Geoff Simon's Quick Connects -- Top Stories North Dakota Energy -- April 30, 2021

 Geoff Simon's quick connects:

• ND adjourns following session marked by record budget, pandemic -- AP

• Recapping North Dakota's 67th legislative session -- KXMB-TV

• Burgum signs $25 million bill aimed at 'carbon neutral' power -- KFYR-TV

• ND legislature overrides veto of lawmakers' spending control -- Associated Press

• AG: Lawmakers' spending control may not stand up in court -- Associated Press

• Major ND election bill clears legislature, heads to governor -- Bismarck Tribune

• Gov. Burgum veto spotlights power struggle with ND lawmakers -- Dickinson Press

• Funding increased for ND fire districts; some want new funding method -- Bismarck Tribune

• District 36 elects new chair showing disappointment with state GOP -- Dickinson Press

• Governor greenlights health and human services merger -- Dickinson Press

• Bill gives lawmakers seven days to see audits before public -- Bismarck Tribune

• Burgum signs bill allowing fire, EMTs to carry concealed weapon -- KXMB-TV

• Judge wants U.S. Corps of Engineers to weigh in on DAPL -- Williston Herald

• DAPL wants review from United States Supreme Court -- Associated Press

• Continental ramping up Bakken operations, adds Powder River rigs -- Reuters

• ND landowners and oil industry butt heads over pore space -- Dickinson Press

• Equinor completes $900M sale to Grayson Mills announced in Feb. -- Williston Herald

• Energy makes a difference: API focuses on community service -- Dickinson Press

• Underground salt cavern storage: Helping ND's propane shortages -- Williston Herald

• Enbridge-funded account reimburses $500,000 to law enforcement -- Fargo Forum

• Drought prompting fracking innovations; production outlook good for state -- Williston Herald

• North Dakota native tapped to lead Williston State College -- Williston Herald

• Mark Pierce, ND Faces of Coal Founder, gets a distinguished honor -- Beulah Beacon

• State making pandemic learning program available for 2 more years -- Bismarck Tribune

• North Dakota's population soars 16% to 779K in census count -- Bismarck Tribune

• Montana to gain 2nd U.S. House seat after census count -- KFYR-TV

• Longtime Bank of ND chief, Eric Hardmeyer, announces retirement -- Bismarck Tribune

• Construction plans move ahead for $5.2 million Dickinson town square -- KFYR-TV

• Williston Mayor to talk finances, re-election plans at state of the city -- KFYR-TV

• North Dakota counties earn high grades for low air pollution levels -- Fargo Forum

• 2021 Norsk H?stfest canceled again, new president to take over -- KFYR-TV

• McKenzie County commits $40M to new Ag Expo for new fairground -- McKenzie County Farmer

• Local taxable sales decline reflects dire state of industries -- Tioga Tribune

• Drought doesn't dampen plans; remain optimistic one farmer says -- The Journal

• Biden administration offers $8.25 billion in loans for power grid -- Reuters

• Biden's risking energy independence for 'unattainable' green goals -- Inside Sources

• Earth Day: Let's celebrate the real drivers behind improved environment -- IER

• Are ESG funds really a good long-term investment these days? -- National Review

• Fossil fuel divestment: A costly and ineffective investment strategy -- RealClear Public Affairs

• Halliburton back in black as North America stages 'healthy recovery' -- NGI

• Why fixing the Texas power grid and ERCOT mess is so complicated -- Forbes

• Oil pipeline disputes raise tensions between U.S. and Canada -- Associated Press

• Hess Corp profit tops estimate as tanker storage bet pays off -- Reuters

• Potentially coming this summer: Gas stations running out of gas -- CNN

• Who will pay for energy transition from fossil fuels to zero emissions? -- Reuters

• Wind-energy sector gets $176 billion worth of crony capitalism -- National Review