SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - AUGUST 21, 2016
WIND AND GRASS are enduring features of the ND prairie. A public sculpture in Jamestown called “Prairie Grass Ballet” will honor those features with ninety 75-pound aluminum blades of grass anchored in glacial granite rocks. The blades, some are 24-feet tall, will rock in the prairie wind. The Arizona sculptor said he spent three days with his nose down in grassland developing a feel for his pieces. The sculpture will be part of the downtown Hansen Arts Park.
HOT POTATO The audit committee of the State Board of Higher Education has hired an independent investigator to review the role of NDSU President Dean Bresciani in a bungled media policy.
FARM MISERY Record crops are expected to keep the prices of ND farm commodities low and extend a three-year slump to a fourth. The Wall Street Journal says “the slump will extend a decades long shift toward consolidation into bigger, more diversified farms.”
HARD TIMES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL Last week, it was mentioned that the Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative in ND was running out of cash. This week, Democratic candidate for governor Marvin Nelson made a plea for funds to fix his 10-year-old Cad SUV campaign car.
HOT POTATO The audit committee of the State Board of Higher Education has hired an independent investigator to review the role of NDSU President Dean Bresciani in a bungled media policy.
FARM MISERY Record crops are expected to keep the prices of ND farm commodities low and extend a three-year slump to a fourth. The Wall Street Journal says “the slump will extend a decades long shift toward consolidation into bigger, more diversified farms.”
HARD TIMES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL Last week, it was mentioned that the Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative in ND was running out of cash. This week, Democratic candidate for governor Marvin Nelson made a plea for funds to fix his 10-year-old Cad SUV campaign car.
IN CASE THEY WEREN’T PAYING ATTENTION Tom Dennis of the GF Herald reminded readers why they should keep their eye on the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (diversion of water from the Missouri to the Red). His editorial indicated, "Between 1932 and 1940, there were 800 days when the Red River ceased to flow." GF gets much of its water from the Red River.
A DISTINGUISHED CAREER Justice H. F. Sparky Gierke III (73) was a member of the ND Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Armed Forces. His obituary indicated the 1966 UND law graduate had also had been president of the ND Bar Association and national commander of the American Legion. Gierke grew up on a ranch in Watford City.
CONSTRUCTION ZONE ND retained its title in 2015 as the state with the highest percentage (7.6%) of GDP devoted to construction. Neighbors Montana and Wyoming were also in the top five -- Minnesota was average (4%).
YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP Last week a Somali woman defeated a veteran Minneapolis legislator in the primary. This week the Star Tribune reported, “Ilhan Omar, whose victory in a Minneapolis DFL primary last week virtually assured her of becoming the nation’s first Somali-American legislator, denied recent reports that she married her brother to commit immigration fraud while remaining married to the man who is the father of her three children.” Omar wants to put the rumors to rest and return to what really matters: “to build a more prosperous and equitable district and state.”
SLUGGISH MINNESOTA ECONOMY A report released this week from the Center of the American Experiment (a Minnesota Think Tank) indicates Minnesota and the Twin Cities had a mediocre economy in recent years and predicts below average future economic growth. Minnesota is also having below average new business formation. A number of economists expected this outcome because the state’s productivity is dropping due in part to a growing minority population with low education and training.
MONEY IS LEAVING Minnesota has an exodus of higher income households to lower-tax states. The income loss from this phenomena was estimated to be almost $1 billion in 2014 and accelerated in 2015. A letter to the Forum illustrated the problem. The writer said Breckenridge (MN) and Wahpeton (ND) are basically the same except for tax climate -- Wahpeton gets the new businesses and jobs. Immigration to Minnesota from other states has slowed.
RACE AND CRIME “The mayors understand that their cities' growth and prosperity are tied to communities of color.” -- Star Tribune. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul made racial disparities and violent crime the focus of their respective budgets. Minneapolis had over 200 people shot so far this year, a 34 percent increase over the same time last year. Both cities are emphasizing job creation as a way of reducing racial tensions. Minneapolis will have programs targeting Somali and other low income residents; St. Paul plans to add employees of color in city government.
DAKTOIDS In June oil production in ND dropped slightly to a million barrels per day. The state expects production to plateau at about 900,000 barrels later this year . . . The 450,000 barrel-per-day Dakota Access pipeline, opening this fall, will carry oil from western ND to Midwest connections, taking oil more directly to refining areas and further reducing reliance on railcars . . . OIl production went down in ND and so did births, which last year were at the lowest point in 14 years.
YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP Last week a Somali woman defeated a veteran Minneapolis legislator in the primary. This week the Star Tribune reported, “Ilhan Omar, whose victory in a Minneapolis DFL primary last week virtually assured her of becoming the nation’s first Somali-American legislator, denied recent reports that she married her brother to commit immigration fraud while remaining married to the man who is the father of her three children.” Omar wants to put the rumors to rest and return to what really matters: “to build a more prosperous and equitable district and state.”
SLUGGISH MINNESOTA ECONOMY A report released this week from the Center of the American Experiment (a Minnesota Think Tank) indicates Minnesota and the Twin Cities had a mediocre economy in recent years and predicts below average future economic growth. Minnesota is also having below average new business formation. A number of economists expected this outcome because the state’s productivity is dropping due in part to a growing minority population with low education and training.
MONEY IS LEAVING Minnesota has an exodus of higher income households to lower-tax states. The income loss from this phenomena was estimated to be almost $1 billion in 2014 and accelerated in 2015. A letter to the Forum illustrated the problem. The writer said Breckenridge (MN) and Wahpeton (ND) are basically the same except for tax climate -- Wahpeton gets the new businesses and jobs. Immigration to Minnesota from other states has slowed.
RACE AND CRIME “The mayors understand that their cities' growth and prosperity are tied to communities of color.” -- Star Tribune. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul made racial disparities and violent crime the focus of their respective budgets. Minneapolis had over 200 people shot so far this year, a 34 percent increase over the same time last year. Both cities are emphasizing job creation as a way of reducing racial tensions. Minneapolis will have programs targeting Somali and other low income residents; St. Paul plans to add employees of color in city government.
DAKTOIDS In June oil production in ND dropped slightly to a million barrels per day. The state expects production to plateau at about 900,000 barrels later this year . . . The 450,000 barrel-per-day Dakota Access pipeline, opening this fall, will carry oil from western ND to Midwest connections, taking oil more directly to refining areas and further reducing reliance on railcars . . . OIl production went down in ND and so did births, which last year were at the lowest point in 14 years.
DakotaBeacon