Dakota Beacon

SHOWING IMPROVEMENT  “I feel so far, North Dakota has navigated pretty well on the balance of saving lives and saving livelihoods . . . (of) keeping kids in school and keeping the economy open.” — ND Gov. Doug Burgum.  Evidence is developing that he may be right.  ND is part of a group of states which the New York Times says are “in sustained decline” in coronavirus cases.  In the past seven days, ND averaged 38 new cases per 10,000 population, the lowest of close neighbors and well below the national average.  On the same scale, Minnesota (41), Montana (51), SD (55) and Wyoming (58) were also at or below the national average, but higher than ND.  Active cases in ND are 23% of the high of 10,000 on November 12.

WARD COUNTY (Minot) is the deadliest county in ND’s pandemic.  Last week, Ward reported 165 cumulative deaths from coronavirus, more than any other county, surpassing larger population centers like Cass (Fargo) and Burleigh (Bismarck).  For several weeks this fall, Trinity Health in Minot was in crisis and too full to accept transfers.  As in other ND cities, long-term care facilities led the way in Minot.  Somerset Court, an assisted living facility, illustrates the problem — in one day it went from zero cases to 58 of which 21 died.

WASHINGTON STATE has had organized opposition to trains carrying ND crude oil to Washington ports and refineries.  The opposition questions the safety of the trains.  This week, a BNSF train carrying ND crude oil derailed and caught fire near Bellingham, Washington.  There were no injuries.  The oil was headed for a refinery in nearby Ferndale.  The accident will renew opposition to oil trains in Washington.

ECO-TERRORISM is not ruled out in the above accident.  When the site cools down the FBI will investigate the possibility.  The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force said there have been dozens of cases involving BNSF tracks since January, with a message claiming responsibility posted on an anarchist website early this year.

DISAPPOINTING YEAR  ND’s taxable sales and purchases were down almost 20% from the prior year in the third quarter of 2020.  The big decreases were in the Oil Patch where cities such as Williston were down 50%.  State retail trade was up 8% in part because of online sales.  While ND’s four largest cities had taxable sales declines from the prior year, they substantially increased from this year’s second quarter.

SIX AIR FORCE BASES are finalists in a contest to see which will be headquarters for the U.S. Space Command.  Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, NE, is one finalist.  UND has joined with the U. of Nebraska, Kansas State and Purdue to form a space-oriented academic and research alliance to increase the chance of Offutt AFB becoming the headquarters.  UND is a fraction of the size of the other three universities — an acknowledgement of the strong reputation of its aerospace school.  ND University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott worked on the arrangement for UND.  UND president Andrew Armacost said UND is interested in supporting the Space Command wherever it is located.

WOES FOR WENTZ  The Philadelphia Inquirer has been a cheerleader for ND quarterback Carson Wentz for several years.  That’s come to an end, this week the Inquirer said, “Several teams would undoubtedly be interested in trading for Wentz — a big, strong-armed, smart, and relatively mobile quarterback.  But what, exactly, would teams be willing to surrender in exchange for a highly paid, oft-injured, apparently regressed ... malcontent?”  Not exactly a fan letter.  In the meantime, Wentz is on the bench, rookie Jalen Hurts is the starting quarterback.  The Inquirer said, “It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which both return.”

THEY HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN  Don’t expect ND’s U.S senators to support Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico to lead the Dept. of Interior, if she comes up for confirmation.  Forum columnist Mike McFeely reports she cooked meals for protesters at Standing Rock during the DAPL standoff in 2016.  ND still smarts from the disruption and costs of those protests.

“ELWYN WAS RIGHT.  AGAIN.”  Columnist Lloyd Omdahl was referring to UND Professor Elwyn Robinson who wrote a history of ND which popularized the phrase “too much mistake.”  Robinson mentioned ND’s overbuilt system of colleges and universities which is greater than the state will ever need, yet is politically hard to trim.  ND high school graduates are not sufficient to support the system.  As a consequence, over half the students at UND and NDSU are from out-of-state.

FAMILIES IN DISTRESS  The Census Bureau, apart from the major 2020 census, makes a weekly survey of selected households and asks one adult four questions.  Here are the questions and responses in ND this fall. 1. Do you have enough to eat?  No, 6%.  2.  Are you worried about paying rent or mortgage?  Yes, 17%.  3.  Do you have health insurance?  No, 12%.  4. Are you depressed or hopeless?  Yes, 14%.  Responses in Minnesota and SD were similar, although the percentage worried about rent or mortgage in ND was noticeably higher than the other two states. 

GIFT TO TRIBAL COLLEGE  When Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bozos was divorced a few years ago, his ex-wife became one of the richest people in the world.  She is determined to give that fortune away.  This year, 384 organizations will receive $4.2 billion from McKenzie Scott, who has targeted communities with food insecurity, racial inequity and significant poverty.  The Turtle Mt. Community College in Belcourt, ND, will receive an unrestricted $8 million.

THE REBEL  South Dakota has not been apologetic about its lack of coronavirus restrictions, moreover, it has been almost boastful, featuring its lack of restrictions in marketing materials.  The SD Director of Tourism says annual travel spending in the state has dropped only 24% compared to a nationwide drop of 45%.

DAKTOIDS:  Extreme drought is affecting the central ND counties of Eddy, Foster, Wells, Stutsman and Kidder . . . A man was found dead along the railroad east of Devils Lake — he is believed to have fallen from the Empire Builder which was traveling 80 mph.