Dakota Beacon

ARE BETTER TIMES COMING?  ND’s crops are largely planted.  The state expects 7.5 million acres of wheat, 6.5 million acres of soybeans and 4 million acres of corn.  The outlook in ND is cautiously optimistic — some farmers in states such as Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska have been unable to plant because of a late, wet spring.  Canada and Australia have the opposite problem — dry soil conditions.  As a result, wheat and corn prices rallied strongly.

COAL WARS  “This is the problem with the energy debate in America today. So often the loudest voices engaged in it are motivated more by ideology, and partisan considerations, than a pragmatic grasp of reality.” — Columnist Rob Port referred to a statement by Brad Magnuson, Chairman of the ND Dem-NPL Renewable Energy Caucus.  Magnuson said “Coal is no longer a viable source of energy” and “is merely a backup source of energy, and not a primary source.”  Magnuson was, in turn, responding to Public Service Commissioner Brian Kroshus, who said last week that ND’s lignite-burning plants “are needed as a base-power source.”

CRISIS BREWING  “A sometimes grueling schedule that has traumatic work conditions and low pay doesn’t make for the best help-wanted ad.” — From a GF Herald editorial about an alarming lack of EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) and ambulance drivers in ND.  The situation is most acute in rural areas with declining populations.  Emergencies in many small towns are met by volunteers, who may not be qualified to transfer patients.

DID CARA MUND GET THE LAST WORD?  Cara Mund, a Bismarck Century H.S. graduate, was her state’s first Miss America in 2017 — an occasion celebrated in Bismarck and the state.  A year later, the situation was more somber, Mund alleged she had been bullied and silenced by the Miss America Organization and its Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson, Miss America 1989.  Mund's allegations put a spotlight on widespread dissatisfaction with Carlson, culminating with her resignation last week.  She will be replaced by Shantel Krebs, the former South Dakota secretary of state.

CARSON WENTZ, another star graduate of Century H.S, signed a four-year extension as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback that will guarantee $107 million.  A Philadelphia newspaper said the contract was offered for reasons deeper than Wentz's quarterback ability — he is becoming the public relations face of the Eagles.

A WARY ACLU  The Dakota Access Pipeline demonstrations were disruptive and costly for ND.  The state is still pursuing a $38 million claim against the federal government for its failure to put early brakes on the demonstrations, which were funded by millions of dollars of outside money.  New laws in ND are directed at demonstrators who damage or disrupt infrastructure and those who fund them.  SD has enacted similar legislation that allows the state to sue “riot boosters.”  The ACLU is challenging the SD law and keeping a wary eye on ND.  Activists, such as Winona LaDuke in Minnesota and ND Rep. Ruth Buffalo from Fargo, are opposed to the new laws and contend they hinder environmental justice.

EXCEL ENERGY is a Minnesota utility which serves ND (N. States Power) customers.  Excel was the first utility in the country to receive FAA approval to fly drones beyond line of sight for power line inspections.  The utility is again pioneering by using a heavy-lift drone to install wire on power lines.  The drone, owned and operated by ND-based SkySkopes, is safer and less expensive than helicopters used previously. 

“NORTH DAKOTANS NEVER GIVE UP” is a new book by WWII veteran and ND native Larry Aasen (96).  Aasen is the classic ND success story: born in a log house, went to a one-room school and attended NDSU and UND before launching a business career in NYC.  He tells Nodaks what they want to hear, “they . . . work harder than anyone,” and nods to their toughness, "It is the culture, the culture now and then.”  Peggy Lee, Lawrence Welk and Eric Sevareid are a few of his toughness nominations.  One of his comments may be a bit of a stretch: "We don't expect a handout because we never got a handout from anyone.”  In fact, over time, ND has had more than its share of handouts.

RACIAL DOUBLE STANDARD — that was the cry heard from Minneapolis Somalis last week as problems of two popular members of their community drew national attention.  Following is a summary of a few recent events, draw your own conclusions:

• U.S. REP. ILHAN OMAR  Long-standing questions about her complicated marriage and immigration history were reopened when the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board found she violated rules while a member of the state House.  Their investigation also learned that she filed joint income tax returns with one man while married to another.  She explained those arrangements were okay under Muslim “faith tradition” — that may not help with the IRS.

• POLICE OFFICER MOHAMED NOOR was convicted of murder and manslaughter for killing Minneapolis civilian Justine Damond.  Nearly 200 people, mainly from the Somali community, gathered to provide support at his sentencing hearing, but the judge sentenced him to 12-1/2 years in prison.  Noor is the second officer in Minnesota to be charged for an on-duty fatal shooting, and the first to be convicted — Somali-Americans see this as a double standard in the criminal justice system.
  
  

DAKTOIDS:  The Benedictine Sisters of the Richardson Sacred Heart Monastery are leaving their 87,000 square foot home (and llamas) and moving to a 13,000 square foot former retirement complex in Dickinson . . . Columnist Mike Jacobs hints former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp is preparing to run for governor and believes she is also interested in the UND presidency . . . Instead of a social service office in each of ND’s 53 counties, a new state law requires slimming down to 19 zone offices — the counties themselves will determine the shape of the zones . . . Gov. Burgum was named chairman of the W. Governors' Association and will bring the organization's annual meeting next year to the ND Badlands.