SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - MAY 20, 2019
U.S. NEWS BEST STATES In this annual ranking, ND was #4 in both 2017 and 2018, but, alas, slipped to #15 in 2019. A little investigation revealed different methodologies were used each year, some information lagged and some was the average of several years. So much for comparability, but it should be said that the survey is thorough and considers many factors (70 metrics). ND was strongest (#4) in opportunity and weakest (#38) in health. In addition to inconsistencies, weak energy and ag economies probably contributed to ND’s poorer showing in 2019.
OTHER STATES Minnesota was a star, ranking either #3 or #2 in the last three years, with good rankings in all eight primary categories, except fiscal stability. SD came in #20, it ranked high in natural environment and did badly in crime. Montana (#29) was followed closely by Wyoming (#31). Montana ranked poorly in opportunity; Wyoming ranked poorly in health and economy. The top three states were Washington, New Hampshire and Minnesota; the bottom three were those old regulars Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
LET UND SHINE AGAIN William J. Brotherton, an attorney in Argyle, Texas, describes himself as a UND graduate and an adopted member of the Spirit Lake Sioux. In a blistering letter to the Forum, he outlined his proposals for improving UND post Mark Kennedy and getting back “to be the shining university on the plains. ” Among his proposals: Make amends to Kris Engelstad McGarry (a major donor), reduce political correctness, stress traditional American values, encourage students to work more and borrow less, and improve relationships with ND tribes.
BROTHERTON’S STANDOUT RECOMMENDATION was to bring donors back into the UND family by one simple move: eliminate the Fighting Hawks nickname. He says the name is viewed with disdain and creates division. He stopped short of recommending bringing back the Fighting Sioux nickname, but urged a return to the name North Dakota. Brotherton was in the forefront of folks who tried to retain the Fighting Sioux name.
FORUM COMMUNICATIONS, ND’s largest newspaper publisher, is going against the grain by purchasing the Rochester Post Bulletin, Minnesota’s largest afternoon newspaper serving seven counties in the southeastern portion of the state. The purchase is made in the face of dire predictions about the newspaper industry.
NEW RIOTING LAWS in SD are being challenged by the ACLU. The laws establish penalties for “riot boosting,” or encouraging protestors to engage in violence, as was perceived to have happened in ND in connection with the Dakota Access Pipeline. A GF Herald editorial backed SD saying “We believe these are sound laws that are needed to protect assets – both public and private – related to legal and properly approved projects.”
FARM OR FISH? Columnist Mike McFeely discussed whether the state should continue to lower the level of Devils Lake. “Hell no” is the response from the fishing community. "The lake has done wonders for us,” said a Tolna City Councilman, "It has diversified our economy, turning us from an ag-based community to one that has both recreation and ag.” However, farmers want their land back. One said, “The state needs to continue taking water off the lake. It would be a great disservice to the farmers to not use those pumps to the full capacity for their intended purpose.” For the moment there is a standoff, the state continues to pump as it gathers more information.
THE RED RIVER WATER SUPPLY PROJECT will carry water in a buried pipeline from the Missouri near Washburn along Highway 200 to the Sheyenne River which drains into the Red. Construction will begin next spring on the $1 billion, 165 mile project which will provide water to the Fargo area in the event of prolonged drought. Fargo is ND’s largest population center.
WHAT TYPE OF IMMIGRANT? Sen. Kevin Cramer, ND, and Sen. Mike Lee, Utah, have teamed to introduce the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act that would admit immigrants using a merit-based system. That would favor immigrants, for example, with technological or medical training. The mayor of Morris (Stevens County), Minnesota, has a different system in mind — one that would legalize workers in agribusinesses, such as dairies and meat plants. A map of Minnesota shows green (growing) counties in the east and red (declining) counties in the rural west near the Dakotas. Stevens is one of the red counties — its population is declining, but at a rate slowed by immigrant farm workers.
DIVERSITY IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY Occasionally, social developments in Minnesota are mentioned here in the expectation they may eventually influence ND. Pelican Rapids is 30 miles from the ND border. Immigrants have moved there mostly to work for the West Central Turkeys processing plant. Employees speak nine languages ranging from Mexican to Somali.
COLLAR ON THE AUDITOR Funny things happen in the waning hours of the Legislature. This year, restrictions were placed on the state auditor’s ability to conduct performance audits. Two such audits disclosed embarrassing information about political figures. Critics of the restrictions believe they are a retaliation; supporters say the restrictions are to assure the auditor sticks to the obligations of his job. In any event, the matter will not currently be revisited, although it could become an issue in the 2020 elections.
IT’S OFFICIAL The Air Force is designating GFAFB to be in charge of its Global Hawk mission replacing Beale AFB in California. The Global Hawk is a high-flying, unmanned drone for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance efforts. The aircraft are flown by squadrons around the world.
DAKTOIDS: The Ralph at UND is getting the largest center-hung video display in college hockey. The entire project is merely $6 million . . . "We have the prison, the State Hospital Sex Offender unit, the Human Service Center.” — Jamestown’s explanation why it has 6% of the state’s registered sex offenders, but only 2% of the population . . . After 21-year-old Hunter Hanson, with no training in grain marketing, stiffed customers for $11.5 million, licensing and regulation of grain will shift from the ND Public Service Commission to the Dept. of Agriculture . . . ND oil production rebounded to near record levels in March, but flaring broke new records. A state energy official said that gas “plant capacity is expected to catch up by the end of the year.”
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