SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - DECEMBER 11, 2016
ND’s TWO MAJOR INDUSTRIES, agriculture and oil, nearly collapsed during the past several years. Gov. Dalrymple said, “Our economic advisers have told us there is no similar state in the nation that could have weathered such a collapse in commodity prices without serious impacts on their financial condition.” Dalrymple announced 10 percent cuts for most state agencies in his proposed 2017-19 budget. The number of state employees will be reduced by 580. The budget assumes a $61 a barrel price for oil and average oil production of 900,000 barrels per day.
BEST RUN STATE Despite its difficulties, ND was picked the “Best Run State” for the fifth year in a row by 24/7 Wall Street. Neighbors Minnesota, Wyoming and Nebraska plus Utah rounded out the top five.
PYRRHIC VICTORY The Obama administration blocked the Dakota Access Pipeline. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault II called the announcement a historic decision and protestors celebrated. Tom Dennis of the GF Herald called it a “Pyrrhic victory” and example of the type of action that caused Democrats to lose the White House and Congress. He said pipeline opponents twisted facts and made wild exaggerations.
ND POLITICIANS denounced the decision: Rep. Kevin Cramer (“unfortunate decision”), Sen. John Hoeven (“violates the rule of law”), and Gov. Jack Dalrymple (“serious mistake”). Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp said the decision “doesn’t bring any finality but keeps the pipeline in limbo.”
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL said “it was extremely rare for an administration to intervene in a permitting process.” A former pipeline administrator for the Bush administration said “clearly this is being directed from the administration.” Because of the advanced state of the pipeline’s construction, experts believe the administration’s move could be easily overturned.”
ARCHAMBAULT asked the non-Sioux protesters to leave the camps telling Reuters, “Their presence will only cause the environment to be unsafe.” A spokesman for the main camp said “the interests of the camp and the tribe may not always align.” A protestor said the protest was “not just about Standing Rock,” but rather a larger environmental movement, but indicated protestors should heed the wishes of Archambault and the tribe if asked to leave.
JAMES MACPHERSON is an Associated Press correspondent for ND. His article about the impact of winter on Dakota Access pipeline protesters was carried nationally. He said, “Life-threatening wind chills and towering snow drift could mean the greatest challenge is simple survival.” Subsequently, the protest camp was hit with a blizzard, high winds and sub-zero temperatures.
THEY WERE WARNED Roadways, schools and airports closed in ND as the first major winter storm brought the state to a halt. Some pipeline protesters were evacuated to a casino, community center and high school on the Standing Rock Reservation.
A MOMENT IN THE SUN “On this first Saturday of December 2016, per capita, there’s no question that the State of Football is North Dakota (population 740,000).” -- Star Tribune sports columnist Patrick Reusse. He said, “Not only is North Dakota State looking for its sixth title in a row, but UND also is making its first appearance in the FCS playoffs” and “North Dakota is ‘The State of Football’.”
SPIDER BITE "The State of Football" shrunk a little when UND lost to the U. of Richmond Spiders 27-4. NDSU stayed very much in the playoffs beating the U. of San Diego 45-7. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits will be the Bison’s quarterfinal opponent tomorrow on ESPN.
“WENTZ WAGON’S WHEELS FALL OFF.” -- Philadelphia Inquirer. In a story that was too good to last, the performance of rookie Eagles’ quarterback Carson Wentz has been slipping game by game. Wentz was the quarterback of NDSU’s 2015-2016 national championship team and statewide football hero.
REMEMBER PAULA BROADWELL? She was the mistress of former CIA Director David Petraeus now rumored to be a candidate for a spot in the Trump administration. That possibility caused her to speak out. She believes Petraeus “should be able to go on with his life,” but asked “Why shouldn’t I be able to go on?” She said the scandal cost her job opportunities. Broadwell was a graduate of Bismarck Century High School where she was valedictorian, homecoming queen and star of a state championship basketball team.
MINNESOTA OFFICIALS delivered their Annual Budget and Economic Forecast. They said the state’s economy is good, not great. In the largest cities the situation is mixed, highly skilled and educated folks do well, but people with low skills and education, particularly people of color, fall further behind. Twin Cities ring suburbs are prospering. Rural Minnesota (agriculture, mining and logging) is in a tough part of the economic cycle.
DON’T ASK With a nudge from the Obama administration, the U. of Minnesota has agreed to stop asking prospective students about felony convictions. Education Secretary John King said such questions “especially disadvantage African-Americans, who are convicted of crimes at relatively high rates.”
DAKTOIDS: Former NDSU football coach Craig Bohl found a nice home. The U. of Wyoming extended his contract for seven years with a base salary of $1.4 million, plus annual increases and incentives . . . U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp met for an hour with Donald Trump discussing matters such as the pipeline protests . . . Saturday, Heitkamp attended a UND hockey game against Boston College in Madison Square Garden where UND won 4-3. Phil Jackson was also one of 8,000 UND fans in attendance.
BEST RUN STATE Despite its difficulties, ND was picked the “Best Run State” for the fifth year in a row by 24/7 Wall Street. Neighbors Minnesota, Wyoming and Nebraska plus Utah rounded out the top five.
PYRRHIC VICTORY The Obama administration blocked the Dakota Access Pipeline. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault II called the announcement a historic decision and protestors celebrated. Tom Dennis of the GF Herald called it a “Pyrrhic victory” and example of the type of action that caused Democrats to lose the White House and Congress. He said pipeline opponents twisted facts and made wild exaggerations.
ND POLITICIANS denounced the decision: Rep. Kevin Cramer (“unfortunate decision”), Sen. John Hoeven (“violates the rule of law”), and Gov. Jack Dalrymple (“serious mistake”). Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp said the decision “doesn’t bring any finality but keeps the pipeline in limbo.”
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL said “it was extremely rare for an administration to intervene in a permitting process.” A former pipeline administrator for the Bush administration said “clearly this is being directed from the administration.” Because of the advanced state of the pipeline’s construction, experts believe the administration’s move could be easily overturned.”
ARCHAMBAULT asked the non-Sioux protesters to leave the camps telling Reuters, “Their presence will only cause the environment to be unsafe.” A spokesman for the main camp said “the interests of the camp and the tribe may not always align.” A protestor said the protest was “not just about Standing Rock,” but rather a larger environmental movement, but indicated protestors should heed the wishes of Archambault and the tribe if asked to leave.
JAMES MACPHERSON is an Associated Press correspondent for ND. His article about the impact of winter on Dakota Access pipeline protesters was carried nationally. He said, “Life-threatening wind chills and towering snow drift could mean the greatest challenge is simple survival.” Subsequently, the protest camp was hit with a blizzard, high winds and sub-zero temperatures.
THEY WERE WARNED Roadways, schools and airports closed in ND as the first major winter storm brought the state to a halt. Some pipeline protesters were evacuated to a casino, community center and high school on the Standing Rock Reservation.
A MOMENT IN THE SUN “On this first Saturday of December 2016, per capita, there’s no question that the State of Football is North Dakota (population 740,000).” -- Star Tribune sports columnist Patrick Reusse. He said, “Not only is North Dakota State looking for its sixth title in a row, but UND also is making its first appearance in the FCS playoffs” and “North Dakota is ‘The State of Football’.”
SPIDER BITE "The State of Football" shrunk a little when UND lost to the U. of Richmond Spiders 27-4. NDSU stayed very much in the playoffs beating the U. of San Diego 45-7. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits will be the Bison’s quarterfinal opponent tomorrow on ESPN.
“WENTZ WAGON’S WHEELS FALL OFF.” -- Philadelphia Inquirer. In a story that was too good to last, the performance of rookie Eagles’ quarterback Carson Wentz has been slipping game by game. Wentz was the quarterback of NDSU’s 2015-2016 national championship team and statewide football hero.
REMEMBER PAULA BROADWELL? She was the mistress of former CIA Director David Petraeus now rumored to be a candidate for a spot in the Trump administration. That possibility caused her to speak out. She believes Petraeus “should be able to go on with his life,” but asked “Why shouldn’t I be able to go on?” She said the scandal cost her job opportunities. Broadwell was a graduate of Bismarck Century High School where she was valedictorian, homecoming queen and star of a state championship basketball team.
MINNESOTA OFFICIALS delivered their Annual Budget and Economic Forecast. They said the state’s economy is good, not great. In the largest cities the situation is mixed, highly skilled and educated folks do well, but people with low skills and education, particularly people of color, fall further behind. Twin Cities ring suburbs are prospering. Rural Minnesota (agriculture, mining and logging) is in a tough part of the economic cycle.
DON’T ASK With a nudge from the Obama administration, the U. of Minnesota has agreed to stop asking prospective students about felony convictions. Education Secretary John King said such questions “especially disadvantage African-Americans, who are convicted of crimes at relatively high rates.”
DAKTOIDS: Former NDSU football coach Craig Bohl found a nice home. The U. of Wyoming extended his contract for seven years with a base salary of $1.4 million, plus annual increases and incentives . . . U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp met for an hour with Donald Trump discussing matters such as the pipeline protests . . . Saturday, Heitkamp attended a UND hockey game against Boston College in Madison Square Garden where UND won 4-3. Phil Jackson was also one of 8,000 UND fans in attendance.
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