News

​Part Two: Meet your candidates

May 10th, 2018

FARGO – In city government two popular forms of governing bodies exist: a city council led by an elected mayor with wide powers, and a city commission, also led by an elected mayor whose authority is limited.

Under a city council, the “strong mayor” form acts as a CEO for the city, while under a city commissioners setting the mayor is leader of the commission, and commissioners in some places are rotated into the mayoral position and are viewed as successors. In Fargo, the mayor…

Read more...


​‘Dirty little secrets’ – Fargo’s special assessment debate heats up

May 9th, 2018

Tim Flakoll, left, and Tony Gehrig, right

FARGO – Nearly a week after City Commissioner Tony Gehrig announced his plan to end special assessments, challenger Tim Flakoll revealed a counter plan, saying “People with specials need real service, not lip service.”

From 2015, assessments have increased from $3.7 million to $24 million, and the city is in debt up to $450 million due to special assessments, according to city commissioner statistics.

Gehrig, an incumbent city commissioner and an Air Force captain, says all special…

Read more...


​Native voices cry for justice

May 5th, 2018

MMIW marcher with sign - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO– Once again, Native drums and voices resonated through downtown Fargo Saturday morning raising awareness for missing and Indigenous women. More than 50 people dressed in red gathered at the Fargo Public Library and marched to Veterans Memorial Bridge for National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls.

They sang and marched because 84 percent of Native women experience some kind of violence in their lifetime, and on some reservations, Native women are…

Read more...


‘Stop playing politics with people’s health’

May 4th, 2018

Hallie Skripak Gordon and others cheering as cars honk during protest outside of Congressman Kevin Cramer's office - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO – One year after the state’s only Congressman voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, concerned citizens protested his vote outside both his Fargo and Bismarck offices.

In Fargo on Friday, nearly a dozen people took a half hour from their lunch breaks to wave signs and attempt to bring attention that ACA, or Obamacare, has helped North Dakotans. They protested to remind current Congressman Kevin Cramer that the American Health Care Act, or AHCA, would have hurt…

Read more...


​Republican attempt to suppress Native votes fails

May 2nd, 2018

Protesters during the MMIW march - photograph by C.S. HagenBISMARCK– After Senator Heidi Heitkamp won her race in 2012 against Rick Berg, a primarily Republicans legislature sought to tighten its hold on the state by passing stricter voting identification laws. Their attempts were foiled, however, after a federal ruling struck residential address requirement from the new law.

The law requires identification to contain a current residential street address, which thousands of minority, Democratic-leaning communities, and rural Indigenous people…

Read more...


​Meet your candidates

May 2nd, 2018


FARGO – Nine people are running for two seats on Fargo’s City Commission this year, which promises to be an interesting race. This year’s election cycle for the City Commission is not the city’s largest, but it’s close, with a return of former city officials.

Those running for the city’s commission include:

  • Tim Flakoll
  • Tony Gehrig (incumbent)
  • Liz Maddock-Johnson
  • Kelan Oster
  • Dave Piepkorn (incumbent)
  • Arlette Preston
  • Lenny N. Tweeden
  • Michael J. Williams
  • Linda Boyd

Instead of…

Read more...


​Nordic club targeted with white supremacist mail

May 1st, 2018

Contents of letter from Fight White Genocide group

MOORHEAD – White supremacist groups have switched tactics and are attempting to spread their ‘alternative facts’ to a local Nordic cultural organization. Last year, groups including the Ku Klux Klan and Identity Evropa launched a massive national mail campaign focused on recruiting college students by saying they weren’t racist, but pro-white. 

So far in 2018, the white supremacist front has remained relatively quiet, in fact, many are hoping their 15 minutes of Presidential…

Read more...


​Fentanyl trafficking ring linked to Chinese kingpin

April 27th, 2018

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO – What began as a local fentanyl overdose investigation caught the eyes of national leadership when the case became an international trafficking conspiracy spanning China to Grand Forks, and beyond.

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke to law enforcement and justice departments Friday morning at the Quentin N. Burdick U.S. Courthouse, first thanking them for their service, and then describing how the war on drugs has narrowed in on fentanyl with a major bust…

Read more...


Destroying heritage

April 25th, 2018

One of the last old Wesley College buildings - photograph provided by UND

GRAND FORKS – Residual racism is a leading reason why the University of North Dakota plans to demolish the last brick-and-mortar remnants of Wesley College, some historians say. Wesley College, a former Methodist school, merged with UND in 1905, becoming one of the first American marriages between a religious college and a state university.

University personnel say racism has nothing to do with the upcoming changes, but that budget cuts and financial necessity are forcing tough…

Read more...


​‘Crazy on its face’

April 23rd, 2018

Brendan Medenwald, of Simply Made Apps, running for Representative for District 41, calls upon Governor Doug Burgum fo executive order to protect Net Neutrality - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO– A legislator, hopeful politicians, and business owners appealed to the governor’s office Monday morning with hopes of an executive order to fight the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of Net Neutrality.

The Republican-led FCC voted last December to repeal Net Neutrality rules, which took effect on Monday.

“The FCC has repealed net neutrality, which has taken place today,” Brendan Medenwald, owner of Simply Made Apps, a computer programming company, said.…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry Nicholes2 Tracker Pixel for Entry Gruff2 Tracker Pixel for Entry Farrms Tracker Pixel for Entry nicholes Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem1C Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem1

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee NelsonMore than 1,000 pro-worker events are planned for Thursday, May 1 across the country, including rallies in Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks, Minot and Jamestown. East Grand Forks and Bismarck will host protests…

From concerts and car shows to Japanese art and Juneteenth celebrations, there's so much going on around the region this summer. This year's High Plains Reader Summer Events Calendar is back and bigger than ever. It's packed with…

Saturday, May 17, 7- 9 p.m.Spirit Room, 111 Broadway N., Fargo Armed with a 12 string guitar, multi-octave voice and a mountain dulcimer, Claudia Schmidt combines story, song, poetry and a dash of theatre in a one-of-a-kind…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIt’s no secret that there are folks among us who make our communities a more vibrant place through both their actions and means of creative expression. Heck, you could be one of them yourself.…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comIn which century would you love to live, the 14th or the 22nd?History tells me we are in a period where Americans are fighting for their choice. Just 48 hours after Adolf Hitler was appointed…

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 After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Of the many photographs that help tell the story “I Know Catherine, the Log Lady,” the one of David Lynch dressed as FBI Regional Bureau Chief (and later Deputy Director) Gordon Cole saying…

By Raul Gomez Modern Man was a gentle soul. If you were down or just wanted a friend, he’d be there for you. I remember the first day I met Modern Man. It was Jeremiah Fuglseth and me. He wanted to write about this legendary…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

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…

By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com I remember when I was young, probably 11 years ago. One morning I was not feeling well because of my period. After I got ready to go to school, I went back to bed and it was hard to get up…

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.nd7@gmail.com Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at…