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This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from February 28 to March 4, 2011. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) HB 1263, which deals with the UND Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, was opposed by the SBHE. Board members cited concerns, including the constitutionality of the bill, impact on the campus of delaying the transition process now underway and the potential repercussions for UND athletics. The SBHE voted to support the amended version of HB 1353 related to the UND SOMHS. The amended bill changes the composition of the medical school advisory council and revises the SOMHS mission statement. However, the board continues to support additional funding in HB 1003 for added student enrollment and residency positions. The SBHE also voiced opposition to HCR 3046, which was introduced February 23; and (2) If HCR 3046 is approved by the Legislative Assembly, an amendment to the state constitution eliminating the State Board of Higher Education, the North Dakota University System chancellor and the superintendent of public instruction would go before the people of North Dakota for a vote. Its key components and its impacts are described. A list of bills on the week nine agenda is also reported.

In this paper, a systematic analysis of hourly wind-speed data obtained from three potential wind-generation sites (in North Dakota) is analyzed. The power spectra of the data exhibited a power-law decay characteristic of i,/fα processes with possible long-range correlations. Conventional analysis using Hurst exponent estimators proved to be inconclusive. Subsequent analysis using detrended fluctuation analysis revealed a crossover in the scaling exponent (α). At short time scales, a scaling exponent of α ∼ 1.4 indicated that the data resembled Brownian noise, whereas for larger time scales the data exhibited long-range correlations (α ∼ 0.7). The scaling exponents obtained were similar across the three locations. Our findings suggest the possibility of multiple scaling exponents characteristic of multifractal signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the impact of the 900-acre refinery of petroleum company Standard Oil Co. located in Mandan, North Dakota on the refining and marketing operations in the U.S. Upper Midwest. It notes that the opening of the refinery marks a trend in which smaller refineries are serving local markets and making use of crude oil coming from developing sources found in the Williston Basin and Canada. Reasons behind the change in marketing and refining patterns are given, one of which is advances in refining technology.

Discusses the law on retaining a client's documents by a law firm after termination of service. Information on the rules of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct on retaining clients' documents; Hawaii's rules on retaining liens; Ethics rule of North Dakota on retaining liens.

The article focuses on the discovery of oil in Williston Basin in North Dakota. Williston Basin is considered to be North America's largest basin of deposition where marine and vegetable life had died and decayed in an ancient sea bottom. On April 5, 1951, Amerada Petroleum Corp. made an oil strike in the basin. One interested party in the oil field is Northwest Bancorporation which has 20 affiliated banks and 18 bank branches in North Dakota and Montana.

The article looks at the reasons for bank failures in the U.S. Northwest as of March 1924, as some banks blame the Federal Reserve System for their incompetence. It claims that the failures are mainly due to poor banking and too many banks, not rigorous deflation. John H. Rich, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in Minnesota, notes that, based on the ratio of population per bank for the U.S., North Dakota had five banks instead of one, South Dakota four, and Montana three.

The article focuses on the use of lignite deposits as fuel to produce cheap power in North Dakota. The state's recoverable lignite reserves are equal to 165 billion tons of bituminous. Studies have been conducted by Vern E. Alden Co. to assess the cost of producing power under specified conditions. The company figured that a private firm would need 120 million U.S. dollars in capital for an aluminum processing plant that burns 4,920,000 tons of lignite. Lignite is said to be a source of tars and light oils that could be removed by carbonization.

In this article author talks about the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, a tribal nation centered high in North Dakota. Topics include focuses on dress of dark turquoise patterned with black flowers; sparkling white pinafore with sunflower buttons and a pair of beaded moccasins made of tanned fawn skin, trimmed with red ribbon work.

This theme issue of "State Education Leader" contains eight articles on rural education. "The Rural Bellwether" (Kathy Christie) discusses declining enrollment in rural schools, rural problems with teacher shortages and special education funding, issues related to school size and school district size, and distance learning initiatives. "Iowa Links Education and Economy" (Greg Nichols) describes a proposal before the Iowa Legislature to improve teacher quality through pay raises, incentives, and continuing education, and, thereby, boost student achievement and contribute to a better educated workforce. "Collaboration in Nevada's Rural and Urban Schools" (Robert C. McCord) examines rural-urban collaborative projects concerned with teacher training and technology use. "Maine School Embraces Service-Learning" (Trisha L. Smith) describes a student-initiated middle school project involving cooperation between the school and a paper company and development of forestry education on company land. "Distance Education Overcomes Rural Isolation" (Suzanne Weiss) looks at examples of distance education innovations in rural Colorado, Arizona, and West Virginia. "Community Colleges: Key to Rural Success" (J. Parker Chesson, Jr.) discusses the role of community colleges in rural economic development and increased access to education. "Special Education: Tough Issue for Rural and Remote Areas" (Lynne Chalmers) describes a North Dakota program to increase the supply of rural special education teachers. "Early Learning: Child Care in Rural America" discusses child care conditions in rural America and efforts to link child care with preschool services. Rural education resources and statistics are listed. (SV)

Features the book circulation period of nine weeks which is implemented at the library of Magic City campus of Minot, North Dakota High School. System fitting with the assignment pattern of classes and permitting students to have the books long enough to complete their reading; How the system works.

The article examines how the natural gas boom in North Dakota has created an abundance of jobs in the state's petroleum industry in 2013, and discusses problems associated with the sudden influx of labor. Topics include a discussion of how the incoming laborers have impacted the economy of small towns and made housing scarce, why many oil companies' high wages help to decrease turnover, but impact competition with other industries, and how human resource (HR) professionals can manage oil workers. INSETS: Business Lessons from Boomtowns: Look at the Long-Term Growth;North Dakota 'Man Camp' Offers One Solution to Housing Shortage.

The article looks at the effects of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) oil extraction from Bakken shale reserves on communities in North Dakota. It is noted that the increase in oil production in the region prompted a large population increase due to related employment opportunities such as truck drivers, construction workers, and oil well drillers. Also discussed are the environmental impacts of fracking, including groundwater contamination with toxic fracking fluids and oil well accidents.

The article offers information about the role of the Internet in humor in U.S. society. Topics include a review of the Olive Garden restaurant in North Dakota by an older woman called a NLOL (nice little old lady), the role of food in American society, and the relationship between humor and the Internet.

The article examines Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's chances of winning the November 2008 election against his Republican opponent John McCain in North Dakota. The paper provides information on the state's congressional politics and number of delegates and electoral votes for the presidential election.

The article focuses on Harold Hamm, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the petroleum company Continental Resources. Information is provided on how Hamm purchased the Bakken, the largest shale formation in the U.S. after Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. The article notes how Hamm plans to extract petroleum from the shale deposits which span across North Dakota and how his discovery has increased petroleum prospecting in the U.S.

The article discusses the Williston Basin in North Dakota, which is the location of a large amount of oil and has, as a result, made the area prosperous. Consideration is given to the proliferation of oil wells and the process of using explosives to build new wells. The geology of the Basin and the amount of crude oil that was removed from there in 2010 is considered as are oil prices. Engineer Russell Rankin of Brigham Exploration comments on the oil in North Dakota.

This article offers information on the Legislative Automated Work Station (LAWS) used by the lawmakers in North Dakota. LAWS incorporates the text of proposed amendments into the text of the bill, so that lawmakers can see the language of the amendments in the context of the legislation. Amendments generally originate in one of the legislative committees. Without LAWS, before the full chamber voted on the amendments, there would be a day's delay while the amendments were printed and inserted as pieces of different-colored paper sticking out of the bill books. LAWS was built with applications from Software AG Inc., including the EntireX Communicator data integration tool. Before the legislature started using LAWS, it used the Adabas database of Software AG to store legislation and other applications built with the company's natural language to access and manage legislation. The state's part-time citizen legislators can use their state-owned notebook computers to conduct official business, and the state provides them with either dial-up Internet access or a virtual private network. LAWS simultaneously preserves the investment of the state in its legacy systems gets more out of them.

This article looks at the empty prairies of the United States of America where promises were never fulfilled. Homesteaders lured to the area by railroad companies believed rain would grow their crops but the rain never came only harsh cold and wind. The High Plains covering parts of North Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska have beaten back efforts for human habitation several times. Life in the North Dakota plains is described .

Celebrates the perfect school attendance of Travis Schmidt, who graduated from Mandan Senior High School in Mandan, North Dakota in May 2000.

Reflects on the life of former baseball player Roger Maris, who held the record for most home runs in a single season from 1961 to 1998. Experience of the author travelling to the Roger Maris Museum in Maris' hometown of Fargo, North Dakota; Comparison of his playing style to that of Mickey Mantle; Biographical and career information on Maris; Description of Fargo, the museum and the image it conveys of Maris.

Deals with the legalization of hemp growing in North Dakota. Reason for the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to ban the crop; States that pass or considering pro-hemp legislation; Organizations that are pressuring the DEA with a law suit regarding the arrest of Woody Harrelson for planting hemp seeds.

Focuses on Major League Baseball players Darin Erstad and Rick Helling, who hail from North Dakota. Erstad's play as first basemen for the California Angels; Helling's pitching for the Texas Rangers; How they grew up near each other in North Dakota; Their records against each other.

Reports that papers documenting United States Army General George S. Patton's (1885-1945) World War I career have been acquired by the University of North Dakota's Chester Fritz Library in Grand Forks, North Dakota. What the collection includes; Appraisal of the collection.

Focuses on how the `Grand Forks Herald' newspaper staffers are learning to live with unconventional makeshift newsrooms after their building was immersed in the Grand Forks, North Dakota flooding on Spring of 1997. Comments of Mike Jacobs, editor of Grand Forks, on their situation; Insights of several Herald staffers and journalists on their working conditions; Challenge that the paper needs to address.

The first paper in this volume, "Geomorphic Effects of Flood-Control Channel Works" (H. Rasid), examines the basic mechanisms of morphologic instabilities in man-made or modified channels in terms of their altered hydraulic characteristics and geomorphic responses to such induced changes. Two tables, two figures, and a 33-item bibliography are included. "An Exploratory Study of Bankruptcy and Its Ecological Correlates in North Dakota" (P. Meartz) examines bankruptcy as an indicator of economic stress within a community. An attempt is made to explore the nature of the ecological setting in which bankruptcies occur in North Dakota. Four maps and a 28-item bibliography are included. "Initial Development of North Dakota's First Geography Awareness Week" (D. Munski) chronicles North Dakota's participation in the first annual Geography Awareness Week, a nationwide celebration. A 9-item bibliography is included. "North Dakota Lesson Plan Packet" (A. Asbeck; D. Munski) is a compilation of lesson plans for precollege geographers, intended for local reproduction and use. The final section of the Bulletin contains nine evaluative book reviews. (JB)

Profiles puppeteer, Darrel D. Hildebrant. Obtaining of college degree in library science; Absence of background in theater and art; Holding of the position of program director and children's and young adult coordinator at Veterans Memorial Library in Bismarck, North Dakota; Children's attraction to puppetry and puppet theater.

Describes the recovery efforts in Grand Forks, North Dakota, since the floods of the winter of 1996-1997. Amount of snow that fell; Description of flooding; Number of residents who had to be evacuated; Damage in downtown Grand Forks and East Grand Forks; Spirits of the people; Search for new housing; Protection of town from future flooding; First new downtown building; Weather in the winter of 1997-1998.

When Robert McEwen got up to speak at his company's annual meeting earlier this month, his first words were: "Gold is money." It's become a mantra for the soft-spoken chairman and chief executive of Goldcorp Inc. In a market that's lost 50 per cent in value since its September 2000, peak McEwen's company's stock price has doubled, twice, in the past two years. McEwen's firm is a mid-size Canadian mining company with operations in North Dakota and Saskatchewan. It has stakes in a handful of junior exploration companies. But its crown jewel is in northwestern Ontario: the Red Lake mine, first developed in the 1940s. Today, Red Lake is the world's richest gold mine. But before riches and royalty entered his life, McEwen had to overcome major hurdles. In his bid to extract the gold he believed all along was at the Red Lake site, he faced lawsuits, a family feud, a debilitating strike and a death threat, not to mention an investment community that didn't believe in him.

The article discusses North Dakota legume crops grown for export to India for food, including pulses, lentils and dried peas. An overview of the impact of China's decrease in economic growth on U.S. agricultural exports to India is provided.

Focuses on the performance of the Canadian ice hockey players at the world junior championships. How these Canadian teenagers were playing for their place in history in Grand Forks, North Dakota; Role of coach Brent Sutter; Attitude of the team, which was undefeated and unchallenged; The resurgence of Canadian hockey; Overview of the players; Highlights of the game; Sutter's focus on team play and sacrifice.

Relates North Dakota National Guard 957th Engineer Co. soldiers' experiences during their 88-vehicle convoy from Bismarck, North Dakota to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Unit's specialization in bridge building; Unit's use of Oshkosh Common Bridge Transport trucks; Possible deployment of the unit in Southwest Asia.