News in Bismarck, ND

Grand Forks Herald · Bismarck, ND

Port: When it comes to school bonds, a simple majority should be good enough

MINOT — North Dakotans just had a debate over how much political support should be required to amend the state constitution. Measure 1 would have set that threshold at 60% of the vote. Voters rejected that proposal, leaving in place the simple-majority requirement for constitutional amendments. If a simple majority is good enough to amend the state constitution, why isn't it good enough for school bonds? It's a particularly pertinent question given some recent results of bond elections. Bismarck Public Schools put two bond questions on the ballot this year in June and November. Both failed despite strong majority support; the June proposal got nearly 59% of the vote while the November version received almost 57%. Surrey, a small community just outside of Minot, saw bond proposals fail in June (with nearly 59% of the vote) and in November (with more than 59%).

North Dakota Monitor · Bismarck, ND

Soil health key to improving human health, RFK Jr. says in visit to North Dakota ranch

The top U.S. health official visited a ranch near Bismarck Thursday where he talked about the importance of soil health for human health. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a roughly 90-minute roundtable on regenerative agriculture at the Black Leg Ranch east of Bismarck. Reporters were not allowed in except for a 15-minute portion, during which Kennedy talked about how vital soil health is for the human gut, which he said dictates health, emotions, moods, energy levels and “our effectiveness in life.” “If we can keep that healthy, we can maintain public health. It’s hard to keep it healthy if the nutrients that are supposed to be in the soils are not making it into the plants, then onto our tables or our plates,” Kennedy said. Tribal chairs tell RFK Jr.