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Clock is ticking toward the 2022 City election

I know it’s early in the new year, but the 2022 City election isn’t really that far away, and for those interested in running for public office, the clock is ticking. The 2022 city election will be held June 14; the deadline to file petitions for office is April 11. There are several City positions on the ballot, including mayor, and the Council seats of Lisa Olson, Mark Jantzer, and Paul Pitner. Candidate packets are available at City Hall. If you’re interested in running for office, here’s what you’ll need: 300 signatures collected from Minot residents A completed ...

The critical need for cognitive flexibility

If the Democratic Party plans to influence public policy in North Dakota, it will need cognitive flexibility in abundance. Right now, it is in short supply. Cognitive flexibility means the ability to recognize the need for change but traveling in the same rut, no matter what. The focus of the Party is on electing more legislators, a few state executives and maybe a governor in a good year. Looking at the chances of the Democrats ever electing a majority of either house, or fielding well-financed state candidates, a person with cognitive flexibility would come to the conclusion ...

The fight for freedom is worldwide

Living in North Dakota is somewhat insulating to the COVID hysteria, no thanks to several authoritarian-leaning health “experts” and the ND Department of Health (that’s redundant). I absolutely love hearing from people that travelled to North Dakota from a crazy blue state, and they say it’s amazing to realize how suffocating it was in their home state, but they hadn’t realized it until they came here, saw people carrying on pleasantly and unafraid. It seemed that here they could somehow “feel” freedom. That’s a beautiful thing. Traveling to blue states or ...

Cities with schools need a newspaper

The dramatic decline of the newspaper industry has been continuing as community newspapers across the country have been folding left and right. Since 2005, 2,200 local newspapers across America have been forced to close their doors. Not only have the rural areas lost a lot of subscribers but the electronic media have gobbled up a great share of the advertising dollar. Publishing costs have gone up; many small communities no longer have local businesses to buy advertising. The only thing saving many North Dakota papers is the 60-hour week put in by editors who believe in their ...

Picking your pronouns a difficult problem

I t’s 2022, and everything is better now. Russia and China will play nice. Toxicity in society will no longer be an issue. Inflation is good. Gender is fluid. Way better than 2021, right? Despite entering a new period of societal Nirvana, I have quite the conundrum; I STILL haven’t chosen my pronouns. It’s a difficult thing, though. There are so many to choose from, and much like ordering dinner at a restaurant with an eight-page menu, it’s taking me a really long time to choose. Initially I was thinking Xe/Xim/Xiz or Zhe/Zhim/Zhiz, but then I realized I would be ...

Give gratitude to those who have sacrificed to help with pandemic

As we mark the beginning of a new year, we typically look to the future with a sense of hope. It’s true that this year might be somewhat different with the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted how we interact, shop, travel, and dine. For some, it’s been a time fraught with deep emotions, grief, and loss. As President & CEO of Trinity Health, my hope is that this year we will not only look forward but look back with gratitude for the people who have sacrificed so much to help us deal with the pandemic. I’m speaking, of course, of the healthcare professionals who are ...