ND Farmers Back Push in Congress to Rein in Tariffs
MIKE MOEN PRAIRIE NEWS SERVICE
With planting season here, North Dakota farmers have plenty on their minds, including the escalating trade war and some hope a bipartisan bill in Congress will lead to a lot less uncertainty about the future.
A handful of U.S. senators
and board vice president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, wants the bill to advance. He noted commodity prices for him are going down as the trade war heats up. Unlike manufacturers, he said, farmers cannot quickly adjust their price structure.
"We just can't say, 'Oh, well, we're just going to charge $3 more for our wheat for what they did to us.' You can't do
the plan, arguing it would chip away at leverage the administration has over foreign countries in negotiating new trade terms.
Kuylen noted tariffs might work in limited fashion to establish fairer trade but he feels a sweeping approach is not effective. He emphasized because certainty is hard to find these days, there's a real possibility of farms either going under or operators choosing to retire and
ger farm operations take over, losing locally owned operations hurts surrounding communities. He echoed other producers in arguing agriculture still has not recovered from the trade
war under the first Trump administration. Neither of North Dakota's U.S. Senators responded to comment requests on whether they support the bill.
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Sponsorship Opportunity –Support Our TSA Students on Their Journey to Nationals
WILLIAMS COUNTY
Dear Community,
My name is Jarina Froshaug, and I am a proud member of the Williston Middle School Central Campus TSA (Technology Student Association) Chapter. I am reaching out to request your support as my team and I prepare to represent our school and community at the National TSA Conference in Nashville, TN, from June 27 to July 1, 2025.
After months of hard work and dedication, we have earned the opportunity to compete at the national level, where we will showcase our skills in STEM-related challenges. Attending this prestigious conference will allow us to gain invaluable experience, connect with other TSA students and further develop our passion for STEM.
However, the cost of travel, lodging, registration and meals presents a significant financial challenge. Our team needs to raise $8,000 to make this trip
possible, and we are seeking sponsorships from local businesses and organizations that believe in investing in the next generation of innovators and leaders. Your generous contribution would directly support our team’s participation and ensure that financial barriers do not stand in the way of this incredible opportunity.
If your company is interested in sponsoring our team, please reach out to our TSA advisor, Alexandria Rizzo, at Alexandria.rizzo@willistonschools.org or 701572-5618. Any level of support is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for considering our request. We truly appreciate your support in helping us pursue our passion for STEM and represent our community on the national stage. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you further about this exciting journey.
Best regards, Jarina Froshaug WMSCC TSA Chapter
Missouri-Yellowstone
Confluence Interpretive Center Hosts 'Wild Connections: Earth Day’ Celebration
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Experience Wild Connections: Earth Day at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center near Williston on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free day of hands-on activities offers engaging, educational opportunities for all ages.
Explore the fascinating world of owls during the owl pellet dissection workshops from 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. Examine owl pellets to uncover bones, fur and other remains, learning about local
wildlife and the food chain.
Create cyanotype leaf prints from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 3-4 p.m. This process uses sunlight and photosensitive paper to produce intricate blue and white prints, offering a stunning way to connect with nature.
At 1 p.m., the Roosevelt Park Zoo will present the Zoo to You Program. During this one-hour event, meet animals native to the region while zoo staff share insights into the animals’ behaviors, habitats and conservation needs.
With the exception of the Zoo to You Program, all workshops are self-paced, allowing participants to drop in at any time during the sessions. Staff will be available to
assist and answer questions.
For more information, contact Education Outreach Coordinator Cheyenne Teal, shsbuford@ nd.gov or 701-572-9034. The Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center is part of Fort Buford State Historic Site managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT; and closed Sunday-Monday. Fort Buford is currently closed. Find information about upcoming programs of the State Historical Society at history.nd.gov/events.
Teton Athletics’ Casino Night Upcoming
WILLISTON STATE COLLEGE
The Teton Athletics' annual dinner and fundraising auction event, Casino Night, is set to return in person at The Well on April 26. The doors will open at 5 p.m., featuring a social hour, gaming in the "Teton Casino," and opportunities to bid on silent auction items.
A buffet dinner is scheduled for 6 p.m., followed by the live auction and vehicle raffle at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.
This year's spring raffle boasts 15 fabulous prizes, with the grand prize being a 2024 Ford Bronco Everglades Edition, and the second prize is $5,000 cash. Raffle tickets are available at $100 per chance
and can be purchased from the Teton Athletic Department and the following locations: Simonson’s, Horizon Resources, Bodo’s, Sport About, Walt’s Market, Scenic Sports, Jason’s Barber Shop and the Williston State College Foundation.
Casino Night and the vehicle raffle represent the booster's largest fundraising event of the year. The funds raised from these events are dedicated to supporting the Teton Athletic Department, providing student-athlete scholarships and covering other expenses to enhance and boost Teton athletic programs.
Only 300 tickets are available for this year's casino-inspired event. Individual tickets are priced at $50 each, including a dinner buffet and $20 in Teton Casino chips.
VIP tables for eight or twelve are available for $500 and $750 respectively. In addition to the items mentioned above, VIP tables will be provided with a Teton athlete as a server, a free drink ticket for each guest and a charcuterie appetizer board for the table.
Tickets for Casino Night can be purchased online at www.wsctetonboosters.com under the upcoming events tab. For questions or more information about Casino Night, or to customize a table for a number other than eight or twelve, please contact the Teton Boosters via email at tetonboosters@willistonstate.edu or call the Teton Athletic Office at 701-774-4589.
Follow the Williston State College Teton Athletic Boosters (@ WSCTetonBoosters) on Facebook.
Williams County Adds Video Series to ‘Where in Williams County?’ Community Guide Initiative
WILLIAMS COUNTY
Williams County is launching a new video series as part of the “Where in Williams County?” community guide initiative, first introduced in May 2023. These short-form videos offer a fresh take at the people, places and possibilities that make the county a great place to work, live, and explore.
The series demonstrates how local storytelling and digital outreach can encourage workforce growth by helping people feel more connected to where they live. Funded in part by a grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce’s Regional Workforce Impact Program, the videos reflect innovative, community-driven solutions for attracting and retaining talent.
The first episode in the series highlights things to do in the area
and enhances a broader effort to help current and future residents discover facts, stories and experiences in Williams County. Future episodes will offer insight into community amenities, daily life, and local workforce.
New episodes will be regularly released on the Williams County YouTube Channel and featured on the Where in Williams County? official website, whereinwilliamscounty.com, and in the printed guide.
ND Moves Closer to Banning Alternative Voting Methods
MIKE MOEN PRAIRIE NEWS SERVICE
Final action is expected soon on a plan that would prevent North Dakota cities and counties from using alternative voting methods for local elections.
Both chambers of the Legislature have approved a bill that focuses on two options - rankedchoice voting and approval voting.
In recent election cycles, Fargo has used approval voting when local candidates appear on the ballot. It became the first U.S. city to do
so, after residents showed support for the idea.
Bismarck resident Andrew Alexis Varvel testified against banning these options.
"The rest of the state does not need to follow everything that Fargo does," said Varvel, "but we do need to have a certain amount of respect for what people at the local level decide."
Other bill opponents also said they don't want the state micromanaging local elections.
The Fargo-endorsed option, approval voting, allows voters to choose more than one candidate.
Backers say it reduces polarization by prompting candidates to appeal to more people.
But some lawmakers believe these approaches are ineffective, and want the whole state to use the same voting method.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong hasn't indicated whether he'll sign the bill when it reaches his desk.
North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe supports the proposed ban on alternative voting methods.
In his testimony, he noted that Fargo's use of approval voting hasn't created any issues, but he
said he worries other cities will follow suit.
"Multiple election methods implemented across the state," said Howe, "would have an impact on the administration of a statewide election."
But a Fargo City Commissioner argues that across North Dakota, there are already many variations - including at-large candidates.
A similar proposed ban was vetoed by former Gov. Doug Burgum two years ago
Construct a wall to confine
CLUES DOWN
1. Winged nut
2. It cools a home
3. Kisses (French)
4. Oxford political economist
5. Keyboard key
6. Leaf pores
7. Agrees with publicly
8. Not around 9. Czech city
10. Muscle cell protein
11. Greek letter
12. Movements
13. Ned __, composer
15. Popular series Game of __ 18. Exclamation that denotes disgust
21. Helper
24. Gift
26. Up in the air (abbr.)
27. Treat without respect
30. Trims
32. Slang for lovely
35. City of Angels hoopster (abbr.)
37. Guitarists' tool
38. Island nation
39. Delivered in installments
42. A baglike structure
43. Cooking vessel
46. Gets in front of
47. Wounded by scratching
49. More breathable
50. Medical dressings
52. Indiana hoopster
54. Married Marilyn
55. An ancient Assyrian city
57. Congressmen (abbr.)
59. Approves food
62. Ventura's first name
63. Between northeast and east
66. Atomic #71
68. Email designation
President Of El Salvador Refuses to Return Wrongly Deported Maryland Man to the US
ASHLEY MURRAY NORTH DAKOTA MONITOR
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele won’t return a Maryland man the United States erroneously deported to a mega-prison in his Central American country, he said Monday during a visit to the Oval Office.
Sitting beside President Donald Trump, Bukele told reporters, “Of course I’m not going to do it.”
Administration officials present for the meeting defended the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador who had a protective order from a U.S. immigration court shielding him from being sent back to his country because of risks to his life.
The administration admitted in court filings that it deported Abrego Garcia, of Beltsville, Maryland, by mistake.
“That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him, that’s not up to us,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning, provide a plane,” she added.
The Supreme Court issued a 9-0 decision Thursday stating the Trump administration must “facilitate” the return of Abrego Garcia.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 among roughly 260 Venezuelan men the U.S. flew on commercial jets without due process to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT.
ICE agents apprehended Abrego Garcia near Baltimore on March 12 when he was driving his 5-year-old son home. Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen, “was called and instructed to appear at their location within ten minutes to get her fiveyear old son, A.A.V.; otherwise, the ICE officers threatened that the child would be handed over to Child Protective Services,” according to a court filing.
Garcia has no criminal history in the U.S., El Salvador or any other country, according to the filing.
The Trump administration is paying the El Salvador government $6 million to detain the men, sparking questions over whether the payment violates U.S. human rights law.
Lawyers for many of the Ven-
ezuelan men maintain their clients weren’t gang members.
Trump triggered the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically targeting Venezuelans 14 and older who the administration suspected of having ties to the gang Tren de Aragua.
Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office Monday that he wants to export “homegrown” criminals, as in U.S. citizens, to El Salvador and would be willing to assist Bukele in building more mega prisons.
“I’d like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country, but you’ll have to be looking at the laws on that,” said Trump.
Rubio, Miller defend deportation
The administration maintains that immigration courts connected Abrego Garcia in 2019 to the violent El Salvadoran gang MS-13 but makes no mention of the protective order granted to Abrego Garcia by an immigration judge that same year.
In addition to Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller defended Abrego Garcia’s deportation and the administration’s refusal to cooperate with a court order to return him to the U.S.
Miller said Friday’s unanimous Supreme Court decision squarely landed on the side of the administration.
“This was a 9-0 (decision) in our favor against the district court ruling saying that no district court has the power to compel the foreign policy function of the United States,” Miller told reporters in the Oval Office Monday.
“The ruling solely stated that if this individual, at El Salvador’s sole discretion, was sent back to our country, that we could deport him a second time. No version of this legally ends up with him ever living here because he is a citizen of El Salvador,” Miller continued.
Bukele said the idea that El Salvador would return Abrego Garcia is “preposterous.”
“How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don’t have the power to return him to the United States,” Bukele said.
The Department of State designated MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization in February.
Rubio said he doesn’t understand “what the confusion is.”
“This individual is a citizen of
El Salvador. He was illegally in the United States and was returned to his country,” Rubio said, adding that “foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President of the United States, not by a court.”
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement Monday calling Bukele’s comments “pure nonsense.”
“The law is clear, due process was grossly violated, and the Supreme Court has clearly spoken that the Trump administration must facilitate and effectuate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He should be returned to the U.S. immediately.
“Due process and the rule of law are cornerstones of American society for citizens and noncitizens alike and not to follow that is dangerous and outrageous. A threat to one is a threat to all,” Schumer said.
Daily updates
Abrego Garcia’s case is winding through the federal courts.
The administration was ordered Friday, after a standoff in court, to provide daily updates on Abrego Garcia’s physical location and status, and what steps the administration has taken or plans to take to facilitate his return.
Abrego Garcia’s wife sued Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and immigration officials in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland last month, alleging her husband received no due process and his removal was unlawful.
District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. by April 7.
A federal appeals court unanimously upheld the lower court’s order on April 7. The Trump administration missed the deadline and immediately appealed to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket.
The high court unanimously ruled Thursday that the administration must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return but stopped short of requiring his return and did not give a deadline. The court also ordered Xinis to clarify language in the lower court’s ruling to test whether the court overreached into foreign affairs.
This article was originally published on the North Dakota Monitor website on April 14, 2025. Visit www.northdakotamonitor.com.
Understanding Due Process: A Constitutional Protection for All Persons
The principle of due process is a cornerstone of the United States Constitution, ensuring that all persons—regardless of citizenship status—are entitled to fair legal procedures before the government can deprive them of life, liberty or property.
Outlined in both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, due process applies broadly to "persons," not just citizens. This distinction is critical. It means that anyone within the jurisdiction of the United States—immigrants, visitors and citizens alike—is protected under the Constitution from arbitrary actions by the government.
Without due process, government authorities could detain or deport individuals without providing an opportunity for them to challenge the action in court. Such a breakdown could lead to situations where any person could be labeled an unlawful presence or a criminal and removed without trial or evidence. Legal scholars warn that the erosion of due process protections could open the door to unchecked governmental power and serious human rights concerns.
The concept of due process includes several rights: notice of legal actions, a fair and impartial
hearing and an opportunity to present a defense. Courts have long held that these protections are essential for maintaining a fair legal system and public trust in government institutions.
The authority of the U.S. Supreme Court is also tied to this framework. The Constitution grants the Supreme Court the final say in interpreting the law. Defying a Supreme Court order undermines the rule of law and violates the separation of powers among branches of government. Such an action may be considered unconstitutional and, in certain cases, an impeachable offense under Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution, which outlines grounds for removing federal officials from office.
Respect for due process and adherence to Supreme Court rulings are not partisan positions—they are legal obligations. Upholding them ensures that all individuals have access to justice and that governmental powers remain balanced and accountable.
This article was written with information sourced from the U.S. Constitution, including the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments; Supreme Court case law including Zadvydas v. Davis (2001); the American Bar Association’s resources on due process; and scholarly commentary from the Congressional Research Service.
REALTY
The Housing Authority
Of the City of Williston
The Housing Authority of the City of Williston is now accepting applications for 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom, and 4 bedroom units. *Income, eligibility, and admission preferences apply. Applications are available at The Housing Authority of the City of Williston located at 1801 8th Ave West Williston, ND 58801 Monday-Friday 9am - 4pm (701) 572-2006
WILLISTON GRAPHIC
Through a Lutheran Lens
WHOLLY WEAK IN A HOLY WEEK: UNTIL . . . EASTER’S SON RISE
PASTOR ZACH HARRIS FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Over the course of Lent’s Journey (since really late February), we’ve been setting up a theme of exploration of questions that bother us so. Over the course of seven weeks, we have travelled a dark road concerning fears that pervade our world and our souls, fears of the shadow of death continually blocking out the light and fears that seem a universal constant across the face of humanity—that we will lose all things from the vastness of the Universe to our own petty lives. Our explorations have uncovered how very real the deaths of so many parts of existence loom in front of us. And it’s not only our discoveries, but the actual realities of our world that seem to have devolved into even more chaos and confusion than when we began this journey and have actually expanded our anxieties! And so, we may ask, what is the end result, if we are honest with ourselves? Though we may want to picture ourselves in grand heroic valor, what we have ultimately uncovered is our utter and unequivocal weakness. No matter our wealth, status, physical or mental abilities—the bottom
line: Death wins! On the grandest scale, the physicist’s Big Crunch or your Apocalypse of choice eventually takes out the Universe. In shorter order, in about 5 billion years, our Sun explodes and Earth is no more. The Democracy of our beloved country has always been at best an experiment now stretched to keep itself intact, as well as our churches, in the rolling tide of time as ideals crash upon the shores of inevitability of obsolescence. But when the rubber meets the road, it is our own deaths: that WE, each of us as individuals, will not be here to see all or any of those things because of our own very inherent limitations. And alone, we feel fear simply because we are SO weak— totally and wholly weak—compared to the vastness of entropy’s final nail: Death.
Where can we find hope? Where can we find courage? How in the world did humanity ever even get this far? Could it just be perspective? William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar says in Act II, scene 2: Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear, Seeing that death, a necessary
end,
Will come when it will come.
But that hardly seems like a solution, but rather a sad trick of the mind. For us, having come so far down into the darkness, can you believe the solution is found just a little bit lower?
It is Maundy Thursday of Holy week this day, April 17. Tomorrow is Good Friday. This past Sunday was Palm Sunday. The human experience we’ve been living through was encountered by Jesus of Nazareth 2,000 years ago . . . and with us today. There are church services that in some ways retell the story of betrayal on Thursday and execution on Friday, but it’s more than just empathy we find in reliving the fear and death of that itinerate preacher. There’s more to this Jesus character than our simple human blip on the timeline. In fact, it’s the very nature of this particular fellow that gives THE solution to all the questions that bother us so. It’s the very nature of this fellow that stands as a breakwater against the tides of time, inevitability and obsolescence.
First John 4:18a says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” This has been a text I have been using as a foil for these dark discussions all during Lent. It only takes a little transi-
tive property to see how this all comes together: The whole of the Gospels tell us that Jesus IS God. First John 4:16b tells us “God is Love.” The above tells us that perfect love casts out fear. And the message of the Gospel is that Jesus shows us how to love perfectly. So, when Jesus tells his disciples, including you and me, we should love one another in the way he loves—not only does Jesus give us how he overcomes fears (even Death), but how we might do so also!
Of all the craziness in the world—all the stuff that keeps us up at night—worries about our kids and will they have a future; worries about world leaders more focused on power than people; worries about just getting along with all the other passengers on spaceship Earth and our mutual journey through the cosmos—the answer has always been the same: LOVE! Love is the ONLY commandment that Jesus gives on this very day, “Maundy,” named after the Latin word, “mandatum,” which means “command.”
For the past seven weeks, articles here in the paper, Lenten experiences on Wednesday nights and sermons on Sundays at church, and all the introspection implicit in getting to this week’s Thursday and Friday, are
all intended to lead to an appreciation for this coming Sunday. One cannot recognize light except in contrast to the dark. One cannot appreciate salvation unless one knows what one has been saved from. And perhaps one cannot know courage unless one has faced one’s fears.
So, whether you have experienced everything provided during this Lent, it is my hope that you can make it at least this coming Sunday, Easter, in your fervent effort to attend worship at one of the many local churches to celebrate the rising of God’s Son from the dead—a real world answer to so many real-world problems tied to a simple one word, four letter formula—LOVE! It’s a simple message acted out through the extreme by Jesus—Love, care for, esteem, share, be kind and be forgiving toward others. Imagine if everyone did that all around, and how it would feel when that love might come back to you! And all the while, may God’s love in Jesus make you strong in all the days ahead!
Pastor Zach Harris has been an ordained minister for 33 years and currently serves First Lutheran Church in Williston. His column, “Through a Lutheran Lens: A Pastor’s Perspective,” will appear regularly in the Williston Graphic.
Williston Concert Chorale
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
