Two instances do not a trend make, but two efforts to remove public notices from newspapers this year are concerning. The first involved the North Dakota Trust Lands department successfully lobbying an interim rules committee to remove notices of oil and gas lease auctions. In this case, the North Dakota Supreme Court will decide the issue, because it is the Court administration bringing it forward, following a request from northeastern North Dakota judges earlier this year. They’re also a good analogy if you compare a public notice to a tree falling in the proverbial forest. Cecile Wehrman is executive director of the North Dakota Newspaper Association.