The Oracle - September 20, 2023

VACATIONING WITH YOUR ADULT CHILDREN

By Alyssa Stromberg

As your children grow into adulthood, the dynamics of your relationship evolve, and spending quality time together becomes increasingly important.

Page 5

NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES GET FUNDING FOR BISON RESTORATION

By Mike Moen, Prairie News Service

As part of a Biden administration initiative, the U.S. Interior Department is investing $5 million dollars in funding to get buffalo back onto Tribal lands. It is part of a larger program that aims to do even more.

Page 6

AGENCY GARNERS

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Press Release. ND Game & Fish

The Center for Digital Government announced the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and North Dakota Information Technology as winners of the 2023 Government Experience Awards.

Page 7

New Poverty Data Spurs

Urgent

By Mike Moen, Prairie News Service

Calls to Reverse Trends

The U.S. Census Bureau is out with new findings showing that the nation's child poverty rate has more than doubled, to 12%.

Policy experts say a key decision by Congress is the main factor, and reversing it isn't the only action that could turn things around.

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Embracing nature's palette: leaf peeping in North Dakota

By McKenna Walter

As summer fades into the cool days of autumn, the trees unveil a most spectacular sight — the vibrant transformation of foliage. While it might seem hard to enjoy the cherished pastime of leaf peeping in North Dakota, a few perfect locations offer the chance to residents of the Great Plains.

Avid leaf peepers may be taken to all corners of the world but some spots can keep you close to home while allowing you to still enjoy fall foliage displays.

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“IF YOU’RE HELPING SOMEONE AND EXPECTING SOMETHING IN RETURN, YOU’RE DOING BUSINESS NOT KINDNESS.” — @THEHAPPYGIVERS

LOCAL EVENTS SPONSORED BY

FORTUNA

Every Tuesday- Range Night at Northwest Sportsman Club

RAY

Thursday September 21st - 2JH, C, JV, & V Volleyball at Divide County 3:00pm

Thursday September 21st - JH FB at Bishop Ryan 5:00pm

Friday September 22nd - Oratorical Competition Meeting (1st Help Session) at Ray High School

Friday September 22nd - Football at Nedrose 7:00pm

Saturday September 23rd - Elementary

Volleyball Tournament at Divide County

Saturday September 23rd - C Squad

Volleyball Tournament at Kenmare

Saturday September 23rd - Elementary

Football in Ray 11:00am

Monday September 25th - Elementary

Volleyball vs. Alexander 4:30pm (H)

Monday September 25th - JH, JV Football vs Nedrose 5:00pm (H-Ray)

Tuesday September 26th - Elem, JH, JV, Varsity Volleyball at Trenton 4:00pm

Tuesday September 26th - Elementary

Football at Grenora 6:30pm

Thursday September 28th - 2JH, C, JV, Varsity Volleyball vs. Stanley 3:00pm (H)

September 29th & 30th - Varsity Volleyball DLB Tourney

Friday September 29th - FB- (H-PL)

Kenmare/B/BC 7:00pm

Saturday September 30th - Elementary

Volleyball Tournament at Trenton

Saturday September 30th - Elementary

Football in Ray 11:00am

Saturday September 30th - JH Football in Williston (7th) 11:00am

CROSBY

Friday September 22nd - Football at Tioga 7:00pm

Saturday September 23rd - C Squad

Volleyball Tournament at Kenmare

Sunday September 24th - Concert

Series: Here Comes the Sun (Beatles

Tribute) 4:00PM - 6:00PM at Divide County H.S. Auditorium

Friday September 29th - Football vs. MLS (HOMECOMING) 7:00pm at DCHS\

Saturday September 30th - 15th Annual

Crosby Moose Lodge Rib Cookoff Crosby Moose Lodge, 111 Central Ave, Crosby

Saturday September 30th - Varsity Volleyball Tournament at Washburn

Wednesdays: Storytime at the Divide County Library 10:00am - 10:45am

Fridays: Cards & Games at Divide County Senior Citizens Center 1:30-2:30pm

Movie at Dakota Theater 7:30pm

Saturdays: Movie at Dakota Theater 7:30pm

Sundays: Movie at Dakota Theater 7:30pm

WILLISTON

Friday September 22nd - ND Human Rights Film & Art Festival Reception

6-7:30p The James

Saturday September 23rd - WCB Summer Concert 2023at cutting field Here is a tentative list of events - (subject to change)

10am Registration Begins for Classic Cars

10am Cornhole Tournament Registration Begins

12pm Everything opens to the public - Kid Zone, food trucks, Car and Motorcycle show, Chicken Poo BINGO, Loudest Exhaust Competition and more!

12pm Bags Fly for High Stakes Cornhole Tourney (more info coming soon)

4pm Awards for Best of Show Classic Car, Pin Up Contest, and Cornhole

5pm Classic Car Show Parade around the track!

630pm Concert

10pm Firework show sponsored by TNT Fireworks

Saturday September 23rd - The Williston Arc- Family Day Out 10a-4p

Saturday September 23rd - Pitching for the Paws Western Star Complex

Saturday September 23rd - Harvest Days Noon-5p Grand Treasure Casino, 2 miles

west of Trenton

Saturday September 30th - Flannel Fest 2023 11a-4p Lewis & Clark State Park

TIOGA

Thursday September 21st - Tioga High School Picture Day

Thursday September 21st - Tioga Historical Society Meeting 6:30-7:30pm at the Tioga Museum

Thursday September 21st - Airport Authority Meeting 7:00-8:00pm at 2237 Aviator Way Tioga, ND 58852

Friday September 22nd - Gym & Activity Room Closed at Tioga Community Center

Friday September 22nd - Library and Playroom closing at 3:00pm at Tioga

Community Center

Friday September 22nd - Tioga High School Homecoming

Friday September 22nd - Football vs.

Divide County 7:00pm at THS

Saturday September 23rd - FFA Fall

Leadership

Saturday September 23rd - Tioga Community Center Closed for Private Event

Monday September 25th - Tioga

Municipal Court 6:30-7:30pm at Tioga

Commission Hall

Monday September 25th - JH Football at Alexander

Monday September 25th - State Girls

Golf 10:00am at Maple River Golf Club -

Mapleton, ND

Tuesday September 26th - Cross Country in Kenmare

Tuesday September 26th - State Girls

Golf 9:00am at Maple River Golf ClubMapleton, ND

Tuesday September 26th - JH, C, JV, Varsity Volleyball vs. PL-BS 4:00pm HOME

Wednesday September 27th - Mock Accident for THS 12:35pm

Thursday September 28th - Life Line

Health Screening - GYM+ACT CLOSED

Tioga Community Center

Thursday September 28th - C, JV, Varsity

Volleyball at Nedrose 5:00pm

Friday September 29th - Football at Center McLean 7:00pm

Saturday September 30th - Cross Country Border Battle 12:00pm in Grand Forks

Saturday September 30th - Varsity

Volleyball Tournament at Washburn

Tioga Community Center Schedule

Mondays: Yoga Flow 9:30am-10:30am

Learn English Class 10:00am-11:00am

Tuesdays: Pickleball 5:00pm-8:00pm

Wednesdays: Storytime 10:30am11:00am

Youth Group 6:00-9:00pm

Thursdays: Slow Flow 6:00pm-7:00pm

New Poverty Data Spurs Urgent Calls to Reverse Trends

The dramatic increase in the 2022 child poverty rate came just one year after it reached a historic low of 5%.

Samantha Waxman, deputy director of state fiscal policy research with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said things such as inflation likely contributed -- but there was a much bigger force at play.

"The number reflects the expiration of pandemic-assistance programs," she said, "including the expanded Child Tax Credit."

Under the American Rescue Plan, the credit was

temporarily expanded to $3,600 for children age 6 and younger and $3,000 for older kids. However, negotiations failed in making it permanent. Some states are now adopting their own similar credit, although North Dakota isn't among them. Other analysts say states can boost their minimum wage to help families. North Dakota's is still at $7.25 an hour.

North Dakota lawmakers won't meet again until 2025. This past session, they did expand access to free school meals. Poverty-fighting groups have said

it was a positive step, although not as much as they wanted.

Meanwhile, Waxman said the Child Tax Credit isn't exactly a "red-state, blue-state" issue.

"For example, this year in Utah, they created a new Child Tax Credit," she said, "so I think there is [a] possibility around the country."

A handful of other conservative-led states, such as Oklahoma, have their own version of the credit, in addition to several other traditionally "blue" states. As for the Census data, its report also notes that me-

dian household income fell by more than 2% last year. It's now just about $74,500

a year.

Embracing nature's palette: leaf peeping in North Dakota

In North Dakota, there are several great spots to take in the beautiful colors and really embrace the feeling of fall. Here’s just 8 of the most beautiful locations in North Dakota

attraction, too. The national park takes on an incredible change each fall in the trees that line the river bottoms.

Trenton Wildlife Management - Williston, North Dakota

Red River Valley

- Eastern North

Dakota

The Red River Valley covers a good chunk of North Dakota where the river creates the border between Minnesota and North Dakota. Come September and the dropping of temperatures, the trees lining the water in Red River Valley become filled with brilliant colors.

Turtle River State ParkArvilla, North Dakota Turtle River State Park is located along the meandering Turtle River. The locations boast 784 acres of wooded valley and stone bridges and log buildings that were constructed in the 1930s. The park also features trails for hiking and walking, giving a perfect location for a fall leaf peeping hike.

Pembina Gorge - Walhalla, North Dakota

Pembina Gorge is a State Recreation Area that is well known as a top destination of adventure seekers. With 2,800 acres of public land, steep valley cliffs, isolated prairies, and pocketed wetlands all surrounded by undisturbed forest. This makes it an ideal location for leaf peeping.

Fort Ransom State Park - Fort Ransom, North Dakota

Fort Ransom State Park is nestled in the scenic and

heavily wooded, Sheyenne River Valley. It offers hiking, camping, horseback riding and a glimpse into the history of the 1860s military fort it was named for.

Devils Lake - Devils Lake, North Dakota

Devils Lake offers something for everyone with both family-friendly walks, and challenging hikes through beautiful scenery with breathtaking views.

Turtle Mountains/Lake

Metigoshe - Bottineau, North Dakota

Along the U.S./Canadian Border, Lake Metigoshe and the Turtle Mountains which they’re nestled in is one of the most colorful fall landscapes in North Dakota.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park North and South Units - Medora, North Dakota

While the Badlands of Western N.D. are mostly known for the wildlife, the trees in the fall are a great

Located close to home in Williams County, Trenton Wildlife Management is a large wooded area that surrounds Trenton Lake. It’s a perfect location for taking in fall colors.

In the heart of North Dakota’s vast plains, the transition from summer to autumn reveals a canvas of colors proving that the beauty of leaf peeping is not bound by geography. So, whether you wander the Turtle River State Park trails, seek adventure in Pembina Gorge, immerse yourself in the history of Fort Ransom State Park, or savor the tranquility of Turtle Mountains/Lake Metigoshe, North Dakota offers an array of autumn wonders.

(Adobe Stock)

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says last year's spike in the nation's child poverty rate is the largest increase for children dating back to 1967. (Adobe Stock)

THE WESTBY WATCH

Homecoming Royalty

The Mondak Thunder of Westby High School and Grenora High School crowned their 2023 homecoming kings and queens on Tuesday.

Reigning as Westby's queen is Erika Christian, daughter of Tom and Brandi Christian. Westby's king for 2023 is Deven Eson, son of Dana and Brenda Eson.

Grenora crowned Emma Berg and Graham Wright as their 2023 royals. Berg is the daughter of John and Sarah Berg. Wright is the son of Jeremy and Nikki Wright.

By Heidi Whitney

HOT DISH!

Please contact Heidi Whitney at 406-672-5696 to add an event!

ALL TIMES ARE MOUNTAIN

Thur Sept 21: Thunder Volleyball @ Westby. Junior High begins at 4 pm. Junior Varsity and Varsity to follow.

Fri Sept 22: Thunder Football Homecoming @ Grenora v. Savage. Junior High, 4:30 pm. Varsity, 7 pm.

Sun Sept 23: Services at Assembly of God, 10:30 am.

Coffee hour and Sunday School at Immanuel, 10:30 am. Services at 11:30 am.

Don’t forget coffee time at the Westby Community Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 am -10 am!

Whatever time: Day. Night. Weekend.

Whatever the reason: Mental health distress. Substance use crisis. Thoughts of suicide.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is here for you. Text 988 | Call 988 | Chat 988lifeline.org

Simply calling or texting 988 or chatting 988lifeline.org will connect a person in crisis to compassionate care and support for any mental health or substance use-related distress. Anyone—a person in crisis, or someone supporting a person in crisis—can reach 988 in the United States through any land line, cell phone, and voice-over internet device

With rising levels of anxiety, depression, emotional distress, and overdose deaths, it is crucial that people have somewhere to turn when they’re in crisis. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. The number of people with a substance use disorder continues to increase. The 988 Lifeline is a direct connection to immediate and free support and resources for anyone in crisis.

And it works. About 98 percent of people who call, chat, or text the 988 Lifeline get the crisis support they need and do not require additional services in that moment. The 988 Lifeline is a key part of a broader vision for reimagined crisis care in the United States. Through federal, state, local, and community partnerships,

SAMHSA is working towards a vision where everyone has:

• Someone to talk to

• Someone to respond

• A safe place for help

Want

Left: Westby Queen & King, Erika Christian and Deven Eson. Right: Grenora Queen and King Emma Berg and Graham Wright.

Vacationing with your adult kids

By Alyssa Stromberg

Vacationing with your adult kids can be an incredibly rewarding and memorable experience. As your children grow into adulthood, the dynamics of your relationship evolve, and spending quality time together becomes increasingly important. Traveling together offers a unique opportunity to strengthen bonds, create lasting memories and enjoy each other's company in a new and exciting environment.

Reconnect and Bond: As your children pursue their own lives and responsibilities, it can be challenging to find time to connect on a deeper level. A vacation provides an uninterrupted period to bond, share stories and create new traditions.

Shared Experiences: Traveling together allows you to share new and exciting experiences, from exploring unfamiliar destinations to trying new foods and activities. These shared moments can create stronger connections and inside jokes that only your family understands.

Build Lifelong Memo-

ries: Family vacations often result in cherished memories that last a lifetime. Adult children may have fond childhood memories of family trips and now you can create new ones together.

Strengthen Communication: Spending extended periods together encourages open communication. You can discuss life's challenges, dreams and aspirations, fostering a deeper understanding of each other.

Vacationing with your adult kids offers a unique opportunity to strengthen your family bonds, create lifelong memories and foster deeper connections. Embrace the journey and cherish the moments spent together as these vacations will be cherished by your family for years to come. Having just come home from a tropical vacation with my two sons and new daughter in law, I am looking forward to many more vacations with them and being able to bring my daughter and her family as well. Take pictures, try new things and enjoy every moment spent together.

Native American Tribes get funding for bison restoration

By Mike Moen, Prairie News Service

The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced $5 million in funding to help reintroduce bison to Native American Tribal lands around the country, and the efforts are gaining momentum in states like North Dakota.

Through the Biden administration's "America the Beautiful" initiative, the money will support tribal-led efforts to bolster conservation programs to help return bison to their ancestral roots in Indigenous areas.

Chamois Andersen, senior Rockies and Plains program field representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said animals being reintroduced contain DNA from the iconic Yellowstone bison, the buffalo originally roaming the Plains.

"These animals tend to

have big heads; they can withstand cold winters, selecting a mate, and how they forage in large herds and migrate," Andersen outlined. "Having this be sort of the source population, Yellowstone bison, for tribes is really helpful."

In 2021, five North Dakota tribes signed a treaty to support restoring bison, which extends to other states. And the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collaborated on a transfer of bison from a wildlife refuge

in Colorado to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. The goal was to measure the extent of their integration into an existing herd.

Beyond the ecological and environmental impacts of restoring bison to grass-

lands and Plains, Andersen pointed out there are important cultural and ceremonial reasons for Indigenous people to have bison reintroduced to tribal lands, especially for elders.

"For them to bring back their buffalo on their land and have them utilize these animals as a wildlife resource for their ceremony, for their songs, for the elders to provide that oral history," Andersen explained. "It's been more than a hundred years since our Native nations have had buffalo on the ground."

While the $5 million are deemed critical to the bison reintroduction program, there is a larger, $25 million measure introduced by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to do even more. The legislation is pending in Congress.

Historical Look at Waterfowl in North Dakota

PRESS RELEASE. ND GAME & FISH

The storied past of waterfowl in North Dakota is uniquely revealed in the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s publication, “The Duck Factory –A History of Waterfowl in North Dakota.”

Certainly of interest to waterfowlers and other outdoor enthusiasts, the 213page, full color, soft-cover publication is authored by Mike Jacobs and Erik Fritzell. The book traces the

history of waterfowl species and their habitats in North Dakota.

“The Duck Factory” is an important story because

of North Dakota’s longtime and continuing contribution to the world of migratory birds, said Mike Szymanski, Department migratory game bird management supervisor.

“North Dakota is the most important state for breeding ducks,” he added. “The contribution of ducks from North Dakota into the fall flight is unmatched by any other state, and its importance to duck hunters cannot be understated. Describing the history of waterfowl in North Dakota was a story that we felt was certainly worth telling.”

The book is sold only online for $24.99, including shipping, on the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, by clicking on Buy and Apply, and then Shop.

The U.S. Department of the Interior currently manages 11,000 bison in herds across 4.6 million acres of public lands in a dozen states. (Adobe Stock)

Photo Source: North Dakota Game & Fish Website

Agency Garners National Recognition

PRESS RELEASE. ND

GAME & FISH

The Center for Digital Government announced the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and North Dakota Information Technology as winners of the 2023 Government Experience Awards. The award recognizes the achievements of states, cities and counties across the nation that have raised the bar on the experience of government services to create a better engaged constituency and a more responsive government. NDIT and the Game and Fish Department were selected as a State Government Experience Winners for the Department’s parcel project.

“North Dakota Information Technology and North Dakota Game and Fish did

an amazing job of adding value to our residents and customers,” said Natasa Radunovic, NDIT team lead.

“The Game and Fish team is such a fun and hardworking group of people, always ready for a new challenge. Their dedication, transparency, and collaboration are what help deliver our shared purpose to empower people, improve lives and inspire success.”

Launched in 2021, the electronic posting project, spearheaded by Brian Hosek, Game and Fish Department business operations manager, is a tool for both landowners and hunters to identify posted lands digitally within the state. This results in reduced cost and effort to post land physically, while ensuring it meets legal posting requirements.

STEAKHOUSE

118 Main Street Lignite, ND 701-933-2337

“State parcels have always been a top data priority for the state. There are numerous use cases for this information that benefit many citizens of North Dakota. The state’s electronic posting system is one example,” Hosek said. “The collaboration and talent of this team, including Melvin Faris, NDIT and Shane Wegner, Game and Fish Department, has resulted in a successful outcome for electronic posting and the state parcel project.”

MARK

Saturday, Sept. 23rd 9:00pm - 12:30am

LIVE

https://www.facebook.com/ chloemariemusicnd/

Bingo Every Thursday at 7 PM Pot $1199

Steaks, Seafood, and Burger Baskets Full Salad Bar on weekends.

Tue-Sat Lunch: 11 am- 2 pm Supper: 5 pm-9 pm | Bar: 3 pm-close

Whooping Crane Migration

PRESS RELEASE. ND GAME & FISH —Whooping cranes are in the midst of their fall migration and sightings will increase as they make their way through North Dakota over the next several weeks. Anyone seeing these endangered birds as they move through the state should report sightings so the birds can be tracked.

The whooping cranes that do travel through North Dakota are part of a population of about 500 birds on their way from nesting grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada to wintering grounds in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, a distance of about 2,500 miles.

Whoopers stand about 5 feet tall and have a wingspan of about 7 feet from tip to tip. They are bright white with black wing tips, which are visible only when the wings

are outspread. In flight, they extend their long necks, while their long, slender legs extend behind the tail. Whooping cranes typically migrate singly, or in groups of two to three birds, and may be associated with sandhill cranes.

Other white birds such as snow geese, swans and egrets are often mistaken for whooping cranes. The most common misidentification is pelicans, because their wingspan is similar and they tuck their pouch in flight, leaving a silhouette similar to a crane when viewed from below.

Anyone sighting whoopers should not disturb them, but record the date, time, location and the birds' activity. Observers should also look for and report colored bands, which may occur on one or both legs. Whooping cranes have been marked with col-

ored leg bands to help determine their identity.

Whooping crane sightings should be reported to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices at Lostwood, 701-848-2466; Audubon, 701-442-5474; the North Dakota Game and Fish Department in Bismarck, 701328-6300; or to local game wardens across the state. Reports help biologists locate important whooping crane habitat areas, monitor marked birds, determine survival and population numbers, and identify times and migration routes.

2.

3.

severe/overwhelming emotional pain or distress.

4. Show ing worrisome changes in behavior, particularly in co mbination with the warn ing signs above , including sign ificant:

• Withdrawal from or changing social connect ions/situations.

• Changes in sleep (increased or decreased).

• Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context.

• Recent increased ag itation or irritability.

(Adobe Stock)

Farmer’sClothingDaughter Store

Dakota Gardener: Seeing red

see the oranges and reds coming from the maple trees?

We actually do get a lot of red in the fall landscape, if you know where to look. Mostly, you have to look in the understory.

The three native viburnums – American cranberrybush, arrowwood and nannyberry – all turn red in the fall. The cranberrybush leaves are especially striking, closer to a fire-engine red. Nannyberry is pretty close, though with a hint of purple. Arrowwood is often more a burgundy color.

And don’t forget woodbine – a vine that’s the western cousin of Virginia creeper. This plant grows up trees and fences with ease, and may sometimes become a bit of a nuisance. Nevertheless, in autumn, its five leaflets turn a beautiful bright red which can be seen from ground line all the way to the top of tall trees. When the vine’s in an evergreen tree, the color contrast is fantastic.

By Joe Zeleznik, Forester NDSU Extension

If someone is “seeing red,” it means that they suddenly became very angry. It’s a description of a very strong negative emotion.

On the other hand, people often would love to see red in their trees, at least during autumn. A typical discussion about fall tree color in North Dakota usually starts with, “Do we have red trees in North Dakota? I thought everything just turned yellow.”

Admittedly, there’s definitely a lot of yellow in the fall landscape. Most of our native deciduous trees turn yellow. Cottonwood, paper birch, boxelder, green ash, hackberry. They’re all yellow. Bur oak and American linden as well. Is there any red in the landscape? Or do we have to drive all the way into Minnesota to

Don’t forgot the chokecherries and the plums. Again, the brilliant, blazing red color lights up the edge of the forest, or perhaps just those small pockets of forest in the broader prairie landscape. The woody draws of western North Dakota are sometimes dominated by plums and can catch your eye in the fall.

You don’t have to drive all the way to the northern forests of Minnesota to see beautiful red fall colors. Travel to the forests that are nearer to home. Look closely, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Here’s another one. Check out patches of smooth sumac. This shrub spreads from rhizomes, creating thickets along ditches and in other highly-disturbed soils. The fall color varies from burgundy to fire-engine red. The huge compound leaves are great for kids’ art projects.

Do you remember the lessons from grade school art class, regarding primary colors? Red, yellow and blue can be combined to produce all of the other colors. Of course, there are no blue leaved-trees. However, do we see any purples or violets in the fall palette, between blue and red? How about oranges, between red and yellow?

Those colors are harder to come by. Sometimes, red-osier dogwood leaves turn purple, though many plants are more reddish.

Orange is a difficult color to find in North Dakota in the fall. That’s when I look to the ornamentals, like Ohio buckeye or Manchurian apricot. In the right season, they’re very impressive.

I encourage you to go out and see red. It’s actually a really good thing.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Sept. 19, 2023

Source: Joe Zeleznik, 701730-3389, joseph.zeleznik@ ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701231-7881, kelli.c.anderson@ ndsu.edu

You don’t have to drive all the way to the northern forests of Minnesota to see beautiful red fall colors.

Pin cherry, a tree native to the Turtle Mountain area, turns red and orange in the fall. (NDSU photo)

Word of the Day schadenfreude: (noun)

1. Pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune.

NATIONAL & WORLD HEADLINES PERFORMANCE COMES TO SHOCKING END

Thursday, September 14, students of an Alabama high school in Birmingham performed Talkin’ Out the Side of Your Neck by Cameo with their director, Johnny Mims, leading them. The performance was agreed upon by both schools present at the game. With around a minute left of the song, a police officer approached Mims and asked him to stop the music so they could clear the stadium. They didn’t want people to linger after the game. Mims reportedly responded, saying there was only a minute left in the song. As the performance finished, officers attempted to arrest Mims for noncompliance. According to police, the band director “refused” to place his hands behind his back and pushed an arresting officer. Mims claims that he was caught off guard and couldn’t see who was grabbing him due the the stadium’s lights going out. An officer then pulled a stun gun and tased him. Birmingham police claim he was only tased once while Mims insists he was tased three times. Mims is physically recovering from the incident but says he

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK:

When your assistance is contingent upon the anticipation of reciprocation, it transforms your altruistic gesture into a transactional exchange, fundamentally altering its essence from pure kindness to a business-like arrangement. True kindness thrives when it’s offered selflessly, without the weight of anticipated returns, fostering genuine connections and empathy.

continues to be haunted by it, especially the screams and crying of his students.

5 AMERICANS FREED

After monthslong negotiations, the Biden Administration executed a $6 billion deal with Iran on Monday. For the return of five Americans who had been held in prison in Iran, the U.S. released five Iranian prisoners and unfroze nearly $6 billion in Iranian assets which were held in South Korea. The five Americans landed back on U.S. soil early Tuesday morning. The U.S. will now monitor Iran’s use of the released assets. The assets are to be used for food, medicine, and other humanitarian purposes. The negotiations were mediated by Qatar, Switzerland, and Oman. Qatar’s central bank will now oversee the regulation of the released funds.

The group released includes:

• Siamak Namazi, a businessman who has been held in Iran since 2015

• Morad Tahbaz, an environmental activist detained in 2018

• Emad Shargi, arrested

while visiting Iran in 2018

• Two other people who didn’t want to be publicly named.

WORLD LEADERS GATHER

This week, the 78th session of the annual General Assembly is opening in New York City. Top leaders from over 145 countries are attending, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is attending for the first time since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022. The assembly is the most representative body in the world’s largest intergovernmental organization, the United Nations. Leaders from France and the United Kingdom will not be attending. Russia, China, and India will also not be attending. These three nations are part of the emerging bloc of economies known as BRICS which also includes South Africa and Brazil. This comes after they added six more countries last month which is suggested by forum observers to be them aspiring to reform the Western-dominated United Nations.

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