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Newspapers foster the sense of community

Because newspapers have been at the forefront of community building, we cannot talk about the precarious condition of the published word without considering this primary function of nurturing the sense of togetherness. As we look at the decline of the newspaper industry, we also see the fragmentation of relationships in communities. While the development of community becomes more and more difficult as the size of cities becomes larger, the weekly newspapers are in a more advantageous position to foster a sense of community because intimacy already exists. So what is this community ...

Legislature did fund technical ed centers

Contrary to what we reported last week, the Legislature did appropriate money for the technical education centers proposed by Sen. Rich Wardner. They stripped the bonding bill of the proposed $60 million and passed $70 million for the centers in general appropriations. (And lost me in the process.) If effectively administered, the technical education centers will mean a new day for thousands of North Dakotans – young people not interested in four-year college degrees, workers whose jobs disappeared in COVID, convicts hoping for a new start, and older-than-average students who want to ...

Public Works has a great impact on our daily lives

Public Works is by far the largest department at the City of Minot, encompassing a wide swath of everyday life in our community; many of the services provided by Public Works are often taken for granted, as they have simply become engrained in our daily routines. But we need to recognize the efforts of these skilled professionals. The week of May 16-22 is National Public Works Week, the 61st annual recognition of the work done by public works employees in the United States and Canada. The City of Minot employees under the Public Works umbrella perfectly represent the theme of ...

Legislature should reconsider the career academies

Even though the budget prognosis for the next biennium is promising, the North Dakota Legislature passed up the opportunity to move the state up a few notches in innovativeness when the House Appropriations Committee stripped Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner’s proposal for career academies out of the proposed budget. The $60 million proposal would have been included in the state’s bonding program that would be financed by energy revenues. With oil revenue running 50% higher than Governor Burgum’s original estimate, the Legacy Fund is flush. We can afford to be ...

Legislature denies demise of ND coal

At the outset, let us agree that most people would like to see the 400 billion tons of coal under western North Dakota put to economic use. After all, we dreamed that dream for decades. But the reality is that using lignite for coal-burning generators is no longer feasible, economically or environmentally. Nevertheless, the legislature made a major effort to float the industry through the next five years, hoping that coal can be made more economically and more environmentally feasible. No Coal Market According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, coal consumption in the ...

An opportunity to be part of Broadway’s future

Broadway has long been the epicenter of vehicle traffic in Minot. It’s the busiest roadway in town, and it’s important that the north-south route through the heart of our community remains up-to-date, safe, and efficient. The ongoing Broadway Corridor Study was created as a comprehensive, in-depth review of Broadway in its entirety, and to discuss potential options for changes. The City is conducting the study in collaboration with the North Dakota Department of Transportation and a consultant team. While the study is being done now, it will be many years before any construction ...