US Consumer Confidence Near A 13-Year High; Active Rigs Stable At 41 In North Dakota -- December 23, 2016

Active rigs:

	12/23/2016	12/23/2015	12/23/2014	12/23/2013	12/23/2012
Active Rigs	41	65	172	189	187

From the Williston Wire:

Williams County expansion project reaches milestone:

Construction on the new Williams County Administration Building reached a major milestone Dec. 19, 2016. The building held a "Topping Out" ceremony as the final major beam was put into place. The beam was signed by construction workers and representatives from Williams County. When it's completed, the building will make it easier for the public to get in touch with county offices.

Feature story on Red River Oilfield Services in Williston: link here.

Drone  industry coming to Minot: link here.

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Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year

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The Political Page

Only five (5) states in the United States have both a Democratic governor and a Democratic legislature -- talk radio. The Daily Kos says six states, see link below.

From Daily Kos,

With a firm grip on the presidency, Congress, and soon the Supreme Court, Republicans have won more political power in 2016 than in any election since at least 1928, when Herbert Hoover was elected to the White House. Democrats now face a deep hole they need to climb out of to fight back against the coming reactionary policy shift of the pending Trump administration and its allied state governments.

Two other important maps at the linked article.

Republicans have total control over 25 states outright and another two where they can override a Democratic governor’s vetoes. These 27 states cover 56 percent of the population. Meanwhile, Democrats have total control outright in a mere six states and veto-proof majorities to override a Republican governor in just two more. These eight Democratic-controlled states add up to only 19 percent of the population, or roughly one-third as much as Republicans control.

In 2018: there will be 23 Democrats, 2 independents who caucus with the Senate Democrats, and 8 Republicans, subject to retirements or other changes before the 2018 election.

Democrats are expected to target the Senate seats in Nevada and Arizona.

Republicans are expected to target Democratic-held seats in Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia, all of which voted for Mitt Romney in the 2012 election and Donald Trump in the 2016 election, as well as seats in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, all of which voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

Republicans could also target seats in Virginia, Maine, and New Jersey.

One would think that some states with only 3 or 4 electoral votes with a Democratic Senator up for re-election in 2018 will watch very, very closely how their Democratic Senator votes in the 115th Congress.

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Safe Zones

From The New York Post.