SCHMID: LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST - SEPTEMBER 26, 2016
WENTZMANIA Can it last? Bismarck native and former NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz became the first rookie quarterback to start and win his first two games of the season with no turnovers. The second game was on Monday Night Football and Wentz was named outstanding player. His Eagles jersey is one of the fastest selling items of NFL clothing and the Bismarck Tribune is running a contest called the "Carson Wentz weekly challenge."
ND’S DREAM FOOTBALL WEEKEND In addition to Wentz's triumph, NDSU upset nationally ranked Iowa 23-21 -- the biggest win in school history. Iowa is in the FBS (the NCAA top division); NDSU in the lower FCS. This was just the fourth time a ranked FBS team lost to a FCS school. But the NYTimes said “North Dakota State isn’t just another FCS team, though. The Bison have won the last five FCS national titles.” UND football fans also got satisfaction when the Hawks beat the University of SD.
IT’S NOT ALL BAD "There were headwinds, we all saw it laid out in ugly, ugly fashion as we talked about budgets at the state level and how things had to change, but that doesn't mean that the economy overall was as bad as that situation." -- David Flynn, Director of Bureau of Business & Economics at UND. GDP in 2015 increased in ND’s three largest metro areas -- Bismarck led with a 5.7 percent increase. ND oil production remains steady at over one million barrels a day.
“I'M EXCITED AS AN OPERATING LEADER—as someone who's used to operating and competing in an industry where we had to be better, faster and cheaper every day than we were the day before. I'm excited to try to bring that mindset to how we deliver government services.” -- Doug Burgum, Republican candidate for governor. In a meeting summarized by the Herald, Burgum outlined his thoughts on a variety of ND issues for Grand Forks leaders. He approached issues with technical savy and a strong sense of future needs. Burgum has played a major role in developing Fargo’s positive self-image -- if he can extend those successful efforts to the state, as he says, “North Dakota can be one of the top innovation platforms in the country.”
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION stepped into the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy stopping construction while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering reconsiders it previous decision. ND leaders were nearly unanimous in calling the action political interference -- Doug Burgum said the feds changed the rules after the game was played. Columnist Rob Port called the actions political “vandalism” and “intrusion.”
THE STATE EMERGENCY COMMISSION requested a $6 million loan from the Bank of North Dakota to cover the cost of law enforcement related to the DAP protests. Commission members blasted the federal government for not providing more support, saying most of the protests take place on federal land.
ND’S DREAM FOOTBALL WEEKEND In addition to Wentz's triumph, NDSU upset nationally ranked Iowa 23-21 -- the biggest win in school history. Iowa is in the FBS (the NCAA top division); NDSU in the lower FCS. This was just the fourth time a ranked FBS team lost to a FCS school. But the NYTimes said “North Dakota State isn’t just another FCS team, though. The Bison have won the last five FCS national titles.” UND football fans also got satisfaction when the Hawks beat the University of SD.
IT’S NOT ALL BAD "There were headwinds, we all saw it laid out in ugly, ugly fashion as we talked about budgets at the state level and how things had to change, but that doesn't mean that the economy overall was as bad as that situation." -- David Flynn, Director of Bureau of Business & Economics at UND. GDP in 2015 increased in ND’s three largest metro areas -- Bismarck led with a 5.7 percent increase. ND oil production remains steady at over one million barrels a day.
“I'M EXCITED AS AN OPERATING LEADER—as someone who's used to operating and competing in an industry where we had to be better, faster and cheaper every day than we were the day before. I'm excited to try to bring that mindset to how we deliver government services.” -- Doug Burgum, Republican candidate for governor. In a meeting summarized by the Herald, Burgum outlined his thoughts on a variety of ND issues for Grand Forks leaders. He approached issues with technical savy and a strong sense of future needs. Burgum has played a major role in developing Fargo’s positive self-image -- if he can extend those successful efforts to the state, as he says, “North Dakota can be one of the top innovation platforms in the country.”
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION stepped into the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy stopping construction while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering reconsiders it previous decision. ND leaders were nearly unanimous in calling the action political interference -- Doug Burgum said the feds changed the rules after the game was played. Columnist Rob Port called the actions political “vandalism” and “intrusion.”
THE STATE EMERGENCY COMMISSION requested a $6 million loan from the Bank of North Dakota to cover the cost of law enforcement related to the DAP protests. Commission members blasted the federal government for not providing more support, saying most of the protests take place on federal land.
OVER 300 PROTESTORS showed up at the Morton County (Mandan) Jail demanding the release of fellow protestor Olowan Martinez (42), a SD woman who has a Nebraska felony warrant for terroristic threats, thefts and criminal mischief.
ND PETROLEUM COUNCIL President Ron Ness said the industry in ND has settled down in baseline operations. He said “last year there was a little more panic in the air.” Ness said “most companies now project it will be well into 2017 before oil prices improve to a point where drilling will increase.”
CLOSE TO HOME Many social and political trends beginning in Minnesota work their way up I-94 and are early indicators for ND. For that reason, issues in the Minnesota Somali community are often noted here, particularly, the threat of homegrown terror. Last week, Somali Dahir Adan (20) knifed 10 people in a St. Cloud shopping mall before he was shot by an off-duty police officer. Adan grew up in Fargo -- a letter writer to the Forum called the incident a “near-miss.”
THE FBI WILL INVESTIGATE -- a Special Agent said “a large portion of the Somali Community is still not on board with the federal effort (to identify and reduce radical behavior).” Dahir Adan’s brother Abdullahi (27) was held in the Cass County Jail on felony drug counts at the time of the St. Cloud incident.
THAT MAKES IT PERFECTLY CLEAR “This policy means to trans folks a way to be able to let officers know who they are; to be able to say ‘My pronoun is they or them, or she or her or him’.“ -- Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau clarifying the new policy on addressing transgenders. She indicated the policy fits in with the department’s mission of “learning and growing and understanding the people we serve.”
DAKTOIDS “A new report says Fargo is the fastest-growing liberal city in the country.” -- From SmartAsset . . . The little ND city of Watford City opened the Rough Rider Center, a $92 million muni facility for conventions, recreation and athletics . . . Enrollments at UND and NDSU are down slightly from last year . . . In the next 15 years, the number of senior citizens in Fargo is expected to double, creating a crisis demand for low income housing.
ND PETROLEUM COUNCIL President Ron Ness said the industry in ND has settled down in baseline operations. He said “last year there was a little more panic in the air.” Ness said “most companies now project it will be well into 2017 before oil prices improve to a point where drilling will increase.”
CLOSE TO HOME Many social and political trends beginning in Minnesota work their way up I-94 and are early indicators for ND. For that reason, issues in the Minnesota Somali community are often noted here, particularly, the threat of homegrown terror. Last week, Somali Dahir Adan (20) knifed 10 people in a St. Cloud shopping mall before he was shot by an off-duty police officer. Adan grew up in Fargo -- a letter writer to the Forum called the incident a “near-miss.”
THE FBI WILL INVESTIGATE -- a Special Agent said “a large portion of the Somali Community is still not on board with the federal effort (to identify and reduce radical behavior).” Dahir Adan’s brother Abdullahi (27) was held in the Cass County Jail on felony drug counts at the time of the St. Cloud incident.
THAT MAKES IT PERFECTLY CLEAR “This policy means to trans folks a way to be able to let officers know who they are; to be able to say ‘My pronoun is they or them, or she or her or him’.“ -- Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau clarifying the new policy on addressing transgenders. She indicated the policy fits in with the department’s mission of “learning and growing and understanding the people we serve.”
SO GOES THE STATE In 1990, 6 percent of Minnesotans were people of color; by 2020, that share is projected to exceed 20 percent. This lends an urgency to the state’s efforts to improve minority employment and education, since the whole state’s prosperity increasingly depends on the ability of that 20 percent to succeed.
A KILLER is stalking small town retailers. Retailing in rural ND has been declining for decades due to larger farms and fewer people. Now, there is another element snatching the business of the surviving retailers. It's the UPS man (or gal). A Wall Street Journal article describes how people in rural areas are purchasing everything from toiletries to household supplies online because of the convenience and low cost.
DAKTOIDS “A new report says Fargo is the fastest-growing liberal city in the country.” -- From SmartAsset . . . The little ND city of Watford City opened the Rough Rider Center, a $92 million muni facility for conventions, recreation and athletics . . . Enrollments at UND and NDSU are down slightly from last year . . . In the next 15 years, the number of senior citizens in Fargo is expected to double, creating a crisis demand for low income housing.
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