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LEGISLATURE IN MAY Regular session of Legislature moves into May for the first time Bismarck, N.D. (AP) North Dakota's regular session of the Legislature goes into May today for the first time.

Records show the North Dakota Legislature has never lasted past April 29th. That happened in 2001 when lawmakers finished their work at about 4:30 a.m. on a Sunday.

House Republican assistant majority leader Don Vigesaa (VIG'-uh-sah) of Cooperstown acknowledged the milestone late yesterday when the House adjourned.

Today is the 77th day of legislative business. The North Dakota Constitution limits the Legislature to 80 days of meetings every two years.

The reason the session has lasted so long on the calendar is because lawmakers took a four-day break in late March. Many legislators went home to monitor flooding problems in their home regions.

(SOUND: Sound files have been e-mailed to accompany this story) LEGISLATURE-WEEKEND Legislature to push to finish on weekend BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) The North Dakota Legislature's Republican floor leaders say they'll push to finish the 2009 session this weekend.

Republican House majority leader Al Carlson of Fargo says the Legislature will be in session tomorrow on Saturday. He says if it looks as if the Legislature can wrap up the work may extend into early Sunday morning.

But if the Legislature can't get close to the end on Saturday Carlson says lawmakers will take Sunday off and come back to the Capitol on Monday.

The House and Senate still have 37 bills left. They include the budgets of the Department of Human Services, the state university system and the corrections department.

Today is the 77th day of the legislative session. The North Dakota Constitution's maximum number of legislative days is 80 every two years.

(SOUND: Sound files have been e-mailed to accompany this story) TOBACCO AMENDMENT ND House panel rewrites public health fund idea BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A North Dakota House committee has rewritten a proposal for a new state public health trust fund.

The panel is offering an entirely new amendment. It's aimed at preventing use of state property for political purposes.

Earlier, senators defeated a bill that included almost identical language.

Crosby Senator John Andrist sponsored the public health trust fund amendment. He says the House action is disrespectful, and he thinks it was done on orders from Al Carlson, the House Republican majority leader.

Carlson says he had nothing to do with the change.

Andrist sent an e-mail to House members telling them to kill the bill or table it. His e-mail told them to do, quote, "anything that will spare us this stupidity." (SOUND: Sound files have been e-mailed to accompany this story) education STANDARDS Committee approves $110 million education bill BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A legislative conference committee has agreed on an education standards bill that spends nearly $110 million on elementary and secondary schools.

Supporters of the bill say it's designed to improve the performance of students by setting higher academic goals and increasing college scholarships. It also pays for continuing education and support programs for teachers.

Opponents of the bill say it contains too many major policy changes and costs too much money.

Mandan Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, who heads the House Education Committee, says the bill is aggressive and worth the price.

The proposal includes $99 million in school funding and $10 million in transportation grants.

WIND CONTRACTS Wind lease restrictions approved in ND Legislature BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Although they're not as tough as some North Dakota lawmakers would like, the Legislature has approved a new set of rules for wind developer leases.

At first the bill said wind companies could not require property owners to keep their agreements secret. The final version says confidentiality agreements may be included in the final lease.

The bill says any lease needs a cover page telling the landowner he or she should check the agreement with a lawyer. It gives the landowner some termination rights and it says an agreement cannot make the landowner liable for damage caused by the wind farm.

Minot Senator David Hogue says the bill provides some protection for landowners. But Fargo Sen. Tom Fiebiger says it may give some landowners "a false sense of security." Senators approved the bill 41-6. It now goes to Gov. John Hoeven's desk.

ANIMALS KILLED Plea deals offered in wildlife killings BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Five people face charges in what North Dakota wildlife officials say is the worst case of illegal animal killings they have ever seen.

Game warden Pat Lothspeich (LOTH'-spike) says more than 40 deer and antelope and hundreds of porcupines, rabbits and coyotes were killed in Billings County in July and August 2007.

He says the animals were killed during night "shining" operations. Lothspeich says he and other game wardens have never before seen such senseless killing of wildlife.

Stark County State's Attorney Tom Henning is prosecuting the misdemeanor cases. He plea offers have been made to the suspects but he won't discuss details.

Henning says offering plea deals in misdemeanor cases is standard practice under court rules. The five are due back in court June 30th.

SUPCO-ORAL SURGEON ND Supreme Court affirms oral surgeon's suspension BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) North Dakota's Supreme Court has affirmed the suspension of a Grand Forks oral surgeon accused of fondling four female patients.

Greg Frokjer was suspended from practicing dentistry for six months.

An administrative law judge had recommended dismissal of the allegations against Frokjer. But the state dental board concluded the allegations were more believable than Frokjer's denials.

The Supreme Court upheld the board's decision in a unanimous ruling.

Frokjer argued the board was motivated to rule against him because its disciplinary case cost more than $68,000. The Supreme Court says there's no proof of that.

FATAL STABBING PLEA Fort Totten woman to change plea GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) A Fort Totten woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death says she will plead guilty.

Rebecca Brown is charged in the January death of 36-year-old Derek Longie on the Spirit Lake reservation.

Authorities say Brown stabbed Longie in the chest after a quarrel.

Brown faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A change of plea hearing date has not been set.

WATER PROJECTS ND Water Commission budget includes flood control BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A state water projects budget includes money for flood-control projects and planning in the Red River Valley.

North Dakota's Senate approved the measure yesterday. Its final details will be decided by a House-Senate conference committee.

Right now, the bill provides 75 million dollars over four years for a flood control project for Fargo's south side.

The Water Commission budget bill says the state money should be used only for buying land and construction on the Fargo project.

The measure has $500,000 to study long-term flood control options in the Red River Valley.

And it includes 12 million dollars in federal stimulus money to extend the Southwest Water Pipeline. The pipeline supplies water to communities in southwestern North Dakota.

TRANSPORTATION BUDGET $1.35B ND transportation budget gets final approval BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Governor John Hoeven is holding a signing ceremony today for a 1.3 billion dollar transportation bill.

It has emergency aid for local governments to repair roads damaged by flooding and heavy snow. Much of the money can be sent out as soon as Hoeven signs the bill.

The bill includes 176 million dollars in federal stimulus aid.

Mott Representative Jim Kerzman says the damage to roads by this spring's flooding is unbelievable.

Fullerton Representative Jerry Kelsh says the money to local governments will help keep pressure off property taxes.

(SOUND: Sound files have been e-mailed to accompany this story) CARE COSTS Nursing Home, assisted living center costs continue to rise NEW YORK (AP) A new study finds the costs for nursing home and in-home care as well as assisted living have continued to rise.

That's adding yet another financial challenge for retirees already hurt by the recession.

Insurer Genworth Financial says that except for home-based health care, the costs of long-term care are poised for steady increases. The cost of labor is a key factor driving the price of care at facilities.

The national average cost for a private room in a nursing home is more than $74,000 per year. That's up 4.7 percent over last year.

The study says the cost for a one-bedroom unit in an assisted living facility is about $34,000 a year, up 1.4 percent from last year. North Dakota has the lowest annual costs at about $25,000, with Massachusetts the highest in the continental U.S., at about $55,000.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 05-01-09 0201CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list