By: Michael Achterling (ND Monitor)
Two new measles cases were confirmed in Cass County on Sunday, bringing North Dakota’s total cases to 11 since May 2, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
The department reported both people were unvaccinated and one was hospitalized as a result of the disease. Both people are believed to have contracted measles from international travel.
Two Essentia Health clinics in the Fargo area were exposed to the disease and public health officials said unvaccinated individuals present at those facilities should quarantine themselves for 21 days to monitor for symptoms.
The two clinics exposed were:
Last week, public health officials reported three schools in Williston were exposed to measles that resulted in about 150 unvaccinated students isolating at home to monitor for symptoms. Nine measles cases have been confirmed in Williams County since May 2.
The health department recommends children between 12-15 months old should receive their first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and a second dose between 4-6 years of age.
“People who are vaccinated and exposed to measles are not likely to develop the disease,” said Molly Howell, immunization director for HHS. “MMR vaccination is critical to preventing the spread of measles in the community. Anyone who is eligible and has not yet been vaccinated is encouraged to contact a trusted health care provider about MMR vaccination.”
Howell said the MMR vaccine is 93% effective after one dose and 97% effective after a second dose.
Adults born before 1957 are generally presumed immune due to natural exposure, the department said.
Immunization records for North Dakota residents can be reviewed through the HHS website or by contacting a health care provider.
Measles symptoms can develop up to 21 days after exposure. The symptoms are:
The measles virus is spread through the air and people remain contagious for several days before and after the first symptoms appear, the department said. They added there is no specific medical treatment for measles, but antibiotics may be used in cases resulting in a secondary bacterial infection.
The risk of measles to the general public is low due to a majority of North Dakotans being immunized against the disease.
Vaccines are available through most clinics. For families in need, the federally funded Vaccines for Children Program offers support through local providers.
For information about measles, vaccination, or local clinic availability, contact the HHS Immunization Unit at 701-328-2378 or 711 (TTY), or visit hhs.nd.gov/measles.
For more information about measles or immunizations, contact the HHS Immunization Unit at 701-328-2378, 711 (TTY) or visit: hhs.nd.gov/measles.
Following up from the last piece on this, we left off immediately following the ammonia disaster in January 2002. In the days and weeks following Minot residents searched for answers, and when the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its findings, those answers proved to be disappointing. Today, we will dive into why the derailment occurred and the cleanup following.
The derailment was ultimately caused by a broken joint bar, a critical piece of metal used to connect sections of continuous welded rail. The specific joint bar that failed had developed fatigue cracks over time, likely due to a combination of stress, temperature extremes, and repetitive wheel loads. These cracks went unnoticed by Canadian Pacific Railway’s inspection crews, and on January 18, 2002, they finally gave way, sending a total of 31 cars off the tracks.
The NTSB investigation revealed that Canadian Pacific’s inspection practices were woefully inadequate. Despite operating in a region with severe winter conditions and known rail stress, the company relied effectively solely on visual inspections conducted from slowly moving vehicles. Crews did not get out to physically examine joints or use more advanced tools available to them that could have detected the internal cracks. In fact, the last detailed inspection before the derailment failed to note any issues, despite clear signs of wear that were visible in post-accident photographs that was deemed to almost certainly be there pre-crash.
The bar had been installed in a curve, a location more prone to stress and failure, and it had a history of maintenance requirements. The NTSB concluded that both the location and condition of the joint should have prompted closer inspection or replacement. But under the existing procedures, it remained in service until it failed...catastrophically.
Compounding the mechanical failure was the fact that five of the derailed tank cars ruptured on impact. These particular tankers were built with non-normalized steel, a type of metal known to become brittle in subfreezing temperatures. At -6°F that night, the steel fractured easily under the stress of crashing off the tracks, and released a combined 147,000 gallons of toxic anhydrous ammonia into the air.
Had the cars been built to newer post-1989 standards using normalized steel, the extent of the chemical release might have been dramatically reduced. The NTSB cited both the tank car design and the failure to phase out older models as major contributing factors to the scale of the disaster.
Canadian Pacific Railway quickly faced a wave of litigation. Hundreds of residents filed suit over injuries, trauma, property damage, and long-term health complications. A class-action lawsuit resulted in settlements for many, while individual plaintiffs secured additional compensation through civil trials.
Beyond legal payouts, cleanup and environmental remediation topped $8 million. Contaminated soil, equipment, and rail materials had to be removed and disposed of under federal oversight. Affected areas were monitored for months, and emergency response planning across North Dakota was reevaluated in response to what happened.
In the wake of the incident, the NTSB issued multiple safety recommendations. Chief among them was a call for the Federal Railroad Administration to implement stricter standards for rail joint inspection, particularly in curved segments. Recommendations included requiring ground-level visual checks, ultrasonic testing for hidden cracks, and better documentation of joint bar condition.
The incident also renewed calls for tougher standards on tank car design and the accelerated phaseout of older, more fragile models. While improvements have been made over the past two decades, events like the 2013 Lac-Mégantic disaster in Canada and the 2023 East Palestine derailment in Ohio have shown that many of the same risks can still persist today.
In Minot, the visible damage was cleaned up long ago. The tracks were repaired, the fog lifted, and the headlines faded. What began as a screech in the night quickly became one of the worst chemical emergencies in North Dakota's history. And while first responders showed bravery under near impossible conditions, they were hamstrung by a warning and communication system that failed when it mattered most.
The days that followed shifted the conversation from emergency response to accountability. Investigators traced the disaster to a cracked joint bar, a failure so basic it should have been caught. But it wasn’t just metal that gave way that night. It was a brittle inspection process, a complacent regulatory culture, and a public alert system unequipped for a real emergency.
Yes, inspections have improved. Yes, emergency protocols have been revisited. But two decades later, the memory of that night still lingers, and with every new derailment in the headlines, the same question echoes: if it happened again, would we catch it in time? Or would history, as the saying goes, not repeat itself, but rhyme?
By: Erin Hemme Froslie
The third full weekend in June is always the busiest part of the summer at Fort Union Trading Post near Williston, North Dakota.
This is when the National Park Service historic site hosts its Rendezvous, which draws about 3,000 visitors.
This year, however, the event has been in flux as organizers adapt to ever-changing federal funding streams and staffing models. Within the span of a few days, Rendezvous 2025 was canceled and then added back to the summer schedule.
“It’s whiplash for all of us involved,” said Megan Halvorson, executive director of the Fort Union Association, a nonprofit that promotes and supports the historic site. “There are a lot of unknowns.”
Rendezvous is Fort Union’s biggest event. Over five days, more than 100 living historians recreate what life was like in the 1800s when trappers and traders gathered at the post to exchange furs and goods.
Rendezvous was canceled in early April because of a shortage of summer staff at the historic site, Halvorson said. But once the cancellation was announced, the regional National Park Service office said the event needed to go on, she said.
The event relies heavily on volunteers but needs National Park Service staff to oversee those volunteers, she said. Historically, Fort Union has hired six rangers to cover the busy season. In addition, rangers from other national park sites have been assigned to help with the Rendezvous weekend.
Because of federal hiring freezes earlier in the year, the park service fell behind in its seasonal hiring and Fort Union was able to secure only one long-term ranger plus three short-term rangers for this summer, Halvorson said.
That’s not enough staff to make sure the event runs smoothly and safely, she said.
The park’s superintendent referred all questions to the National Park Service regional office. Calls to the regional office were not returned.
Fort Union’s experience is not uncommon, said Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers.
A cycle of firings and reinstatements and buyouts has led to a loss of permanent employees. The total number is unclear, Wade said, because National Park Service employees have been told not to speak about personnel issues.
Still, his association estimates up to 2,500 employees have left the park system. And while the service was eventually authorized to hire more seasonal employees than usual, that permission came late.
“It takes a while to get those people trained and on board,” Wade said. “What we’re seeing is some positions may not be filled early in the season.”
In addition, he said the recent chaos and confusion has led to low morale among those who have stayed.
“There’s anger and fear among employees who are just trying to do their job,” he said. “We’re expecting there will be more disruption and significant impacts on park resources in the future.”
Halvorson says more than 10,000 visitors come through Fort Union each year. She and other members of the Fort Union Association provide as much support to the historic site as they can. The association runs a park store and members are organizing a fundraiser to help hire additional staff.
Still, Halvorson said people who value National Park Service sites need to contact their local congressional representatives. That’s the best way to support them, she said.
In the meantime, the association will recruit even more volunteers to make sure Rendezvous goes smoothly.
“We’ll find people to fill gopher holes and set up awnings. We’ll ask our local civic organizations for help in setting up picnic tables and garbage cans,” she said. “We’ll do what we can to make sure it goes on.”
Those who visit Fort Union for the big June event will see blacksmiths crafting nails and horseshoes. They’ll watch demonstrators spin wool into yarn and learn how traders used Plains Indian Hand Talk to speak with each other. They’ll see a keel boat, which was the primary way of transporting goods up and down the river.
“It will feel alive out there,” Halvorson said.
By: Mary Steurer (ND Monitor)
With the goal of supporting working families, state lawmakers this session passed a new tax credit that subsidizes child care for North Dakota businesses.
Senate Bill 2282 applies specifically to child care stipends. The tax credit allows employers that offer this benefit to write off 50% of their child care contributions off their income taxes. Businesses can claim up to $1,000 in child care subsidies per employee toward this total.
Andrea Pfennig, vice president of government affairs for the Greater North Dakota Chamber, called the tax credit a “step in the right direction.”
In written testimony submitted in favor of the bill, Pfennig said in a 2024 survey of chamber members nearly 70% of respondents saw child care as an issue.
Some feel the tax credit doesn’t do enough. North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Executive Director Dalton Erickson said it will leave out many North Dakota families.
“A modest tax credit was passed, but it only applies to businesses that offer child care stipends, a luxury workplace benefit that the majority of workers don’t receive,” Erickson said at a Thursday morning event outside the Capitol.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed the bill into law May 1. Businesses can start using the credit for their 2025 taxes.
Pfennig called the new tax credit an improvement over a previous child care program passed by the Legislature in 2023.
Under that program, businesses can apply for a state match for either $300 a month or $150 a month for child care subsidies.
Some businesses found the matching program bureaucratically complex as well as limited in scope, Pfennig said. It is also only available for kids ages 5 and under, and has income limits, according to the program’s website.
Pfennig said she’s glad that both programs are still an option for businesses so that they can choose what’s best for them.
The Legislature this session also passed House Bill 1119, which directs the Department of Health and Human Services to form a child care services advisory committee to study child care licensing.
The bill also invites Legislative Council to conduct a program evaluation of the Department of the Health and Human Services’ child care services.
Two Minot students from the University of Mary found themselves at the heart of history last week, standing in St. Peter’s Square in Rome as white smoke signaled the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. Biology major Jordn Wolsky and music education major Kalen Hill were among 35 students in Rome for a study-abroad program when the momentous announcement was made. Both called the experience deeply moving and faith-affirming, describing the atmosphere as electric and unforgettable.
A key Minot roadway near Dakota Square Mall will see traffic detours starting Monday as the city begins Phase 3 of the Puppy Dog Coulee storm sewer replacement. Box culvert installation on 22nd Avenue SW will limit direct access near McDonald’s, with detours routed through 15th Street SW. The project is expected to run through October 2026.
Starting August 1, every public board meeting in North Dakota — including city, school, and park boards — must include a public comment period, thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong. Senate Bill 2180 ensures residents can speak on agenda items from the current or previous meeting, with boards allowed to set reasonable time limits and conduct standards.
Minot middle school bands have canceled their trip to Saturday’s Williston Band Day parade due to the ongoing measles outbreak in Williams County. While the parade will go on as scheduled, the decision comes as a precaution amid nine confirmed measles cases — all among unvaccinated individuals. Health officials stress the risk is not over, as the virus's incubation period can last up to 21 days, and full outbreak clearance requires 42 days without new cases.
McHenry County Commissioner Duane Drader has resigned, accusing the county of “double dipping” and eliminating financial oversight by merging the Treasurer and Auditor offices. In a scathing letter, Drader called the move illegal and said he could no longer support what he claims is unauthorized extra compensation for several county roles. County officials have so far declined to comment.
The Treasury Department has set a mid-July deadline for Congress to raise the debt ceiling, warning the U.S. could default by August without action. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged lawmakers not to delay, citing risks to markets, federal programs, and national security. Republicans aim to lift the limit by up to $5 trillion through their sweeping reconciliation package, which Speaker Mike Johnson hopes to pass by the end of May.
By: Hailey Gomez
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Sunday that “substantial progress” was made with China during key trade talks in Switzerland, adding more information will be released Monday.
After weeks of a tariff standoff between the U.S. and China, Bessent told Fox News he’d be meeting with Chinese officials Saturday in Switzerland. In a White House statement, Bessent thanked the Swiss government for hosting the Geneva talks and noted there had been a “great deal of productivity.”
“I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks. First, I want to thank our Swiss host. The Swiss government has been very kind in providing us this wonderful venue, and I think that led to a great deal of productivity we’ve seen. We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive,” Bessent said Sunday.
“We had the vice premier, two vice ministers, who were integrally involved, Ambassador Jamieson, and myself,” Bessent added. “And I spoke to President Trump, as did Ambassador Jamieson, last night, and he is fully informed of what is going on. So, there will be a complete briefing tomorrow morning.”
Tensions escalated between the U.S. and China after President Donald Trump announced April 2 that reciprocal tariffs would be imposed on several countries. While most faced a baseline of 10%, Trump singled out China for steeper penalties due to its own tariffs on the U.S.
China responded with additional tariffs, prompting the U.S. to slap a 145% tariff in return. Trump issued a 90-day pause on tariffs for all countries except China, telling reporters on April 22 that while China’s tariffs would eventually “come down substantially,” they wouldn’t be eliminated.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who joined Bessent in leading negotiations, said in a statement that a “lot of groundwork” was laid during the two-day talks.
“This was, as the Secretary pointed out, a very constructive two days. It’s important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought,” Greer said.
“That being said, there was a lot of groundwork that went into these two days. Just remember why we’re here in the first place — the United States has a massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the President declared a national emergency and imposed tariffs, and we’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to work toward resolving that national emergency,” Greer added.
Kenneth Rapoza, an analyst at the Coalition for a Prosperous America, previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation that while China holds leverage with its vast domestic market, its economy has been severely damaged by U.S. tariffs throughout April.
On May 1, Chinese workers flooded the streets of Sichuan, demanding back pay and protesting mass layoffs at factories impacted by the tariffs, according to Radio Free Asia, a U.S. gov’t-funded news outlet. Some workers claimed they hadn’t received wages since January, while other exporters said they were forced to cut 30% of their workforce after losing three major U.S. clients.
Talks between the U.S. and China over a trade deal have been long awaited since the tariff escalation, especially as other countries have already started striking agreements with America. On Thursday, Trump announced the first trade deal with the United Kingdom, which could potentially bring in billions of dollars in U.S. exports.
By: Jennifer Shutt
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department announced Friday that Congress must address the debt limit before August, setting a firm deadline for Republicans to wrap up work on the “big, beautiful bill” that will raise the nation’s borrowing limit by up to $5 trillion.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote in a letter to congressional leaders that “there is a reasonable probability that the federal government’s cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted in August while Congress is scheduled to be in recess.
“Therefore, I respectfully urge Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit by mid-July, before its scheduled break, to protect the full faith and credit of the United States.”
The projection marks the first time the Trump administration has weighed in publicly on when the government will likely reach default since the last suspension expired in January.
In the months since then, the Treasury Department has used accounting maneuvers known as extraordinary measures to pay all of the country’s bills in full and on time.
Treasury’s projection is similar to a report the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released in March predicting the country would reach default in August or September unless Congress acted before then.
Republicans are hoping to lift the debt limit without having to negotiate a bipartisan agreement with Democrats, which is typically how lawmakers have addressed the debt limit during the past couple decades.
GOP leaders plan to raise the debt limit by between $4 trillion and $5 trillion in the 11-bill reconciliation package they’re using to address tax law, overhaul higher education aid and cut federal spending.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., expects his chamber will vote on that legislation before the end of May, though Senate leaders haven’t put a timeline on when they’d bring the bill to the floor in that chamber.
GOP senators are likely to propose several amendments to the package, and any changes by the Senate would require the bill to get a final sign-off in the House before it could head to President Donald Trump’s desk.
The Treasury Department’s projection that a debt limit default will likely take place if no action is taken before August puts a firm deadline on when Republicans will need to reach final agreement.
Bessent also cautioned lawmakers against waiting until the last minute to get their work done.
“Prior episodes have shown that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can have serious adverse consequences for financial markets, businesses, and the federal government, harm businesses and consumer confidence, and raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers,” he wrote. “A failure to suspend or increase the debt limit would wreak havoc on our financial system and diminish America’s security and global leadership position.”
A default on the country’s debt would limit the federal government to spending only the money it has on hand, likely leading to delayed, incomplete, or nonexistent payments on thousands of programs, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, troop pay, veterans benefits and nutrition programs, among many others.
It would also lead to a downturn in the global economy with a recession being among the better scenarios.
A default is vastly different from a partial government shutdown and would lead to more significant consequences for federal spending and the economy.
By: Michael Achterling (ND Monitor)
Every meeting of a public board in North Dakota will be required to hold a public comment period during each of its meetings beginning Aug. 1.
Senate Bill 2180, signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on April 30, requires local subdivisions, school districts, park districts and water resource boards to give meeting attendees the opportunity to make public comments to the board during their meetings.
The bill states public boards may only limit the comment period based on total time of the comments, the time of each individual speaker to deliver their comments, or both. It would also limit the public comment topics to the current meeting’s agenda items or the preceding meeting’s agenda.
Sen. Jose Castaneda, R-Minot, chair of the bill’s conference committee, said the law sets the minimum standard and boards can choose to be less restrictive on public comments.
Castaneda told lawmakers that if someone misses a meeting, they should be able to go to the next meeting and have their concerns be heard by that board.
The bill stems from concerns that public entities were not providing adequate public comment periods during meetings and were limiting comments to only items on the board’s current meeting agenda.
Karen Krenz of Williston, who submitted testimony for the bill, said her local school board was limiting comments that could be made at meetings.
“As taxpayers, we should have the opportunity to contribute our input during public meetings,” Krenz wrote. “When public input is limited, decisions may not fully reflect the needs and priorities of the community, leading to policies that are out of touch with public sentiment.”
The law requires boards to craft public comment policies. The policies may require that comments need to be pertinent to the entity receiving the public comments and may “not interfere with the orderly conduct” of the meeting. Comments may not be “defamatory, abusive, harassing or unlawful,” and may not include confidential information.
Castaneda said the goal of the legislation was to find a good balance between giving time for people to address these public entities and not letting the comments hijack the meeting.
Sen. Chuck Walen, R-New Town, a previous school board member, said limiting the comments to the current and preceding meeting was a good balance, otherwise, “you can get into the weeds really, really fast.”
“I see this as a good compromise to have in here,” Walen said.
Previous versions of the bill would have limited comments to only the current agenda items of the public board meeting and would have required a public comment period be offered at only some of the meetings, or once every three months.
Minot’s long-delayed Broadway Circle project — featuring a homeless shelter, affordable housing, and commercial space — will now be managed by Pathfinder Services of North Dakota. Approved Monday by the City Council, the deal ends years of instability following the bankruptcy of Lutheran Social Services and financial struggles at Project BEE. Pathfinder brings deep experience in housing and social services, and will oversee the complex for the next 20 years while repaying the city’s investment through monthly lease payments.
Oilfield service provider Canary, LLC, which operates in Watford City and across several U.S. states, has warned employees of potential payroll disruptions due to financial difficulties. In a letter sent May 2, CEO Dan Eberhart acknowledged the company is temporarily unable to meet payroll and is working to recover receivables. Canary's leadership pledged transparency and updates as they try to stabilize operations.
Progressive groups in North Dakota are hosting "The People’s Session" on May 16 at the Heritage Center to gather public input on policy priorities they say were ignored during the legislative session. Organizers, including Gender Justice and Prairie Action, aim to build a people-driven agenda focused on issues like child care, housing, and health care, rather than what they call divisive culture war bills.
Just one day after publicly opposing efforts to dismantle FEMA, acting Administrator Cam Hamilton was fired by the Trump administration, sparking bipartisan concern. Hamilton, a Navy SEAL veteran, had testified to Congress that eliminating FEMA would not serve the public — a stance at odds with President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, both of whom support reevaluating or possibly eliminating the agency. David Richardson, a DHS official, has been named his replacement as hurricane season looms.
In a move stirring partisan backlash, the U.S. House passed a Republican-backed bill to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” codifying part of a Trump executive order. The bill passed 211-206, with Rep. Don Bacon the sole GOP dissenting vote, calling it a distraction from real priorities like Medicaid reform. Democrats universally opposed the measure, which now faces long odds in the Senate. The White House strongly supports the change, while critics deride it as symbolic posturing.
In a historic break with tradition, the Catholic Church has elected Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost as the first U.S. pope. Taking the name Leo XIV, the 69-year-old Augustinian friar emphasized peace and dialogue in his inaugural address from St. Peter’s Basilica. A dual U.S.-Peruvian citizen and former Vatican official under Pope Francis, Leo’s election signals both continuity and a new chapter as global conflict and church divisions mount.
By: Jennifer Shutt
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ousted the leader of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and replaced him with another official, States Newsroom has confirmed.
Cam Hamilton, senior official performing the duties of the administrator at FEMA, was let go just one day after he testified before Congress about the size and scope of the federal agency.
President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have both indicated they could support getting rid of FEMA and Trump has established a FEMA reform council to assess the agency’s role.
But during his testimony Wednesday before the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, Hamilton said he personally did “not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
“Having said that, I’m not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination such as consequential as that should be made,” Hamilton said. “That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body on identifying the exact ways and methodologies, in which, what is prudent for federal investment, and what is not.”
Hamilton, a former Navy Seal and combat medic, said earlier in the hearing that he had served in five different administrations, but that the “highest honor of my career is serving right now in the Trump administration. Keeping the American people first.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed to States Newsroom on Thursday that Hamilton was no longer in the lead role at FEMA, but opted not to detail why exactly the personnel change happened.
“Mr. David Richardson will be the senior official performing the duties of the Administrator,” the DHS spokesperson wrote in an email.
A FEMA spokesperson confirmed the firing as well, writing that “(e)ffective today, David Richardson is now serving as the Senior Official Performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator. Cameron Hamilton is no longer serving in this capacity.”
Richardson was appointed the assistant secretary of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office at the Department of Homeland Security in January, according to his biography.
House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., released a statement saying the “Trump administration must explain why he has been removed from this position.
“Integrity and morality should not cost you your job, and if it does, it says more about your employer than it does you.”
Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, wrote in a statement that firing “FEMA’s chief just three weeks before hurricane season begins shows how little President Trump cares about Floridians’ and Americans’ safety.
“The added cruelty of his timing — a day after acting Administrator Hamilton publicly opposed dismantling the agency during a Congressional budget hearing — sends a chilling message from Trump that every American is on their own and that Trump Administration officials cannot be trusted to offer their candid, expert opinion to Congress or anyone, without consequences.”
