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Newspaper Archive of
Golden Valley News
Beach, North Dakota
April 6, 2017     Golden Valley News
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April 6, 2017
 
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"3 ~-C~ f'3 t£3 -~ ~33 cb i t Prom royalty candidates Prom at Beach High School is scheduled for Saturday, April 8, at the High School Gym, with the Grand March being at 8 p.m. Prom royalty candidates are, back row, from left, Makensie Mat- tern, Sofia Muruato, Kobi Allen, Larissa Roberts, Kristy Dotson and Anzhelika (Lika) Haru- tyunyan, .and front row, from left, Dawson Bishop, Matthew Hildebrant, Casey Rieger and Brandon Miller. (Courtesy Photo) By Mike Jacobs N.D. Newspaper Association BISMARCK - Teddy Roosevelt has become a victim of North Dakota's budget crisis. Money for a library honoring Robsevelt- who said he never would have been president if he had not spent time in North Dakota's Bad- lands - has disappeared from the state budget. It's part of an effort to reinforce the budget at Dickinson State Uni- versity, hardest hit of the state's 11 public colleges and universities. The story begins in 2013, when the Legislature set aside $12 million io help build the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The 2015 Leg- islature carried the money forward. Now, the appropriation is in jeop- ardy - and could be the subject of last-minute deal-making at the ses-" sion. DSU's budget was cut about 30 percent during the last two years, and its appropriation for the next two years was hurt because enrollment has declined. Fund-raising for the university has been hurt, too, because li of lawsuits against its foundation, which.is in receivership• The Roosevelt funding was seen as a potential solution. Rep. Mike Lefor of Dickinson presented amendments that would allocate $4.g million that "must be used for oper- ations" at DSU and $3.1 million to "repay any outstanding debt" on the campus activities center. The Roosevelt library would get $500,000 "for the digitization of doc- uments." That leaves about $3 million "as a grant to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation for operations, construction and other costs of the library." Everybody involved, it seemed, could be satisfied. DSU would get enough additional money to save its nursing program, which had been suggested as a likely place to cut. Banks holding paper that funded the activity center before the college foundation's default would be paid off. The Roosevelt library foundation would get $3 million. Significantly, it could be used for operations• not just for bricks and mortar as had been the case in the larger appropriations. There's a hitch though. "The House bill contains no additional money for DSU," Rep. Bob Martin- son of Bismarck said. He's a com- mittee member, a leadership insider and a recognized dealmaker. That leaves two options: Lefor could present amendments to the higher education bill when it reaches the House floor, a significant chal: lenge. Or the amendments could show up in the Senate, which must approve any changes to the House version of the bill and is free to add its own. Enter the Senate Republican leader, Richard Wardner of Dickin- son. From the other side of hall, enter AI Carlson, Republican leader in the House, who has his own legislative priorities, including changes to the state's employee insurance and pen- sion systems. The Roosevelt Library could be- come an episode of "The Art of the Deal." By Mike Jacobs N.D. Newspaper Association BISMARCK - Adjournment by Good Friday? Still possible, legislative leaders said last week. But the odds are long. • Throughout the session' law- makers had imagined finishing be- fore Easter, but on important incentive disappeared: Congress failed to repeal and replace the Af- fordable Care Act, known as Oba- macare. So there's no need to save days for a recessed session to make changes in state law to •conform to a new federal health care act. The North Dakota Legislature is limited to 80 working days. Friday was Day 59. If lawmakers meet every weekday up to Good Friday, they will have used 69 days. Miss- ing the Good Friday deadline would push the session into the week following Easter without a holiday deadline looming- or even later if some issues prove dif- ficult to resolve. The list of potential snags grew last week. Leading the list are big appropriations bills, including funding for higher education and human services. A surprise move at mid-week lessens the chance of an early agreement about the human services budget. The Senate had approved a bill that had the state asstiming the county share of so- cial services. The House rejected that idea in favor of studying the issue during the interim ahead of the 2019 session. Amendments to the higher edu- cation funding bill could hold up agreement, too. At week's end, funding for medical residencies at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences and a catch-up ap- propriation for Dickinson State University were among the pend- ing issues. Amendments to the Department of Transportation budget have been prepared that would save at least some of the rural highway Shops, important as bases for snow plows. The budget for the Depart- ment of Commerce faces chal- lenges, too. These include earmarks for some university pro- grams, including UND's entrepre- Another thorny water issue involves field tiling, a method of drainage that is spread- ing rapidly in Red River Valley counties.'A bill designed to standardize permitting re- quirements across the state has met objec- tions, neurship program and a reduction surance system that senators have in funding for the Grand Skies resisted. project at Grand Forks Air Force Lawmakers worked last week to Base. finalize a bill that would permit A bill funding water projects is medical use of marijuana in the another potential target. The major state. Voters approved an initiated projects thereare Fargo's diversion measure legalizing medical mari- project to control Red River flood- juana, but lawmakers want to fix a ing, and the Red River Water Sup- variety of problems. On Thursday ply project, principally aimed at the number of amendments stood providing municipal water for at nearly 40. Sponsors of the meas- Fargo, though other cities in the ure have resisted many of these, valley would also benefit, even threatening another ballot Another thorny water issue in- measure if lawmakers make too volves field tiling, a method of many changes. drainage that is spreading rapidly The issue is particularly diffi- in Red River Valley counties. A cult since the state constitution re- bill designed to standardize per- quires a two-thirds vote to change mitting requirements across the an initiated measure within seven state has met objections, years of its passage. The marijuana State aid to areas impacted by measure was passed five months oil development has also caught ago. the eye of some lawmakers, who Of course, there's always the believe that the state may have possibility that a relatively low been too generous in the 2015 ses- profile bill could become contro- sion, thus worsening the budget versial. Three candidates: a mora- troubles facing this session. The torium on wind energy projects biggest single project at risk is that was rejected earlier .re- Williston's airport, a $39 million emerged in a House committee last item. The money would be week; shared parenting advocates matched by the federal govern- are pressing for a bill guaranteeing ment. approximatel~¢ equal time for both Money is the biggest pending parents in custody agreements; and issue, and House Republican a bill loosening regulations about Leader A1 Carlson vowed again selling unprocessed food products. Thursday that there would be no The legislative calendar does increase in taxes. Pressed, he con- offer hope for an early adjourn- ceded that lawmakers might have ment. to tap some of the trust funds, po- At week's end, most commit- tentially the Legacy Fund or the tees had completed reviewing state land fund. bills, and both houses have begun Money is not the only issue, naming conference committees to however, iron out differences between bill A clash between House and versions passed in each house. A Senate over pensions and insur- rule of thumb holds that confer- anco seems inevitable. The House ence committee work takes two has passed a bill changing the weeks - which means "that ad- make-up of the board that governs journment before Easter may be employee retirement funds. Carl- :possible. son is also pressing for a self-in- " Barely. The West Dakota Parent & Family Resource Center in collaboration with Golden Valley County Extension, Lin- coln Elementary and Golden Val- ley/Billings Multi-County Social Services, and a grant from Prevent Child Abuse will be sponsoring a "Love ~d Logic: Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun" program at Lin- coln Elementary on Wednesdays, April 26, May 3, 10 and 17, and Mon- day, May 15. Supper will be from 6-6:30 p.m., and the sessions will go from 6:30-8 p.m. The programs will help show par- ents how to show children that whin- ing and arguing do not pay; how to smooth out mornings and bedtime; calm sibling bickering and battling; take the battle out of meal times, brushing teeth, bathing, etc.; teach re- spect, responsibility, and self-disci- pline, and much more. These program~ are free and child care will be available. North Dakota Growing Futures approved the train- ing for the childcare providers. To register, call (701) 456-0007 or toll free at 1-877-264-1142, or e-mail, debra.theurer@ndsu.edu by April 24. Attendance at all sessions, not just some, is required after the first session. t" ? Spring has sprung Wild crocuses 'greet' the morning sun in an area pasture. (Photo by Richard Volesky) We want to help you meet your goals and achieve your dreams. Come see us when you need financing for operating expenses, equipment, real estate, and livestock. On A Firaf Name Basis First State Bank Golva Medora Beach 872-3656 623-5000 872-4444 Member FDIC www.fsbofgolva.com ATM in Beach & Medora lobby