Grand Forks lawmakers favor repealing nickname law

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Four state lawmakers from Grand Forks who voted in favor of a bill requiring the University of North Dakota to keep its Fighting Sioux nickname say they'll support efforts to repeal the law.

Reps. Stacey Dahl, Mark Owens and Curt Kreun and Sen. Lonnie Laffen tell the Grand Forks Herald (http://bit.ly/qrpKj5 ) they intend to go along with changing state law.

The Legislature approved it earlier this year, but the NCAA has refused to reconsider promised sanctions against UND. The Legislature is expected to repeal the law during a special session this November so the nickname can be retired.

The four Grand Forks state lawmakers who favored the law were in the minority among their peers in the city. Eight other state legislators from Grand Forks voted against the nickname bill.

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