Latest news with #Mandan
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Photo: Dire Wolf De-extinction
Dire wolves went extinct about 12,000 years ago. In April, biotech company Colossal Biosciences announced it had cloned three pups that resemble the long-dead creatures. Scientists used DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull to make 15 key edits to the gray wolf genome and recreate dire wolf traits. Expected to grow to twice the size of gray wolves, the pups have wider heads, larger jaws, and stronger shoulders. The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation has expressed interest in providing them a habitat in which to roam freely once again. The post Photo: Dire Wolf De-extinction appeared first on
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Dakota Legislature to put three ballot measures to voters in 2026
Voters cast ballots at the Mandan Eagles Club in Morton County on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. The Legislature advanced three statewide ballot measures North Dakota voters will consider in 2026. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota lawmakers passed three ballot measures during the legislative session that will go to voters in 2026. If passed by a majority of voters, the state could see a new 60% voter threshold for passage of future constitutional changes; a single-subject rule that limits the scope of future ballot petitions; and adjustments to legislative term limits. House Resolution 3003, sponsored by Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, would require approval of 60% of voters to pass constitutional ballot measures. The new threshold would apply to both citizen-initiated petitions and constitutional changes advanced by the Legislature. Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, said the state's constitution should have a different standard than the Century Code. 'The constitution should be harder to amend,' said Roers, chair of the Senate State and Local Government Committee, which held hearings on the ballot measure proposals. Opponents of the resolution argued that bringing a citizen-initiated measure is not easy and the higher threshold undermines voters' rights. The ballot measure will be voted on during the November 2026 general election. Senate Resolution 4007, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot, would require the Secretary of State's Office to deny any citizen-initiated constitutional ballot petition that is 'comprised of more than one subject.' The single-subject rule would also apply to future constitutional amendments proposed by the Legislature. Mary Tintes, vice president of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota, said the organization does not support the ballot measure and has concerns that the language is ambiguous, leaving it open to interpretation. 'We're just afraid that it's going to be used as a tool against some of the initiated processes that we are using,' Tintes said. Lawmakers directed that the single-subject rule ballot measure appear on the June 2026 primary election ballot. Roers said the Legislature chose the primary so the general election ballot wouldn't be 'overloaded' with ballot measures. Some opponents of the resolution object to it being placed on the ballot of the June primary, an election that typically sees a lower turnout than the general election. Senate Resolution 4008, sponsored by Sen. Michael Dwyer, R-Bismarck, would amend North Dakota's term limits law that was approved by voters in 2022. The law limits lawmakers to serve no more than eight years in each legislative chamber. Under the new resolution, lawmakers would be able to serve for up to 16 years in one chamber. It also clarifies that partial terms, such as being appointed by a district executive committee to fill a vacant seat in the Legislature, would not count toward the term limit total. The resolution would also repeal Section 4 of the term limit law that prohibits the Legislature from amending, repealing or altering the term limits portion of the law, which has raised concerns about a potential lawsuit over the resolution, if it becomes law. Roers said members of an opposition group, U.S. Term Limits Foundation, testified against the resolution during the committee process and said it could be challenged in court. Tintes said the League of Women Voters has not taken a position on the term limits ballot measure, but she thinks voters may be getting annoyed with addressing the same things over and over again. 'It certainly doesn't require much of a memory to say, 'Didn't we already vote on term limits?'' Tintes said. The resolution will be voted on during the November 2026 general election. A sponsoring committee for a separate citizen-initiated ballot measure is gathering signatures that would eliminate window tint requirements for North Dakota vehicles. If the committee gathers and has more than 15,582 signatures verified by the Secretary of State's Office, the measure would be put to the voters in 2026. The committee must submit its signatures by Feb. 24, 2026. House Bill 1340, signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong in March, decreased the amount of light required to pass through front vehicle windows from 50% to 35%. A group of citizens submitted a petition in February for a ballot measure focused on transparency of lawmaker records, legislative salaries and lobbying. It has not been approved for circulation. Secretary of State Michael Howe said his office is waiting for the committee to resolve some issues with sponsoring committee member affidavits. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
North Dakota tribal national park to open Badlands to visitors
Jack Dura Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. — A new tribal national park in North Dakota's rugged Badlands is opening a little-seen area of the dramatic landscape to hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts, part of a Native American tribe's efforts to preserve the land and encourage recreation. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation established Three Affiliated Tribes National Park with the purchase of 2,100 acres (850 hectares) of a former ranch adjacent to the Fort Berthold Reservation's boundaries on the south side of the Little Missouri River. The area was in the tribe's original treaty lands but a government allotment act later reduced the reservation's size, said Mary Fredericks, director of the tribe's Parks and Reserve Program. The reservation's boundaries have expanded to include the park. Tribal Chairman Mark Fox said the goal is to establish a park for cultural and recreational purposes such as canoeing, kayaking and viewing wildlife. 'It's part of our history, our lands, very significant to us, the whole area,' Fox said. 'This is just another strong move to reacquire some of our lands and then do something very effective with it, so to speak' to aid tourism and the economy through recreation. Park officials are being careful with how they plan and develop the park to be thoughtful about impacts on the landscape. 'This place will be here in perpetuity and it will be better when we are done than it was when we got it, and that's what we're pushing for, that's where we're headed,' Park Superintendent Ethan White Calfe said. North Dakota's Badlands — the name denotes the difficult terrain — comprise a stark, erosive, colorful landscape with dramatic shapes, petrified wood and ancient fossils. The area draws hikers, campers, hunters, bicyclists and other outdoors enthusiasts. The park, which held a soft opening in September, is open only to foot traffic by a free permit online. Park officials require visitors to register their plans and hikers must park at a grass lot. By the end of the summer, organizers hope to have 10 miles (16 kilometers) of trails finished, Fredericks said. Plans to build a visitor center and campground are in the works. Park officials also intend to work on native prairie and soil restoration in the erosive environment where some native plants that thrive in the area have been pushed out by invasive species, White Calfe said. 'We're looking at it as how do we help this area look like it did 300 years ago? How do we help this area heal to where it is in a lot of more of a state of equilibrium,' White Calfe said. It's a beautiful and picturesque but deceptive and steep landscape, Fredericks said. The park is bisected by a state highway that drops from a flat into a rugged river bottom. People can see parts of the park while driving, but not its interior, she said. Eventually, the park could be a gateway for visitors to the reservation, Fredericks said. Outdoor recreation is available at Lake Sakakawea, which straddles the vast reservation, and nearby at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Maah Daah Hey Trail. The MHA Nation benefits from oil development on its reservation, which helped the tribe to afford the land for the park, Fredericks said. 'But in that we have to be careful and preserve and conserve,' she said. 'I'm very, very proud of our tribal council for having the foresight to buy this land with the intent of making it into a national park ... because we don't know what's going to happen 50 years from now and what our landscape is going to look like, but we can preserve this part of it.' The park neighbors Little Missouri State Park, which draws horseback riders to its 40 miles (64 kilometers) of trails in the Badlands. The rugged landscape 'kind of has that almost spiritual feel to it. It's peaceful,' state Parks and Recreation Department Director Cody Schulz said. State park officials have worked with the tribe for about two years on its plans and partnering together, such as connecting trail systems, Schulz said. Tribal park officials are collaborating with anyone willing, Fredericks said. White Calfe said the park is an opportunity 'to tell our own story, our own narrative from our own perspective in a place like this. That's pretty valuable.'
CBS News
28-04-2025
- CBS News
New tribal national park in North Dakota aims to preserve rugged and scenic landscape
A new tribal national park in North Dakota's rugged Badlands is opening a little-seen area of the dramatic landscape to hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts, part of a Native American tribe's efforts to preserve the land and encourage recreation. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation established Three Affiliated Tribes National Park with the purchase of 2,100 acres of a former ranch adjacent to the Fort Berthold Reservation's boundaries on the south side of the Little Missouri River. The area was in the tribe's original treaty lands but a government allotment act later reduced the reservation's size, said Mary Fredericks, director of the tribe's Parks and Reserve Program. The reservation's boundaries have expanded to include the park. Tribal Chairman Mark Fox said the goal is to establish a park for cultural and recreational purposes such as canoeing, kayaking and viewing wildlife. "It's part of our history, our lands, very significant to us, the whole area," Fox said. "This is just another strong move to reacquire some of our lands and then do something very effective with it, so to speak" to aid tourism and the economy through recreation. Park officials are being careful with how they plan and develop the park to be thoughtful about impacts on the landscape. "This place will be here in perpetuity and it will be better when we are done than it was when we got it, and that's what we're pushing for, that's where we're headed," Park Superintendent Ethan White Calfe said. North Dakota's Badlands — the name denotes the difficult terrain — comprise a stark, erosive, colorful landscape with dramatic shapes, petrified wood and ancient fossils. The area draws hikers, campers, hunters, bicyclists and other outdoors enthusiasts. The park, which held a soft opening in September, is open only to foot traffic by a free permit online. Park officials require visitors to register their plans and hikers must park at a grass lot. By the end of the summer, organizers hope to have 10 miles of trails finished, Fredericks said. Plans to build a visitor center and campground are in the works. Park officials also intend to work on native prairie and soil restoration in the erosive environment where some native plants that thrive in the area have been pushed out by invasive species, White Calfe said. "We're looking at it as how do we help this area look like it did 300 years ago? How do we help this area heal to where it is in a lot of more of a state of equilibrium," White Calfe said. It's a beautiful and picturesque but deceptive and steep landscape, Fredericks said. The park is bisected by a state highway that drops from a flat into a rugged river bottom. People can see parts of the park while driving, but not its interior, she said. Eventually, the park could be a gateway for visitors to the reservation, Fredericks said. Outdoor recreation is available at Lake Sakakawea, which straddles the vast reservation, and nearby at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Maah Daah Hey Trail. The MHA Nation benefits from oil development on its reservation, which helped the tribe to afford the land for the park, Fredericks said. "But in that we have to be careful and preserve and conserve," she said. "I'm very, very proud of our tribal council for having the foresight to buy this land with the intent of making it into a national park ... because we don't know what's going to happen 50 years from now and what our landscape is going to look like, but we can preserve this part of it." The park neighbors Little Missouri State Park, which draws horseback riders to its 40 miles of trails in the Badlands. The rugged landscape "kind of has that almost spiritual feel to it. It's peaceful," state Parks and Recreation Department Director Cody Schulz said. State park officials have worked with the tribe for about two years on its plans and partnering together, such as connecting trail systems, Schulz said. Tribal park officials are collaborating with anyone willing, Fredericks said. White Calfe said the park is an opportunity "to tell our own story, our own narrative from our own perspective in a place like this. That's pretty valuable."
26-04-2025
New tribal national park in North Dakota aims to preserve rugged and scenic landscape
BISMARCK, N.D. -- A new tribal national park in North Dakota's rugged Badlands is opening a little-seen area of the dramatic landscape to hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts, part of a Native American tribe's efforts to preserve the land and encourage recreation. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation established Three Affiliated Tribes National Park with the purchase of 2,100 acres (850 hectares) of a former ranch adjacent to the Fort Berthold Reservation's boundaries on the south side of the Little Missouri River. The area was in the tribe's original treaty lands but a government allotment act later reduced the reservation's size, said Mary Fredericks, director of the tribe's Parks and Reserve Program. The reservation's boundaries have expanded to include the park. Tribal Chairman Mark Fox said the goal is to establish a park for cultural and recreational purposes such as canoeing, kayaking and viewing wildlife. 'It's part of our history, our lands, very significant to us, the whole area,' Fox said. 'This is just another strong move to reacquire some of our lands and then do something very effective with it, so to speak' to aid tourism and the economy through recreation. Park officials are being careful with how they plan and develop the park to be thoughtful about impacts on the landscape. 'This place will be here in perpetuity and it will be better when we are done than it was when we got it, and that's what we're pushing for, that's where we're headed,' Park Superintendent Ethan White Calfe said. North Dakota's Badlands — the name denotes the difficult terrain — comprise a stark, erosive, colorful landscape with dramatic shapes, petrified wood and ancient fossils. The area draws hikers, campers, hunters, bicyclists and other outdoors enthusiasts. The park, which held a soft opening in September, is open only to foot traffic by a free permit online. Park officials require visitors to register their plans and hikers must park at a grass lot. By the end of the summer, organizers hope to have 10 miles (16 kilometers) of trails finished, Fredericks said. Plans to build a visitor center and campground are in the works. Park officials also intend to work on native prairie and soil restoration in the erosive environment where some native plants that thrive in the area have been pushed out by invasive species, White Calfe said. 'We're looking at it as how do we help this area look like it did 300 years ago? How do we help this area heal to where it is in a lot of more of a state of equilibrium,' White Calfe said. It's a beautiful and picturesque but deceptive and steep landscape, Fredericks said. The park is bisected by a state highway that drops from a flat into a rugged river bottom. People can see parts of the park while driving, but not its interior, she said. Eventually, the park could be a gateway for visitors to the reservation, Fredericks said. Outdoor recreation is available at Lake Sakakawea, which straddles the vast reservation, and nearby at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Maah Daah Hey Trail. The MHA Nation benefits from oil development on its reservation, which helped the tribe to afford the land for the park, Fredericks said. 'But in that we have to be careful and preserve and conserve,' she said. 'I'm very, very proud of our tribal council for having the foresight to buy this land with the intent of making it into a national park ... because we don't know what's going to happen 50 years from now and what our landscape is going to look like, but we can preserve this part of it.' The park neighbors Little Missouri State Park, which draws horseback riders to its 40 miles (64 kilometers) of trails in the Badlands. The rugged landscape 'kind of has that almost spiritual feel to it. It's peaceful,' state Parks and Recreation Department Director Cody Schulz said. State park officials have worked with the tribe for about two years on its plans and partnering together, such as connecting trail systems, Schulz said. Tribal park officials are collaborating with anyone willing, Fredericks said. White Calfe said the park is an opportunity 'to tell our own story, our own narrative from our own perspective in a place like this. That's pretty valuable.'
