Dakota Beacon

UNDERESTIMATING RISK  ND broke into the national news with per capita coronavirus cases and deaths, which were not only the highest in the nation, but were among the highest in the world.  How did ND become the worst?  A Forum analysis concluded that the state greatly underestimated the seriousness of the pandemic and also failed to issue a mask mandate.  Last Friday, Gov. Burgum reversed course and issued a mask order along with several new business restrictions.  ND has an acute shortage of hospital beds and patients are being transferred to hospitals in adjoining states.

ATTITUDES  Patrick Springer, who prepared the Forum analysis, also mentioned other factors which explain ND’s weak control of the virus.  Academics believe that Nodaks’ sense of self-sufficiency and fierce independence make them stubbornly resistant to mask requirements.  Also, two-thirds of ND residents have a chronic health condition such as high blood pressure, being overweight and smoking.  They exceed the national average for those conditions.  Additionally, over 60% of ND virus deaths arise in long-term care facilities.

“TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, WE’RE IN HELL.” — The Wall Street Journal quoted Trevor Tompkins, the manager of the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton.  The 91-bed facility has 55 residents and 46 staffers who have been infected with the virus since late October.  The WSJ article covered the plight of nursing homes in rural parts of the U.S.

MINOT'S STRUGGLE with the virus was the subject of an article by Adam Willis in the Forum papers.  Minot has the highest per capita numbers among ND's larger cities.  He succinctly described the climate: "Minot has become a paragon of North Dakota's pandemic crisis: a nightmare nexus of virus skepticism, underestimated rural spread, delayed action and an overburdened hospital system."

VIRUS, ETC.  The Air Force is sending 60 nurses and the U.S. Dept. of Health is matching that number to help overwhelmed ND hospitals . . . The James River Correction Center in Jamestown has 413 inmates — over half have the virus . . . The number of active virus cases in ND appeared to be flattening this week, although remaining at an alarmingly high level . . . SD Gov. Krisri Noem stubbornly defends her decision not to order a mask mandate, although her state has one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks.

SANFORD HEALTH in Sioux Falls plans to merge with Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City.  Sanford is the major health care provider in ND.  Intermountain appears to be the dominant partner in the merger and the new CEO and headquarters will be in Salt Lake City.  Since Sanford has been a steady acquirer of other health care companies, the question has been asked why is it willing to give up its leadership and headquarters?  They gave the usual reasons about improvements in efficiency and patient care, but an article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader indicates there is a stronger and overriding reason.  Intermountain has an insurance plan with 900,000 members, while Sanford has only 210,000 members, although they are otherwise a similar size.  There is significant benefit for both companies to compete in the insurance sector by joining their plans.

BLAME YOURSELVES  Columnist Mike McNeely says Minnesota (and ND) farmers are lamenting the loss of Collin Peterson as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.  Influence over agriculture policy will probably shift to the south and West Coast.  McNeely says farmers in Peterson’s Minnesota 7th Congressional District (adjoining ND) have no one to blame but themselves, because they failed to support Peterson.  It was mentioned here after the elections that Peterson’s loss was as important to ND farmers as almost any race in their own state.

WENTZ WOBBLES  “He has been arguably one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL.” — From a Philadelphia Inquirer article bemoaning the poor performance of Carson Wentz, former NDSU player from Bismarck.  They suggested he was worthy of benching.

BUFFALO CITY PARK is a proposal for a $60 million bison theme and cultural park in Jamestown near the intersection of I-94 and U.S. Hwy. 281.  The park is estimated to eventually have 279,000 visitors a year.  Where’s the dough coming from — like everyone else, promoters are looking at the state Legacy Fund.

OH NO, LADUKE AGAIN!  The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) finally approved permits for the replacement of the Line 3 oil pipeline owned by Canadian energy company Enbridge.  A 17-member environmental justice group advises MPCA.  Twelve members of that group resigned accusing MPCA of conducting a war against “black and brown people.”  Activist Winona LaDuke is a leader of the group that resigned — she was prominent during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests south of Mandan and has promised to make Line 3 protests the equal of those in ND.  The Line 3 pipeline replacement has been completed in Canada, ND and Wisconsin — Minnesota is the lone holdout.

THRILL OF A LIFETIME  Jaden Olson (22) of Rapid City, SD, revved his Maserati up to 147 mph on I-90.  When he rear-ended a semi and ripped the roof off his car, he and his two passengers were killed.  Titus Ironshield (55) of Cannon Ball, ND, was one of the passengers. 

WHAT DO MINNESOTANS THINK?  After the death of George Floyd in May, how have attitudes about race and police settled out in Minnesota?  A Star Tribune statewide poll attempted a partial answer by asking four questions:

•  Was the Floyd death an isolated incident?  Yes 36%, No 52%   
•  Are Black and White treated equally by criminal justice?  Yes 31%, No 56% 
• Is police violence against Blacks more serious than civilian violence?  Yes 35%, No 52%  
• Do you have a favorable view of Black Lives Matter?  Yes 42%, No 46%  

Each question had an undecided level of 12 or 13%.  Residents of the urban counties of Hennepin and Ramsey were 33% of the poll — outside counties, including the rest of the metro area, were 67%.

DAKTOIDS:  The $1 billion Davis Refinery near the Badlands is stalled for lack of financing . . . September oil production in ND was 1.2 million barrels a day — state officials say that’s as good as it will get in the short run because of low oil prices . . . Mary Wakefield, formerly director of UND’s Center for Rural Health, is a volunteer member of Joe Biden’s transition team.