“Grown in North Dakota” ought to be a marketing slogan and have meaning worldwide, like Champagne from France or San Marzano tomatoes from Italy. The state should put public money to work to make this happen.

Whether it’s helping farmers and ranchers get USDA Organic certificates or starting our own statewide quality program, our agricultural producers here in ND ought to receive a premium for their product based on our excellent stewardship of the land. There is unrealized value in organic, or natural, products and we as North Dakota should lean into this and be at the forefront.

Along these lines, an article in the journal, “Regulatory Toxicology and Pharamcology,” that was published 25 years ago was just retracted. The article in question asserted that the chemical glyphosate used in RoundUp, the popular weed killer, was not carcinogenic. It turns out, through unrelated litigation, that those listed as authors didn’t actually write the article. They were paid by the company that makes the chemical to stamp their names on it. 

Wow. 

Does this mean that Roundup causes cancer? Not necessarily. But this “scientific” article was apparently used to argue to the public and government regulators over the past two decades that it did not, and now we know that article is probably not true.

This past April our corporate-owned Republican legislature went to bat for the German chemical company that makes RoundUp by passing a bill that insulates them from lawsuits, the only state in the nation to do such a thing. We look like rubes.

Matthew Zimny is a resident of Bismarck.

GRAND FORKS — A two-pronged weather system will bring rain, sleet and snow to portions of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, according to WDAY and the National Weather Service.

On Monday, Dec. 8, the NWS predicts a “weak system” will produce a trace to 2 inches of snow in the region, according to a statement sent to the media. A stronger system will come on the heels of the first one, “bringing a wide range of potential winter impacts, from accumulating snow and mixed precipitation to high winds.”

In other words, it appears it’s time for some typical winter weather on the Northern Plains.

“Slight changes in the track of the system could change snow amounts and the possibility of any freezing rain,” the National Weather Service said in its media packet. “Winds will increase Tuesday night as a strong cold front moves into the area. However, it will be after the main batch of snow and it is uncertain how much warmer temperatures and rain/freezing rain earlier in the day will affect blowing snow.”

Considering the possibilities, a winter storm watch is in effect for northeastern North Dakota and parts of western Minnesota. The watch is for counties essentially from Langdon to Fargo in North Dakota, down to Fergus Falls and up to Roseau in Minnesota.

The system likely will be more impactful in the northern Red River Valley and northwestern Minnesota. On Monday, snowfall will be between a trace to 2 inches. It’ll likely be less snow and possibly more rain in Fargo, while places like Jamestown and Bismarck could see rain, but perhaps won’t see much snow .

On Tuesday, the best chances for 2 inches or more of snow are in the Devils Lake basin, across the northern Red River Valley and into central Minnesota. Some rain and freezing rain could move into southeastern North Dakota, but the impacts “are uncertain at this point,” the NWS said.

“Tuesday, that is the mess that is going to create a lot of problems on the road,” Jesse Ritka, WDAY’s chief meteorologist, said during a Sunday broadcast. The potential exists for rain, sleet and ice pellets, she said, and winds could reach 30 mph.

Temperatures over the weekend were in the single digits, but Monday will see temperatures rise into the higher teens to nearly 30 in the southern part of the region. On Tuesday, it’ll likely be in the 20s in places like Devils Lake, Grand Forks and Bemidji, according to WDAY, but likely in the 30s in Jamestown, Wahpeton, Fargo and Fergus Falls.

Monday will start off “snow free,” Ritka said during her forecast Sunday. “By the middle of the day, we’ll track the snow pushing through the Red River Valley. By the middle of the afternoon (it will be) out of here by about 5 or 6 o’clock.”

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.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Money Williams’ 30 points led Montana over North Dakota 79-75 on Saturday as part of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.

Williams shot 11 for 14 (5 for 7 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Grizzlies (5-5). Tyler Thompson scored 17 points and added four steals. Tyler Isaak shot 2 for 6 (1 for 4 from 3-point range) and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with nine points.

The Fightin’ Hawks (3-8) were led in scoring by George Natsvlishvili, who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Eli King added 14 points, six rebounds and five steals for North Dakota. Marley Curtis also had 13 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.