BISMARCK (AP) -- North Dakota lawmakers have defeated Minot State University's request for $500,000 to start a geriatric research center.
Minot State wanted the "centers of excellence" money for a partnership with Minot's Trinity Health to research the best ways to care for elderly people.
Critics said the excellence program is intended to develop technology and create jobs -- not to finance a new campus research program. They said similar research is already happening at other North Dakota colleges.
The Legislature's interim Budget Section committee voted 19-19 on Tuesday to reject the program.
The committee approved two North Dakota State University grant requests to develop sensors, advanced electronics and solar energy cells.
