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Celebrate freedom to read

Jo Ann Miller, Fargo October 1st-7th is Banned Books Week. When I was growing up, reading was a meaningful part of my life, and I read everything I could get my hands on, sometimes reading texts far beyond my reading level. Why do we today focus on banning reading materials? Who makes the determination about what is acceptable and what should be banned? Why can’t citizens decide for themselves? Banned Books Week is especially timely in North Dakota after our recent North Dakota legislative session, and the introduction and passage of HB 1205, as well as SB 2360 and SB 2123, ...

Exercise freedom during Banned Books Week

Kerrianne Boetcher, President, N.D. Library Association, Minot Jackson Harper, Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee of the N.D. Library Association, Grand Forks For as long as there have been libraries, there have been people who disagree about what belongs on library shelves. Presently, there are an above average number of people who disagree with the books on library shelves. PEN America, a literary organization and advocate for the freedom of expression, has reported widespread activity in the United States to remove controversial literature from public and school libraries ...

Week celebrates importance of books

Val Stadick, Owner, Main Street Books, Minot On behalf of Independent Book Stores in North Dakota I would like to inform the community that Oct. 1-7 is National Banned Books Week. This is a week that celebrates our Freedom to choose what we want to read. It is also a celebration that brings to light the importance of bookstores and libraries to be able to choose what they want to put on their shelves and for parents to choose the books that they believe are appropriate for their own children to read. Why is this important? This is important because it is vital to be exposed to hard ...

Burgum is ND’s second presidential candidate

While skeptical North Dakotans scratch their heads over Governor Douglas Burgum’s race for president, we need to be reminded that he is not the first aspirant for the big chair in Washington. While a congressman, North Dakota’s William Lemke threw his hat in the ring as the presidential candidate for the Union Party in 1936. Of course, Doug is not burdened by the likes of Francis Townsend, Charles Coughlin and Gerald L. K. Smith, all of whom fragmented the Union message. Messages of disunion Townsend had a plan to pay everyone over the age of 60 $200 a month, sort of a ...

Help is here for veterans in crisis

Ty Hegland - CEO, Prairie St. John’s, Fargo With September being Suicide Prevention Month, I wanted to take a minute to highlight transformative legislation to serve one of our most important patient populations, veterans. In January, The COMPACT Act went into effect across the U.S. and dramatically improved accessibility for mental health services for veterans. The act allows all honorably discharged veterans who are experiencing a suicidal crisis to go to any mental healthcare facility for no-cost treatment. Veterans do not need to be enrolled to use this benefit. The ...

Urgent plea for safer skies for aerial applicators

Brianne Osowski, Lynn Johnson, owner, Johnson Airspray - Grafton In the heartland of America, aerial applicators like my brother, Tylor Lee Johnson, dance a delicate balance between the earth and sky. Their mission ensures our tables remain abundant, yet the profession is fraught with unseen dangers — dangers that took Tylor from us last week. Tragically, another aerial hero faced a similar fate just a week later, marking the 10th fatality in 2023. These brave pilots play a pivotal role in our state’s economy and our daily lives. Every year, aerial application pilots treat ...