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Investment decisions not for the Legislature

At the behest of Jamestown area legislators, a grand plan for a $60 million amusement park has been proposed to the legislature for a direct appropriation of $5 million and a $60 million loan from the oil-rich Legacy Fund now brimming with $8 billion. Developing a huge recreation area in Jamestown should not bother us. In fact, it could be a big plus for the state. The $5 million appropriation is not big enough to be worrisome. The $60 million loan from the Legacy fund is a step out of the box but should not be of concern. Matter of Concern What should concern us is the origin ...

This absurd notion of absolutism

Rep. Lauren Bobert of Colorado likes to shoot from the lip. She has called President Biden and anyone who agrees with him on firearms restrictions a “tyrant.” “The Second Amendment is absolute,” Bobert posted. “Anyone who says otherwise is a tyrant.” The president is no tyrant, and neither are other people who espouse modest restrictions on gun ownership and use. Bobert is absolutely wrong. So are folks who agree whole-heartedly with her statement, many of them well-intentioned supporters of the everyday person’s gun rights, but who mistakenly see any and all ...

Thank You for supporting MSU’s Giving Day!

On April 14, Minot State University held our annual MSU Giving Day. This is an online, 24-hour event through the MSU Foundation to raise funds and support over 50 programs across campus. Our Giving Day event began in 2018 and occurred again in 2019. Last year, it was shifted to a singular focus by raising funds for our Student Emergency Fund during the early days of COVID, and so it was exciting getting back to the original focus and format with this year’s Giving Day. Thanks to the generosity of many of you reading these words, this year’s results were truly amazing. Nearly ...

Mayor calls committee to fight COVID

With COVID-19 running rampant, the mayor called the Homeland Security Committee to adopt a protocol to guide the citizens. Obediently, the town’s 12 electors trouped into the old ZCBJ lodge hall to apply their wisdom and ingenuity to the problem. No sooner had Chairperson Ork Dorken rapped his old Coke bottle for order when the retired Soo Line-Great Northern depot agent, Orville Jordon, was on his feet. But before Orville could speak, Josh Dvorchak asked loudly: “Where’s the mayor? He called the meeting.” “Mr. Chairman, the mayor is at the county courthouse trying to ...

Democrats don’t need to pack the court

This idea by some Democrats to “pack” the Supreme Court gets me to humming Joe Friday’s old Dragnet tune. “Dum, de dum dum.” Oh yeah, it’s that stupid. It’s that short-sighted. It’s that overtly political. Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts says the High Court needs to be re-balanced. His idea of balance is to increase the number of Justices from nine to 13. Federal statute permits adjusting the number of seats, and it’s happened several times, mostly during and after the Civil War. Of course there were many extraordinary government actions during that critical ...

Blu on Broadway one of many great NDR projects

It can be easy to forget how much progress we’ve made when things are happening so quickly. I was reminded of that when I read a Letter to the Editor a few weeks back about Blu on Broadway. This private/public project went from concept to a prominent skyline feature on South Broadway in less than two years. A once-empty building will soon be replaced with a new mixed-use structure with 42 affordable housing units and commercial space expected to open this year. At first, I was dismayed that the letter’s author considered this a troubled project. But after some thought, I realized ...