Public Affairs – Page 27 – TheMinotVoice.com

North Dakota to Join Group of 13 States Threatening to Sue California Over Coal Divestment Initiative

by: Josh Wolsky | June 22, 2017

Politics, policy, and activism all go hand in hand, and sometimes the best way to advance an agenda is through the back door. At least, that’s the what North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem suspects with regard to recently introduced policy by California’s Insurance Commissioner that would force insurance companies to disclose investments in fossil

Read & Share sourced from: Say Anything Blog.com

County Upholds Right-of-Way Policy

by: Josh Wolsky | June 21, 2017

A months-long debate over a decades-old Ward County policy that requires landowners to donate right-of-way land to the County upon platting land up to 40 acres has been decided. But opponents of the policy say they will not quit. Jill Schramm with the Minot Daily News has the story on the landowner rights versus the County

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Congress Working on National Self-Driving Car Regulations

by: Josh Wolsky | June 21, 2017

The U.S. Congress has finally acknowledged that self-driving cars are coming whether we’re afraid of them or not. And if that’s the case, then we should probably have a few laws and regulations that govern the who, how, and when they’re operated. And as lawmakers are quickly finding out, self-driving cars not only a new

Read & Share sourced from: WIRED

Opioid epidemic is swamping U.S. hospitals with 1.3M ER trips, hospitalizations

by: Josh Wolsky | June 21, 2017

The opioid drug crisis is one of those issues that might not hit home unless you have a personal experience with a family member or friend, but the trickle-down impacts of the problem are effecting all of us in less obvious ways. And one area where the crisis is putting pressure on our systems is

Read & Share sourced from: The Washington Post

Grand Forks Allows Minors in Bars for Private Parties

by: Josh Wolsky | June 20, 2017

In what is being described as a ‘common-sense step forward’, the Grand Forks City Council approved a law allowing minors to be in bars for private parties provided they obtain a special permit.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

New Sniff Tech Could Protect Cops From Synthetic Opioids

by: Josh Wolsky | June 20, 2017

A less-considered consequence of stronger drugs like fentanyl on the streets is increased likelihood of accidental ingestion by law enforcement officers. And there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest this is a problem. Eric Niiler with WIRED has the story on new technology that’s helping police identify drugs and protecting officers at the same time.

Read & Share sourced from: WIRED

Minot City Council Election Results

by: Josh Wolsky | June 14, 2017

Jill Schramm with The Minot Daily News has the coverage of Minot’s City Council election. The election was held on an off year as a result of the #MakeMinot campaign to pair down the size of Minot’s City Council from 14 members elected from 7 wards to 6 members plus a voting mayor elected at-large.

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Maybe a Democrat in the middle is good for North Dakota

by: Jim Maxson | June 12, 2017

In today’s angry polarized political environment, I watch my good friend, Heidi Heitkamp being pilloried by the right as being too liberal and the left for being too conservative. To old school politicos such as myself, that tells me that she is probably doing a good job. The Democratic party, even in its hay day,

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Council Candidates Comment on the drug problem and local solutions

by: Josh Wolsky | June 6, 2017

The final question in our City Council candidate’s forum is on the growing drug problem and solutions the City can contribute to. And for more on the election and other forum questions, check out our election headquarters here. If you appreciate this content, please share it with a friend. Please comment on the drug problem that

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Ohio Opioid Addiction Lawsuit Targets Pharmaceutical Companies

by: Josh Wolsky | June 1, 2017

The state of Ohio is suing five pharmaceutical companies for what the state contends is their direct role in fueling the opioid epidemic that’s sweeping the country. The quote from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine that tells the story of how the state intends to direct the case… Defendants persuaded doctors and patients that what

Read & Share sourced from: NPR

Good Talk Minot #4: Fleshing out the Water Balloon Debacle

by: Josh Wolsky | June 1, 2017

In episode #4 of The Good Talk Minot, Jonah Lantto of The Good Talk Network and I discuss the now-in-the-past water balloon debacle of 2017. If you’re unfamiliar with the incident, you can get a refresher from this Minot Daily article. The conversation helped me flesh out my thinking on the topic. Here’s where I landed:

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On Becoming Informed, Minot, and Public Service

by: Jim Maxson | May 31, 2017

On May 24th I attended a candidate forum for the candidates running for Minot City Council. It was sponsored by the Minot Daily News which I credit for its dedication to community awareness. Although the attendance was pretty good, I suspect the questions were not as detailed or as expansive as those asked by the

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Candidates comment on the size of city government

by: Josh Wolsky | May 30, 2017

Question ten of eleven in our online City Council candidate’s forum is on the size of Minot’s city government and departments. For more on this forum and information about Minot’s City Council election and candidates, check out our election headquarters here. If you appreciate this content, please share it with a friend. Are city departments

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Council candidates comment on relocating city hall

by: Josh Wolsky | May 30, 2017

Question nine of eleven in our online City Council candidate’s forum is on the need to relocate Minot’s City Hall. For more on this forum and information about Minot’s City Council election and candidates, check out our election headquarters here. If you appreciate this content, please share it with a friend. Please comment on the

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City Council Candidates Comment on the Zombie Home Problem & Solutions

by: Josh Wolsky | May 23, 2017

Question seven of twelve in our online City Council candidate’s forum is on Governor Burgum’s Main Street Initiative and the role downtown will play in Minot’s future. For more on this forum and information about Minot’s City Council election and candidates, check out our election headquarters here. If you appreciate this content, please share it

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Council Candidates Comment on the Main Street Initiative & Downtown

by: Josh Wolsky | May 23, 2017

Question seven of twelve in our online City Council candidate’s forum is on Governor Burgum’s Main Street Initiative and the role downtown will play in Minot’s future. For more on this forum and information about Minot’s City Council election and candidates, check out our election headquarters here. If you appreciate this content, please share it

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