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Letters to the Editor

All voting methods must be protected

Rep. Lisa Finley-Deville, Mandaree As a representative of the people that elected me, it’s a serious concern when I hear talk about taking away options for people to vote. This national conversation around eliminating mail-in ballots and voting machines is a direct challenge to the fundamental principle of democracy. For many communities, including those I represent in tribal nations, diverse voting options are not a luxury, they are a necessity. Mail-in voting is essential for citizens who live in rural areas with limited transportation, for our elders and those with disabilities, ...

DHS has answer to city’s budget problems

Roger Stonefeld, Minot As a citizen of Minot I pay attention to the best of my ability on local government issues. Lately I have read in the paper that there are once again talks among our city council of attempting to substantially raise taxes, this time I believe to pay for “first responders.” I suppose being told “No” to higher taxes just a few short months ago by city voters didn’t faze them in trying again. I have also been following federal politics and looking for opportunities for our community to benefit from the changes occurring there. I have written to our city ...

Hope to hear more from young candidates

Patricia Marquard, Minot This letter should have been written a long time ago. Procrastination is the excuse. It is never too late to recognize leadership in the younger generation. Josiah Roise ran an excellent campaign for the mayor position in Minot. Jantzer, the winning candidate, had exposure and years of experience. I was very impressed with Josaih’s platform, especially his key points on fiscal responsibility in local government. I hope we see and hear more from him in regards to local government and involvement in community affairs.

Military street patrols should not be normal

Bob McNamara, Upham Ever notice how things become normal incrementally. Paying for checked baggage was unheard of until it became normal. Wearing seat belts was unheard of when I was young but is now normal. These things happened in small increments over time until we just accepted them as normal. I wonder if we are now seeing another thing become normal. The US is a country where police, not the military, have always enforced the law. When I see the military patrolling city streets I think of third world countries. Maybe communist countries or socialist countries but not free ...

Thank you to local representative

Debra Zavada, Wolford On May 13, 2025, bad actors on the dark web hacked my North Dakota Teachers’ Fund for Retirement account and were able to have my June 1st pension sent to Green Dot Bank. I discovered this on June 2. The North Dakota Retirement and Investment Office was unable to recover my funds. So, I filed a claim with the ND Office of Management and Budget for these funds. This claim was originally denied. Thanks to the help of state representative Jon Nelson and the director of the ND OMB, Joe Morrissette, I did receive these funds this past week. Lesson learned: ...

Why voting matters in mayoral election

Miranda Schuler, Minot When most people think of elections, their minds jump to Washington, D.C. But the truth is, some of the most critical decisions that shape our lives happen right here at home. On Tuesday, August 5th, Minot voters will choose the city’s next mayor in a special election. And while it may not come with the glitz of a national race, this election will have a direct impact on our everyday lives — from how we address public safety and flood protection to the way we invest in local businesses, neighborhoods, and quality of life here in Minot. Yet historically, ...