6 stories credited to Jamestown Sun
4 stories on jamestownsun.com credited to other publishers
Latest story Apr 16, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026
A story can appear as several articles (copies of the same piece), so counts of stories and of articles differ.
Scores for Jamestown Sun
Originality
10 stories · updated Sep 24, 2026
Writing quality not enough rated stories yet: 5 of 10. How it is measured
Scores last checked Sep 25, 2026.
Articles this site reproduces
How provenance is decidedOriginal publishers of articles on jamestownsun.com
Counted from articles on jamestownsun.com whose original publisher is verified from the page itself or confirmed by an independent signal.
Stories ChamberLight collected, by month
Stories credited to Jamestown Sun, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.
- Stories from Jamestown Sun
- Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)
Show as a table
| Month | Stories | All outlets |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | 3 | 763 |
| April 2026 | 3 | 4,538 |
| May 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| June 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| July 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 (collection gap) |
| September 2026 | 0 | 1,320 |
Top topics
Share of this source’s stories tagged with each topic. A story can carry several topics, so the shares do not add up to 100%.
- Economy2
33% of 6 stories · 26% across all outlets
- Ethics/Corruption2
33% of 6 stories · 58% across all outlets
- Foreign Policy2
33% of 6 stories · 29% across all outlets
- Infrastructure2
33% of 6 stories · 8% across all outlets
- Voting Rights2
33% of 6 stories · 19% across all outlets
- Agriculture1
17% of 6 stories · 2% across all outlets
- Budget/Spending1
17% of 6 stories · 31% across all outlets
- Criminal Justice1
17% of 6 stories · 19% across all outlets
The thin mark on each bar is the topic’s share across all outlets.
Who they cover
Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 7 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 10 story–official pairs, from 6 stories.
- Republican80% · 8 pairs
- Democrat10% · 1 pair
- Party not recorded10% · 1 pair
Most covered
Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 6 stories.
Article tone
ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not Jamestown Sun’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 6 stories.
- Good Look
- 3 (50%)
- Mixed
- 1 (17%)
- Informational
- 1 (17%)
- Bad Look
- 1 (17%)
Challenges to these scores
No one has challenged a score on this page yet. Anyone can; editors publish every outcome here.
Articles served from jamestownsun.com
18
North Dakota officially becomes the first state to access FAA data for drone operations
GRAND FORKS — North Dakota has officially become the first state to access Federal Aviation Administration drone radar. Access to the FAA data is a significant milestone that will support North Dakota's unmanned aircraft operations, according to a release from the North Dakota Information Technology Department. Now Vantis — the state's platform for advanced UAS operations, administered by the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks — will be able to receive continuous radar data on aircraft activity. This will help drones safely operate alongside traditional aircraft, NDIT said. null The development has been in the works for a number of years. Speaking with the Grand Forks Herald in February, Sen. John Hoeven said access to the federal data would cement North Dakota as the most advanced UAS ecosystem in the nation. “It puts us ahead of anyone else in the country in a big way,” Hoeven, R-N.D., said at that time. “For them to catch up and try to do what we’re doing, they’ve got a lot of work to do to get there.” Access to the federal radar will "unlock safer and more efficient drone operations," the release from the NDIT said, and will support drone operations in emergency response and search-and-rescue missions, infrastructure inspection and monitoring, agricultural operations and precision agriculture, and expanded service deliver in rural communities. The announcement is the result of significant work and collaboration between Vantis, federal partners and NDIT teams, the release said. Work to build the secure infrastructure required to meet strict federal security standards included developing protected network pathways, secure computing environments, firewalls and systems capable of processing real-time aviation data. "Behind every major technology milestone is a lot of careful work that most people never see," said Corey Mock, chief information officer for the state. "Our teams were proud to help build the secure infrastructure needed to safely connect federal aviation data with the Vantis system. This is a strong example of how IT drives innovation across North Dakota."
Plain Talk: Cramer says 'This is not a place where you can burn a lot of bridges'
MINOT — Sen. Kevin Cramer and I have had a running dispute over President Donald Trump and his approach to politics. Cramer says media critics like me are too focused on Trump's antics. I say people like Cramer are too muted in their own criticism. "I'm a United States senator from North Dakota who has a really good personal relationship with the president of the United States," Cramer said in defense of his stance on this episode of Plain Talk, "and there is a long list of advantages for the people of North Dakota because of that relationship." "This is not a place where you can burn a lot of bridges," he added. Cramer also accused the news media of not being focused enough on the accomplishments of the Trump era, including tax reform. "My complaint is not just that they aren't covering the tax cuts enough. It's that certain media outlets are so fascinated by the rants and raves of people about the evils of Donald Trump and Republicans, but they don't write about the accomplishments," he said. "In fact, they almost don't publish any of it." He also talked about the war President Trump has launched against Iran, and whether it needs congressional approval. "In the case of the War Powers Act, there's a pretty strong argument -- it's never been tested, mind you, but pretty strong argument -- that the War Powers Act as a piece of legislation, as a power that Congress has passed in law, is not even constitutional," he said. "But having said that, as it stands, the War Powers Act is what requires the president to, when he does enact a kinetic conflict like we're in with Iran right now, he has 60 days in which to either get out of it or inform Congress so he can get an extension." Cramer says he believes Trump should want congressional approval. Also on this episode, Cramer talks about his efforts to improve U.S. relations with Canada, and co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the out of state money funding Together for School Meals, the ballot measure campaign to have the state cover the cost of school meals for parents. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive
Farmers seeing increased costs for fuel, fertilizer since Iran war
JAMESTOWN — Farmers are seeing increased costs for fuel and fertilizer since the Iran war began, according to Matt Perdue, president of North Dakota Farmers Union. Perdue said around two-thirds of the fertilizer in the state was reserved prior to the start of the Iran war, and there was another run to get more fertilizer at the beginning of the war. “The significant price jumps we're seeing now probably won't impact a huge number of producers, but they'll certainly have an impact,” he said. “I suspect that the producers that will be most heavily impacted are the ones who have really struggled to get their financing together for 2026.” Perdue said farmers were already seeing increased prices for fertilizer in 2025. “This is only really making matters worse,” he said, referring to the Iran war. Fuel prices have increased, and fertilizer supplies are decreasing due to Iran’s near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli bombing. Perdue said over 40% of urea and about 30% of the global supply for anhydrous ammonia moves through the Strait of Hormuz. He said there are concerns that the U.S. might get short on fertilizer, particularly nitrogen fertilizer. He said the U.S. produces a large chunk of the anhydrous ammonia needed for agriculture and about two-thirds to three-fourths of what is needed for urea. “But with the rest of the world facing a constrained supply, there's some concern that some of that is now going to be destined for export instead of used domestically, so that that remains a concern as to whether or not that fertilizer will be delivered and delivered on time,” he said. Perdue said China has increased restrictions on fertilizer exports as well. China banned exports of nitrogen-potassium fertilizer blends and certain phosphate varieties, Reuters reported on March 19. “Some argue that up to 75% of China's exports for 2025 are no longer available or restricted for export in 2026,” Perdue said. “That's not necessarily a U.S. problem, but it is a problem for the rest of the world and as the rest of world faces this really tight supply, there's a question as to whether or not U.S. nitrogen producers are going to try to take advantage of that by exporting more, which could could cause supply chain constraints here in the U.S.” Perdue said national prices for anhydrous ammonia are as high as $950 per ton, a $70-per-ton increase since the Iran conflict. He said some farmers have seen their local price for anhydrous ammonia jump by $200 per ton. He said national data also shows a 15% increase in the price for urea since about a month ago. He also said he does not expect fuel prices to decrease anytime soon. The price of No. 2 diesel increased by $1.88 per gallon from $3.50 to $5.40 per gallon from the end of 2025 to Monday, March 30, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “You have farmers who bought fuel and filled their bulk tank at the farm a while ago, and some are waiting on it,” he said. “But, I think generally the frustration from a farmer perspective when you talk about fertilizer, you talk about fuel costs, they go up really quick. They come down really slow.” Perdue said higher fuel costs will lead to increased prices for consumers as well. “High fuel costs mean higher cost of goods because those goods have to move, and usually there's some movement required on trucks as well,” he said. “Frankly, a lot of movement occurs on something that is powered by petroleum-based fuels.” Perdue said livestock producers also have input costs, including fuel, fencing, materials and pharmaceuticals. He said the cost to buy replacement cattle is also high right now because those prices are high. “I think it's important that while we are seeing strong prices for cow-calf producers right now and that's long overdue, that also means that it's an incredibly expensive time to build your herd, and that's a real challenge for those young beginning ranchers,” he said. “Then you're also seeing to the extent that these input costs flow through. Higher input costs could certainly lead to higher crop prices. Higher crop prices lead to higher feed prices. So all of those things are impacting the cattle producer.” Ashley Kjellberg, Stutsman County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, said farmers might not have as much flexibility to switch up their plans for fertilizer use and weed management as they might have in the past. “For farmers that usually can switch their plans, whether that’s chemical they use, having to come up with a quick plan for weed management, we're going to be a little more limited,” she said. Perdue said some farmers who are short on fertilizer might adjust application rates, which could lead to lower yields. Kjellberg said planning to plant the right varieties will be important this year. “Knowing what varieties of the crop is going to best manage any potential issues is going to be big too because we definitely could be looking at yield loss, which isn't great,” she said. “With the cost of everything going up, we rely on that check at the end of the day, and it would be very unfortunate to not break even when it comes to everything that you've put into the field.” Perdue said some farmers might have opportunities to contract their crop for delivery, which gives them certainty on a price. He said farmers still face uncertainty on what they are going to produce and what they will get paid for their production. “Everybody is just so exhausted by the volatility, by the uncertainty,” he said. “The situation in Iran, geopolitical tensions in general, are certainly adding to that.” Perdue said the U.S. Senate is exploring additional economic assistance to producers. He said many producers are in or nearing a crisis situation and the volatility of input costs and commodity prices exposes them to greater risk. “I have not talked to a farmer who's excited about making that ask of Congress,” he said. “We want to be able to make money from the market. We want to pay a fair price for our inputs, and we want to get a fair price for what we produce. Unfortunately, we've gone through eight years of extreme volatility, and that's made it very difficult to plan and manage that farm business well.” For the long term, Perdue said Congress needs to look at the consolidation market for fertilizer. He said four companies control over 75% of the market for nitrogen fertilizer. “We have to look at how that market structure is creating challenges for farmers,” he said. He said Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and John Thune, R-S.D., have introduced a bill that would increase price transparency in the fertilizer market. He also said the Trump administration is investigating potential collusion and price gouging in the fertilizer market. “An investigation is not going to matter unless it's followed by real action, and so we need the administration and Congress to work together to provide real remedies that bring down the cost of inputs,” Perdue said. He also said consolidation is happening among meat packers, implements, seeds and chemicals. “All of that is compressing margins for farmers and ranchers,” he said. Kjellberg said the North Dakota State University Extension Service has resources for mental health to help farmers during high-stress situations. She said the number of suicides of farmers and ranchers increased last year. “I know there's a counseling program, and we have grants to help cover costs for that sort of thing,” she said. For more information on resources for mental health and managing high-stress situations, visit https://shorturl.at/9lFla.
Farmers seeing increased costs for fuel, fertilizer since Iran war
JAMESTOWN — Farmers are seeing increased costs for fuel and fertilizer since the Iran war began, according to Matt Perdue, president of North Dakota Farmers Union. Perdue said around two-thirds of the fertilizer in the state was reserved prior to the start of the Iran war, and there was another run to get more fertilizer at the beginning of the war. “The significant price jumps we're seeing now probably won't impact a huge number of producers, but they'll certainly have an impact,” he said. “I suspect that the producers that will be most heavily impacted are the ones who have really struggled to get their financing together for 2026.” Perdue said farmers were already seeing increased prices for fertilizer in 2025. “This is only really making matters worse,” he said, referring to the Iran war. Fuel prices have increased, and fertilizer supplies are decreasing due to Iran’s near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli bombing. Perdue said over 40% of urea and about 30% of the global supply for anhydrous ammonia moves through the Strait of Hormuz. He said there are concerns that the U.S. might get short on fertilizer, particularly nitrogen fertilizer. He said the U.S. produces a large chunk of the anhydrous ammonia needed for agriculture and about two-thirds to three-fourths of what is needed for urea. “But with the rest of the world facing a constrained supply, there's some concern that some of that is now going to be destined for export instead of used domestically, so that that remains a concern as to whether or not that fertilizer will be delivered and delivered on time,” he said. Perdue said China has increased restrictions on fertilizer exports as well. China banned exports of nitrogen-potassium fertilizer blends and certain phosphate varieties, Reuters reported on March 19. “Some argue that up to 75% of China's exports for 2025 are no longer available or restricted for export in 2026,” Perdue said. “That's not necessarily a U.S. problem, but it is a problem for the rest of the world and as the rest of world faces this really tight supply, there's a question as to whether or not U.S. nitrogen producers are going to try to take advantage of that by exporting more, which could could cause supply chain constraints here in the U.S.” Perdue said national prices for anhydrous ammonia are as high as $950 per ton, a $70-per-ton increase since the Iran conflict. He said some farmers have seen their local price for anhydrous ammonia jump by $200 per ton. He said national data also shows a 15% increase in the price for urea since about a month ago. He also said he does not expect fuel prices to decrease anytime soon. The price of No. 2 diesel increased by $1.88 per gallon from $3.50 to $5.40 per gallon from the end of 2025 to Monday, March 30, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “You have farmers who bought fuel and filled their bulk tank at the farm a while ago, and some are waiting on it,” he said. “But, I think generally the frustration from a farmer perspective when you talk about fertilizer, you talk about fuel costs, they go up really quick. They come down really slow.” Perdue said higher fuel costs will lead to increased prices for consumers as well. “High fuel costs mean higher cost of goods because those goods have to move, and usually there's some movement required on trucks as well,” he said. “Frankly, a lot of movement occurs on something that is powered by petroleum-based fuels.” Perdue said livestock producers also have input costs, including fuel, fencing, materials and pharmaceuticals. He said the cost to buy replacement cattle is also high right now because those prices are high. “I think it's important that while we are seeing strong prices for cow-calf producers right now and that's long overdue, that also means that it's an incredibly expensive time to build your herd, and that's a real challenge for those young beginning ranchers,” he said. “Then you're also seeing to the extent that these input costs flow through. Higher input costs could certainly lead to higher crop prices. Higher crop prices lead to higher feed prices. So all of those things are impacting the cattle producer.” Ashley Kjellberg, Stutsman County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, said farmers might not have as much flexibility to switch up their plans for fertilizer use and weed management as they might have in the past. “For farmers that usually can switch their plans, whether that’s chemical they use, having to come up with a quick plan for weed management, we're going to be a little more limited,” she said. Perdue said some farmers who are short on fertilizer might adjust application rates, which could lead to lower yields. Kjellberg said planning to plant the right varieties will be important this year. “Knowing what varieties of the crop is going to best manage any potential issues is going to be big too because we definitely could be looking at yield loss, which isn't great,” she said. “With the cost of everything going up, we rely on that check at the end of the day, and it would be very unfortunate to not break even when it comes to everything that you've put into the field.” Perdue said some farmers might have opportunities to contract their crop for delivery, which gives them certainty on a price. He said farmers still face uncertainty on what they are going to produce and what they will get paid for their production. “Everybody is just so exhausted by the volatility, by the uncertainty,” he said. “The situation in Iran, geopolitical tensions in general, are certainly adding to that.” Perdue said the U.S. Senate is exploring additional economic assistance to producers. He said many producers are in or nearing a crisis situation and the volatility of input costs and commodity prices exposes them to greater risk. “I have not talked to a farmer who's excited about making that ask of Congress,” he said. “We want to be able to make money from the market. We want to pay a fair price for our inputs, and we want to get a fair price for what we produce. Unfortunately, we've gone through eight years of extreme volatility, and that's made it very difficult to plan and manage that farm business well.” For the long term, Perdue said Congress needs to look at the consolidation market for fertilizer. He said four companies control over 75% of the market for nitrogen fertilizer. “We have to look at how that market structure is creating challenges for farmers,” he said. He said Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and John Thune, R-S.D., have introduced a bill that would increase price transparency in the fertilizer market. He also said the Trump administration is investigating potential collusion and price gouging in the fertilizer market. “An investigation is not going to matter unless it's followed by real action, and so we need the administration and Congress to work together to provide real remedies that bring down the cost of inputs,” Perdue said. He also said consolidation is happening among meat packers, implements, seeds and chemicals. “All of that is compressing margins for farmers and ranchers,” he said. Kjellberg said the North Dakota State University Extension Service has resources for mental health to help farmers during high-stress situations. She said the number of suicides of farmers and ranchers increased last year. “I know there's a counseling program, and we have grants to help cover costs for that sort of thing,” she said. For more information on resources for mental health and managing high-stress situations, visit https://shorturl.at/9lFla.
Minuteman III missile to be featured at North Dakota Heritage Center
BISMARCK — The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck will exhibit a decommissioned Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in its new Military Gallery, U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer announced Tuesday, March 31. The Military Gallery is under construction and scheduled to open in late 2027, according to North Dakota State Historical Society Director Bill Peterson. The Minuteman III was first deployed in the 1960s and remains operational to this day, with roughly 400 based across the United States, including in the countryside around Minot Air Force Base in northwestern North Dakota, according to a Tuesday statement. Minuteman III missiles are one part of the U.S. nuclear triad — a system of land, air and sea-based weapons meant to discourage attacks by guaranteeing the U.S. could strike back. Minot Air Force Base is the only base in the country to house two legs of the nuclear triad. It hosts both Minuteman III ICBMs and B-52 Stratofortress bombers, which can carry nuclear payloads. Cramer, R-N.D., who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said sourcing the missile was a difficult process, but he ultimately worked with the U.S. Air Force and defense contractor Northrop Grumman to secure a Minuteman III for display. The 60-foot-tall missile will belong to the National Museum of the United States Air Force and be on loan to the Heritage Center. “The Minuteman III is now over 50 years old,” Cramer said. “It demonstrates the might of this country like no other weapon before. It’s not just a weapon, it’s an attitude, and that’s why the North Dakota Military Gallery is so important. It’s been an honor to be part of the project.” Peterson said the State Historical Society has been trying for about two years to secure a Minuteman III. The new Military Gallery will also feature a bridge erection boat used by the North Dakota National Guard to cross the Euphrates River in Iraq, a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter — known as a “Huey” — based at Grand Forks Air Force Base in the 1990s, and an MQ-1 Predator drone operated in the Middle East by airmen from Fargo’s 119th Air Wing. The Legislature approved about $19 million for the 70,000-square-foot Military Gallery addition, along with a $20 million line of credit from the state-owned Bank of North Dakota, to be matched by $39 million in private donations. A groundbreaking ceremony was held last July. The gallery is scheduled for completion in fall 2027. The State Historical Society is partnering on the project with the North Dakota National Guard and their respective foundations. More information is at bit.ly/NDMilitaryGallery.
Port: NDGOP party elites want elected officials to obey them, not you
MINOT — If you're confused about the internecine food fight going on between the North Dakota Republican Party's elites and insiders, and most of the state's elected Republicans, let me sum it up for you: The elected officials aren't bending the knee to the party elites, and the elites are hopping mad about it. The gnashing-of-teeth and wrending-of-garments continues after the NDGOP elites held a disastrous state convention that every incumbent Republican on the statewide ballot skipped (along with most of those on local legislative ballots). Turnout was abysmal, by NDGOP standards, and the elites and insiders in the room memorialized their tantrum with a meaningless resolution saying that those Republican candidates who didn't show up at the convention can no longer call themselves Republicans. The party has also been considering an official rule that would expel Republicans who aren't 100% faithful to a party platform that's written by the insiders and fine them $100,000. As ludicrous as something like that is, it takes back seat on the crazy bus to the idea, promoted by the party elites, that they represent the North Dakota electorate. Don't believe me? Consider this floor speech made by Charles Tuttle, a Trump merchandise salesman (who is currently facing a criminal infraction in Dickinson for operating without a permit) and a longshot candidate for superintendent of public schools, wherein he claims the party insiders at the convention represent all North Dakotans. "Every one of your districts represents 14 to 16,000 people, folks," he said, referring to the population apportionment of North Dakota's legislative districts. "That's who you represent. That's who you're here for." Most of you reading this — who are Democrats, Libertarians, independents or Republicans who have never been to a local or statewide convention — are no doubt surprised to hear that you were represented at that dismal event in Minot over the weekend. The district chairs and delegates at that convention were elected in the proverbial "smoky back rooms" of politics. A delegate or district chair election that involved 100 votes would be considered a large one. Most of you don't participate in that process, either because you're not interested in it or you're not Republicans, yet Tuttle would have us believe the NDGOP state convention represents all of us. This is delusional. "We obviously have the right to associate with whomever we want," Tuttle said in his meandering address to the convention. "We are a private organization." He's right, but you know who else has the right to choose who they associate with? Everyone who chose not to attend that convention, including, you, me and the Republican statewide and legislative candidates. OK, maybe not me. I wanted to attend the convention, to observe and report, but they banned me, because they're cowards. People like Tuttle, party Chair Matthew Simon and a host of other activists and insiders who currently control the party would have us believe that, in order to think of yourself as a Republican, you must believe everything they believe. You must agree with them on every issue. You must follow every line of the party platform diligently, or you're not a Republican. This has never stopped them from opposing the party before they controlled it. Tuttle has supported candidates like Rick Becker, who has campaigned against convention-endorsed Republicans. So, too, has Simon. Becker himself, who has previously ran against U.S. Sen. John Hoeven as an independent after losing the convention endorsement to him in 2002, even skipped this state convention so he could take a vacation in Belize (Becker is currently pursuing a seat in the Legislature in Bismarck-area District 7). At the 2024 convention, Becker, who by party rules was ineligible to seek the endorsement, urged his supporters to disrupt the process by purposefully spoiling their ballots. “What I think the intention was that if you are boycotting the Republican Party because you don’t like who’s in charge, then you no longer deserve to hold that identification as being a Republican,” Becker said, hypocritically, given that since 2022 he has twice run campaigns against the NDGOP's convention-endorsed candidates. When the process serves people like Becker, they support it. And when it doesn't, they don't. It's bad that people like Becker, Tuttle and Simon want Republican elected officials to be more loyal to the party than their constituents, but it's even worse when you consider that they themselves have only recently arrived at this position since their faction took control of the party. The NDGOP has been out of step with the people for a while. In 2024, the party's state convention endorsed Christian fundamentalist Jim Bartlett for superintendent and Alex Balazs for U.S. House. Bartlett took a distant third in the primary, while Balazs took fourth, with roughly 4% of the vote (ironically, Becker was also in that race, running again against the convention-endorsed candidate). In 2012, Sen. Kevin Cramer first won election to the U.S. House by beating Brian Kalk, the convention-endorsed candidate, in the June primary. In 2016, Doug Burgum won the gubernatorial primary in a landslide over then-Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who had been endorsed at the convention. Those election results, whether you like them or not, represent the will of the people. The NDGOP does not.
Port: NDGOP party elites want elected officials to obey them, not you
MINOT — If you're confused about the internecine food fight going on between the North Dakota Republican Party's elites and insiders, and most of the state's elected Republicans, let me sum it up for you: The elected officials aren't bending the knee to the party elites, and the elites are hopping mad about it. The gnashing-of-teeth and wrending-of-garments continues after the NDGOP elites held a disastrous state convention that every incumbent Republican on the statewide ballot skipped (along with most of those on local legislative ballots). Turnout was abysmal, by NDGOP standards, and the elites and insiders in the room memorialized their tantrum with a meaningless resolution saying that those Republican candidates who didn't show up at the convention can no longer call themselves Republicans. The party has also been considering an official rule that would expel Republicans who aren't 100% faithful to a party platform that's written by the insiders and fine them $100,000. As ludicrous as something like that is, it takes back seat on the crazy bus to the idea, promoted by the party elites, that they represent the North Dakota electorate. Don't believe me? Consider this floor speech made by Charles Tuttle, a Trump merchandise salesman (who is currently facing a criminal infraction in Dickinson for operating without a permit) and a longshot candidate for superintendent of public schools, wherein he claims the party insiders at the convention represent all North Dakotans. "Every one of your districts represents 14 to 16,000 people, folks," he said, referring to the population apportionment of North Dakota's legislative districts. "That's who you represent. That's who you're here for." Most of you reading this — who are Democrats, Libertarians, independents or Republicans who have never been to a local or statewide convention — are no doubt surprised to hear that you were represented at that dismal event in Minot over the weekend. The district chairs and delegates at that convention were elected in the proverbial "smoky back rooms" of politics. A delegate or district chair election that involved 100 votes would be considered a large one. Most of you don't participate in that process, either because you're not interested in it or you're not Republicans, yet Tuttle would have us believe the NDGOP state convention represents all of us. This is delusional. "We obviously have the right to associate with whomever we want," Tuttle said in his meandering address to the convention. "We are a private organization." He's right, but you know who else has the right to choose who they associate with? Everyone who chose not to attend that convention, including, you, me and the Republican statewide and legislative candidates. OK, maybe not me. I wanted to attend the convention, to observe and report, but they banned me, because they're cowards. People like Tuttle, party Chair Matthew Simon and a host of other activists and insiders who currently control the party would have us believe that, in order to think of yourself as a Republican, you must believe everything they believe. You must agree with them on every issue. You must follow every line of the party platform diligently, or you're not a Republican. This has never stopped them from opposing the party before they controlled it. Tuttle has supported candidates like Rick Becker, who has campaigned against convention-endorsed Republicans. So, too, has Simon. Becker himself, who has previously ran against U.S. Sen. John Hoeven as an independent after losing the convention endorsement to him in 2002, even skipped this state convention so he could take a vacation in Belize (Becker is currently pursuing a seat in the Legislature in Bismarck-area District 7). At the 2024 convention, Becker, who by party rules was ineligible to seek the endorsement, urged his supporters to disrupt the process by purposefully spoiling their ballots. “What I think the intention was that if you are boycotting the Republican Party because you don’t like who’s in charge, then you no longer deserve to hold that identification as being a Republican,” Becker said, hypocritically, given that since 2022 he has twice run campaigns against the NDGOP's convention-endorsed candidates. When the process serves people like Becker, they support it. And when it doesn't, they don't. It's bad that people like Becker, Tuttle and Simon want Republican elected officials to be more loyal to the party than their constituents, but it's even worse when you consider that they themselves have only recently arrived at this position since their faction took control of the party. The NDGOP has been out of step with the people for a while. In 2024, the party's state convention endorsed Christian fundamentalist Jim Bartlett for superintendent and Alex Balazs for U.S. House. Bartlett took a distant third in the primary, while Balazs took fourth, with roughly 4% of the vote (ironically, Becker was also in that race, running again against the convention-endorsed candidate). In 2012, Sen. Kevin Cramer first won election to the U.S. House by beating Brian Kalk, the convention-endorsed candidate, in the June primary. In 2016, Doug Burgum won the gubernatorial primary in a landslide over then-Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who had been endorsed at the convention. Those election results, whether you like them or not, represent the will of the people. The NDGOP does not.
North Dakota Republican resolution seeks to put nominating power with party
North Dakota Republican delegates gathering in Minot this weekend are expected to vote on a resolution pushing for changes to the state’s primary system as statewide incumbents skip the endorsing convention. The resolution calls for partisan primaries to be eliminated in North Dakota and urges Republican leaders to make that a priority for legislation in 2027. In North Dakota, candidates can either submit a certificate of endorsement from a political party or gather signatures to appear on the ballot. The resolution states the NDGOP has been deprived of “any meaningful ability to control who may seek or obtain” a Republican nomination. Sen. Kent Weston, R-Sarles, co-chair of the NDGOP Resolutions Committee, said the resolution does not seek to prevent any candidate from running for office. But if the proposal is supported by lawmakers and becomes law, it wouldn’t allow candidates to have an “R” next to their name on the ballot without endorsement from the party. This year, all of North Dakota’s Republican statewide incumbents declined to seek the NDGOP endorsement, with some citing dissatisfaction over how the 2024 convention was handled. Instead, the statewide officials and many incumbent lawmakers are gathering signatures to appear on the state’s primary ballot as Republicans. Members of the state Republican Party called the act “shameful” during a March 10 press conference. “The party is being ripped apart and very divided and some are picking up their toys and not wanting to play,” Weston said. “That’s not healthy.” Resolutions are scheduled for a vote on Sunday during the NDGOP state convention. During an interview in January at the start of the Republican district endorsing conventions, North Dakota Republican Party Chair Matt Simon said the party favors endorsing conventions over ballot petition signatures for candidates. “The organization (NDGOP) itself is just a collection of people that share values and we should have a right as a private organization to nominate our candidates,” Simon said. Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Nathe, a Bismarck Republican who attempted to eliminate the state party endorsement process through a bill last session, said he’s being encouraged by colleagues to introduce his bill again in 2027. Proponents say they’d rather see the nomination decided by voters in the entire district than a small group of party insiders, Nathe said. “All they’re doing is just building a case to pass that bill next session,” Nathe said. Geoff Simon, vice chair of NDGOP District 30, said the NDGOP leadership “needs to come to terms” with the division within the state’s supermajority political party. In 2024, the state party endorsed candidates for U.S. House and superintendent of public instruction who went on to lose by large margins in the June primary. “There’s a widely held perception that the State Committee doesn’t represent the majority of Republican voters in the state, and that’s just what’s happening right now,” Simon said. This year, candidate Alex Balazs is the only Republican seeking the party’s endorsement for U.S. House, while incumbent Rep. Julie Fedorchak is gathering signatures to appear on the June ballot with President Donald Trump endorsing Fedorchak’s reelection bid. In January, Kate Roberts, a spokesperson for the Fedorchak campaign, said North Dakotans “expect the state party” to stand with Trump’s endorsed candidate. The only other statewide candidate seeking a party endorsement is Deven Styczynski who is running for a six-year term on the Public Service Commission against incumbent Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, who has said she’s not attending the convention. Rules adopted by the party ahead of the convention would prevent floor nominations for other state offices, though it’s possible delegates could vote to suspend the rules. The other state offices up for election this year are attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, tax commissioner, superintendent of public instruction and a two-year term on the Public Service Commission. Text Example This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com. Text Example ____________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.
North Dakota Republican resolution seeks to put nominating power with party
North Dakota Republican delegates gathering in Minot this weekend are expected to vote on a resolution pushing for changes to the state’s primary system as statewide incumbents skip the endorsing convention. The resolution calls for partisan primaries to be eliminated in North Dakota and urges Republican leaders to make that a priority for legislation in 2027. In North Dakota, candidates can either submit a certificate of endorsement from a political party or gather signatures to appear on the ballot. The resolution states the NDGOP has been deprived of “any meaningful ability to control who may seek or obtain” a Republican nomination. Sen. Kent Weston, R-Sarles, co-chair of the NDGOP Resolutions Committee, said the resolution does not seek to prevent any candidate from running for office. But if the proposal is supported by lawmakers and becomes law, it wouldn’t allow candidates to have an “R” next to their name on the ballot without endorsement from the party. This year, all of North Dakota’s Republican statewide incumbents declined to seek the NDGOP endorsement, with some citing dissatisfaction over how the 2024 convention was handled. Instead, the statewide officials and many incumbent lawmakers are gathering signatures to appear on the state’s primary ballot as Republicans. Members of the state Republican Party called the act “shameful” during a March 10 press conference. “The party is being ripped apart and very divided and some are picking up their toys and not wanting to play,” Weston said. “That’s not healthy.” Resolutions are scheduled for a vote on Sunday during the NDGOP state convention. During an interview in January at the start of the Republican district endorsing conventions, North Dakota Republican Party Chair Matt Simon said the party favors endorsing conventions over ballot petition signatures for candidates. “The organization (NDGOP) itself is just a collection of people that share values and we should have a right as a private organization to nominate our candidates,” Simon said. Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Nathe, a Bismarck Republican who attempted to eliminate the state party endorsement process through a bill last session, said he’s being encouraged by colleagues to introduce his bill again in 2027. Proponents say they’d rather see the nomination decided by voters in the entire district than a small group of party insiders, Nathe said. “All they’re doing is just building a case to pass that bill next session,” Nathe said. Geoff Simon, vice chair of NDGOP District 30, said the NDGOP leadership “needs to come to terms” with the division within the state’s supermajority political party. In 2024, the state party endorsed candidates for U.S. House and superintendent of public instruction who went on to lose by large margins in the June primary. “There’s a widely held perception that the State Committee doesn’t represent the majority of Republican voters in the state, and that’s just what’s happening right now,” Simon said. This year, candidate Alex Balazs is the only Republican seeking the party’s endorsement for U.S. House, while incumbent Rep. Julie Fedorchak is gathering signatures to appear on the June ballot with President Donald Trump endorsing Fedorchak’s reelection bid. In January, Kate Roberts, a spokesperson for the Fedorchak campaign, said North Dakotans “expect the state party” to stand with Trump’s endorsed candidate. The only other statewide candidate seeking a party endorsement is Deven Styczynski who is running for a six-year term on the Public Service Commission against incumbent Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, who has said she’s not attending the convention. Rules adopted by the party ahead of the convention would prevent floor nominations for other state offices, though it’s possible delegates could vote to suspend the rules. The other state offices up for election this year are attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, tax commissioner, superintendent of public instruction and a two-year term on the Public Service Commission. Text Example This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com. Text Example ____________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.
Port: Speaker for upcoming NDGOP state convention uses homophobic slurs in social media posts
MINOT — Royce White, a U.S. Senate candidate in Minnesota, has been a controversial choice to speak at the North Dakota Republican Party's upcoming state convention since he was announced. That would be the event every one of the Republican incumbents on the statewide ballot, including top of the ticket candidate U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, are boycotting. White is anti-Semitic, according to the Republican Jewish Coalition, having railed against "Jewish elites" and defended rapper Kanye West amid that disgraced celebrity's praise for Adolf Hitler. "The 33-year-old White, who was introduced at the convention by former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, once described himself as an 'antisemite' on his own Twitter profile, along with other labels including 'Blackface, Extremist, Cis-Male, Sexist, Misogynist, Homophobic, Transphobic,'" the Times of Israel reported during his 2024 campaign. During that same campaign, and in contrast with his professed Christianity, White came under fire for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds from his 2022 U.S. House race on a strip club, luxury amenities and mysterious wire transfers. "The unusual expenses include a total of more than $100,000 in mysterious wire transfers and checks reported as paid to the campaign; hefty tabs at spicy nightspots; getaways at posh hotels in at least seven states; thousands of dollars in limousine services; unexplained cash withdrawals; eye-popping purchases from electronics, sporting goods, clothing, and musical instrument retailers; and the DribbleUp smart basketball training app that White himself admitted might be personal use," the Daily Beast reported in 2024. Now, just days ahead of his address at the NDGOP's state convention, White has angrily responded to a social media posting noting that he came in a distant third behind Michele Tafoya and "undecided" in a straw poll conducted at a local Minnesota Republican district convention. In an X post responding to Townhall columnist Dustin Grage, who was reposting something Tafoya posted about the poll, White used a homophobic slur, among other pejoratives. "You're a (slur), pro choice Nikki Haley isn't winning and you all know it," he wrote, comparing Tafoya to the former presidential candidate. "How much are you getting paid to sandbag the entire party, you sackless eunuch? I don't know what's a bigger indictment, that 30 people fell for that shtick or that Tom Emmer and company commissioned you to run comms. Hey, here's a question, how is a pro Zionist candidate going to win in the general in Minnesota? Is the plan to martial out Christians on Israel or keep them home on abortion?" "You're a fruitcake," White wrote in conclusion, another homophobic slur. White's use of homophobic slurs isn't unusual. In a March 20 post, he referred to Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who had just come in first place in a primary in his home state of Texas, with the same slur he used against Grage. "The fact that even 40% of the people in Texas are polling for this (slur) John Cornyn, tells me we’re in an existential crisis. Is that not statesmanlike? Hey, I just tell it like it is. Deal with it…" NDGOP Chair Matthew Simon has heavily promoted White's appearance at the convention. The party's social media pages relentlessly teased Simon's announcement of the booking during an appearance on a MAGA-friendly podcast. Ironically, during another portion of the podcast interview (the episode title is "Men Are NOT Angels!") Simon bemoaned the lack of religious conviction among Republicans who he says are only pretending to be Republicans to win elections. "The problem that creates is that a lot of people that are drawn to politics are opportunistic and power-hungry people. ... If somebody isn't grounded by what I would say, like, a good Christian moral creed and they're more chameleon, more shape-shifting, they'll see there is no possible way for me if I'm a Democrat to win in the majority of this state," he said. "So as long as I don't have that underpinning of moral values, I'll just put an 'R' by my name, say that I'm a Republican, and I'll draw for the apathy of the average voter." If a "good Christian moral creed" is foundation to being an authentic Republican, one wonders if Simon and his supporters — who consider White, the hateful strip club aficionado, to be someone worth promoting — are themselves authentically Republican. According to the NDGOP's draft convention agenda, White is scheduled to speak on the evening of Friday, March 27.
Port: Speaker for upcoming NDGOP state convention uses homophobic slurs in social media posts
MINOT — Royce White, a U.S. Senate candidate in Minnesota, has been a controversial choice to speak at the North Dakota Republican Party's upcoming state convention since he was announced. That would be the event every one of the Republican incumbents on the statewide ballot, including top of the ticket candidate U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, are boycotting. White is anti-Semitic, according to the Republican Jewish Coalition, having railed against "Jewish elites" and defended rapper Kanye West amid that disgraced celebrity's praise for Adolf Hitler. "The 33-year-old White, who was introduced at the convention by former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, once described himself as an 'antisemite' on his own Twitter profile, along with other labels including 'Blackface, Extremist, Cis-Male, Sexist, Misogynist, Homophobic, Transphobic,'" the Times of Israel reported during his 2024 campaign. During that same campaign, and in contrast with his professed Christianity, White came under fire for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds from his 2022 U.S. House race on a strip club, luxury amenities and mysterious wire transfers. "The unusual expenses include a total of more than $100,000 in mysterious wire transfers and checks reported as paid to the campaign; hefty tabs at spicy nightspots; getaways at posh hotels in at least seven states; thousands of dollars in limousine services; unexplained cash withdrawals; eye-popping purchases from electronics, sporting goods, clothing, and musical instrument retailers; and the DribbleUp smart basketball training app that White himself admitted might be personal use," the Daily Beast reported in 2024. Now, just days ahead of his address at the NDGOP's state convention, White has angrily responded to a social media posting noting that he came in a distant third behind Michele Tafoya and "undecided" in a straw poll conducted at a local Minnesota Republican district convention. In an X post responding to Townhall columnist Dustin Grage, who was reposting something Tafoya posted about the poll, White used a homophobic slur, among other pejoratives. "You're a (slur), pro choice Nikki Haley isn't winning and you all know it," he wrote, comparing Tafoya to the former presidential candidate. "How much are you getting paid to sandbag the entire party, you sackless eunuch? I don't know what's a bigger indictment, that 30 people fell for that shtick or that Tom Emmer and company commissioned you to run comms. Hey, here's a question, how is a pro Zionist candidate going to win in the general in Minnesota? Is the plan to martial out Christians on Israel or keep them home on abortion?" "You're a fruitcake," White wrote in conclusion, another homophobic slur. White's use of homophobic slurs isn't unusual. In a March 20 post, he referred to Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who had just come in first place in a primary in his home state of Texas, with the same slur he used against Grage. "The fact that even 40% of the people in Texas are polling for this (slur) John Cornyn, tells me we’re in an existential crisis. Is that not statesmanlike? Hey, I just tell it like it is. Deal with it…" NDGOP Chair Matthew Simon has heavily promoted White's appearance at the convention. The party's social media pages relentlessly teased Simon's announcement of the booking during an appearance on a MAGA-friendly podcast. Ironically, during another portion of the podcast interview (the episode title is "Men Are NOT Angels!") Simon bemoaned the lack of religious conviction among Republicans who he says are only pretending to be Republicans to win elections. "The problem that creates is that a lot of people that are drawn to politics are opportunistic and power-hungry people. ... If somebody isn't grounded by what I would say, like, a good Christian moral creed and they're more chameleon, more shape-shifting, they'll see there is no possible way for me if I'm a Democrat to win in the majority of this state," he said. "So as long as I don't have that underpinning of moral values, I'll just put an 'R' by my name, say that I'm a Republican, and I'll draw for the apathy of the average voter." If a "good Christian moral creed" is foundation to being an authentic Republican, one wonders if Simon and his supporters — who consider White, the hateful strip club aficionado, to be someone worth promoting — are themselves authentically Republican. According to the NDGOP's draft convention agenda, White is scheduled to speak on the evening of Friday, March 27.
Port: Speaker for upcoming NDGOP state convention uses homophobic slurs in social media posts
MINOT — Royce White, a U.S. Senate candidate in Minnesota, has been a controversial choice to speak at the North Dakota Republican Party's upcoming state convention since he was announced. That would be the event every one of the Republican incumbents on the statewide ballot, including top of the ticket candidate U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, are boycotting. White is anti-Semitic, according to the Republican Jewish Coalition, having railed against "Jewish elites" and defended rapper Kanye West amid that disgraced celebrity's praise for Adolf Hitler. "The 33-year-old White, who was introduced at the convention by former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, once described himself as an 'antisemite' on his own Twitter profile, along with other labels including 'Blackface, Extremist, Cis-Male, Sexist, Misogynist, Homophobic, Transphobic,'" the Times of Israel reported during his 2024 campaign. During that same campaign, and in contrast with his professed Christianity, White came under fire for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds from his 2022 U.S. House race on a strip club, luxury amenities and mysterious wire transfers. "The unusual expenses include a total of more than $100,000 in mysterious wire transfers and checks reported as paid to the campaign; hefty tabs at spicy nightspots; getaways at posh hotels in at least seven states; thousands of dollars in limousine services; unexplained cash withdrawals; eye-popping purchases from electronics, sporting goods, clothing, and musical instrument retailers; and the DribbleUp smart basketball training app that White himself admitted might be personal use," the Daily Beast reported in 2024. Now, just days ahead of his address at the NDGOP's state convention, White has angrily responded to a social media posting noting that he came in a distant third behind Michele Tafoya and "undecided" in a straw poll conducted at a local Minnesota Republican district convention. In an X post responding to Townhall columnist Dustin Grage, who was reposting something Tafoya posted about the poll, White used a homophobic slur, among other pejoratives. "You're a (slur), pro choice Nikki Haley isn't winning and you all know it," he wrote, comparing Tafoya to the former presidential candidate. "How much are you getting paid to sandbag the entire party, you sackless eunuch? I don't know what's a bigger indictment, that 30 people fell for that shtick or that Tom Emmer and company commissioned you to run comms. Hey, here's a question, how is a pro Zionist candidate going to win in the general in Minnesota? Is the plan to martial out Christians on Israel or keep them home on abortion?" "You're a fruitcake," White wrote in conclusion, another homophobic slur. White's use of homophobic slurs isn't unusual. In a March 20 post, he referred to Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who had just come in first place in a primary in his home state of Texas, with the same slur he used against Grage. "The fact that even 40% of the people in Texas are polling for this (slur) John Cornyn, tells me we’re in an existential crisis. Is that not statesmanlike? Hey, I just tell it like it is. Deal with it…" NDGOP Chair Matthew Simon has heavily promoted White's appearance at the convention. The party's social media pages relentlessly teased Simon's announcement of the booking during an appearance on a MAGA-friendly podcast. Ironically, during another portion of the podcast interview (the episode title is "Men Are NOT Angels!") Simon bemoaned the lack of religious conviction among Republicans who he says are only pretending to be Republicans to win elections. "The problem that creates is that a lot of people that are drawn to politics are opportunistic and power-hungry people. ... If somebody isn't grounded by what I would say, like, a good Christian moral creed and they're more chameleon, more shape-shifting, they'll see there is no possible way for me if I'm a Democrat to win in the majority of this state," he said. "So as long as I don't have that underpinning of moral values, I'll just put an 'R' by my name, say that I'm a Republican, and I'll draw for the apathy of the average voter." If a "good Christian moral creed" is foundation to being an authentic Republican, one wonders if Simon and his supporters — who consider White, the hateful strip club aficionado, to be someone worth promoting — are themselves authentically Republican. According to the NDGOP's draft convention agenda, White is scheduled to speak on the evening of Friday, March 27.
Port: The NDGOP has denied me press credentials for their state convention
MINOT — I can now report that I have the somewhat dubious honor of having been banned by both of North Dakota's political parties. Four years ago, in March 2022, the Democratic-NPL rejected my request for media credentials to cover their state convention in Minot. It was hard to even get an explanation why. I sent emails that went unanswered, and was hung up on when I called the party's headquarters. Finally, after some badgering, party spokesperson Laura Dronen responded to my inquiries by saying my credentials had been denied due to the COVID-19 pandemic which, by that time, was very much in our rearview mirror. "We have a limited number of press credentials due to our COVID protocols, which is why we are holding a hybrid convention," she wrote. "We have already issued our credentials to journalists." I ended up getting into the convention anyway. Two days after I wrote about being denied credentials, Mary Adams, then a state lawmaker for the Democratic-NPL representing a Grand Forks-area district, offered me access to the convention as her guest. Other Democratic lawmakers had made similar offers. I attended the convention, covered it thoroughly, and I don't think I spread any viruses. I wasn't able to attend the 2024 Democratic-NPL convention (it was held at the same time as the NDGOP's event), but I did go to their 2026 convention, where I was handed press credentials and told I could go anywhere in the convention and speak to whoever I wanted. Flash forward four years, and it's the Republicans who have denied me credentials to cover their state convention (which, as it happens, is also being boycotted by every one of the Republican incumbents on the statewide ballot). I've been requesting credentials for weeks now. I've even emailed party chair Matthew Simon multiple times, only to see my missives go unanswered (he has responded to decline my invitations for interviews). This afternoon, with the convention a week away, the party let me know my request for credentials had been denied. Unlike the Democrats, they didn't even bother with a pretext. "Your 2026 NDGOP State Convention news credentials are denied," read a terse email from DeAnn Reed, who works in media relations for the party. I have not received a reply to a follow-up request for an explanation. I imagine, if I ever receive one, it will have something to say about my journalistic integrity. I'm "fake news" or one of the other phony pejoratives politicians like to deploy for factual reporting and commentary they don't like. They'll book a guy as a speaker who spent campaign funds at strip clubs, but they can't let a critic in the room. There are so many crybabies in politics today. I've long held that the price of admission to a free society like ours is that sometimes you're going to hear and see things you don't like. The people in charge of the NDGOP right now — a group of far-right populists who are distinct from the traditionally conservative Republicans North Dakotans have been electing for decades — do not aspire to that ideal. Let's not forget this is the same party that is considering a bylaw that would excommunicate members who dissent from the party platform, and even levy a $100,000 fine. These are not people who value unfettered debate and free expression. As for my integrity as a journalist, I would point out that one of the featured speakers at this convention is Steve Deace, a talk radio host who once claimed the COVID-19 vaccine was a "depopulation scheme." These are not people who value honesty. It's absolutely true that I have been sharply critical of the NDGOP under its present leadership. But so what? We Americans have a proud history of dissent in politics. Many of our most important laws are organized around protecting those who express unpopular viewpoints. I'm not asking that the current NDGOP leadership agree with me. I only ask that they let me observe and report for my audience, which is politically diverse and one of the largest in the state. Unless I can find a way in — I've had one Republican lawmaker offer to get me in as a guest already, though it's not clear if the party is going to let that fly — this will be the first NDGOP convention I haven't attended since 2006. I'll be on the outside looking in. Of course, I'll be outside with U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and the rest of the statewide Republican candidates — not to mention a host of legislative Republicans — who are not attending this convention because they don't feel it's worth their time. Maybe, given that reality, the problem isn't me.
FEMA grant to aid flood protection for Marion, ND
JAMESTOWN — A grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency is intended to make the community of Marion, North Dakota, in LaMoure County safer from flooding, according to Justin Messner, recovery and mitigation chief for North Dakota Emergency Services. “The city of Marion is right next to Boom Lake, which is pretty much up to its natural level,” he said. “Levies were added in 2019 and raised once since then.” The FEMA grant is for more than $3.1 million, according to a press release from the office of Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. The grant is intended to fund final construction engineering for a permanent drain from Boom Lake to protect infrastructure and homes in Marion. Marion has a population of about 125 people, according to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau results. “The drain would run through the northeast part of Marion and then into the natural drainage and river system,” Messmer said. Boom Lake, sometimes called Marion Lake, is a 320-acre body of water approximately a half mile west of Marion. It contains fishable populations of northern pike, perch and walleye and has a maximum natural depth of 19 feet. “The local water board and the state water board have given preliminary approval to the project,” Messner said. “Final approval will be needed before construction can start.” Marion Mayor Taylor Albrecht said high water levels on Boom Lake have been a problem for as long as he can remember. “There is a flooding threat,” he said. “You are talking roads, sewers, basements. All the infrastructure.” Albrecht said the community is currently protected by what were intended to be temporary levies. “I hope this is a permanent solution,” he said. Preliminary engineers’ estimates place the total cost of the project at about $5.3 million. The FEMA grant just announced will cover $3.2 million of that cost, Messner said. A state grant will cover 10% of project costs or about $530,000, leaving about $1.5 million of costs yet to be funded, he said. “We are still trying to find federal money to help,” Messner said. “We are also seeking additional state funding that could drop the local share of the cost to about $700,000.” Albrecht said the city is exploring options for the local cost share of the project. Messner said officials are hoping to proceed with developing final plans and seeking bids for the project this summer. Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2027 with completion of the project in the fall of 2028. Along with the grant for the Marion project, the state of North Dakota received a $2.9 million grant from FEMA to design, purchase and install facilities that would serve as a combination of restrooms and storm shelters in four state parks, Messner said. The structures are designed to withstand an EF-5 tornado with wind speeds of 250 mph or greater. Messner said the shelters have been designed and ordered and will be installed at Fort Ransom, Fort Stevenson, Icelandic and Lewis and Clark state parks. “The goal is to have them installed and usable yet this summer,” he said.
Shaw: Our local leaders oppose free and fair elections
The SAVE America Act is a dangerous bill that will end our system of free and fair elections. North Dakota Rep. Julie Fedorchak and Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach shamefully voted for it. Not surprisingly, North Dakota Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer support it. This writer believes voters should have to show ID at voting locations, but this legislation goes way beyond that. It would require voters to bring their passports or birth certificates every time they vote. However, half of Americans don’t have passports (they’re not legally required) and tens of millions don’t have their birth certificates. It’s even harder for women whose married names aren’t on their passports or birth certificates. Would the government pay tens of millions of Americans to get passports or birth certificates? I doubt it. It’s all part of a strategy to prevent millions of American citizens from voting. Republicans know they’re going to lose the midterms. This bill will try to prevent that by cheating. On top of all that, this bill federalizes our elections, which is unconstitutional. One frightening provision is that states would be required to send all voter data to the Department of Homeland Security. Nothing good can come from that. The SAVE Act is based on two big lies. The first one is that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and insecure. By supporting this bill, Fedorchak, Fischbach, Hoeven and Cramer are playing along with that lie. We should never forget that in one of her first acts in office, Fischbach obscenely voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The facts are that Donald Trump’s election cybersecurity director Chris Krebs said the 2000 election was extremely secure, Trump’s attorney general Bill Barr said there was no widespread fraud, and that Trump lost about 62 lawsuits contesting the legality of the election. Trump knows he lost, but because of his fragile ego, he can’t admit it. The second big lie is that many noncitizens are voting. Actually, it’s extremely rare. The numbers are minuscule. Frankly, noncitizens would be crazy to try to vote because they would likely be deported. Noncitizen voting does not affect election outcomes. Fedorchak said the bill will “restore trust” and that “Nothing in this bill changes…how state elections are run in any state.” Oh, please. Since when do any states require passports or birth certificates to vote? Also, the only reason there's any lack of trust is because people like Fedorchak keep deceiving us about our election security. Cramer wrote, “Elections must be decided by citizens, and citizens alone.” They are. If Cramer has proof of noncitizens deciding elections, let’s hear it. Our elections are extremely safe, secure and fair. There is no significant voter fraud. Shame on Hoeven, Cramer, Fedorchak and Fischbach for pretending otherwise. The SAVE Act is unnecessary and unAmerican. It would disenfranchise millions of voters and destroy our democracy.
Shaw: Our local leaders oppose free and fair elections
The SAVE America Act is a dangerous bill that will end our system of free and fair elections. North Dakota Rep. Julie Fedorchak and Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach shamefully voted for it. Not surprisingly, North Dakota Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer support it. This writer believes voters should have to show ID at voting locations, but this legislation goes way beyond that. It would require voters to bring their passports or birth certificates every time they vote. However, half of Americans don’t have passports (they’re not legally required) and tens of millions don’t have their birth certificates. It’s even harder for women whose married names aren’t on their passports or birth certificates. Would the government pay tens of millions of Americans to get passports or birth certificates? I doubt it. It’s all part of a strategy to prevent millions of American citizens from voting. Republicans know they’re going to lose the midterms. This bill will try to prevent that by cheating. On top of all that, this bill federalizes our elections, which is unconstitutional. One frightening provision is that states would be required to send all voter data to the Department of Homeland Security. Nothing good can come from that. The SAVE Act is based on two big lies. The first one is that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and insecure. By supporting this bill, Fedorchak, Fischbach, Hoeven and Cramer are playing along with that lie. We should never forget that in one of her first acts in office, Fischbach obscenely voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The facts are that Donald Trump’s election cybersecurity director Chris Krebs said the 2000 election was extremely secure, Trump’s attorney general Bill Barr said there was no widespread fraud, and that Trump lost about 62 lawsuits contesting the legality of the election. Trump knows he lost, but because of his fragile ego, he can’t admit it. The second big lie is that many noncitizens are voting. Actually, it’s extremely rare. The numbers are minuscule. Frankly, noncitizens would be crazy to try to vote because they would likely be deported. Noncitizen voting does not affect election outcomes. Fedorchak said the bill will “restore trust” and that “Nothing in this bill changes…how state elections are run in any state.” Oh, please. Since when do any states require passports or birth certificates to vote? Also, the only reason there's any lack of trust is because people like Fedorchak keep deceiving us about our election security. Cramer wrote, “Elections must be decided by citizens, and citizens alone.” They are. If Cramer has proof of noncitizens deciding elections, let’s hear it. Our elections are extremely safe, secure and fair. There is no significant voter fraud. Shame on Hoeven, Cramer, Fedorchak and Fischbach for pretending otherwise. The SAVE Act is unnecessary and unAmerican. It would disenfranchise millions of voters and destroy our democracy.
Shaw: Our local leaders oppose free and fair elections
The SAVE America Act is a dangerous bill that will end our system of free and fair elections. North Dakota Rep. Julie Fedorchak and Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach shamefully voted for it. Not surprisingly, North Dakota Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer support it. This writer believes voters should have to show ID at voting locations, but this legislation goes way beyond that. It would require voters to bring their passports or birth certificates every time they vote. However, half of Americans don’t have passports (they’re not legally required) and tens of millions don’t have their birth certificates. It’s even harder for women whose married names aren’t on their passports or birth certificates. Would the government pay tens of millions of Americans to get passports or birth certificates? I doubt it. It’s all part of a strategy to prevent millions of American citizens from voting. Republicans know they’re going to lose the midterms. This bill will try to prevent that by cheating. On top of all that, this bill federalizes our elections, which is unconstitutional. One frightening provision is that states would be required to send all voter data to the Department of Homeland Security. Nothing good can come from that. The SAVE Act is based on two big lies. The first one is that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and insecure. By supporting this bill, Fedorchak, Fischbach, Hoeven and Cramer are playing along with that lie. We should never forget that in one of her first acts in office, Fischbach obscenely voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The facts are that Donald Trump’s election cybersecurity director Chris Krebs said the 2000 election was extremely secure, Trump’s attorney general Bill Barr said there was no widespread fraud, and that Trump lost about 62 lawsuits contesting the legality of the election. Trump knows he lost, but because of his fragile ego, he can’t admit it. The second big lie is that many noncitizens are voting. Actually, it’s extremely rare. The numbers are minuscule. Frankly, noncitizens would be crazy to try to vote because they would likely be deported. Noncitizen voting does not affect election outcomes. Fedorchak said the bill will “restore trust” and that “Nothing in this bill changes…how state elections are run in any state.” Oh, please. Since when do any states require passports or birth certificates to vote? Also, the only reason there's any lack of trust is because people like Fedorchak keep deceiving us about our election security. Cramer wrote, “Elections must be decided by citizens, and citizens alone.” They are. If Cramer has proof of noncitizens deciding elections, let’s hear it. Our elections are extremely safe, secure and fair. There is no significant voter fraud. Shame on Hoeven, Cramer, Fedorchak and Fischbach for pretending otherwise. The SAVE Act is unnecessary and unAmerican. It would disenfranchise millions of voters and destroy our democracy.
Shaw: Our local leaders oppose free and fair elections
The SAVE America Act is a dangerous bill that will end our system of free and fair elections. North Dakota Rep. Julie Fedorchak and Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach shamefully voted for it. Not surprisingly, North Dakota Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer support it. This writer believes voters should have to show ID at voting locations, but this legislation goes way beyond that. It would require voters to bring their passports or birth certificates every time they vote. However, half of Americans don’t have passports (they’re not legally required) and tens of millions don’t have their birth certificates. It’s even harder for women whose married names aren’t on their passports or birth certificates. Would the government pay tens of millions of Americans to get passports or birth certificates? I doubt it. It’s all part of a strategy to prevent millions of American citizens from voting. Republicans know they’re going to lose the midterms. This bill will try to prevent that by cheating. On top of all that, this bill federalizes our elections, which is unconstitutional. One frightening provision is that states would be required to send all voter data to the Department of Homeland Security. Nothing good can come from that. The SAVE Act is based on two big lies. The first one is that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and insecure. By supporting this bill, Fedorchak, Fischbach, Hoeven and Cramer are playing along with that lie. We should never forget that in one of her first acts in office, Fischbach obscenely voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The facts are that Donald Trump’s election cybersecurity director Chris Krebs said the 2000 election was extremely secure, Trump’s attorney general Bill Barr said there was no widespread fraud, and that Trump lost about 62 lawsuits contesting the legality of the election. Trump knows he lost, but because of his fragile ego, he can’t admit it. The second big lie is that many noncitizens are voting. Actually, it’s extremely rare. The numbers are minuscule. Frankly, noncitizens would be crazy to try to vote because they would likely be deported. Noncitizen voting does not affect election outcomes. Fedorchak said the bill will “restore trust” and that “Nothing in this bill changes…how state elections are run in any state.” Oh, please. Since when do any states require passports or birth certificates to vote? Also, the only reason there's any lack of trust is because people like Fedorchak keep deceiving us about our election security. Cramer wrote, “Elections must be decided by citizens, and citizens alone.” They are. If Cramer has proof of noncitizens deciding elections, let’s hear it. Our elections are extremely safe, secure and fair. There is no significant voter fraud. Shame on Hoeven, Cramer, Fedorchak and Fischbach for pretending otherwise. The SAVE Act is unnecessary and unAmerican. It would disenfranchise millions of voters and destroy our democracy.