News of the Week 1.17.15 – 1.23.15

News:

After latest spill, ND Democrats to revisit monitoring bill – (C. Mock, M. Schneider, D. Anderson, M. Nelson)

Spill bill gets second look: Big leak from small pipeline puts focus on saltwater lines – (C. Mock, R. Wardner, D. Anderson)

Sinner proposes ND rail safety committee; PSC member says it’s unnecessary – (G. Sinner, C. Mock, J. Fedorchak)

Lawmakers float changes to North Dakota’s voter ID law – (C. Mock, R. Boehning, M. Schneider, J. Heckaman)

Bill expanding conceal-carry areas in ND meets with opposition – (R. Streyle)

ND lawmakers wary of bill requiring headlights within hour of sunrise, sunset – (R. Weisz, W. Belter, C. Olson, B. Hanson)

House bill would make churches, concerts, parks and more legal places to possess a firearm – (R. Streyle)

BSC requests $5 million budget increase to combat staff turnover – (M. Dosch, D. Monson)

Senate bills authorize study, audit at NDSH – (J. Warner, J. Grabinger)

Oil spill renews worries

Pipeline through farm country raises questions: Dakota Access would ship 450K barrels of oil from North Dakota’s Bakken

Lawmakers mull creating accounts for newborns – (O. Larsen)

Heitkamp reintroduces bill on Native American children

Officials: No oil detected in city’s water system

Williston water deemed safe

Researchers find snow is dirtiest in Great Plains, especially in ND

Correction: Sponsor incorrect

Opinion:

President needs to show a desire to work together

Steve Stark cartoon (Jan. 23) – (D. Kiefert)

Letter, Paul Cline: Let N.D. voters elect higher-ed board members – (A. Carlson)

TV:

Police Concerned ND On Path To Legalize Recreational Pot

TENORM Meeting A Rocky Debate

ND Lawmakers Consider Gun Bill – (R. Streyle)

Heitkamp Wants Support for Native American Children

Democratic Lawmakers Sponsor Bills to Improve Train Safety – (C. Mock, G. Sinner)

ND Legacy Fund Expected to Have More Than $5 Billion by 2017 – (O. Larsen)

North Dakota Lawmakers Look at Expanding Gun Rights

Bill Calls for Improvements to State Rail Safety – (G. Sinner, C. Mock)

Students Learn Lesson Through “Cowboy Logic” – (R. Taylor)

Proposed Legislation Would Boost Permitting For Natural Gas Projects

Prairie Public:

Balanced budget amendment proposals pending in ND Legislature – (J. Kasper)

Tobacco tax increase bills introduced – (T. Mathern)

Grand Forks lawmaker wants to go back to the pre-2013 voter ID law – (C. Mock)

Bismarck lawmaker proposing tax credits for parents who send their children to non-public schools – (M. Nathe)

Bill would change ‘rapid enrollment’ funding formula for local schools – (D. Rust)

Rolla lawmaker wants to end Constitutional prohibition on direct govt. payments to North Dakotans – (M. Nelson)

House committee approves civics test bill

Debate continues on state employees and teachers retirement

Committee considers extending moratorium on UND nickname and logo – (S. Louser)

News Clips 1.22.15

News:

Former Fargo state legislator Donald Clark dies at age 75 – (B. Thoreson)

GOP lawmakers want more study on gender wage gap in North Dakota – (K. Oversen, G. Keiser, G. Sukut, R. Becker, J. Boschee)

Bills would raise ND tax on cigarettes for first time since 1993 – (J. Nelson, T. Mathern, E. Glassheim)

Bill would give lawmakers power to set ND college tuition, fees – (K. Koppelman, M. Dosch, B. Koppelman)

Lawmakers battle educators for control to set tuition rates – (K. Koppelman, M. Dosch)

Fargo lawmaker submits bill to regulate marijuana from farm to pharmacy to patient – (P. Anderson, K. Hawken, A. Maragos, M. Nelson, M. Strinden, Mary Schneider, L. Delmore, K. Koppelman, T. Beadle)

Radioactive plan draws controversy, comments

Nearly 3M gallons of brine spill; ND oil boom’s largest leak

Elevated levels, efforts

North Dakota PSC shuts down Grand Forks Bean Co.

Opinion:

Forum editorial: Put the kibosh on ‘fishing’ – (J. Kasper)

OUR OPINION: Constitution requires ‘balanced’ higher-ed board

Bismarck Tribune Editorial: Bills to change Industrial Commission flawed – (K. Kempenich, B. Bowman)

Trygve Olson cartoon (Jan. 22)

Letter, Betsy Dalrymple: Civics Assessment bill a step toward an informed electorate

LETTER, John Johnson: NCAA is not villain in ‘nickname’ issue

LETTER, David Kiefel: Fossil fuels remain America’s go-to source

TV:

Representatives Discuss Bill Related to Equal Pay – (K. Oversen)

Lawmakers Propose Increasing Cigarette Taxes – (J. Nelson)

Lunskis’ trip to State of the Union is one they will never forget

North Dakota Senate passes law to give immunity to those who report overdoses to authorities

Devils Lake citizens seek answers about environmental impacts of proposed refinery

Lawmakers Battle Over College Tuition Costs – (K. Koppelman)

Bismarck Page Meets President

People Sound Off About Radioactive Waste Limits in North Dakota

News Clips 1.21.15

News:

The fight for oil funding pushes on

Committee hears first of many bills aimed at cutting ND income taxes – (D. Hogue, T. Axness, A. Carlson, S. Louser)

Sponsor only one to testify in favor of ND bill allowing elected officials to carry guns in public buildings – (B. Koppelman, K. Koppelman)

Lawmakers debate carrying concealed weapons – (B, Koppelman, K. Wallman)

$500 fine proposed for ND agencies violating open records, meetings laws; spurred by higher ed violations – (R .Boehning, G, Kreidt, M. Schatz)

State aims to restrict schools’ ending fund balance – (M. Nathe)

State retirement plan for police rejected

Representation from home of UND on ND higher ed board in flux

Prosecutors, police gather in Bismarck for human trafficking training

Challenge to North Dakota’s gay marriage ban on hold until Supreme Court decision

Larimore railroad crossing to get automated arms

Larimore train-bus accident rescuers enjoy special seat at State of Union address

County Commission considering loaning funds to the JSDC for SEPA rail loop connection

Dickinson commissioners approve letter of support for low-income housing project

Public bring long list of suggestions for TENORM rules

Dairy decline: Some say solution is allowing corporations to own dairy operations in ND

Grand Forks American Indian students, administration debate allowing eagle feathers as graduation attire

Heitkamp’s reaction to Obama’s State of the Union address

Cramer reaction to State of the Union address

Hoeven reaction to State of the Union address

Halliburton, Baker Hughes to lay off thousands as oil slumps

A big water problem

North Dakota will test for oil in drinking water

Second death in oil fields under investigation

Oil giant cutting jobs

Opinion:

OUR OPINION: Enhanced Driver’s License enhances recreation options – (M. Strinden)

Forum editorial: Rollback would be a blunder – (K. Kempenich)

LETTER: ‘Civics test’ bill will not promote patriotism – (M. Schatz)

Letter: Preschoolers shouldn’t need to be prepared for workforce – (T. Flakoll)

Letter: Rethink dropping income tax

TV:

New Bill Creates Tax Breaks for Parents of Private School Students

ND Legislators Discuss DUI Law – (K. Armstrong)

Good Samaritan Bill Passes in ND Senate

Number of House Bills Up from Last Year

Bill Would Allow Elected Public Officials to Carry Concealed Weapons in Public Buildings – (B. Koppelman, K. Wallman)

Oil Fatalities Reach Previous Year’s Totals Already

Prosecutors Train to Fight Human Trafficking

News Clips 1.20.15

News:

ND at risk of losing millions in tax revenue if flaring, oil conditioning orders are voided – (K. Kempenich)

ND lawmakers propose border-crossing driver’s license – (M. Strinden, T. Mathern)

Oil pipeline spill along Yellowstone threatens Glendive drinking water; precautions taken for downstream cities, including Williston

Civic test bill could reach ND governor’s desk this week – (T. Flakoll)

Lawmakers opt for study, not regulation of unmanned vehicles – (B. Hanson, D. Ruby)

City to consider affordable housing proposal

Fargo commissioners decide to have separate laws for taxis, ride-hailing companies like Uber

Tributes, protests mark U.S. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

ND higher ed board not ‘three-headed monster,’ member says during University System budget presentation – (B. Martinson, D. Monson)

State Board of Higher Education seeks applicants for open seat – (D. Dever)

‘NBC Nightly News’ profiles former Fargo police chief Chris Magnus

Two ND oilfield spills reported

Two men burned by oil worksite fire in western ND

Oil spills in Yellowstone River after pipeline leak

Public hearing set Tuesday for radioactive waste disposal rules

KVLY clip on Jezebel after Chris Berg calls Oscar nominations ‘white man keeping the brown man down’

Opinion:

Forum editorial: Legislative bullies win weeds

THE ONLOOKER: Legislature should ignore higher-ed ultimatum

RAY HOLMBERG: The board should follow the law and govern

Steve Stark cartoon (Jan. 20)

TV:

Addison’s Law Pushes Safe Sleep in Daycares – KVLY (K. Oversen)

New Bill Proposed to Protect Children Sleeping at Daycare – KFYR (K. Oversen)

Senate Bill Calls for Yearly Sessions – (J. Grabinger, T. Beadle)

News Clips 1.17.15 – 1.19.15

News:

Minority party keeps things in check in ND Legislature – (M. Schneider, C. Mock, R. Wardner, A. Carlson, T. Mathern)

North Dakota Political Notebook: Annual sessions, direct checks to residents floated – (K. Kempenich, C. Triplett, P. Silbernagel, V. Steiner, M. Nelson, G. Sinner)

Support grows for annual sessions – (C. Triplett, R. Carlisle, K. Onstad, K. Kempenich, R. Holman, P. Silbernagel, V. Steiner, J. Delzer)

Western ND officials ask lawmakers to fast-track more than $800 million in emergency funding – (R. Holmberg, A. Carlson, K. Armstrong)

Jump-start funding bills compete – (B. Bekkedahl, K. Armstrong, B. Bowman,

Legislature eyes package of human trafficking bills – (N. Poolman)

ND House defeats UND nickname bill – (B. Martinson, M. Nathe, C. Mock, S. Louser, Rich Becker, J. Schmidt)

UND nickname moratorium bill shot down – (C. Mock, S. Louser, Rich Becker, M. Nathe)

N.D. lawmakers introduce body camera bill aimed at protecting privacy of those interacting with police – (K. Koppelman, G. Paur)

Bills filed in N.D. in attempt to make farmland valuation system more fair – (J. Schmidt, D. Cook, J. Unruh)

Farmers, ranchers left waiting for ban to drop before they can use unmanned aircraft

North Dakota drone bill introduced again – (Rick Becker)

360 reviews offer broad insight, but ND higher ed officials may not get them due to public records laws

ND higher ed committee approves online course fees, lower non-resident tuition

ND’s school lunch program rate second-lowest in nation

Drop in dairy discouraging

Brine spill reaches Missouri River

Man found dead at Dunn County oilfield site

Multiple arrests in massive crime ring

Kalk to lead national subcommittee

Opinion:

Our View: Surge funding moves forward; law quiet on another shooting – (K. Armstrong)

Railroads and towns must work together

Forum editorial: Education opponents fool a few – (J. Kasper)

OUR OPINION: The nickname key: What’s best for UND?

OUR OPINION: Board should learn from Diederich’s mistakes

Letter: Preserve the right balance among North Dakota taxes

LETTER: No need for Legislature to act on nickname – (S. Louser)

Forum editorial: A uniquely American holiday

Lloyd Omdahl: Old fears drive debate

Jim Shaw: Legalize medical marijuana – (P. Anderson)

Jane Ahlin: Rape by any other name: Not such a big deal?

Trygve Olson cartoon 01.18.15

Steve Stark cartoon 01.18.15

LETTER: Civics proposal distracts from Common Core

TV:

Conservationists say North Dakota’s Habitat is Disappearing

Right to Life Rally at State Capitol