Public Affairs – Page 9 – TheMinotVoice.com

Measure would tighten process for ballot initiatives to amend North Dakota constitution

by: Josh Wolsky | February 16, 2023

North Dakota’s Constitution can be changed by a vote of the people; a vote of the people to change the constitution can be brought by the legislature or by petition from the people. Concurrent Resolution 4013 would change the terms under which those petitions can be brought and are conducted. Jack Dura with the Bismarck

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

Fargo’s Mayor pushes to speed visas for foreign visitors

by: Josh Wolsky | February 15, 2023

Foreign visitors to the U.S. are big contributors to our economy, and first-time entrants to the country are currently waiting more than 400 days for processing interviews. A group of city mayors from around the country including Fargo’s Tim Mahoney have written a letter to the U.S. State Department requesting improvements. Get the full story

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

What exactly does a 2,500-square-foot lot look like? And Why does it matter in Minot?

by: Josh Wolsky | February 12, 2023

In Montana, affordable housing is a growing problem. The influx of people is putting pressure on prices, and the legislature is looking at some less-common ways to help keep them in check. One idea under consideration — making small lots for developers and home builders more readily available. They’d can do that with a law

Read & Share sourced from: Montana Free Press

McKenzie County Awarded $2.8 Million From Federal DOT Safe Roads Program

by: Josh Wolsky | February 9, 2023

McKenzie County will be an early beneficiary of the federal infrastructure bill. The county was awarded $2.8 million for wide reaching road system improvements including the separation of bikes and pedestrians from vehicle travel areas. The DOT’s full news release on the program is copied below. And it invites the question: with unfunded projects like

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Fargo’s State of the ‘Cities’ is An Idea Worth Stealing

by: Josh Wolsky | February 8, 2023

Tomorrow, Mayor Tom Ross will deliver the State of the City address. In its sixth year, Minot’s State of the City is a relatively new event, but the tradition is a good one. An annual check-in is important. Maybe more important than we realize. Of course, Minot didn’t invent the idea. We copied it from

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Is An Accounting Coming?

by: Jim Maxson | February 7, 2023

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but being curious by nature, have several questions. My friends in the Republican party are against waste, fraud and abuse in government. They have been in total control of state government in Bismarck since 1994. It would be very educational to have an itemized list of the

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Legislative Round Up: February 5, 2023

by: Josh Wolsky | February 5, 2023

Looking for a quick catch up on the week’s legislative news? Here you go. Tax Out of State Dollars for Political Contributions? Are out of state dollars contributed to North Dakota political issues a problem? One lawmaker says yes, and his solution is to tax them at an very high rate so as to lower

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Minot Air Force Has Economic Impact of $595 Million in 2022

by: MinotVoice | February 3, 2023

The importance of Minot Air Force Base to the identity and overall economy of Minot was made clear this week. The Budget Office of the 5th Bomb Wing Comptroller presented its annual economic impact analysis report for Minot Air Force Base at a meeting of the MACEDC Military Affairs Committee on Thursday, February 2, 2023. The group

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Legislative News: Abortion Restrictions Advance, Marijuana Edibles Are Out

by: Josh Wolsky | February 2, 2023

By a vote of 41-4, the ND Senate advanced Senate Bill 2150. The bill cleans up language from a previous bill that is currently being challenged in court, and restricts abortions in North Dakota as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected except when a medical emergency exists that prevents compliance. Get the full story

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

Sen. Cramer Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Create Affordable Housing Program

by: MinotVoice | February 2, 2023

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Chris Coons (D-DE), member of the Appropriations Committee, reintroduced their Choice in Affordable Housing Act. The bipartisan, bicameral bill would improve the federal government’s largest rental assistance program and create the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund, named after

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Air Force declares Grand Forks Fufeng project ‘significant threat’

by: Josh Wolsky | February 1, 2023

The proposed corn milling project in Grand Forks by Chinese-owned Fufeng Group is dead. The U.S. Air Force has made it clear they view the project as a threat to national security. Senator Hoeven and Senator Cramer issued the following joint statement: “City leaders have asked for clarity from leaders in the federal government regarding

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Montana’s American Indian Caucus in State Legislature Mirrors Population

by: Josh Wolsky | February 1, 2023

There are 11 American Indian lawmakers in the Montana legislature, nine democrats and two republicans. It’s a number that mirrors the percentage of American Indians in Montana’s population as a whole. And on issues of particular importance to the tribes, they’ll often act together. Get the full story from the Missoulian linked below. And why

Read & Share sourced from: The Missoulian

Fargo city leaders clash with state legislators over control of gun laws

by: Josh Wolsky | February 1, 2023

Should city zoning laws control where the sale of guns is appropriate they same way they do for every other property use type? Or should the legislature overrule those zoning provisions for the purposes of further protecting the 2nd amendment? House Bill 1340 is setting up a fight over who has control, the locals or

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

Minot Public Schools Board Meeting Agenda Agenda, Thursday, February 2nd, 2023

by: Josh Wolsky | January 31, 2023

The Minot Public Schools Board will meet Thursday, February 2nd at 4:00 p.m. at the administration building in downtown Minot. The School Board meeting can be livestreamed via their Youtube channel found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnZQhUE5Lb43lZlO6pBJ-8g/live The School Board packet can be found here: https://bit.ly/MPSBP22 The agenda is included below. Call to Order: Jim Rostad, President Pledge

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West Fargo effort to help seniors avoid falls is a first for North Dakota

by: Josh Wolsky | January 31, 2023

When an elderly person falls, it often leads to an emergency services call. It’s a circumstance that opens the door — literally — to educating senior citizens on the services available that may help them, get health care, or prevent the next fall. And West Fargo is implementing a program to ensure they take advantage

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

Florida Parents react to empty classroom, library shelves as DCPS continues book review

by: Josh Wolsky | January 31, 2023

In North Dakota, the legislature has a bill in front of them that would ban libraries from keeping legislatively defined ‘sexually explicit’ books in their collections. In Florida, a law cut from the same cloth — defining what can be kept in school libraries — is further along. It’s passed and it’s being implemented, and school

Read & Share sourced from: News 4 Jacksonville