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By Dave Thompson
BISMARCK, N.D. (Prairie Public Radio) – The state Senate has rejected the conference committee report on the Commerce Department budget.
One of the areas lawmakers objected to was a $5 million one-time grant towards the development of an amusement park in Jamestown. The $5 million would have to be matched, and the developer could then approach the state Investment Board for further money, through loans or grants.
Jamestown Republican Senator Terry Wanzek.
By Doug Barrett
The North Dakota Senate has approved the bill that funds K-12 schools.
That includes language on what school districts are to do with the increased state funding.
The Senate is proposing a one percent increase in per-pupil payments in each year of the upcoming biennium. This, as school districts will be receiving federal money due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But comes with strings attached.
Grand Forks Republican Senator Ray Holmberg chairs the Appropriations Committee, and also chaired the K-12 subcommittee. He says that subcommittee – which also included Bismarck Republican Senator Nicole Poolman and Senate Minority Leader Joan Heckaman of New Rockford – approved language that tells local districts 70 percent of the new state money has to be spent on teacher compensation. “In schools education takes place in the classroom and that’s where we want to focus North Dakota money.”
By Pat Sweeney
Feb 3, 2021 9:51 PM
The North Dakota Senate has passed a bill that would allow local school districts to post the Ten Commandments in schools.
It would also allow students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Edinburg Republican Senator Janna Myrdal sponsored the bill…which says school boards would be immune from liability.
“We need to remember that the Ten Commandments is a historical document,” Myrdal said, “and one of the few historical documents that we’ve completely removed out of the history books.”
Grand Forks Democratic Senator JoNell Bakke voted against the measure, saying it is unconstitutional.
“Public schools should not have the responsibility of teaching our children religious doctrine, as this is the responsibility of the family unit,” Bakke said.