The Special Session is happening now, which I wrote about in detail on Sunday. That’s the big ticket item everyone is talking about this week as we decide how we regulate Kratom and data centers.
But an equally important thing, flying under the radars is the Health Beyond Healthcare Initiative Workshop, happening today as well at 11:00 AM and finishing tomorrow. It will feature Kelly Armstrong as a speaker, giving him a rather busy week as governor.
He did sign in September as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month for North Dakota and our HHS talks about the resources and need in our state. Including a statement from Suicide Prevention Administrator Melissa Markegaard.
“Increasing connection, teaching life skills and fostering hope can strengthen communities and reduce the risk of suicide,” said Melissa Markegard, HHS suicide prevention administrator. “When people feel valued, supported and less alone, it can make a difference in their overall well-being. Each of us has a role to play by reaching out, listening and helping connect someone to support when they need it.”
I think our suicide prevention services in our state are absolutely incredible, and the rollout and implementation of 988 has saved untold lives. Speaking of 988, September 8th is National 988 Day which FirstLink Celebrates and invites you to as well.
Something to celebrate immediately is 988 can be connected on students’ devices in schools, it is unclear exactly how that might work or what privacy youth can expect, but it’s a step in the right direction, especially if they’re not allowed access to their phones.
News You May have Missed
UND’s four-year-long productivity record comes to abrupt end as they regain access of TikTok. (That’s a joke. The first part I mean.)
Jack Dura reports on US Education Secretary McMahon visiting a Mandan school, with former ND State Superintendent Kristen Baesler and current ND US Rep Julie Fedorchak. While the visit was notable for being the closet thing Rep Fedorchak has had to a townhall in person this year, it was a promotional tour for the Education Freedom Tax Credit and the crew has been working to dismantle public education.
In other news, there are more queer people than we ever thought, helping to illustrate just how damaging Detroit Lake’s pride flag ban will be as it stays in effect, with that story brought to us from Anna Ballweber.
These days folks would like trans people fired for existing, so there is that. If one wanted some idea of the harmful effect this will have on the many students who try to exist in school or resources to help them, yes.
In mixed news, Ceilidh Kern reports, ND has postponed banning soda and candy, largely because of a lawsuit that won in court, which challenged the constitutionality of such a ban. Though South Dakota is plowing ahead, so we’ll see how that plays out. Overall, the move served no real purpose except to punish poor people and make SNAP less flexible, though many folks did have to pretend it was about other things.
General reminder that being informed doesn’t change the world. So long as you don’t act in some way on the information you’ve heard, it may as well have been poetry set to the beat of news. It will never be the right time to get involved. We have to make it the right time, by just dedicating some time to do something - an hour one day to talk to your legislator. A post about what you read here shared to social media. Sharing this Substack or the stories here. Below these articles will always be things you can do, even if it is just drinking water.
Choose One Action to Do Below
Sign-up for an upcoming suicide prevention training or share them with friends
Share this Substack with a significantly propagandized message such as, “This is literally the best thing I’ve read” or “This Substack is Fetch, Omg!”
Drink 8 ounces or more of water right now. Come on.