New TitleGRAND FORKS — Ryan Adams has been named interim dean for UND's College of Engineering and Mines. Adams, a professor and associate dean of national security, has worked for the college for six years, a release says. “I’m grateful to Dr. Adams for his willingness to serve as interim dean for the College of Engineering & Mines,” said UND Provost Eric Link in a statement. “He brings experience, vision and a desire to serve the students, staff and faculty of the College during this time of transition. ADVERTISEMENT “The College of Engineering & Mines has seen tremendous growth in the past few years. Dr. Adams will provide great leadership as the College conducts a national search for its next dean.” Adams will assume his new role on Jan. 2, and will continue until a permanent dean is in place. The position was left vacant in November, when former Dean Brian Tande was selected as the new president of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The College of Engineering and Mines search committee is being chaired by Brad Rundquist, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and will be assisted by Academic Search, an executive search firm. The next permanent dean is expected to be named by or around July 1, the release says. In the meantime, “I am so excited to step into this role at such a dynamic time,” Adams said in a statement. “The college is expanding its collaborations with more of our stakeholders on a variety of initiatives such as the new STEM building, the National Security Initiative, and statewide use of artificial intelligence. “The college’s new research centers continue to expand their activities with increasing numbers of students and partners, and our academic programs are showing strong growth with increased impact. This is a great time for the College of Engineering and Mines.” Adams as served as the associate dean for national security since 2022. In coordination with UND's Division of Research and Economic Development, Adams has helped bolster funding and research in areas related to national security, including funding from the Department of Defense and the Test Resource Management Center, according to the release. He received his Ph.D in electrical engineering at the University of Idaho, and held academic appointments at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte prior to coming to UND as a professor of electrical engineering in 2019. He also served as a program manager and development engineer for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. As an active-duty member of the Air Force, he was a program manager with the Space and Missile Systems Center and an aircraft maintenance technician. ADVERTISEMENT

President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday he would work to end the "inconvenient" custom of moving clocks forward one hour every spring, which he said was imposing an unnecessary financial burden on the United States. "The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't! Daylight Saving Time (DST) is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation," Trump posted on his website, Truth Social. DST was adopted by the federal government during World War I but was unpopular with farmers rushing to get produce to morning markets, and was quickly abolished. Many states experimented with their own versions but it wasn't reintroduced nationwide until 1967. The Democratic-controlled US Senate advanced a bill in 2022 that, like Trump's plan, would bring an end to the twice-yearly changing of clocks, in favor of a "new, permanent standard time." But The Sunshine Protection Act called for the opposite switch -- moving permanently to DST rather than eliminating it -- to usher in brighter evenings, and fewer journeys home in the dark for school children and office workers. The bill never made it to President Joe Biden's desk, as it was not taken up in the Republican-led House. It had been introduced in 2021 by a Republican, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who is about to join the incoming Trump administration as secretary of state. He said studies had shown a permanent DST could benefit the economy. Either way, changing to one permanent time would put an end to Americans pushing their clocks forward in the spring, then setting them back an hour in the fall. Colloquially the practice is referred to as "springing" forward and "falling" back. The clamor has increased in recent years to make DST permanent especially among politicians and lobbyists from the Northeast, where frigid conditions are normal in the early winter mornings. "It's really straightforward. Cutting back on the sun during the fall and winter is a drain on the American people and does little to nothing to help them," Rubio said in a statement ahead of the vote. "It's time we retire this tired tradition." Rubio said the United States sees an increase in heart attacks and road accidents in the week that follows the changing of the clocks. Any changes would be unlikely to affect Hawaii and most of Arizona, the Navajo Nation, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, which do not spring forward in summer. ft/nro

Your child’s ski boots can impact their overall skiing experience and may even undermine their love for the sport if they find the boots awkward fitting and uncomfortable. In addition to comfort, the ability to retain warmth and be breathable are important qualities your kid’s ski boot should have. If your child is ready to hit the slopes and you’re looking for the ideal pair of boots, ensure you choose one that provides comfort and inspires confidence, such as our top pick, Fischer Junior/Kids RC4 60 Thermoshape Alpine On/Off-Piste Ski Boots . There are several types of ski boots for kids, such as rear-entry and front-entry designs as well as performance and adjustable boot options. Rear-entry boots allow your child to slip in their feet from the back, while front entry includes a tongue that opens forward and allows the child to slide in their foot from the top. Another type is performance boots, which are made for older kids who want a better performance from their footwear. The adjustable ski boot is another option, and it is a great choice for kids who grow out of their footwear quickly. It’s easy to think your child’s boots are too small because they feel stiff and tight, but some boots are designed to be stiff. To avoid making a mistake with the sizing, take your child with you to the ski shop to get them sized. You can speak to a ski technician to learn more about the fit process. Let your child try on the boot with the liner while wearing socks. If the liner is tight, then the boots may be too small. If your child is just starting with skiing and is only confident skiing on green runs, they are considered a beginner. Their category is intermediate if they can ski confidently on the blue square terrains. However, they are advanced if they can ski anything on the mountain. Kids’ ski boots usually come with ratings depending on their experience level. The boots with a lower flex rating are designed for beginners and are comfortable to wear but deliver less on performance. Those with a higher rating are usually less comfortable but provide better performance. Some children may end up abandoning skiing because they’d rather be doing something else other than constantly taking their boots on and off. Front-entry and rear-entry ski boots are easy to wear, so choose either of these options for a fussy child. Your child’s boots should grip the floor properly to minimize their chance of falling when skiing. This feature is known as slip resistance and is often determined by the type of material used to fabricate the outsole of the boots. Generally, slip-resistant soles are textured and made of rubber. Waterproof ski boots are made of nonporous materials and can keep your child’s feet dry even when submerged in water. There are water-resistant boots designed to repel water, but these won’t prevent your child’s feet from getting wet in heavy rain or snow. Most kids’ ski boots cost $25-$40. Some expensive options are made with high-quality waterproof material, costing up to $60. A. Ski boots have a different sizing for shoes, called Mondo sizing, which measures the inside of the foot. To get the right size for your child, use a tape measure to measure the length of their feet, then check the size chart to get the correct size. A. If your child is just starting with skiing, choose a pair of boots that can easily flex, like front-entry ski boots. Fischer Junior/Kids RC4 60 Thermoshape Alpine On/Off-Piste Ski Boots What you need to know: These ski boots are an excellent choice for beginner skiers thanks to their soft flex design and thermoformable technology. What you’ll love: These Soma-Tec boots are designed to enable maximum control and prevent the ankle and knee joints from twisting when skiing. They also include a micro-adjustable buckle system for quick and easy adjustment. They feature a thermoformable boot liner designed to give an adapted fit. What you should consider: Some users mentioned that the sizing isn’t accurate. Salomon T3 RT Ski Boots What you need to know: These ski boots come in three unique colors and are suitable for both boys and girls. What you’ll love: These boots are made with polyurethane, which gives them unique durability. They are also easy to put on or off and include micro-adjustments in the buckle to ensure a custom fit. What you should consider: They might run small for children with big feet. Rossignol Comp J4 Ski Boots Kid’s What you need to know: These ski boots are designed with comfort in mind thanks to their comfort liners and unique diagonal buckles. What you’ll love: They include liners that are made with soft materials and designed to give optimal comfort and all-day cushioning. They also feature diagonal buckles that offer a more natural foot wrapping and excellent heel support. What you should consider: The buckles are made of thin metal wire, which might not be very durable. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

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