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Letters to the Editor

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, ...

Legislators must address frozen education funding

Bob Valeu, Bismarck Over $25 million in education funding for North Dakota has been recklessly frozen by the U.S. Department of Education. These funds provide critical support for over 100 after-school programs, essential teacher training, and academic support for students across the state. School Districts are in limbo. They have been informed that they will have to use local dollars at their own risk, as federal reimbursement isn’t guaranteed. Unfortunately, our Republican supermajority seems unbothered by this funding emergency. They either don’t care how this will impact ...

When compromise becomes collapse

Tony Koons, Bottineau What do you do when the house is on fire — and the firefighters decide to wait until after the next election to turn on the hose? That’s exactly what it feels like watching the Democratic Party roll over for the so-called “Big Beautiful Budget Bill,” a piece of legislation that doesn’t just cut funding. It amputates core functions of the federal government: healthcare, education, environmental protections, veterans’ services, FEMA, the DOJ. Programs that keep people alive, safe, and supported have been slashed or sabotaged, all in the name of ...

Even with discount, property taxes high

John Charles Schollmeyer, Minot I placed my tax payment ($7733) in my mailbox with the flag up at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb.18. The mailman did not pick up the mail, so I delivered the payment to the post office on Feb.19. (I have paid my real estate taxes in full in Feb. for 49 years). So on Feb.19 with thousands of payments at the courthouse, the clerks are diligently looking for day late postmarks. Since my payment was a day late, I was denied my 5% discount of $407. This is like driving 46 mph in a 45 mph zone and getting a ticket for $407. Ironically, these checks are not deposited ...

ND reps help nation closer to fiscal collapse

Delwyn Groninger, Minot The purpose of my letter is to point out the need for North Dakotans to tell our N.D. Congress folks – Senators Hoeven and Cramer as well as Representative Fedorchak – that they need to stop voting on bills that spend more than what is taken in. We’ve been told that our nation’s rising debt is being put on our children’s back to repay. I’m a grandpa and I believe the U.S. is looming on a heavy financial crisis that is going to happen in my lifetime, not our children’s. It has become apparent that we now need representatives with backbone to right ...