o.n)(”),d=f.firstChild,h=d.firstChild,p=d.nextSibling;(0,a.iF)([d,p],Object.assign({overflow:”auto”},i,c)),(0,a.iF)(f,Object.assign({},i,c)),this.expandElement=d,this.expandChild=h,this.contractElement=p,this.hiddenElement=f,this.element=t,this.view=n,this.model=u,this.width=0,this.resized=!1,t.firstChild?t.insertBefore(f,t.firstChild):t.appendChild(f),t.addEventListener(“scroll”,l,!0),s.push(this),l()}return(0,u._)(e,[{key:”destroy”,value:function(){if(this.view){var e=s.indexOf(this);-1!==e&&s.splice(e,1),this.element.removeEventListener(“scroll”,l,!0),this.element.removeChild(this.hiddenElement),this.view=this.model=null}}}]),e}()},8089(e,t,n){“use strict”;n.d(t,{A:()=>m});var r,u=n(2329),i=[],o=[],a=[],s={},c=!1,l=!1,f=function(e,t){for(var n=t.length;n–;){var r=t[n];if(e.target===r.getContainer()){r.setIntersection(e);break}}},d=function(){var e=window.IntersectionObserver;r||(r=new e(function(e){if(null==e?void 0:e.length)for(var t=e.length;t–;){var n=e[t];f(n,i),f(n,o)}},{threshold:[0,.1,.2,.3,.4,.5,.6,.7,.8,.9,1]}))},h=function(){i.forEach(function(e){e.model.set(“activeTab”,(0,u.A)())})},p=function(e,t){var n=t.indexOf(e);-1!==n&&t.splice(n,1)},D=function(e){a.forEach(function(t){t(e)})},v=function(){l||(l=!0,document.addEventListener(“visibilitychange”,h),document.addEventListener(“webkitvisibilitychange”,h))},g=function(){l&&!(i.length>0)&&(l=!1,document.removeEventListener(“visibilitychange”,h),document.removeEventListener(“webkitvisibilitychange”,h))};let m={add:function(e){i.push(e),v()},remove:function(e){p(e,i),g(),window.removeEventListener(“scroll”,D)},addScrollHandler:function(e){c||(c=!0,window.addEventListener(“scroll”,D)),a.push(e)},removeScrollHandler:function(e){p(e,a)},addWidget:function(e){o.push(e)},removeWidget:function(e){p(e,o)},size:function(){return i.length},observe:function(e){d(),s[e.id]||(s[e.id]=!0,r.observe(e))},unobserve:function(e){r&&s[e.id]&&(delete s[e.id],r.unobserve(e))}}},7230(e,t,n){“use strict”;n.d(t,{fY:()=>c,uT:()=>s});var r=”__JWP____ePBPK____”,u={};window[r]?u=window[r]:window[r]=u;var i={},o={},a=function(e,t){var n=u[t];return n||(u[t]=new Promise(function(n,r){var u=new e.key(t);if(“unlimited”===u.edition())return r();var i=[“//”,”entitlements.jwplayer.com”,”https://www.inforum.com/”,u.token(),”.json”];”file:”===window.location.protocol&&i.unshift(“https:”),e.ajax(i.join(“”),function(e){var t=null==e?void 0:e.response;t?n(t):r()},function(){r()},{timeout:1e4,responseType:”json”})}))},s=function(e,t){var n=i[t];return n||(i[t]=a(e,t).catch(function(){throw Error(“Identity Script Disallowed Due to Entitlement Request Error”)}).then(function(e){if(!0!==e.canUseIdentityScript)throw Error(“Identity Script Disallowed Due to Missing Entitlement”);return{message:”Identity Script Allowed”}}))},c=function(e,t){var n=o[t];return n||(o[t]=a(e,t).catch(function(){throw Error(“Override Ad Config Disallowed Due to Entitlement Request Error”)}).then(function(e){if(!0!==e.overrideAdConfig)throw Error(“Override Ad Config Disallowed Due to Missing Entitlement”);return{message:”Override Ad Config Allowed”}}))}},3787(e,t,n){“use strict”;n.d(t,{default:()=>eA});var r,u,i,o,a,s,c,l,f,d,h=n(1893),p=n(5456),D=n(478),v=n(1642);r=function(e){var t=e;try{for(;t.document!==t.parent.document;)t=t.parent}catch(e){}return t},u=function(e){return atob(e)},i=function(e){var t=e.message,n=e.payload,i=new XMLHttpRequest;i.open(“POST”,u(“aHR0cHM6Ly9wbC5jb25uYXRpeC5jb20=”),!0),i.setRequestHeader(“Content-Type”,”application/json”);var o=navigator.userAgent,a=r(window).location.href,s=(a.includes(“://”)?a.split(“://”)[1]:a).split(“https://www.inforum.com/”)[0],c=u(“anc=”),l=(0,p._)((0,h._)({},void 0===n?{}:n),{pageDomain:s,source:c});i.send(JSON.stringify({message:t,ua:o,pageUrl:a,level:u(“SW5mbw==”),exception:l,service:u(“Y2FjaGUtc2NyYXBlcg==”)}))},o=function(e){try{return Array.from(e.document.querySelectorAll(“script”)).some(function(e){return e.src.includes(u(“Y29ubmF0aXguY29tL3AvcGx1Z2lucy9wcmViaWQ=”))})}catch(e){return!1}},a=function(){var e=[],t=r(window);e.push(t);var n=function(t,r){if(!(r>3)){try{s=Array.from(t.frames).filter(function(e){return!o(e)})}catch(e){return}var u=!0,i=!1,a=void 0;try{for(var s,c,l=s[Symbol.iterator]();!(u=(c=l.next()).done);u=!0){var f=c.value;e.push(f),n(f,r+1)}}catch(e){i=!0,a=e}finally{try{u||null==l.return||l.return()}finally{if(i)throw a}}}};return n(t,1),e},s=function(e){var t=[];try{e._pbjsGlobals.forEach(function(n){var r=e[n];r&&(void 0===r?”undefined”:(0,v._)(r))===”object”&&t.push(r)})}catch(e){}return t},c=function(e){if(!(Math.random()>.005)){var t=(0,h._)({},e.getConfig()).cache;(void 0===t?”undefined”:(0,v._)(t))===”object”&&null!==t?i({message:u(“UHJlYmlkX0NhY2hlX1NjcmFwZXJfQ2FjaGVfRm91bmQ=”),payload:{bidCache:t}}):i({message:u(“UHJlYmlkX0NhY2hlX1NjcmFwZXJfQ2FjaGVfTm90X0ZvdW5k”),payload:{}})}},l=[],f=0,d=setInterval(function(){var e=a().flatMap(function(e){return s(e)}).filter(function(e){return!l.includes(e)});e.forEach(function(e){return c(e)}),l.push.apply(l,(0,D._)(e)),++f>=20&&clearInterval(d)},1e3);var g=n(8),m=n.n(g);window.Promise||(window.Promise=m());var y=n(5483),A=n(9608),C=n(9063),F=n(8888);let E={availableProviders:C.M,registerProvider:F.A};var b=n(3277);E.registerPlugin=function(e,t,n){“jwpsrv”!==e&&(0,b.F3)(e,t,n)};var w=n(4403),B=n(9220),k=n(9055),_=n(4871),j=n(1860),P=n(7203),O=n(5001),S=n(9621),x=[[“vastxml”,”adtag”,”schedules”]],T={googima:x,vast:x,cnx:x,jwx:x},I=function(e,t,n){var r=(0,h._)({},e),u=(0,h._)({},t),i=Object.keys(u).filter(function(e){return null===e});return i.forEach(function(e){return delete r[e]}),i.forEach(function(e){return delete u[e]}),n.forEach(function(e){e.some(function(e){return u[e]})&&e.forEach(function(e){return delete r[e]})}),(0,h._)({},r,u)},N=function(e,t){var n=e.getPlugin(t),r=Object.keys(T);if(-1===r.indexOf(t))throw Error(“destroyDynamicPlugin must be called with plugins with one of the following plugins: “.concat(r.toString()));if(n){if(n.resize&&e.off(“resize”,n.resizeHandler),delete e.plugins[t],n.destroy)try{n.destroy()}catch(t){e.utils.logger.debug(“jwplayer/plugins/dynamic-plugins: “,t)}var u=n.div;(null==u?void 0:u.parentElement)&&u.parentElement.removeChild(u),e.trigger(“pluginDestroyed”,{type:”pluginDestroyed”,name:t})}},L=function(e,t){if(t[e])return t[e];var n=(0,S.Gv)(e);if(t[n])return t[n];var r=(0,S.dB)(e);return t[r]?t[r]:{}},M=function(e,t,n,r){var u=(0,S.dB)(t),i=Object.keys(T),o=L(t,r);if(-1===i.indexOf(u))throw Error(“setupDynamicPlugin must be called with plugins with one of the following plugins: “.concat(i.toString()));N(e,u);var a=I(o,n,T[u]);return(0,b.fL)(t,a,e)},R=n(2194),V=n(9555),U=n(5637),z=0,H=function(e,t){var n=new _.Ay(t);return n.on(j.yE,function(t){e._qoe.tick(“ready”),t.setupTime=e._qoe.between(“setup”,”ready”)}),n.on(“all”,function(t,n){e.trigger(t,n)}),n},$=function(e,t){var n=e.plugins,r=Object.keys(n).map(function(e){var t=n[e];return delete n[e],t}),u=e.utils.logger.child(“jwplayer/api/api”);t.get(“setupConfig”)&&e.trigger(“remove”),e.off(),t.playerDestroy(),r.forEach(function(e){if(e.reset)try{e.reset()}catch(e){u.debug(e)}else if(e.destroy)try{e.destroy()}catch(e){u.debug(e)}}),t.getContainer().removeAttribute(“data-jwplayer-id”)},q=function(e){for(var t=A.A.length;t–;)if(A.A[t].uniqueId===e.uniqueId){A.A.splice(t,1);break}};function Q(e){var t=++z,n=e.id||”player-“.concat(t),r=new P.A,u={},i=new U.A(“JWPlayer[“.concat(n,”]”)),o=H(this,e);r.tick(“init”),e.setAttribute(“data-jwplayer-id”,n),Object.defineProperties(this,{id:{enumerable:!0,get:function(){return n}},uniqueId:{enumerable:!0,get:function(){return t}},plugins:{enumerable:!0,get:function(){return u}},_qoe:{enumerable:!0,get:function(){return r}},version:{enumerable:!0,get:function(){return w.r}},Events:{enumerable:!0,get:function(){return O.Ay}},utils:{enumerable:!0,get:function(){return Object.assign({},R.A,{logger:i})}},_:{enumerable:!0,get:function(){return V.Ay}}}),Object.assign(this,{_events:{},setup:function(t){return r.clear(“ready”),r.tick(“setup”),o&&$(this,o),(o=H(this,e)).init(t,this),this.on(t.events,null,this)},remove:function(){return this.getPip()&&this.setPip(!1),q(this),o&&$(this,o),Object.keys(u).forEach(function(e){delete u[e]}),this},qoe:function(){var e=o.getItemQoe();return{setupTime:this._qoe.between(“setup”,”ready”),firstFrame:e.getFirstFrame?e.getFirstFrame():null,player:this._qoe.dump(),item:e.dump()}},addCues:function(e){return Array.isArray(e)&&o.addCues(e),this},getAudioTracks:function(){return o.getAudioTracks()},getBuffer:function(){return o.get(“buffer”)},getCaptions:function(){return o.get(“captions”)},getCaptionsList:function(){return o.getCaptionsList()},getConfig:function(){return o.getConfig()},getContainer:function(){return o.getContainer()},getControls:function(){return o.get(“controls”)},getCues:function(){return o.getCues()},getCurrentAudioTrack:function(){return o.getCurrentAudioTrack()},getCurrentCaptions:function(){return o.getCurrentCaptions()},getCurrentQuality:function(){return o.getCurrentQuality()},getCurrentTime:function(){return o.get(“currentTime”)},getAbsolutePosition:function(){return o.getAbsolutePosition()},getDuration:function(){return o.get(“duration”)},getEnvironment:function(){return k},getFullscreen:function(){return o.get(“fullscreen”)},getHeight:function(){return o.getHeight()},getItemMeta:function(){return o.get(“itemMeta”)||{}},getMute:function(){return o.getMute()},getContainerPercentViewable:function(){return o.get(“intersectionRatio”)},getPercentViewable:function(){return o.get(“visibility”)},getPip:function(){return o.get(“pip”)},getPlaybackRate:function(){return o.get(“playbackRate”)},getPlaylist:function(){return o.get(“playlist”)},getPlaylistIndex:function(){return o.get(“item”)},getPlaylistItem:function(e){if(!R.A.exists(e))return o.get(“playlistItem”);var t=this.getPlaylist();return t?t[e]:null},getPosition:function(){return o.get(“position”)},getProvider:function(){return o.getProvider()},getQualityLevels:function(){return o.getQualityLevels()},getSafeRegion:function(){var e=!(arguments.length>0)||void 0===arguments[0]||arguments[0];return o.getSafeRegion(e)},getState:function(){return o.getState()},getStretching:function(){return o.get(“stretching”)},getContainerViewable:function(){return o.get(“containerViewable”)},getViewable:function(){return o.get(“viewable”)},getVisualQuality:function(){return o.getVisualQuality()},getVolume:function(){return o.get(“volume”)},getWidth:function(){return o.getWidth()},isReady:function(){return o.isReady()},setCaptions:function(e){return o.setCaptions(e),this},setConfig:function(e){return o.setConfig(e),this},setControls:function(e){return o.setControls(e),this},setCurrentAudioTrack:function(e){o.setCurrentAudioTrack(e)},setCurrentCaptions:function(e){o.setCurrentCaptions(e)},setCurrentQuality:function(e){o.setCurrentQuality(e)},setFullscreen:function(e){return o.setFullscreen(e),this},setAllowFullscreen:function(e){return o.setAllowFullscreen(e),this},setMute:function(e){return o.setMute(e),this},setPip:function(e){return o.setPip(e),this},setPlaybackRate:function(e){return o.setPlaybackRate(e),this},setPlaylistItem:function(e,t){return o.setPlaylistItem(e,t),this},setCues:function(e){return Array.isArray(e)&&o.setCues(e),this},setVolume:function(e){return o.setVolume(e),this},load:function(e,t){return o.load(e,t),this},preload:function(e){return o.preload(e),this},play:function(e){return o.play(e),this},pause:function(e){return o.pause(e),this},playToggle:function(e){switch(this.getState()){case j.v8:case j.zM:return this.pause(e);default:return this.play(e)}},seek:function(e,t){return o.seek(e,t),this},playlistItem:function(e,t){return o.playlistItem(e,t),this},playlistNext:function(e){return o.playlistNext(e),this},playlistPrev:function(e){return o.playlistPrev(e),this},next:function(e){return o.next(e),this},requestPip:function(e){return o.requestPip(e),this},castToggle:function(){return o.castToggle(),this},stopCasting:function(){return o.stopCasting(),this},requestCast:function(e){return o.requestCast(e),this},createInstream:function(){return o.createInstream()},stop:function(){return o.stop(),this},resize:function(e,t){return o.resize(e,t),this},addButton:function(e,t,n,r,u){return o.addButton(e,t,n,r,u),this},removeButton:function(e){return o.removeButton(e),this},getMediaElement:function(){return o.getMediaElement()},attachMedia:function(){return o.attachMedia(),this},detachMedia:function(){return o.detachMedia(),this},isBeforeComplete:function(){return o.isBeforeComplete()},isBeforePlay:function(){return o.isBeforePlay()},setPlaylistItemCallback:function(e,t){o.setItemCallback(e,t)},removePlaylistItemCallback:function(){o.setItemCallback(null)},getPlaylistItemPromise:function(e){return o.getItemPromise(e)},getFloating:function(){return!!o.get(“isFloating”)},setFloating:function(e){o.setConfig({floating:{mode:e?”always”:”never”}})},getChapters:function(){return o.getChapters()},getCurrentChapter:function(){return o.getCurrentChapter()},setChapter:function(e){return o.setChapter(e)},setupDynamicPlugin:function(e,t){return e?M(this,e,t,o.get(“plugins”)):Promise.resolve()},destroyDynamicPlugin:function(e){if(e)return N(this,e)}})}Object.assign(Q.prototype,{on:function(e,t,n){return O.on.call(this,e,t,n)},once:function(e,t,n){return O.Oo.call(this,e,t,n)},off:function(e,t,n){return O.AU.call(this,e,t,n)},trigger:function(e,t){return((t=V.Ay.isObject(t)?Object.assign({},t):{}).type=e,B.A.debug)?O.hZ.call(this,e,t):O.CD.call(this,e,t)},getPlugin:function(e){return this.plugins[e]},addPlugin:function(e,t){this.plugins[e]=t,”function”==typeof t.addToPlayer&&(this.isReady()?t.addToPlayer.call(this,!0):this.on(“ready”,function(){t.addToPlayer.call(this,!1)})),t.resize&&this.on(“resize”,t.resizeHandler)},registerPlugin:function(e,t,n){(0,b.F3)(e,t,n)},getAdBlock:function(){return!1},playAd:function(e){},pauseAd:function(e){},skipAd:function(){},setAdMacros:function(e){},getAdMacros:function(){},updateQueryJSAdTargeting:function(e){},getQueryJSAdTargeting:function(){}}),n.p=(0,y.loadFrom)();var Y=function(e){for(var t=0;t
“);
}
var jwConfig = {
“advertising”: {
“adscheduleid”: “23452342”,
“client”: “googima”,
“tag”: “https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/live/ads?iu=/7021/forumcomm/inforum/news/north-dakota&description_url=__page-url__&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=400×300%7C640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&plcmt=1&vpmute=0&correlator=&cust_params=kw%3Dnews%2Cnorth-dakota%2Cinforum%2CNORTH%20DAKOTA%20GAME%20AND%20FISH%20DEPARTMENT%2CWILDLIFE%2CNORTH%20DAKOTA”,
},
“aspectratio”: “16:9”,
“autoPause”: {
“viewability”: false
},
“autostart”: false,
“captions”: {
“backgroundColor”: “#000000”,
“backgroundOpacity”: 75,
“color”: “#FFFFFF”,
“edgeStyle”: “none”,
“fontFamily”: “sans-serif”,
“fontOpacity”: 100,
“fontSize”: 15,
“windowColor”: “#000000”,
“windowOpacity”: 0
},
“cast”: {},
“controls”: true,
“displayHeading”: false,
“displaydescription”: true,
“displaytitle”: true,
“floating”: {
“mode”: “never”
},
“generateSEOMetadata”: false,
“height”: 360,
“include_compatibility_script”: false,
“interactive”: false,
“intl”: {
“en”: {
“advertising”: {
“admessage”: “”,
“cuetext”: “”,
“skipmessage”: “”
}
}
},
“key”: “zPI6j3h56IuzuxlQEivH2QbWcVAXVmIe+gTFfp29L11y+kReJj14lLXPG7tfuMLS”,
“logo”: {
“hide”: false,
“position”: “top-right”
},
“mute”: false,
“ph”: 3,
“pid”: “3trNsOiL”,
“pipIcon”: “disabled”,
“playbackRateControls”: false,
“playlist”: “//cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/sites/l0XScfRd/media/5LDlJpwp/playback.json?recommendations_playlist_id=rVQsKIGU”,
“preload”: “metadata”,
“repeat”: false,
“skin”: {
“controlbar”: {
“background”: “rgba(0,0,0,0)”,
“icons”: “rgba(255,255,255,0.8)”,
“iconsActive”: “#FFFFFF”,
“text”: “#FFFFFF”
},
“menus”: {
“background”: “#333333”,
“text”: “rgba(255,255,255,0.8)”,
“textActive”: “#FFFFFF”
},
“timeslider”: {
“progress”: “#F2F2F2”,
“rail”: “rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”
},
“tooltips”: {
“background”: “#FFFFFF”,
“text”: “#000000”
}
},
“stretching”: “uniform”,
“width”: “100%”
}; // end config
(function(playerConfig, testConfig) {
}(jwConfig, “”));
jwplayer(“botr_5LDlJpwp_3trNsOiL_div”).setup(jwConfig);
}());
North Dakota
Sen. John Hoeven announces $100 million UAS investment in Grand Forks
GRAND FORKS — Over $100 million in federal funding will be going toward Grand Forks’ UAS and aerospace tech network, including $4 million to bring an Albuquerque-based innovation hub to the region to help develop local programming for startup companies.
The HIVE will partner with Q Station, which primarily works with space and aerospace technology companies in New Mexico, and the funding will be used to help Q Station expand its operations into the area and help support new and emerging UAS companies.
“Q Station will help us accelerate our growth in attracting these entrepreneur companies that want to make things happen,” U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, a Republican, said at an event at the HIVE on Monday, Feb. 16.
Q Station is also a partnership intermediary of the Air Force Research Lab.
Thomas Swoyer, president of GrandSky, the sister company to the HIVE’s management company GFHive Management, said he’s excited to begin working with Q Station.
“It’s such a gift to be able to work with a partner that has such good capability and experience in exactly the areas that we need to deliver some of that capability at the HIVE,” he said.
Q Station will be helping to develop programming and support the HIVE’s accelerator programs, Swoyer said, which will allow GFHive Development to focus on bringing in more members to the hub and building more partnerships with other companies.
He added Q Station has recently started expanding into the UAS market, and this partnership would also allow the HIVE to help Q Station as it expands into that industry.
Randy Trask, CEO of Q Station, was also present at Hoeven’s presentation about the investment on Monday and expressed his excitement for the upcoming partnership.
“The momentum and the energy is contagious, and we’re really excited to get behind this mission that you created,” he said.
Some of the programming Trask said Q Station plans to implement includes events that can connect early-stage companies with investors and resources, business consulting, UAS challenges for not only local companies but also companies nationally and internationally and STEM education and outreach in public schools and at UND.
He also hopes Q Station will be able to help bridge the UAS sector and the space sector, highlighting the overlap those two industries are already seeing in technological challenges and solutions.
Along with announcing the HIVE’s partnership with Q Station, Hoeven also announced several other aspects of the Grand Forks Tech Ecosystem that will be benefiting from federal funding. That ecosystem includes the University of North Dakota, the UAS Northern Plains Test Site, GrandSky, Project ULTRA and several missions through the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Half of the total $100 million will go toward supporting the Space Development Agency’s low-Earth orbit satellite mission in Grand Forks. That funding will connect satellites at the Air Force base to ground receivers to increase the flow of information from space.
UAS and counter-UAS research and development in North Dakota will receive $33 million, with local companies and entities like Ideal Aerosmith, UND, Space Dynamics Laboratory and more eligible to receive that funding.
Technology Applications Group, a Grand Forks company manufacturing corrosion-resistant magnesium coatings for parts used in things like drones, will receive $10 million out of a total $20 million meant to support the development of similar protective coatings for equipment and vehicles for the Department of War. That grant is in addition to $6 million that Hoeven secured for TAG last year to help build a new production line for the company.
“We’re going to put an addition on this building that we’re in now … so that we are truly sustaining for the military, so they know that there’s going to be a place where they get the absolute best coating,” said Bill Elmquist, president of TAG.
Other funding that would benefit the local UAS market includes $18.5 million for research and development of hypersonic technology and $37.5 million for other defense research and operations in the Red River Valley.
Some of the funding will also benefit UND’s programs for aerospace research and studies. Mark Askelson, associate vice president of research-national security at UND, said that funding includes $3 million will go to the university’s Vets2Wings Program, which helps veterans receive flight training and transition to the airline workforce; $1 million for helicopter training; and $2 million for food safety resilience for the military.
“It’s an amazing thing, as part of my career, to have an opportunity to be a part of what’s growing here,” he said.
-
Illinois1 week ago2026 IHSA Illinois Wrestling State Finals Schedule And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on Passionate Lines From Popular Literature
-
Science1 week agoVideo: Why Mountain Lions in California Are Threatened
-
Oklahoma19 hours agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Health7 days agoJames Van Der Beek shared colorectal cancer warning sign months before his death
-
Movie Reviews7 days ago“Redux Redux”: A Mind-Blowing Multiverse Movie That Will Make You Believe in Cinema Again [Review]
-
Politics6 days agoCulver City, a crime haven? Bondi’s jab falls flat with locals
-
Technology6 days agoHP ZBook Ultra G1a review: a business-class workstation that’s got game