[Updated X 1]

There's a fair amount of coverage of yesterday's WSI news today.  Here are some high-points:

• Fargo Forum -- The Bottineau County Commission asks for an investigation into the use of county resources by North Dakota Workforce Safety And Insurance (WSI) Board Chairman Robert Indvik.  Patrick Springer called me yesterday to ask me about my blog post (read the original blog post by clicking here).  Here's a quot':

Bottineau County commissioners called Thursday for an independent investigator to determine whether the county road superintendent misused his county cell phone.

The unanimous vote to ask for investigation of the use of county property, which came in a special county board meeting, is yet another examination of possible illegal conduct concerning officials with ties to Workforce Safety and Insurance, the state workers’ compensation program.

The Bottineau County action came after revelations earlier this week that Bob Indvik, the Bottineau County road superintendent, appeared to have made extensive calls with his county cell phone to board members and employees of the state workers’ compensation program, which he oversees as chairman of the board.

Fargo Forum (the Bismarck Tribune has a similar story here.  Minot Daily News has a story you can read by clicking here, too.  I like the Minot Daily story.)

• Fargo Forum -- WSI Internal Audit Manager Kay Grinsteinner is still employed at WSI after WSI Board labor representative Terry Curl blasts WSI Audit Committee Chairman Mark Gjovig for his irresponsible, unprofessional attacks on Grinsteinner.  Here's a cut:

The tension in the room boiled over after WSI staff counsel Anne Greene reported that Grinsteinner’s questions about favoritism in safety grant awards were unfounded, and Gjovig and others continued to question Grinsteinner’s motives.

Terry Curl, organized labor’s representative on the board, erupted, criticizing the way Gjovig addressed Grinsteinner.

“You’ve been so disrespectful,” he said. “She’s told you three or four times those (notes) were private.”

Fargo Forum (the Bismarck Tribune has a similar story here.)

I'm not holding my breath.

[Update #1:  I forgot to mention this.  Someone has told me there has been a fund established at BNC National Bank here in Bismarck (with branches around the state, I think) for Todd Flanagan, the whistleblower who was fired after reporting he had been pressured to lie to law enforcement.  I don't know Todd Flanagan, I don't think I've ever met him or talked to him on the phone, but I have heard from three different friends that he's a good guy.  It's Christmas.  This guy got unfairly and probably illegally terminated by WSI.  He's a victim of the rogue, corrupt management of a state agency.  We own that agency.  It's partly our fault that he's without a job at Christmastime this year because we've allowed our government's leaders to turn WSI into this.  If you can find it in your heart and wallet to help him out a little at Christmas time, please please stop by a BNC Bank branch and offer to make a contribution.]

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