SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - OCTOBER 11, 2016
LET THEM EAT SANDBAGS! The Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources has denied a key permit for the massive Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project, bringing the $2 billion project to a halt. One of the reasons given was that emergency measures used in the 2009 flood fight (sandbags) should be enough for future floods. Moorhead politicians feel "abandoned" by Governor Dayton.
TAXABLE SALES, a key indicator of the ND economy, continued to drop in the second quarter of this year. There was a statewide drop of 26 percent from the prior year, most noticeable in western oil counties, and, to a lesser degree, in the state’s largest cities.
THE LARGEST WIND FARM ever proposed in ND applied for permits from the Public Service Commission. The Glacier Ridge Wind Farm in Barnes County (Valley City) will have 87 wind turbines -- the tips of the blades will reach nearly 500 feet. The project has an estimated cost of $375 million and produces 300 megawatts. Production Tax Credits are key to the project, so the contractor will commence token construction in 2016 to cement the credits. Serious work resumes in 2018. A number of hurdles remain before the project is a go.
UNLAWFUL The largest Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp is located on Corps of Engineers land and has no permit. The Standing Rock chairman asked the state for emergency medical care at the camp because “emergencies, accidents and injuries were stressing the tribe’s capabilities, resulting in diminished services to the residents of Standing Rock.” The state denied the request on the grounds that taxpayer money should not be used to support an unlawful activity.
THEIR HANDS ARE TIED? A Corps spokeswoman said, "We don't have the physical ability to go out and evict people — it gives the appearance of not protecting free speech. Our hands are really tied." She also said, “The Corps' only enforcement tool is issuing $75 to $100 citations for unauthorized uses such as camping without a permit or discharging waste into a U.S. waterway.” The Corps’ response to the protests is consistent with that of the Obama administration and other federal agencies.
INTERVENTION “The Justice Department reported that 22 percent of native children experience post-traumatic stress — the same rate as veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” -- Fargo Forum. The ND Legislature will consider a bill to increase services to juveniles in tribal courts. American Indians make up 20 percent of the inmates in the ND prison system, although they are only 5.5 percent of the state population.
DUMB IDEA OF THE WEEK Northern Plains Nitrogen is a Grand Forks fertilizer plant proposed by regional corn famers. Democratic candidate for governor Marvin Nelson would like the state Legacy Fund to invest $500 million in the proposed plant. The Legacy Fund is a “rainy day” fund which collects oil and gas taxes which are invested to provide a cushion for the day when energy resources decline. The $4 billion fund has a diversified investment portfolio. It would be highly inappropriate to put a material portion of the Legacy Fund in a high risk, illiquid investment, particularly, knowing growers were unable to obtain financing through normal channels.
HOT DOG! "Carson embodies what we are as a company: he is hard-working, humble, determined and, most importantly, he gives his all to his job, because it is his passion.” -- RealTruck of Jamestown describing their partnership with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. The company will be providing all the accessories for Wentz's new pickup truck. Wentz also has deals with Sanford Health, Scheels and a W. Fargo bank.
YES, HE WAS A BIT LOUTISH David Johnson of Mayville, ND, aggressively heckled European golfers who were putting at a Ryder Cup practice round in Chaska (a Minneapolis suburb). The 6-foot-5 State Farm Insurance agent could easily have got in trouble, instead, one of the pros dared Johnson to come on the green and see if he could do better. Johnson did and instantly became a minor celebrity by sinking a 12-foot putt. He left with a $100 bill autographed by all four pros.
THE HECKLER rose again, this time his target was “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert. Johnson was in the New York audience and began his trademark heckling (feigned). Once again he was invited into the spotlight, where there just happened to be a small putting green. Dave drilled another putt. State Farm in Mayville must be delighted with the exposure.
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS in little Robinson (pop. 40), ND, have stolen Rugby’s title as the “Geographical Center of North America.” Rugby (pop. 2,900) carelessly let its trademark expire -- the denizens of Hanson’s Bar in Robinson (85 miles south) swooped in and registered the trademark. The claim of both towns is a little shaky.
THE PROFESSOR BLEW HIMSELF UP Well, not quite, Dickinson State chemistry professor Ken Pierce prepared a classroom demonstration -- the explosion was very convincing and put Pierce in the hospital. The classroom was evacuated and cleaned by a hazardous material team.
A UND PhD CANDIDATE says she has discovered that science is hostile to women “because the concept of objectivity is too hard for women and minorities to understand.” Laura Parson, a doctoral student in the UND education department, is quoted in “The Federalist.” She asserts in her dissertation that women and minorities are uniquely challenged by science, therefore the scientific method and other forms of male oppression should be abolished. Joy Pullmann, author of the The Federalist article, ridiculed Parson’s theories and contended they impede women’s progress.
NODAKS DON’T WHINE The Amtrak Empire Builder struck Dan O’Donnel of Emerado. The injured O’Donnel limped back to his apartment. After the train conductor made a 911 call, deputies followed a blood trail to the apartment and O’Donnel was transported to a hospital in Grand Forks, where he was in satisfactory condition.
LITTLE MOGADISHU An HBO pilot called “Mogadishu, Minnesota” has conditional approval to film scene-setting shots at a Minneapolis public housing high-rise complex that’s home to many Somali. But some activists fear that the Cedar-Riverside area will be depicted as a hotbed of terrorist recruitment. A student asked, “What is the cost of MPHA blindly letting HBO portray us in this way?”
“MAKE THEM MORE ACCOUNTABLE to educate and acclimate their charges and share the financial burden rather than just ‘dump’ and go back for another load.” -- A letter writer to the Fargo Forum wants Lutheran Social Services to absorb a greater share of the cost of refugee resettlement.
TAXABLE SALES, a key indicator of the ND economy, continued to drop in the second quarter of this year. There was a statewide drop of 26 percent from the prior year, most noticeable in western oil counties, and, to a lesser degree, in the state’s largest cities.
THE LARGEST WIND FARM ever proposed in ND applied for permits from the Public Service Commission. The Glacier Ridge Wind Farm in Barnes County (Valley City) will have 87 wind turbines -- the tips of the blades will reach nearly 500 feet. The project has an estimated cost of $375 million and produces 300 megawatts. Production Tax Credits are key to the project, so the contractor will commence token construction in 2016 to cement the credits. Serious work resumes in 2018. A number of hurdles remain before the project is a go.
UNLAWFUL The largest Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp is located on Corps of Engineers land and has no permit. The Standing Rock chairman asked the state for emergency medical care at the camp because “emergencies, accidents and injuries were stressing the tribe’s capabilities, resulting in diminished services to the residents of Standing Rock.” The state denied the request on the grounds that taxpayer money should not be used to support an unlawful activity.
THEIR HANDS ARE TIED? A Corps spokeswoman said, "We don't have the physical ability to go out and evict people — it gives the appearance of not protecting free speech. Our hands are really tied." She also said, “The Corps' only enforcement tool is issuing $75 to $100 citations for unauthorized uses such as camping without a permit or discharging waste into a U.S. waterway.” The Corps’ response to the protests is consistent with that of the Obama administration and other federal agencies.
INTERVENTION “The Justice Department reported that 22 percent of native children experience post-traumatic stress — the same rate as veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” -- Fargo Forum. The ND Legislature will consider a bill to increase services to juveniles in tribal courts. American Indians make up 20 percent of the inmates in the ND prison system, although they are only 5.5 percent of the state population.
DUMB IDEA OF THE WEEK Northern Plains Nitrogen is a Grand Forks fertilizer plant proposed by regional corn famers. Democratic candidate for governor Marvin Nelson would like the state Legacy Fund to invest $500 million in the proposed plant. The Legacy Fund is a “rainy day” fund which collects oil and gas taxes which are invested to provide a cushion for the day when energy resources decline. The $4 billion fund has a diversified investment portfolio. It would be highly inappropriate to put a material portion of the Legacy Fund in a high risk, illiquid investment, particularly, knowing growers were unable to obtain financing through normal channels.
HOT DOG! "Carson embodies what we are as a company: he is hard-working, humble, determined and, most importantly, he gives his all to his job, because it is his passion.” -- RealTruck of Jamestown describing their partnership with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. The company will be providing all the accessories for Wentz's new pickup truck. Wentz also has deals with Sanford Health, Scheels and a W. Fargo bank.
YES, HE WAS A BIT LOUTISH David Johnson of Mayville, ND, aggressively heckled European golfers who were putting at a Ryder Cup practice round in Chaska (a Minneapolis suburb). The 6-foot-5 State Farm Insurance agent could easily have got in trouble, instead, one of the pros dared Johnson to come on the green and see if he could do better. Johnson did and instantly became a minor celebrity by sinking a 12-foot putt. He left with a $100 bill autographed by all four pros.
THE HECKLER rose again, this time his target was “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert. Johnson was in the New York audience and began his trademark heckling (feigned). Once again he was invited into the spotlight, where there just happened to be a small putting green. Dave drilled another putt. State Farm in Mayville must be delighted with the exposure.
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS in little Robinson (pop. 40), ND, have stolen Rugby’s title as the “Geographical Center of North America.” Rugby (pop. 2,900) carelessly let its trademark expire -- the denizens of Hanson’s Bar in Robinson (85 miles south) swooped in and registered the trademark. The claim of both towns is a little shaky.
THE PROFESSOR BLEW HIMSELF UP Well, not quite, Dickinson State chemistry professor Ken Pierce prepared a classroom demonstration -- the explosion was very convincing and put Pierce in the hospital. The classroom was evacuated and cleaned by a hazardous material team.
A UND PhD CANDIDATE says she has discovered that science is hostile to women “because the concept of objectivity is too hard for women and minorities to understand.” Laura Parson, a doctoral student in the UND education department, is quoted in “The Federalist.” She asserts in her dissertation that women and minorities are uniquely challenged by science, therefore the scientific method and other forms of male oppression should be abolished. Joy Pullmann, author of the The Federalist article, ridiculed Parson’s theories and contended they impede women’s progress.
NODAKS DON’T WHINE The Amtrak Empire Builder struck Dan O’Donnel of Emerado. The injured O’Donnel limped back to his apartment. After the train conductor made a 911 call, deputies followed a blood trail to the apartment and O’Donnel was transported to a hospital in Grand Forks, where he was in satisfactory condition.
LITTLE MOGADISHU An HBO pilot called “Mogadishu, Minnesota” has conditional approval to film scene-setting shots at a Minneapolis public housing high-rise complex that’s home to many Somali. But some activists fear that the Cedar-Riverside area will be depicted as a hotbed of terrorist recruitment. A student asked, “What is the cost of MPHA blindly letting HBO portray us in this way?”
“MAKE THEM MORE ACCOUNTABLE to educate and acclimate their charges and share the financial burden rather than just ‘dump’ and go back for another load.” -- A letter writer to the Fargo Forum wants Lutheran Social Services to absorb a greater share of the cost of refugee resettlement.
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