THE NORTH DAKOTA SENATE FAILED TO PASS A BILL, BY ONE VOTE, TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL LUNCH TO STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. UNDER THE BILL, LUNCHES WOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THOSE WHOSE INCOME IN LESS THAN TWICE THE POVERTY LEVEL. THE BILL WOULD HAVE COVERED THAT COST FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AT APPROXIMATELY $6 MILLION. THEY HAD ALREADY SHOT DOWN A BILL SIMILAR TO THAT PASSED IN MINNESOTA, THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED FREE LUNCH TO ALL STUDENTS. THE BILL COULD BE REVIVED IF ONE NO VOTE, RECONSIDERS, AND IS WILLING TO CHANGE IT.
MINNESOTA SENATE MINORITY REPUBLICANS ARE BACK WITH A REVISED PROPOSAL FOR SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUTS, FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXTRA FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN SERVICES, WITH INCREASED FUNDING FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. IT MATCHES THE CURRENT DFL BUDGET, BUT WILL LOOK TO SOLVE ISSUES THAT STOPPED A BILL FROM MOVING FORWARD EARLIER IN THE MONTH.
THREE SMALLER PORTS OF ENTRY ALONG THE NORTH DAKOTA-CANADA BORDER WILL BE EXPANDING THEIR HOURS FOR THE NEXT 120 DAYS, OPEN UNTIL 7 PM, TO SEE IF IT CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON BORDER TOWNS. THE ESTIMATE THAT TRAFFIC AT PORTS IN THE STATE IS STILL DOWN 39% COMPARED TO 2019 TRAFFIC.
THROUGH THE HEADLINES OF CLOSURES AND UNDERSTAFFING, KARLSTAD SENIOR LIVING HAS ENDURING AND RECENTLY RECEIVED A 5-STAR RATING FROM THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND SERVICE TO THEIR RESIDENTS. YEARLY, ABOUT 10% OF SENIOR CARE FACILITIES RECEIVE THE FIVE STAR RATING.
EXPERTS WILL AGAIN BE WATCHING AVIAN INFLUENZA OVER THE COMING MONTHS AS MIGRATORY SEASON WILL HAVE BIRDS COMING BACK INTO THE AREA. IN 2022, MORE THAN 58 MILLION BIRDS WERE KILLED BY CONTRACTING THE DISEASE OR BEING EUTHANIZED FOR BEING IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH AN AFFECTED FLOCK. THAT WAS SPREAD ACROSS 46 STATES WITH CONFIRMED CASES.
A 20-YEAR OLD ELY MAN HAS ADMITTED TO AND BEEN CHARGED WITH INTENTIONALLY HITTING THREE DEER WITH HIS TRUCK WHILE DRIVING WITHIN CITY LIMITS. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN A GOOD EXPLANATION AS TO WHY HE WOULD HAVE SPED UP TO HIT THEM WHILE DRIVING IN THE 30 MPH ZONE. HE’LL PAY A $300 FINE AND $1500 IN RESTITUTION.
Last modified: 03/28/2023
