MINOT, ND – Minot police are investigating an explosion that did minor damage to a home in southeast Minot. Officers say it happened just before 5 am today. Police found an intact IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and the Minot Area Bomb Squad was called to rendered it safe. The Minot Police Department is investigating the incident as endangerment by an explosive device. Officers say the occupants were not injured and it appears to be a targeted incident and not a random act.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Bismarck man is charged with attempted murder after he was accused of stabbing a man he believed had sexually assaulted a female acquaintance. A court affidavit says 32-year-old Dalton Peltier, the woman and Joseph Bernhardt were at a bar, then went to Bernhardt’s home to spend the night. When Peltier awoke Monday morning, Bernhardt was gone and Peltier believed he had sexually assaulted the woman. Officials say when Bernhardt returned, Peltier stabbed him with a kitchen knife. Bernhardt, bleeding heavily, fled to a neighbor’s house and survived his wounds. Peltier is being held on $10,000 cash bond.

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FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A medical research company in Fargo will conduct two clinical trials that could lead to a vaccine for COVID-19. Lillestol Research is among several facilities across the nation participating in Operation Warp Speed, the federal government’s program to provide 300 million doses of coronavirus vaccine by January 2021. Lillestol operations director Jamie Brown says the company plans to begin recruiting patients for the trial soon. She says patients chosen for the study will be tracked regularly to see if they contract coronavirus. Participants will be compensated, but the company did not say to what extent.

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JAMESTOWN, N.D. (AP) – Incarcerated individuals employed by a North Dakota agency are making masks and other items that are used to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Rough Rider Industries workers at the James River Correctional Center in Jamestown have made about 57,000 masks as of June. Rick Gardner, director of Rough Rider, said they’re on track to make 100,000 masks by the end of August.

 

Rough Rider allows North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmates on good behavior to make money and learn skills that will prepare them for their release. The agency is self-funded, according to its website.

 

The agency’s first order was from the U.S. military for 12,000 masks, and the University of North Dakota followed with a recent order of 32,000 masks. They can make 6,000 masks a week. Crews usually work five 10-hour days and sometimes on weekends. Crews also make utility gowns, wellness signs and floor graphics for social distancing.

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BISMARCK, ND – Today’s report from the North Dakota Department of Health list another death related to COVID-19, the 108th in the state. It was a woman in her 80’s from Grand Forks County with underlying health conditions.

 

Today’s daily positive rate is 2.2% as 124 positives come from 5,725 tests processed. 1,544 individuals tested. 122 are listed as recovered from the virus and 42 are currently in the hospital, down 9 from yesterday.

 

Totals have 335,542 tests processed and 162,014 individuals tested. There have been 7,057 positives. 5,837 have recovered. 394 have required a hospital stay. Active cases stand at 1,112.

 

Burleigh County tallied the most positives today with 41; Cass added 18; Grand Forks with 8; Foster, Ramsey, and Stark with 6 each; Morton and Richland each added 5; Benson, McLean, Nelson, Rolette, Walsh, and Williams each with 3; Eddy, Traill, and Ward had 2 each; Barnes, Kidder, Logan, Mercer, and Wells counties with one each.

 

Burleigh County remains the hotspot in the state with 580 new cases in the last three weeks, increasing their total to 1,049.

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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FARGO, ND – The North Dakota University System (NDUS) in cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Health is arranging mass testing events for COVID-19 in multiple locations across the state. Current students, incoming students, faculty and staff are encouraged to get tested.

 

“All areas of the state are being targeted so that students can get tested where they are at, in their hometowns, before packing up and travelling to their campus of choice. For the safety of your friends, family and yourself, we are asking all students to please get tested at a location of their choice and help us create the safest environment possible for our campus communities,” said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott.

 

The testing events are scheduled for Aug. 3-25 in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Wahpeton, Jamestown, Mayville, Bottineau, Minot, Devils Lake, Belcourt, Fort Totten, Fort Yates, New Town, Williston and Dickinson, and other smaller communities across the state. Exact testing dates, times and locations for each city are listed at the North Dakota University System’s testing event site at ndus.edu/gettested/. As best as possible, students should take the COVID-19 test approximately five days before leaving home. That way, students know they are healthy as they leave home and head to campus.

 

Participants are encouraged to pre-register to facilitate an efficient collection process and minimize the amount of time spent at the testing site. The pre-registration link is on the Department of Health’s website at testreg.nd.gov/.

 

If results are positive, NDUS and DOH ask that you follow public health guidelines and isolate at your home or place of residence. Students and employees who live outside North Dakota can participate by going to the nearest NDUS/DoH testing site. However, testing closer to home is encouraged if it is available and distance prohibits travel to North Dakota. Additional information with dates, locations, and times will be updated throughout the month.

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BISMARCK, N.D. – Starting a new school year is a stressful time under the best of circumstances, let alone during a pandemic. The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division has a new resource available to help parents and caregivers in supporting children with back-to-school plans, whether that means returning to school full time, distance learning or a hybrid model. The new Parents Lead resource can help guide conversations with children to better prepare them for this school year.

 

“Even with all the uncertainty, parents and caregivers can prepare their kids with healthy skills before returning school,” said Behavioral Health Division Director Pamela Sagness. “Depending on age, these things can include setting expectations around handwashing, walking through different scenarios like returning to school but wearing a mask or distance learning plans.”

 

The new Parents Lead resource encourages parents and caregivers to provide a space for their child to talk about their questions and concerns, be honest about what to expect and lead by example.

 

Sagness suggests instead of highlighting what not to do, parents and caregivers can provide alternative behaviors for their children, such as a fun wave instead of a hug or pointing out the positives in situations that may be different, like eating lunch in the classroom.

 

“School leaders, parents and caregivers must make difficult decisions regarding back to school this year,” she said. “Thank you to all parents and caregivers for working to ensure students are prepared for this school year while being ND Smart.”

 

Parentslead.org offers resources and tips on:

 

– Preparing your child for changes they could face when starting school this fall, such as face mask requirements, distanced seating or eating places and hybrid schedules.

 

– Reassuring them that these measures are in place to keep everyone healthy.

 

– Finding out as much as possible about what the school has planned, so you can prepare your kids and yourself.

 

– Outlining, as best as you can, what their new daily routine will be, and how drop off and pick up will go.

 

– Practicing washing your hands together and applying hand sanitizer as this will be an even bigger part of their daily routine.

 

– Talking to them about the positives of attending school – however that looks – emphasizing the importance of flexibility.

 

– Helping your child identify strategies to remain healthy, which can provide a sense of control and reduce feelings of anxiety.

 

– Encouraging your child to vocalize their thoughts and feelings by checking in with them regularly.

 

– Reminding your child and yourself, their school will do everything it can to keep everyone safe.

 

Visit www.parentslead.org for this information and more.

 

Parents Lead, a North Dakota program administered by the department’s Behavioral Health Division, provides parents and caregivers a variety of tools and resources to support them in creating a safe environment for their children that promotes behavioral health. This is especially important throughout all the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Another source of support during the pandemic continues to be Project Renew, a partnership between the department, the division and Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota. It provides services for North Dakotans to help them understand physical and emotional reactions to COVID-19, develop and improve coping strategies, review options and connect with other individuals and agencies that may be of assistance. The Project Renew hotline can be reached at 701-223-1510 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. Individuals can also send an email to renewlssnd.org.

 

Through Project Renew, Lutheran Social Services is offering a free, online group discussion about navigating the parenting challenges created by the pandemic titled, “Parenting in a Pandemic” on Aug. 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. CT. Visit Lutheran Social Services’ Facebook page for more information and to register at https://www.facebook..com/LutheranSocialServicesND/.

 

The division is responsible for reviewing and identifying service needs and activities in the state’s behavioral health system to ensure health and safety, access to services and quality services. It also establishes quality assurance standards for the licensure of substance use disorder program services and facilities and provides policy leadership in partnership with public and private entities. For more information visit www.behavioralhealth.nd.gov.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The mayor of North Dakota’s capital city on Tuesday appealed to residents to wear masks as the number of confirmed new coronavirus cases in the metropolitan area topped 1,000 and the number of active cases statewide hit a new high.

 

“We can only beat this virus if we are united as a community to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken said in a statement.

 

Gov. Doug Burgum last week announced the formation of a task force to investigate the spread of the coronavirus in the Bismarck metropolitan area, the state’s current COVID-19 hot spot. A Burleigh-Morton task force will operate like the one he announced in May in Cass County and Fargo metropolitan area, where local leaders and others successfully concentrated on beefing up testing efforts, particularly in long-term care facilities. Burgum said the group’s first meeting is scheduled Friday.

 

North Dakota reported 1,111 active cases on Tuesday – a number that has about quadrupled in the past month, and coincides with the reopening of the state’s economy and increased testing.

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BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota National Guard’s 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge) will be conducting field training exercises this week in the Kimball Bottoms area near the Missouri River, south of Bismarck.

 

The N.D. National Guard reminds the public to be aware of the training activities and to use extreme caution when in the area, since there will be increased vehicle and boat traffic during unit training operations. The public’s cooperation and understanding is appreciated.

 

For the safety of the public, the off-road vehicle area known as the Desert, will be closed to the public from 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6 through 10 a..m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

 

In addition to land training in the area, more than 100 Soldiers will be conducting boating and bridging operations on the Missouri River. The soldiers will use artillery simulators, colored smoke and smoke pots on river while training. Smoke pots may decrease boater’s visibility while on the river and extra caution is advised. The river will not be closed to the public, but visitors and boaters are asked to use caution while in the area.

 

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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BISMARCK, ND – Two deaths and 149 more positives highlight today’s COVID-19 report from the North Dakota Department of Health. The deaths included a man in his 60’s from Griggs County and a woman in her 70’s from Sioux County. Both had underlying health conditions.

The 149 positives come from 4,904 tests for a daily positive rate of 3.0%. 1,719 individuals were tested. 125 recovered and 51 remain in the hospital.

 

Totals now have 329,812 tests processed with 6,933 positives. 5,715 people have recovered. 389 have required a hospital stay and 107 have died. 160,470 individuals have been tested. Active cases have risen to 1,111.

 

Benson County recorded 33 of today’s new positives; Burleigh added 29; Ramsey added 13; Morton and Williams each had 11; Cass with 8; Stark added 7; Grand Forks and McKenzie with 5 each; Ward added 4; Mountrail and Stutsman each with 3; Richland, Sargent, and Wells picked up 2 each; Barnes, Burke, Dickey, Emmons, LaMoure, McIntosh, Nelson, Rolette, Sheridan, Steele, and Walsh counties each added one.

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FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Fargo police say a driver has been cited after hitting two people attempting to cross the street. The man and woman were taken to the hospital, but the extent of their injuries isn’t known. The two were struck in the crosswalk about 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Police say the driver swerved to avoid hitting the two, but ended up striking them. KVLY-TV reports the driver was cited for driving with a suspended license and failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.
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BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division is hosting a series of virtual sharing sessions today and tomorrow to celebrate efforts implemented by communities throughout the state to prevent underage drinking among youth through a federal Partnership for Success grant. Interested individuals can find links to the virtual sharing sessions at https://prevention.nd.gov/schedule.

 

Prevention efforts are producing results. Between 2009 and 2019, the percentage of North Dakota high school students reporting past 30-day alcohol use declined from 43.3 percent to 27.6 percent.

 

Alcohol misuse is a serious public health issue impacting everyone, especially individuals who are underage. Individuals who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely than individuals who start drinking at age 21 to meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder at some point in their lives.

 

“Prevention is a vital part of the behavioral health continuum of care,” said Behavioral Health Division Assistant Director Laura Anderson. “Effective prevention creates an environment that promotes health and well-being, which prevents problems before they occur, and it makes economic sense, saving $64 dollars for every one dollar invested.”

 

In October 2015, the federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration awarded North Dakota a Partnership for Success Grant, providing $1.6 million per year for five years. The grant ends next month. The department selected grantees from among communities identified as “high need” based on their population, consumption rate, and other factors, including risk factors for underage drinking, who chose to apply for funding.

 

Participating communities include:

Upper Missouri Health District (Williams and McKenzie counties),
Southwestern District Health Unit,
Rolette County Public Health District,
The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa,
Wells County District Health Unit,
Central Valley Health District,
The Spirit Lake Nation,
Foster County Public Health,
LaMoure County Health Department, and
City-County Health District in Barnes County.

 

Over the past several years, these communities have followed a process to identify and implement evidence-based prevention efforts based on their local needs. The efforts being implemented in these communities include strategies to decrease both retail and social access to alcohol among underage youth, such as the implementation of responsible beverage service training and enforcement of current underage drinking policy and law.

 

Other strategies include partnerships with schools to implement substance abuse prevention curriculums, providing alternatives during high-risk times for underage drinking and enhancing policies to be less supportive of underage drinking.

 

“Change takes time, persistence and collaboration, but it is certainly worth it when we look at the lives that can be changed,” Anderson said. “We are looking forward to continuing to partner with communities to support their substance abuse prevention efforts.

 

Over the past nine years, the Behavioral Health Division has received federal discretionary funds, which it awarded to communities to help them develop local prevention infrastructure and decrease underage drinking, adult binge drinking and related consequences.

 

For free resources and information about substance abuse prevention, visit the North Dakota Prevention Resource and Media Center at https://prevention.nd.gov/ and the Parents LEAD program at www.parentslead.org/.

 

The division is responsible for reviewing and identifying service needs and activities in the state’s behavioral health system to ensure health and safety, access to services and quality services. It also establishes quality assurance standards for the licensure of substance use disorder program services and facilities and provides policy leadership in partnership with public and private entities. For more information, visit www.behavioralhealth.nd.gov/.

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BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality awarded loans for water projects to five communities through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs from May through July.

 

– Center received a $547,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan and a $102,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan to replace a water main and sewer main and to install a sanitary lift station and force main. This project will ensure the reliable and safe delivery of water and continued wastewater service.

 

– Dunn Center received a $3,195,000 CWSRF loan and a $2,448,000 DWSRF loan to expand sanitary sewer service and install a new storm sewer system. New water main installation and replacements will improve hydraulic capacity, pressure and flow. This project will ensure the reliable and safe delivery of water and continued wastewater service.

 

– Jamestown received a $3,170,000 CWSRF loan to replace, repair, and refurbish three lift stations. This project will ensure continued wastewater service.

 

– Sykeston received a $411,000 DWSRF loan towards replacing an existing water storage tank with a 50,000-gallon water tower, which will provide the safe storage of the City’s drinking water supply.

 

– Wildrose received a $2,630,000 CWSRF loan towards replacing a clay sanitary sewer pipe with PVC pipe and new manholes, for better management of storm water and to prevent infiltration into the sanitary sewer system line.

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides part of the SRF Programs funding, which offers below-market interest rate loans to political subdivisions for financing projects authorized under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. SRF programs operate nationwide to provide funding to maintain and improve the infrastructure that protects our vital water resources.

 

Loan applicants must first be listed on the program’s priority list, and awards are distributed based on project eligibility and ability to repay. Please contact the NDDEQ regarding specific detail on any of the projects mentioned above.

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Emergency Commission today unanimously approved a third tranche of federal funding to support the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, directing nearly $320 million to cities and counties, public health services, unemployment insurance and other programs.

 

North Dakota received $1.25 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund as part of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The $319.7 million approved today is what remained of the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars after votes by the Emergency Commission to allocate $406.1 million in June and $524.2 million in May, with approval from the Legislature’s Budget Section.

 

Cities and counties will receive $59 million, on top of the $20 million for local public health units. The $59 million will be paid out as a reimbursement for law enforcement payroll based on each jurisdiction’s number of law enforcement officers and actual payroll costs from March through September. Public safety payroll is considered an allowable expense to distribution of Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars. An estimated $33.5 million will go to cities and $25.4 million to counties.

 

“As local governments experience declining revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic, this substantial support will help cities and counties limit property tax increases by delivering the relief to them before their 2021 budgets are finalized,” said Gov. Doug Burgum, who chairs the Emergency Commission. “We’re grateful for the partnership of our legislative leaders and local political subdivisions in developing this consistent approach, and we strongly encourage North Dakotans to continue taking steps to slow the spread of coronavirus to save lives and livelihoods: practice social distancing, wear a mask when appropriate and wash your hands frequently.”

 

The six-member Emergency Commission consists of four legislative leaders – House Majority Leader Chet Pollert of Carrington, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner of Dickinson, House Appropriations Chairman Jeff Delzer of Underwood and Senate Appropriations Chairman Ray Holmberg of Grand Forks – along with Secretary of State Al Jaeger and Burgum as chairman.

 

The third round of funding includes $100 million for the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, bringing to $410 million the total amount of federal aid allocated to the fund to maintain solvency and replenish the fund to support out-of-work North Dakotans and minimize the impact to employer tax rates. The $100 million is estimated to restore the trust fund to pre-pandemic levels, Office of Management and Budget Director Joe Morrissette said.

 

The North Dakota Department of Health will receive $96.6 million, including nearly $63 million for an enhanced testing campaign covering K-12, the North Dakota University System (NDUS), additional contact tracing, public awareness and education efforts, private lab contracts and reinforcing the state’s medical cache. Nearly $31..6 million was approved as a contingency if other federal dollars are unable to cover the cost of testing, lab supplies and contact tracing.

 

Other allocations include:

 

– $23.3 million for the Office of the Adjutant General for support of statewide testing sites and other expenses.

 

– $17.4 million for the North Dakota University System, including $13.6 million for HVAC modifications to improve air quality in campus

buildings and $1 million for personal protective equipment, thermometers and other protective supplies.

 

– $13.3 million for the Department of Human Services, including $12 million to continue to the Childcare Emergency Operations Grant through December.

 

– $5 million for tribal colleges, trade schools and private colleges.

 

– $5.2 million for other state agencies, including $2 million through the Department of Agriculture to support food bank programs.

 

A total of $445 million in requests were received for the $319.7 million available, Morrissette said, noting that the recommended allocations are focused primarily on public health and safety.

 

Burgum expressed his gratitude for the strong collaboration and input from legislators as well as the state agencies and North Dakota citizens whose responsible actions have slowed the spread of coronavirus and reduced health care impacts in North Dakota, allowing the state to direct the majority of its federal relief funds to economic support for individuals and businesses.

 

The disaster declaration, which was submitted by Gov. Doug Burgum on May 22, includes flooding that occurred April 1 to April 25 and identifies 18 affected counties: Barnes, Cass, Dickey, Foster, Grand Forks, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Nelson, Pembina, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Sheridan, Steele, Stutsman, Traill and Walsh.

 

Through the PA Program, FEMA can reimburse local governments, states, tribes and certain private non-profits for up to 75 percent of their eligible costs related to restoring public infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions, while the HMGP provides funds for mitigation projects that will eliminate future risk to lives and property from natural hazards.

 

This week’s briefing is intended for those public officials who will be directly responsible for managing recovery operations, receiving and accounting for federal and state funds. Attendees may include representatives from jurisdictional governments, such as: counties, townships, cities, tribes and eligible private non-profits. Auditors, public works directors, road supervisors and emergency managers are especially encouraged to attend.

 

As part of the PA Program, eligible applicants are required to submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA), which identifies their jurisdiction/organization as an official applicant. All RPAs must be submitted through the FEMA Grants Portal website located online at https://grantee.fema.gov, no later than Aug. 8, 2020.

 

The informational briefing also will be recorded and made available for applicants who are unable to attend or would like to view the briefing again. To request a video link or to ask questions pertaining to the PA and HMGP Programs, please contact Justin Messner, NDDES Disaster Recovery Chief, at 701-328-8107.

 

WHAT: FEMA Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Program Applicant Briefings

WHEN: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5

WHERE: The briefing will be virtually presented via Microsoft Teams. Those wishing to listen to the briefing can call in at 701-328-0950 and use the conference ID No. 378 444 880#.

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MINOT, ND – Minot Public School released a draft of their Reintegration Plan on Monday. MPS will delay the start of the school year until August 27th, and begin with in-person classes. The draft also uses the state’s color coded COVID-19 risk level scale to correspond with the action the district will take.

 

The plan also outlines in-person education, online education, and a hybrid of the two. Parents have the option to opt out of in-person education. parents who opt for distance learning rather than in-person learning must notify the building principal no later than Tuesday, August 11. Families that choose this option must commit to a minimum of nine-weeks or one school quarter.

 

The district will hold virtual meetings to answer questions on Wednesday, August 5th, at 12 pm, 3 pm, and 6:30 pm. The school board is expected to hold a special meeting Thursday to approve the final plan..

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Bismarck man convicted of sexually assaulting an infant has been resentenced to 16 years in prison after it was discovered that he forged letters of support for his original sentencing. 35-year old Andrew Glasser was initially given four years in prison after entering an Alford plead to sexual assault. He pleaded guilty in July 2019 in a related case to abusing a child, tampering with evidence and 10 counts of possessing child pornography. The cases were reopened and three misdemeanor forgery charges were filed when it came to light that Glasser had forged several letters of support.
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BISMARCK, ND – North Dakota is nearing 1,100 active cases of COVID-19. Today’s report from the Department of Health says the state has 1,090 active cases. There are 127 positives reported today from 4,723 tests processed for a daily positive rate of 2.7%. 1,728 more unique individuals were tested. 113 recovered from the virus and 46 are currently in the hospital.

 

Totals have 6,785 positives from 324,901 tests and 158,751 individuals tested. 5,590 have recovered and 379 have required a hospital stay. Deaths remain at 105.

 

Stark County tallied the most positives today at 21; Burleigh had 19; Ward added 14; Cass with 12; Grand Forks added 11; Morton had 9; Mountrail, Ramsey, and Traill with 4 each; Burke, Stustman, and Williams added 3 each; Foster, McIntosh, McLean, and Wells with 2 each; Barnes, Bottineau, Dunn, Emmons, Logan, McHenry, Nelson, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Sioux, and Steele counties each added one.

 

Burleigh County is nearing 1,000 total cases, now at 979. After reporting the first case in the state back in March, Ward County is nearing 200 positives now at 191, up 85 in the last two weeks.
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BISMARCK, N.D. – About 1,600 North Dakota children and youth are in foster care on a given day. To reduce those numbers, the North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Children and Family Services Division and its partners have expanded Family Centered Engagement meetings statewide.

 

This service, which involves meeting collaboratively and engaging with families earlier to support safety, permanency and well-being of their children, is available to families being served in the child welfare system through the 19 human service zones. Children dually involved in both the child welfare and the juvenile justice system are also eligible for the statewide service. During the pandemic, meetings with families are being held via private teleconference and video conference solutions.

 

Initially available in Burleigh, Grand Forks, Mercer, McLean, Oliver, Sheridan and Stutsman counties, Family Centered Engagement meetings are part of a larger social service redesign of the child welfare system in North Dakota that focuses on child safety, while shifting more resources to intervene earlier and prevent out-of-home placement when possible.

 

The approach is showing positive results. At the six-month follow-up, almost 77 percent of children in families who participated remained safely in the home with their parents rather than being removed or placed into foster care.

 

“The meeting sets the stage for how we partner to support children and families receiving services in the child welfare system. This collaborative approach empowers and engages families,” said Tracy Miller, the department’s family preservation administrator.

 

A Family Centered Engagement meeting is led by a trained, neutral facilitator from The Village Family Service Center. Meeting participants may include children, parents, caregivers, extended family members, case workers, services providers, juvenile court staff, teachers and others involved in a child’s life. Families leave the meeting with a written action plan that outlines their goals, expectations and a safe plan for their children.

 

Miller said, North Dakota has a long history of providing engagement and decision-making strategies for families, such as Family Team Decision Making and Family Group Decision Making. Family Centered Engagement was developed with consultants to blend the most effective elements of these earlier models together and began on a limited basis in select North Dakota counties in 2018.

 

For more information, contact Jessica Sorenson at The Village Family Service Center in Bismarck at 701-551-2509 or Tracy Miller at the department’s Children and Family Services Division at 701-328-2316, toll-free 800-245-3736, 711 (TTY) or tramillernd.gov.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new survey of business leaders released Monday suggests the economy continues to recover in nine Midwest and Plains states, but businesses are still cutting jobs amid the ongoing impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the economy still remains weaker than before the virus outbreak began. The overall index for the region improved to 57.4 in July from June’s 50.3. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below 50 suggests decline. The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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BISMARCK, ND – The combined weekend reports from the North Dakota Department of Health list two more deaths of people who tested positive for COVID-19. It was a an in his 70’s from Grand Forks County and a woman in her 50’s from Burleigh County. Both had underlying health conditions.

 

The reports from Saturday and Sunday have 192 positives from 7,011 tests. 3,059 individuals were tested. 190 more peole recovered, while 50 are in the hosptial.

 

Totals are 6,660 positive from 320,182 tests processed. 157,023 individuals have been tested. 5,477 have recovered. 337 have required hospitalization. There have been 105 deaths. Active cases are at 1,078.

 

Burleigh County had the most cases this weekend with 45. They now have 961 total cases, which is up about 500 in the last three weeks.

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MINOT, ND – First District Health Unit is doing a series of COVID-19 testing events.

 

Today | 9:30am to Noon | Face Masks Are Required | Inside Event | Bowbells City Hall, Burke County, ND | 100 Main St. NW, Bowbells, ND

 

Tuesday, August 4, 2020 | 9:30am to 11:30am | Face Masks Are Encouraged Drive-Thru Event | TGU Towner Football Field, Towner, ND | Enter on 2nd Ave SE by the Roger Berg Arena

 

Thursday, August 6, 2020 | 9:30am to 11:30am | Face Masks Are Required | Inside Event | Mohall Community Center, Mohall, ND

 

Tuesday, August 11, 2020 | 9:30am to 11:30am | Face Masks Are Encouraged | Drive-Thru Event | Sheridan County Courthouse Parking Lot, McClusky, ND

 

Thursday, August 13, 2020 | 9:30am to 11:30am | Face Masks Are Required | Inside Event | Kenmare Memorial Hall, Kenmare, ND

 

Preregistration is encouraged. You can do that and get more info at the First District website www.fdhu.org

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota, which has seen an uptick in coronavirus infections in recent weeks, is bracing to host hundreds of thousands of bikers for the 80th edition of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. More than 250,000 people are expected to attend the Aug. 7 to Aug. 16 rally in western South Dakota, which could make it the biggest event anywhere since the coronavirus pandemic started. The event will offer businesses that depend on the rally a chance to make up losses after the downturn in tourism spending. But many of Sturgis’ roughly 7,000 residents are leery about the brimming bars and bacchanalia coming their way and say it shouldn’t go on during a pandemic.

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A U.S. Department of Interior opinion rolling back an Obama-era memo stating that mineral rights under the original Missouri River bed should belong to the Three Affiliated Tribes was put on hold by a federal judge Friday until arguments can be heard in the case. The memo filed May 26 by Daniel Jorjani, solicitor for the department, said a historical review shows the state is the legal owner of submerged lands beneath the river where it flows through the Fort Berthold Reservation. The tribes argue that three previous federal opinions dating back to 1936 have confirmed their ownership of the Missouri River riverbed, including a 2017 ámemo by former solicitor Hilary Tompkins.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Bismarck man who was originally sentenced to four years in prison for sexually abusing an infant was re-sentenced to 16 years in prison, due in part to the fact he submitted false letters of support. The Bismarck Tribune reports that South Central District Judge David Reich said the letters were one of the factors he considered in handing down the new sentence Friday for 35-year-old Andrew Glasser. Reich, whose first sentence sparked a public outcry, told the court that he’s influenced by evidence and the law and not by public opinion. Glasser was originally sentenced in February after entering an Alford plea to a charge of sexual assault.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Three members of the Three Affiliated Tribes are accused of each accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks from a construction contractor. Documents show Randall Phelan, Delvin Reeves, and Frank Grady are charged in federal court with conspiracy and federal programs bribery. They each face up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. Phelan and Reeves are tribal officials and Grady had been one. Attorneys listed for Phelan and Reeves did not immediately return calls seeking comment Friday. Court records say the contractor has pleaded guilty to bribery and is cooperating with prosecutors.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Marathon Petroleum plans to appeal an order by a federal agency to shutdown a pipeline that crosses part of an American Indian reservation in North Dakota. The Bureau of Indian Affairs on July 2 ordered the shutdown of the pipeline that delivers oil to Marathon’s refinery in Mandan. The order comes seven years after an easement allowing the line to cross part of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation expired. The BIA also is billing Marathon $187 million for damages. A statement posted on the company’s website Friday said the line remains operational.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota health officials say the state set a new daily high for the number of COVID-19 cases after 29 counties reported positive tests. Officials on Friday confirmed 168 new cases, topping the previous record of 160 on July 22. That included 46 positive tests combined in Burleigh and Morton counties, which has been at the forefront of the state’s spike in cases in the last two weeks. The number of active cases jumped by 60, to 1,077, and hospitalizations increased by four, to 47. Officials said 5,292 tests were processed since Thursday’s report, for a total of more than 310,000 tests since the pandemic began.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Burleigh County sheriff’s officials have identified a man found dead in Bismarck under what they say are suspicious circumstances. The death of 68-year-old Florian Kiefer, of Bismarck, remains under investigation. Maj. Jim Hulm would not comment on how Kiefer died, but said his department is looking into a person of interest in the death. Hulm says Kiefer’s wife called authorities about 7:15 a.m. Wednesday after finding her husband. Authorities say Kiefer died sometime between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 7:15 a.m. Wednesday. Hulm says Kiefer’s wife was home all night and is safe.

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Burleigh County sheriff’s officials have identified a man found dead in Bismarck under what they say are suspicious circumstances. The death of 68-year-old Florian Kiefer, of Bismarck, remains under investigation. Maj. Jim Hulm would not comment on how Kiefer died, but said his department is looking into a person of interest in the death. Hulm says Kiefer’s wife called authorities about 7:15 a.m. Wednesday after finding her husband. Authorities say Kiefer died sometime between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 7:15 a.m. Wednesday. Hulm says Kiefer’s wife was home all night and is safe.
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BISMARCK, ND – The North Dakota Department of Health reports a daily positive rate of 3.2% in COVID-19 testing. Officials say 168 positives came from 5,292 tests processed. 2,103 individuals were tested. 47 are currently in the hospital and 108 have recovered from the virus.

 

Totals now have 153,964 individuals tested. 6,469 positives have come from 310,232 tests. 5,289 have recovered. 364 required hospitalization. Deaths associated with COVID-19 remain at 103. Active cases are up 60 to 1,077 today.

 

Burleigh County remains the hotspot with 38 of today’s new positives; Cass recorded 25; Stark added 16; Benson with 12; Grand Forks picked up 10; Ward had 9; Morton added 8; Rolette with 7; McLean tallied 5; Griggs, Richland, and Williams each with 4; Mercer and Pierce added 3 each; Burke, McIntosh, Nelson, Ramsey, and Walsh each with 2; Billings, Cavalier, Dickey, Dunn, Kidder, Logan, Sioux, Stutsman, Towner, and Wells counties each with one.

 

Burleigh County has seen 446 new cases since July 14th and now has a total of 915. Cass County still has recorded the most since the pandemic began at 2,897.

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FARGO, ND – While gas prices across North Dakota moved little during July, motorists are saving a penny a gallon compared to one month ago according to AAA. Today’s statewide average stands at $2.09. When compared to this time last year, North Dakota motorists are saving 59 cents per gallon.

 

As COVID-19 case numbers near 4.5 million, demand for gasoline is weak across the country. The latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) demand reading indicated national demand is 11 percent less than a year ago.

 

AAA says gas prices are likely to fluctuate throughout the rest of the summer as the nation continues to deal with impacts of the pandemic.

 

More than 20 percent of North Dakota gas stations are selling gas for less than $2 while just 1 percent are above $2.50. McHenry County has the lowest average at $1.98.

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BISMARCK, N.D. – A recording of Thursday’s four-part Special Business Briefing that provided step-by-step instruction on the Economic Resiliency Grant (ERG) application process is now available online for those who were not able to join the call due to technical issues with state emails.

 

“The purpose of today’s session was to provide our state’s businesses a solid foundation to begin the ERG process,” Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer said. “Commerce is committed to serving our state’s communities and are continuously seeking a variety of avenues to ensure all businesses are prepared to apply for the ERG when the applications become open.”

 

The session included a general overview, including eligible businesses and expenses, application process, post-award responsibilities and a Q&A opportunity. The presentation and application training video is available on the ND Response website, Economic Resiliency Grant page at https://belegendary.link/ERG.

 

The ERG application process is anticipated to open soon. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding will be approved if the application meets all criteria and funding is available.

 

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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MINOT, ND – The Minot Police Department has identified the parties involved in the shooting from the early morning hours of July 26th. The incident occurred as a group leaving, confronted a group arriving at the Ice Cold Ryders motorcyle club “Blacked Out Night” after party. An altercation ensued and eventually erupted in an exchange of gunfire. Police say three men, ages 22, 26 and 42, were shot and wounded and were taken to a Minot hospital by private parties.

 

Police say the matter is being referred to the Ward County State’s Attorney’s Office for review. Officers also say it was an isolated incident and there is no known immediate danger to the community. Police say the names of those involved will not be released at this time as charges in this incident are under review.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the state over a law intended to clarify ownership of minerals under a Missouri River reservoir. The Justice’s opinion released Thursday centers around a 2017 law that limited state mineral claims under Lake Sakakawea. Democratic Rep. Marvin Nelson and and others challenged the law, and sought to prevent the state from “giving away” up to $2 billion in coming years. The Supreme Court said the law does not violate the state’s gifting clause. The high court also reversed a lower court’s award of attorney fees to the lawmaker and others.

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BISMARCK, ND – The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is scheduled to resume driver license renewal services at part-time Driver License locations across the state beginning Monday, August 3rd. The services are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, visit our website at dot..nd.gov or call 1-855-633-6835.

 

These locations will follow CDC guidelines on social distancing, due to limited office space masks will be required for appointments. A mask will be provided if you do not have one.

 

“We have limited space available in our facilities and scheduling appointments is the safest, most effective way we can serve our customers and reduce wait times,” said Robin Rehborg, NDDOT Deputy Director for Driver Safety. “Safety remains our top priority. We appreciate your patience as we work through our backlog and continue to meet customer demand.”

 

At this time, NDDOT is focused on serving customers with a driver’s license that expired March 1 – August 31, 2020 and will continue to schedule appointments based on immediate need.

 

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration also has extended the REAL ID deadline to October 2021.. Only customers renewing a North Dakota driver license at this time will be able to obtain a REAL ID during their scheduled appointment.

 

In addition to appointments, many driver license services such as change of address, renewals, replacements and more are available online.

 

For a complete list of Driver License office locations and hours visit dot.nd.gov.

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CAMP GRAFTON TRAINING CENTER, N.D. – Soldiers of the Fargo-based Battery C (Charlie Battery), 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment were formally presented the 2019 Hamilton Award on July 27 at the N.D. National Guard’s Camp Grafton Training Center near Devils Lake. This award is presented annually by the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA) branch to the ADA battery that demonstrated exceptional achievement and mission accomplishment through the course of the year. The leadership team of Capt. Cody Brekken and 1st Sgt. David Saari accepted the award on Charlie Battery’s behalf.

 

Among Charlie Battery’s 2019 accomplishments were high retention, skills qualification and physical fitness test rates along with a highly successful training evaluation at the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, Calif. About 76 Soldiers trained at NTC in the unit’s first force-on-force mission where they supported the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team from Idaho Army National Guard.

 

“This award proves you are the best air defense artillery Soldiers in the National Guard,” said Brig. Gen. Leo Ryan, Army commander for the N.D. National Guard. “You have a long list of impressive achievements which earned your unit this recognition.”

 

The award is named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, who served as an artillery officer and aide de camp to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War and was appointed the first Secretary of the Treasury of the newly founded United States of America.

 

“I’m really proud of the non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and Soldiers of Charlie Battery,” said Command Sgt. Major Derek Heck. “The unit’s NCOs truly shined during the NTC rotation – their leadership ensured 100% mission success through 90 simulated enemy aircraft engagements with no friendly fire incidents, which kept their supported ground forces safe from enemy aircraft.”

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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BISMARCK, ND – The number of active cases of COVID-19 drops again today in the latest report from the North Dakota Department of Health. Active cases are down 21 to 1,017. One more death was reported bringing the total to 103. It was a woman in her 80’s from Ramsey County with underlying health conditions.

 

75 positives come from 3,975 tests processed for a daily positive rate of 1.9%. 43 are currently in the hospital and 94 more people have recovered.

 

Totals have 6,301 positives from 304,978 tests. 151,861 individuals have been tested. 5,181 have recovered from the virus. 356 have required a hospital stay.

 

Cass County tallied 22 new positives today; Burleigh added 11, Williams had 10; Richland added 5; Benson with 4; McKenzie, Morton, and Stark each with 2; Burke, Cavalier, Dunn, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, McLean, Mountrail, Nelson, Ramsey, Ransom, Rolette, Sargent, Sioux, Stutsman, and Ward counties with one each.

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FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Tribal leaders on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation in northeastern North Dakota are requiring residents to wear masks to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. It’s a rare move in North Dakota where face coverings are encouraged but not been mandated. The reservation is located primarily in Benson County, which according to The COVID Tracking Project has seen the state’s most new cases per capita in the last two weeks. Area public health workers are worried about the trend after seeing the number of positive tests jump from 16 to 70 since the middle of July.
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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A federal judge has denied a request by a gaming equipment company to reactivate hundreds of electronic pull tab machines that were shut down by the attorney general in North Dakota. Powerhouse Gaming argued state officials interfered with its business and contracts and violated its right to operate the machines.

 

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem suspended the company’s gambling license because he said it failed to show it had purchased a software license for each device in the state. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor said in denying the motion for a restraining order that Powerhouse Gaming failed to show that “immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage” will occur before its case is heard.

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MINOT, N.D. – The Minot Police Department honored a longtime member of its ranks on his retirement and celebrated a pair of promotions on Wednesday.

 

Lt. Scot Redding retired after serving in the police force for more than 30 years. Redding started his career as a police officer with the Minot Police Department on March 19, 1990. He made his way through the ranks, making Senior Patrol Officer and was promoted to Sergeant on September 19, 2004. Then Sgt. Redding was called to serve his country and was deployed to Iraq for one year from June 2007 thru May 2008. On February 11, 2011 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to patrol.

 

During his 30 year career, Lt. Redding served on the SWAT team and Bike Patrol Unit. Redding was also a certified instructor and Field Training Officer and he was instrumental in developing and maintaining our current supply of personal protective equipment for officers.

 

 

Sgt. Darren Dyke was promoted to lieutenant. Dyke started his career as a police officer with the Minot Police Department on February 1, 1998. He was promoted to Senior Police Officer on February 1, 2002 and Sergeant on January 17, 2011. Dyke has worked in several different areas within the department as a patrol officer and detective as well as a member of the SWAT Team. While assigned to Investigations he worked primarily domestic violence and sexual assault cases.

In 2015 he was reassigned to the Administration Division where he oversees the Crime Prevention Office and School Resource Officers as well as the training for the department. Dyke was appointed to be the Lead Firearms Instructor and he ensures all officers meet the department and state qualification standards. Dyke will be assigned to the Patrol Division where he will be the Shift Commander for the department’s Night Shift.

 

 

Officer Cole Strandemo was also promoted to sergeant. Strandemo started his career as a police officer with the Minot Police Department on May 9, 2011. He was promoted to Senior Police Officer on May 9, 2015 and to Master Police Officer on January 5, 2020. In December of 2016 Strandemo was transferred to the Investigations Division where he has served as a Detective since that time and is a Certified Digital Forensics Investigator.

 

Strandemo is a current member of the SWAT Team and is a Defensive Tactics Instructor. While assigned to patrol, he served as a Field Training Officer and a member of Bike Patrol. Strandemo will be reassigned to the Administration Division in the Community Outreach Unit where he will have several duties to include supervision of School Resource Officers, training, and procurement and management of department equipment.

 

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A health official says the rise of coronavirus infections in Bismarck and surrounding area likely stems from multiple Fourth of July gatherings and citizens’ failure to take precautions. Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health Director Renae Moch says there appears to be a lax attitude toward the virus and a belief that precautions such as wearing a mask don’t help. Cases in Burleigh County and neighboring Morton County have tripled this month and account for about a third of the 1,038 active cases reported Wednesday. Gov. Doug Burgum on Tuesday announced a task force to investigate the spread of the coronavirus in the area.

 

Burleigh and Morton counties continue to post the highest percentage of positive tests in the state at an average positive rate of 4.2% for the last 14 days, significantly higher than the statewide rate of 2.79% and Cass County’s 2.72%, the Health Department reported.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Census workers begin door knocking today at North Dakota households that have not responded to a questionnaire by mail, online or by phone. The state’s response rate to the 2020 census is nearly 62%, which means about 157,000 households will get an in-person visit. U.S. Census Bureau workers carry an identification badge, are trained on physical distancing and are required to wear masks. Interviews take about 10 minutes and can be done 6 feet apart. Census data helps determine how much federal money is directed to the state to help fund schools, hospitals and roads, among other things.

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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) – A 24-year-old Sidney man was killed when the semi-truck he was driving was struck by a freight train at a crossing in northeastern Montana. The Montana Highway Patrol says the truck was eastbound on U.S. Highway 2 at about 11 a.m. Tuesday before turning onto BIA Route 1 near Brockton. The patrol says the locomotive’s engineer locked up the brakes but was unable to avoid striking the driver’s side of the cab. The victim’s name has not been released.

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UNDATED (AP) – Family members of nine women and children from an offshoot Mormon community who were killed in Mexico in November have filed a federal lawsuit against the Juarez drug cartel. They accuse the cartel of carrying out the attack in retribution for publicly criticizing and demonstrating against the cartel. A lawyer representing the family members said they initiated the lawsuit to show the Juarez cartel was responsible for the Nov. 4 slaughter and to seek damages. It’s not clear whether representatives of the cartel would appear in court to defend against the lawsuit.

 

Michael Elsner, an attorney for the family members, said the lawsuit is one of the first civil actions against a Mexican drug cartel in the United States and that he hopes it will help halt the flow of money to the cartel.

 

Two men whose wives were killed, Howard Miller and Tyler Johnson, work in North Dakota, according to the lawsuit. Their lawyer said various family members live in the state and work in the oil industry, but travel back and forth to Mexico.

 

 

(Copyright 2020 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)