Latest ND News at 3:20pm Tuesday

North Dakota’s economy showing signs of recovery

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A new analysis says North Dakota’s economy is showing signs of recovery and growth. The quarterly outlook report done by North Dakota State University is predicting growth for wages and salaries, as well as a growing labor force, decreasing unemployment and strong total tax collections. The previous quarterly report, which was released last August, said the state economy was showing signs of stagnation and a slowing recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The analysis says total wages and salaries have been growing about 2% per quarter, a trend that is expected to continue and even pick up in the third quarter.

South Dakota GOP hires North Dakota native as new director

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The new executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party says one of his top goals to achieve 100% GOP membership in the state Legislature. North Dakota native Terin Lucero was most recently the director of data analytics for newly elected Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who upset Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the last election. South Dakota Republicans control 32 of the 35 seats in the Senate and 62 of the 70 slots in the House. Lucero, a Williston, North Dakota native and graduate of North Dakota State University, is the first new executive director for the South Dakota GOP in five years.

SUPREME COURT-MANSLAUGHTER

ND Supreme Court rejects manslaughter, arson appeal

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Supreme Court has turned down an appeal by a Mandan man who claims undisclosed DNA evidence would clear him of manslaughter. Fifty-six-year-old Rodney Friesz was convicted of manslaughter and arson in 2016, but acquitted of murder in the death of Eugene Jassmann. Friesz claimed he shot the 62-year-old victim in self-defense. Friesz shot Jassmann in 2014 and set fire to his brother’s mobile home to conceal evidence. In May 2020, Friesz appealed his conviction citing insufficient evidence, ineffective counsel, failure of the court to suppress certain evidence, and the prosecution’s failure to disclose DNA evidence.

CANADA-US-BORDER DEATHS

Human smuggling suspect from Florida released without bond

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A Florida man arrested for human smuggling after the bodies of four people were found near the Canada and U.S. border during a blizzard has been released from jail without having to pay bond. Steve Shand is charged with transport or attempted transport of illegal immigrants, after the four bodies were discovered in Canada and seven Indian nationals were found in the U.S. He is not charged in the deaths. Federal Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer of Minnesota didn’t order bond Monday, but said Shand must obey several release conditions. Shand had to surrender his passport. He is only allowed to travel to Florida and Minnesota, where court proceedings will take place.

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA-NORTH DAKOTA

Effort to put recreational cannabis question on ballot fails

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An effort to gather enough signatures to place a question about legalizing recreational marijuana on the ballot in North Dakota has fallen short. Organizers failed to turn in at least 31,164 valid signatures to the secretary of state by Saturday to put the question to voters. Sponsoring committee member Dustin Peyer, of Driscoll, told the Bismarck Tribune the group has gathered 19,500 signatures in its one-year time limit. Peyer said the signature threshold is a lot to accomplish by unpaid volunteers. A similar effort failed in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hampered the group’s signature-gathering.

OIL SPILL-VANDALISM

Report: Vandalism leads to oil well spill near Watford City

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Officials say a produced water spill at an oil well near Watford City was due to vandalism. North Dakota Oil and Gas Division officials say valves were opened Sunday on the location, leading to a spill of more than 18,000 gallons. Most of the wastewater had been recovered by vacuum trucks. Produced water is a mixture of saltwater and oil that can contain drilling chemicals. It’s a byproduct of oil and gas development. A state inspector has been to the Abraxas Petroleum Corp. site and will monitor cleanup required.