Around the State: June 17, 2024

The counties and cities within the state of North Dakota hold many interesting news stories.

Here are just a few of the feature stories that others are reading in communities around the state.

Runnings purchases Home of Economy

The family-owned North Dakota company Home of Economy announced on Thursday, May 30, that it has reached an agreement with the Minnesota-based retailer Runnings to purchase its eight North Dakota stores.

"Home of Economy has been in business for 85 years, founded by my grandparents Bob and Jean Kiesau," CEO Scott Peterson said in a release.

When we decided it was time to sell the company, it was vital to us that we found a partner who would carry on our legacy of providing every customer with the products and services they need at guaranteed lowest prices. We have confidence that Runnings is that company."

Home of Economy currently has stores located in eight North Dakota communities, including Minot, Williston, Rugby and Devils Lake. The transaction is expected to close in September, and the stores will continue to operate under the Home of Economy banner for a limited time period as they transition to the Runnings brand.

(Story taken from The Pierce County Tribune)

Port of Entry to get facelift

The Dunseith Port of Entry is in line for a major upgrade with construction expected to begin in May of next year and reach "substantial completion" in the fall of 2027.

According to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the project's budget in the $70 to $80 million.

The Dunseith Port of Entry is one of five inspection facilities that stretch across the central position of North Dakota. The original port operation center was constructed in 1961 and operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

According to GSA, the current facility is in need of upgrades to, "improve and support the operations of federal inspection agencies."

The project includes the construction of a new main port building as well as commercial and non-commercial primary and secondary inspection areas. In addition, plans are to improve the queuing for traffic going in and out of the International Peace Garden.

"We will fully modernize the port with a new administration building, new pedestrian processing lanes, new primary building, new passenger vehicle lanes, and new commercial vehicle inspection area," GDA officials pointed out. "The project will help improve traffic flow and border security while decreasing wait times for travelers."

The GSA's plan includes a more than 2 acres expansion and a summary elaborated on the port's inefficiency due to not only its 60-year-old design, but also increasing inspection demands and traffic.

(Story by Jason Nordmark, the Turtle Mountain Star)

Wells County State's Attorney submits resignation

After 20 years in the elected role, Kathleen Murray's last day as Wells County State's Attorney is June 9. At the June 4 meeting, she informed the county commission of her resignation, which at that time was pending final steps to accept her new job with the North Dakota Attorney General's office as an assistant attorney general in the criminal division. Since then, the new job has become official.

Murray told commissioners her resignation stems from frustrations.

"I was frustrated at the last meeting when I talked to you about what you wanted from my office and what you wanted from me and my assistant. Instead of finding an assistant, I decided to find another job," she said.

In addition, Murray submitted letters from Kara Brinster, Foster County State's Attorney, and Ashley Lies, Eddy County State's Attorney. Both lawyers are resigning from their roles as assistants to the Wells County State's Attorney. Murray said she has been unsuccessful in finding a state's attorney in a neighboring county who would consider accepting a long-term appointment to serve in Wells County.

(Story by Anne Ehni, the Herald-Press, Harvey)

State law enforcement testify at border hearing

The nation's troubles at its southern border are spilling over to the northern border, according to law enforcement officials who addressed the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement at a field hearing in Grand Forks on Wednesday, May 29.

The hearing was held at the request of Congressman Kelly Armstrong, R-ND, to afford the subcommittee the opportunity to hear first hand about the impacts of federal policy on North Dakota's section of the 5,500-mile-long northern border.

"You can't be farther away from the southern border than Grand Forks. We're 70 miles from the Canadian border, but in every single community across the state of North Dakota somebody is dying from fentanyl poisoning. One hundred percent of the fentanyl pills are made by the cartels in Mexico," Armstrong said.

"The statistics are alarming," North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said. "Border encounters for the North Dakota sector of the border have escalated at a dramatic rate, calling the integrity of the northern border into serious question."

Data provided to Wrigley by the North Dakota Bureau of Investigation showed apprehensions of illegal immigrants and expulsions have exploded from 548 in 2021 to 2,100 in 2022 and 4,444 in 2023. Wrigley said 2024 is likely to continue that statistical climb as the year concludes.

(Story taken from The Pierce County Tribune)

Marijuana could collide with small town dynamics

Petitions are being circulated to get a marijuana legalization question on North Dakota's fall ballot.

Some local officials said marijuana laws could affect their small cities and towns in unique ways. A North Dakota group called New Economic Frontier is behind the ballot initiative. If put before voters, it would be the third time they'd consider the idea. Similar questions failed in 2018 and 2022.

Scott Decker, mayor of Dickinson, said if it wins this time, the state has to honor the will of the voters.

Tom Erdmann, mayor of Carrington, said his constituents are fairly conservative on the issue. He doubts his town would ever be a hotbed for marijuana retail sales, but no matter the dynamics, he said any possible revenue would be a bonus.

(Story by Mike Moen, taken from The Pierce County Tribune)