Trending
Minimize disruption from city road construction
Luke Wegner
Minot
So what's the deal with all of this road construction? It seems that any time you want to drive somewhere, you are guaranteed to run into some form of blockage or detour.
The big one that I have a gripe with, though, is how often 16th Street and Broadway are shut down. My thought process and issue with this is the fact that those two streets are the main thoroughfares and essentially the only way to get from one side of the city to the other without taking some crazy back roads. If construction needs to be done on those roads, I believe that it should be made a priority and completed as quickly as possible. I understand that maintenance does need to happen, but a lot of the time it seems like construction crews milk the job for as long as they can.
I know I'm not the only person who feels this way either. There have been many times online (Minot Whiners and Complainers) that this sentiment has been shared. In fact, I saw this quote one time: "There are two seasons in Minot. Winter, and road construction."
I'm not entirely sure what the solution to this problem is, but I figure that someone much smarter than me can find an answer. Minimizing road blockages and construction leads to quicker and easier commutes for everyone, leading to smoother traffic and less problems.
Annual legislative sessions required
Dr. Tom Seymour
West Fargo
North Dakota is dealing with fast‑moving challenges -- economic development pressures, technology changes, workforce shortages, and evolving needs in agriculture and energy. Yet our Legislature still meets only once every two years, a schedule built for a slower era that no longer reflects the realities facing our state.
Recent special sessions have shown how quickly mistakes or unintended consequences can surface. When that happens, lawmakers must be called back to Bismarck to fix problems that could have been addressed earlier with regular annual oversight. Special sessions help, but they are reactive. North Dakota needs a proactive, modern approach.
Annual legislative sessions would allow lawmakers to respond to issues as they arise, provide consistent oversight of state agencies, and reduce the rush to pass hundreds of bills in a compressed biennial timeframe. Many states with similar rural economies already meet yearly because it leads to better governance and fewer errors.
As voters prepare for the fall elections, it's important to stay informed. Absentee voting in North Dakota begins on September 24, 2026, giving citizens ample time to participate and consider how our legislative structure can better serve the public.
North Dakota prides itself on practical, common‑sense government. Moving to annual sessions is a practical step that strengthens accountability, improves responsiveness, and ensures our laws keep pace with the needs of our communities.
Livestock growth can drive community success
Jeff Schafer
New Rockford
The school bus was full when I was growing up. Now you can count the heads. That bothers me a lot. My name is Jeff Schafer, and I'm a fifth-generation livestock producer and farmer in New Rockford, North Dakota. Now, two of my three children are also involved in the operation as the sixth generation.
We raise commercial Angus cattle; farm corn, oats, and soybeans; and feed cattle in our feedlot.
My wife and I are active in the local community through the Knights of Columbus, our church, the fair board, 4-H, FFA, and I serve as township supervisor. We try to give back because we believe our community is stronger when people are involved.
One of the blessings for our community has been a dairy moving into the area. It gave local farmers, including us, another market for the crops we grow. Instead of shipping feedstuffs somewhere else, we can sell some of them right here at home. That creates more competition for our corn and keeps more of its value in the local economy. Manure from livestock provides valuable fertilizer for area farms.
We know we are stewards of these resources for the next generation. We take care of the land because it takes care of us. On our feedlot, that responsibility is backed by an extensive permitting process and ongoing inspections designed to protect the environment and groundwater. No one in agriculture is in it for the short term.
We grew our operation so our kids could come back if they wanted to. Now, we hope to create that same opportunity for our grandkids. My dream is to see animal agriculture continue to grow across rural North Dakota, creating opportunities for the next generation, strengthening our communities, and maybe even filling up those school buses once again.