Once again the North Dakota Legislature is trying to obstruct constitutional amendments proposed by petition of the people. At the present time, constitutional amendments initiated by citizens go straight to the ballot for an up or down vote. If approved, the amendment goes into ...
Ambassador Marshall Billingslea’s visit to Minot Air Force Base this week demonstrates what Theodore Roosevelt meant when he said “speak softly and carry a big stick.” As the President’s Special Envoy for Arms Control, Ambassador Billingslea’s words as a diplomat carry great weight ...
Enacted by Congress in 1985, the beef checkoff was approved by cattle producers voting in the initial referendum held in 1988. That was 32 years ago and it is the only time ranchers have had an opportunity to vote on the mandatory checkoff we are required to pay every time we sell cattle. ...
According to a front page article in The Minot Daily News on July 15th, Minot School Board member Mark Lyman told a local government liaison committee, “Minot voters will have to approve a sizable bond issue (i.e. increase in property taxes) if they want a second high school.” He went on ...
Nearly two years of collaboration by a host of community partners culminated with the recent unveiling of the “It’s Magic in Minot” branding campaign. “It’s Magic in Minot” was born through a citywide collaboration between the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Minot, ...
North Dakota voters will once again be deciding whether or not the Board of Higher Education should be revamped to solve unidentified problems seen by the Legislature. For the 2014 election ballot, the Legislature proposed the outright abolition of the Board with replacement by three ...
This exploitation of doctors and nurses in this coronavirus pandemic has gone far enough. They should just call in sick tomorrow and be as irresponsible as most other folks who treat the pandemic as just another inconvenience. In many states, if they do show up for work they can’t be sure ...
As you may know, the Minot Area Community Foundation earlier this month announced a $500,000 matching challenge gift toward the MSU Summer Theatre renovation project. This is one of the largest gifts in the history of the MACF, and MSU, our MSU Development Foundation, and MSU Summer Theatre are ...
It’s a busy time for the Minot City Council, as we welcomed our two new council members with a three-hour meeting on July 6. Along with Stephan Podrygula, who was re-elected as an incumbent, Carrie Evans and Tom Ross were elected to serve four-year terms on the council in June. The first ...
After 400 years of slavery, African-Americans are entitled to support the abolition of police organizations that have been the iron fist for the white society. They are unleashing their anger against centuries of sidewalk injustice, false witnessing, evidence tampering, physical abuse and ...
As Americans gather this weekend to celebrate our freedom and independence, some states are re-imposing restrictions on their residents and businesses amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. This needn’t be our fate in North Dakota. Thanks to the individual responsibility exercised by ...
The literature created by Yankee catcher Yogi Bera is more correct today than at any time in our national experience. While many North Dakotans are behaving as though the pandemic is over and it is safe to romp about without safeguards, it “ain’t over till it’s over.” This virus is ...
June in Minot will always stir up a meandering mix of emotions for our community’s residents who lived here in 2011, but especially for those who called the river valley their home. What’s the river level today? How much water is on the way? How will I save a lifetime of possessions? How ...
Agricultural prices were already poor. Then the pandemic shook every corner of the state’s economy. Finally, the commodity roller coaster took another sudden drop as oil prices crashed. And across the state, infrastructure projects that could ease economic uncertainty were placed on ...
Native-Americans in North Dakota have been experiencing the same discrimination as the African-Americans now demonstrating across America. Hundreds of North Dakotas went to the streets to support African-Americans even though we have only a few in the state. It was a demonstration of ...
While talk of defunding, disbanding, or reorganizing police departments continues in some parts of the country, that discussion isn’t appropriate or necessary in Minot. Let me outline why. No one is claiming the members of the Minot Police Department are perfect; we know that’s ...
Our great nation has been through some trying times the past few months. The continuing impact of COVID-19 has touched our lives in many ways. And now, with the recent killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, essential and overdue conversations are happening across ...
As I look at the past two weeks of burning, demonstrating and rioting, I am torn between my Christian self and my realistic self. As a Christian, I hurt when other people hurt. If Ruth cried, I just melted. When the dad and little girl drowned on the Rio Grande, I wept. When I think of the ...
There are certain June mornings here on the prairie that remind us why we chose to live here. We awoke this morning with a faint breeze from the northwest and the promise of rain and so sat on the front steps of the ranch house, enjoying a hot mug of coffee and taking in a free avian chorus. ...
As we continue to navigate through the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and approach the anniversary of the 2011 flood, I can’t help but look back and draw parallels between two disasters that have greatly affected and impacted our community. There are similarities – and a sharp contrast. To ...