News

​Voting methods: butter knife or scalpel

August 27th, 2018

Fargo's City Commission approves admitting approval voting measure for the November election - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO – Seven coworkers want different pizzas for lunch; three want cheeseburgers. Under the current voting system, burgers win.

Seem fair? Not exactly, said Jed Limke, the man who began the Approval Voting Army. On Monday, City Auditor Steve Sprague alerted the City Commission that approval voting passed inspection and will be voted on as an initiated measure this November.

The current voting system, called regular plurality voting, is a centuries-old system allowing voters to cast…

Read more...


​Cramer’s office threatens constituents

August 23rd, 2018

Summer protest outside of Congressman Kevin Cramer's office in Fargo - photograph by C.S. Hagen

BISMARCK – Mary Rennich and a handful of North Dakotans only wanted to listen, perhaps ask a question about healthcare if time allowed during a Republican press conference at the North Dakota Farm Bureau on Wednesday.

Instead of having their opinions welcomed, current Congressman Kevin Cramer’s campaign manager, Pat Finken, said they were on private property, and threatened Rennich and others with physical removal from the building if they dared say a word.

“I was incredibly…

Read more...


​Going, going, gone

August 22nd, 2018

Design by Raul Gomez

by Elyssa McCulloch
elyssa.McCulloch@uj.edu

If you have looked at a newspaper or talked to a group of farmers lately you may have heard the news about pollinators, honeybees especially. With the increase of agricultural land and the consequent loss of native plant life, pollinators have been having a hard time. Annual loss of honeybee colonies is now greater than 30 percent, and many native bee species are in decline. However with the awareness of the issue being raised, actions have been…

Read more...


​More than sparkly hats and little cars

August 22nd, 2018

Corn Palace Hillbillies, Mitchell,  SD

Photos by Sabrina Hornung

The Midwest Shrine Association held their annual conference in Deadwood South Dakota last weekend. A total of 14 Shrine chapters were represented hailing from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. El Zagal and Kem shrines were in attendance proudly representing their North Dakota chapters. Attendance for the summer conference usually ranges from between 2,000 and 2,500 Nobles and their Ladies.

The Shriners hosted two…

Read more...


​An enemy of the people

August 22nd, 2018

Heidi Heitkamp at rally - photograph by Raul Gomez

FARGO – A day after a Republican attack on her voting record, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp struck back against her opponent, saying current Congressman Kevin Cramer is irresponsible and is voting to hurt North Dakotans.

She slammed Cramer’s support for a Texas-led lawsuit that North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has brought the state into as dangerous. The lawsuit against the United States by a total of 20 states seeks to completely repeal the Affordable Care Act saying…

Read more...


​North Dakota Prosecutors Drop All Serious Charges against Chase Iron Eyes

August 22nd, 2018

Chase Iron Eyes, a 2016 North Dakota Democratic congressional nominee - YouTube screenshot

by the Indian Country Today Editorial Team

In what defense attorneys are calling a major victory for their client and for the water protectors of Standing Rock, North Dakota prosecutors have dropped all serious charges against former North Dakota congressional candidate Chase Iron Eyes in his case resulting from protests of the Dakota Access pipeline.

Iron Eyes, an attorney who works for the Lakota People’s Law Project, was facing a maximum of six years in state prison after his arrest…

Read more...


​’#Badass grandmas’ fight for ethics

August 17th, 2018

The ethics commission debate - photograph provided by North Dakotans for Public Integrity

BISMARCK– The debate over whether the state needs an ethics commission has been ongoing for years, four times defeated by the legislature. This year, however, concerned citizens turned to the power of the initiated measure, and have secured a place on the ballot this November.

What began as early-morning discussions over cookies and coffee at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum, has now mushroomed into more than 36,000 signatures supporting the creation of an ethics…

Read more...


​A trick of the light

August 15th, 2018

Shane Balkowitsch - wet plate by Doug Hanson

“In 2 ½ years I’ve acquired 221 plates. The end game is 1,000 wet plates of Native Americans and it’s going to take me 15 more years,” Balkowitsch said. When he started the portrait project, his initial goal was to create at least 50 plates. But his real concern was, how could he convince complete strangers to sit for him? Thanks to social media and word of mouth--much to Balkowitsch’s surprise some individuals traveled across the country to sit for him and to be a part of…

Read more...


​Medenwald vs. Carlson: Fargo’s political battleground

August 14th, 2018

Brandon Medenwald running for North Dakota House of Representatives District 41, South Fargo - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO – On the hottest of summer days, Brandon Medenwald hit the pavement. Comfortably dressed in shorts and a no-sweat polo shirt, he carried brochures in one hand.

In his other hand he carried a mobile phone, frequently pushed buttons while keeping track of how many homes he’d visited since he began his campaign for the state’s legislature. On Monday night, he knocked on door number 1,000. No one answered, so the house didn’t count. He quickly moved on to the next residence…

Read more...


​To fix a broken system

August 13th, 2018

Kylie Oversen, Democratic candidate for Tax Commissioner, and Josh Boschee, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, announce their plans to modernize state government services - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO – While on the road campaigning for political office one of the most frequent complaints Josh Boschee and Kylie Oversen hear from North Dakotans is how backward the state government is when it comes to the legalities behind setting up and maintaining a business.

In many cases, fax machines are still used to send information to the current North Dakota Secretary of State’s office, attorney Katie Perleberg of Fredrikson & Byron Law Firm said.

“In North Dakota it’s a long…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem2C Tracker Pixel for Entry 7Clans Tracker Pixel for Entry Cottonwood1 Tracker Pixel for Entry Nicoles Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem2B Tracker Pixel for Entry Bahai

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakota communities will join a “nationwide day of defiance” against authoritarianism and President Donald Trump’s policies on Saturday, June 14. A range of "No Kings" events…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

June 21, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway N., Fargo“We Watch Shudder,” Fargo’s favorite horror podcasters, bring on the darkness during the longest day of the year. The Darkest Day of Horror Film Festival features…

Fighting the good fightBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Over two thousand rallies took place nationwide June 14 as part of the “No Kings" protest. Ten of those protests were held in North Dakota, with thousands in attendance.…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWe need Paul Revere on a Harley: “ants and autocrats are coming!”The Asian needle ant has been nesting in the American South since at least 1932. It probably hitched a ride on a freighter from…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com The weather warmed up quickly here in the upper Midwest this spring, sparking prime eating season. This means burger battles, food trucks and lake-season food travel. The 2025 Downtown Fargo Burger…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com The June 9 death of musician Sylvester Stewart, known much better by stage name Sly Stone, saw an outpouring of tributes, memorials and appreciations from some who knew him personally and many…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comAct Up Theatre, in partnership with Minnesota State University Moorhead, will present “The Sound of Music” on June 10-14. All shows are at 7:30 p.m. at the Minnesota State Moorhead’s…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…