BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Local governments should refrain from raising property taxes and lawmakers need to invest more to guard against ever-increasing cybersecurity attacks to the state and its citizens. Those were among the highlights of Gov. Doug Burgum’s State of the State address on Wednesday in Fargo. Although Burgum used the speech largely to convey optimism, he touched on familiar themes, including workforce shortages that have hamstrung the economy and the need to embrace and pursue more technology industries to diversify the economy. Burgum’s address was initially scheduled for last month but was postponed due to the governor having laryngitis.

WIFE ATTACKED

Fargo man accused of attacking wife with knife

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A Fargo man is accused of attacking his wife with a knife as she slept in their van causing her to jump from the moving vehicle. A complaint charging the 27-year-old man with attempted murder, aggravated assault-domestic violence and theft says the victim was sleeping in a passenger seat Saturday night when she awoke to find her husband stabbing her and saying he planned to kill her. Witnesses say they saw the woman jump from the van which was going about 30 mph. She was assisted by two citizens who reported that she was bloody and hysterical. Police arrested the man Monday afternoon at a Fleet Farm convenience store and say he was driving a stolen pickup.

TERM LIMITS-SIGNATURES

North Dakota term-limit backers submit signatures

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A change to the state constitution that would place term limits on the governor and members of the Legislature is a step closer to bringing the issue before voters. Secretary of State Al Jaeger said Tuesday that backers submitted about 46,000 signatures, or more than the 31,164 signatures needed to put the measure to voters in November. Jaeger has 35 days to review the signatures. The initiative would add a new article to the state constitution imposing term limits of eight cumulative years each in the House and Senate. The governor could not be elected more than twice.

BC-ND-ELECTION 2022-NORTH DAKOTA-SENATE

Fargo art, antiques dealer, a Democrat, runs for US Senate

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Fargo art and antiques dealer is running for U.S. Senate, saying North Dakota needs Democratic representation in Washington, D.C. Michael Steele says he a started his campaign four years ago in an effort to unseat Sen. John Hoeven. Campaign finance records show Steele has raised about $2,000 since then. A state party spokeswoman says she had not heard of Steele until this week. Democrat Katrina Christiansen, an engineering professor at the University of Jamestown, announced her bid for U.S. Senate on Monday. The Democratic state convention is next month in Minot. Delegates will endorse candidates for state and congressional offices.

BAKKEN OIL-FUTURE

Oil company leaders describe Bakken oil patch as ‘mature’

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Bakken’s oil boom appears to be in the rear view mirror. North Dakota Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms say a word he heard many times when he met in Texas with executives from 10 oil companies with wells in the Bakken is “mature” in describing the state’s oil patch. Helm says the Bakken has been rebranded. He says U.S. oil producers are more focused on growing their operations in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. Helms says while North Dakota could still see small annual production increases, drilling is expected to taper off in about a decade.

MURDER CONSPIRACY-SENTENCE

Man gets at least 21 years in prison for murder conspiracy

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Canadian man has been sentenced to serve at least 21 years in prison for plotting the death of a Bismarck man in what authorities say was a love triangle that involved a life insurance policy. Forty-three-year-old Earl Howard earlier reached an agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to four felonies in the death of Chad Entzel. The body of the 42-year-old victim was found Jan. 2, 2020 after a house fire northeast of Bismarck. Authorities say Entzel died of gunshot wounds to the head. Investigators say Nikkisue Entzel and Howard were in a romantic relationship and that she took out a $26,000 life insurance policy on her husband in the days before his death.