Culture

Talking Fargo and ‘Fargo’ with Bill Lempe

March 13th, 2019

Bill Lempe

By Gabrielle Hersch
gabbyhersch@gmail.com

“North Dakota (and Minnesota) nice” is an attitude, a stereotype, and a way of life that has permeated our region, as well as perceptions of the Midwest, since as long as people have been here. But the wildly popular film by the Coen Brothers and the quirky FX television series, both sharing our town’s title of “Fargo,” craft a dark, brooding world of crime with our landscapes as their snow noir backdrop. At what point did stereotypes of…

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​‘Pull-Tab’ machines

February 13th, 2019

Pulltab slots - photograph by Zach Nerpel

By Zach Nerpel
zachnerpel@gmail.com

There is nothing more hopeless than a feeling unrequited. The obsession it brings, the doubt it stews, and the madness which erases your sense of self are crippling. You’ll give more than you are given to something that was never there but eventually realize that much of the misery you have gone through is of your own fault; the flashy exterior and promising first few goes ultimately mean nothing, but the investment is your own.

What else could I be…

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​Backpacks for the homeless

February 6th, 2019

Backpack contents - photograph by Blye Dalluge

Winters in Fargo-Moorhead can get downright dangerous. Last week, temperatures dipped below - 30 degree air temperature, and with winds gusting in the 20-30 mph range, the “feels like” temp reached a negative 56 degrees. For people stranded out in those temperatures, frostbite can set in within minutes and hypothermia, or even death are very real possibilities.

The population most at risk are the homeless. According to the City of Fargo’s website, the number of homeless in the F/M…

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​Raising Funds for the Vets… Lucky 7th Annual

February 6th, 2019

Derby art - by Kim Jore

By DanSr.
dandakotadan@yahoo.com 

Fargo VFW Post 762 & Auxiliary present: Derby for the Vets ~ Adult Pinewood. Popularity continues to grow in the Fargo metro community, and now in its seventh year it has become a staple and downtown’s annual release from the long winter. The unofficial start to summer racing season needs a whole week to launch the full schedule of events.

Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney has issued a challenge to all mayors to try and defeat the 2018 Mayors Challenge Champ.…

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​Heart to heart conversation

January 30th, 2019

Design by Raul Gomez

By Gabrielle Hersch
gabby gabbyhersch@gmail.com

It was about a year ago when I turned to my friend and said, “Dude, we should start a podcast.”

“Okay,” he said. “What do I have to pretend to be an expert in?”

But podcasts – especially the more recent ones in the ever-evolving and growing world of podcasting – aren’t all like the structured interviews of old. JJ Meets World, a local podcast hosted by JJ Gordon and produced by Tucker Lucas, is a show premised in what JJ…

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​Purses help provide the next step

January 30th, 2019

Purses with purpose - Facebook

On February 7, The Next Step ND will hold their second annual Purses for a Purpose event at Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo to raise funds for victims and survivors of human trafficking in North Dakota. The event includes a dessert banquet, speakers, and a 10-package raffle.

As the name suggests, purses are an important part of the event. People attending are encouraged to bring a new purse that will get stuffed with different items for women that they are not typically provided when…

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​ARE: Helping artists throughout the region

January 23rd, 2019

By Jacinta Zens
jacinta.zens@gmail.com

Trying to make a living in the arts can be immensely challenging, frustrating, and intimidating. We as artists spend an enormous amount of time, energy, and money dedicating our lives to learning about our craft and discovering our voice for our chosen medium. This process is not all fun and excitement, as some may perceive it. On the contrary, being an artist is often a daunting task that takes years of dedication and countless hours of practice.…

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Microsoft seeking to bring rural communities into the future

December 19th, 2018

It is no secret that our world is becoming more and more computerized. Over the course of a few decades, computers and the Internet have transformed from being solely objects of luxury or business to a ubiquitous part of 21st century life. Millions of Americans carry computers in their pockets in the form of smartphones and the Internet seems near omnipresent. Even for people living in cities, it can seem difficult to keep up with the ever-accelerating rate of technological…

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North Dakota is Failing Our Queer Youth

December 19th, 2018

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) youth in North Dakota attempt suicide at a rate 58 times higher than the estimated national average for suicide attempts. Nearly half of North Dakota’s LGB youth experienced bullying for their identity. Eight percent of all youth in our state reported being bullied because other students thought they were gay.

This data comes from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) which is a statewide survey of 10,000 middle and high school…

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All is calm, all is bright:

December 19th, 2018


Erfurt christmas market - photography by Alicia Underlee Nelson

The peaceful mood that permeates a German Christmas market is the opposite of the holiday madness we often associate with the season. Instead of rushing through the mall or fighting the lines at a big box store, you stroll through the streets of the historic district or gather in the town square, following the scent of the roasted almonds in the air. Instead of shopping by the blue glow of your laptop, you meet friends for a steaming cup of glühwein – wine spiced with fragrant…

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