News

​Your Holiday Give Back Guide

December 18th, 2023

A stress-free way to support local nonprofit organizations

By HPR Staff 

submit@hpr1.com

It’s that time of the year when we all think about giving back to our community. It feels good to help create a little peace and goodwill at a time when the world is especially cold and dark. But there are so many worthy causes (and so much to do during this busy holiday season) that it’s hard…

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North Dakota Has a Rural Child Care Problem. Here’s How to Fix It.

November 14th, 2023

By Maddie Robinson 

maddierobi.mr@gmail.com

In order to get affordable child care for her son, Paulina Erbele has to drive from her work in Gackle, North Dakota to his child care facility an hour away in Wishek and then back home, a total of 80 miles every day.

Erbele, a history teacher who lives 25 miles outside of Gackle, is no stranger to the struggle of finding child care in rural areas.

With all of the…

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Alicia Loves Fargo. Read Her Guidebook and You Will Too.

October 16th, 2023

By Maddie Robinson 

maddierobi.mr@gmail.com

Photos by Alicia Underlee Nelson

Fargo-Moorhead is growing. Rapidly. Its reputation hasn’t quite kept up.

A report by The Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (Metro COG) stated that the Fargo-Moorhead metro is projected to grow from a population of over 250,000 to about 357,000 people by 2050. This follows the continued growth the area has been experiencing for…

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Engaging in Dialogue: Naomi Oreskes and the Red State Pledge

October 14th, 2023

By Brie Storsved

brie.storsved@gmail.com

Naomi Oreskes is a highly esteemed professor of the history of sciences at Harvard University. Her research focuses on the reality of anthropogenic climate change. With an impressive resume that includes authoring nine books and publishing over 150 scholarly articles, Oreskes is a recognized authority in her field.

Some of her notable books include Why Trust Science? (2019) and Science on a Mission: How Military Funding Shaped What We Do and…

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​Dr. Naomi Oreskes Hits the Road for the Sake of Science

October 2nd, 2023

By Sabrina Hornung 

sabrina@hpr1.com

Photo credit: Kayana Szymczak

Leading Voice on Climate Change to Embark on Three-Stop ND Tour

Internationally celebrated speaker, author, Harvard Professor of History of Science and leading voice on climate change, Dr. Naomi Oreskes will be coming to North Dakota October 3, 4, and 5 as part of her “Red State Pledge.”

In 2019 she said, "It makes you a better scholar and…

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Why Was North Dakota the ‘COVID Death Capital of the World?’

September 20th, 2023

By Laura Simmons

laurasimmons2025@u.northwestern.edu

Dr. Stephen McDonough researched why North Dakota had the highest COVID death rate and cases in the fall of 2020. His investigation accumulated into a 1,000-plus page book titled “The Power of a Question: Why North Dakota Developed the Greatest COVID Outbreak in the World and How Community Heroes Turned It Around.”

COVID cases are on the rise, and, although McDonough is hopeful that vaccines and natural immunity will prevent a…

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Fargo Farm Tour Seeks to Bridge Farmer and Consumer Gap

August 14th, 2023

By Maddie Robinson

maddierobi.mr@gmail.com

With almost 26,000 farms occupying about 90% of North Dakota’s land and the average farm being roughly 1,500 acres, the state’s strong agricultural roots are an essential part of its very function.

A 2022 North Dakota State University study found that agriculture makes up almost 25% of the state’s economy, a total contribution of over $30 billion. Coupled with the fact that the industry represents over 100,000 direct and secondary jobs, or…

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​Those Pushing Transgender Bills in North Dakota

July 27th, 2023

By Faye Seidler

fayeseidler@gmail.com

In 2015, The Forum published the information and faces of every North Dakota state representative, as well as whether they voted for or against LGBTQ+ protections. This created transparency and clarity. We knew where our elective body stood.

In 2023, North Dakota saw nearly 20 bills impacting the LGBTQ+ population, making it more difficult to effectively track our lawmakers. However, analysis shows that the majority of these bills came from two…

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Data Centers Love North Dakota.  Should North Dakota Love Them?

July 16th, 2023

By Laura Simmons 

laurasimmons2025@u.northwestern.edu

Governor Doug Burgum is welcoming crypto mining and data center companies into North Dakota, saying in a January 2022 news release that it will diversify the state’s economy and attract high-paying jobs. However, these companies have come under scrutiny for a variety of reasons, including their high energy use.

Although there are likely close to a hundred crypto mining operations in North Dakota, the…

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Rural Grocery Stores Are Disappearing, Initiatives in Place To Help

June 12th, 2023

By Laura Simmons

laurasimmons2025@u.northwestern.edu

Photo credit: Lew Ableidinger

North Dakota’s Commerce Committee during the legislature’s 2019 to 2020 interim session studied the decline of rural grocery stores in North Dakota. Almost 3.5 yearslater, a Senate Bill 2273, which allocates $1 million to preserve rural grocery stores and increase food access, was signed into law April 24.

The number of rural grocery stores in North Dakota has been declining. North Dakota lost 15…

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By Dr Christopher Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Sollera For nearly fifty years, this region has known us as Rape and Abuse Crisis Center. We have answered late-night calls. Sat in hospital rooms. Walked with victim survivors…

Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.Paradox Comics-N-Cards, 814 Main Ave., FargoCalling all nerds: it’s time to get down and nerdy with vendors aplenty, who are selling comics, toys, video games, board games, various collectibles…

June 6-7StatewideYou grab a line and I’ll grab a pole — and if you’re a North Dakota resident, you can head on down to your favorite fishing hole, no license needed (for this weekend, anyway). All other rules still apply…

By Sabrina Hornung As the school year comes to a close, a new crop of young people are starting a new chapter in their lives. As a former young person, I’d like to offer my unsolicited advice. As cliche as it may sound, be the…

By Ed RaymondWere women created to do the work of God?One of the first requests made by new Pope Leo XIV was to invite an expert on the alt-right conservative Catholic organization known as Opus Dei to brief him about its…

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 GionThe scarfing of canned fish and seafood products by online food influencer types is hard to miss on social media these days. Some of the consumed morsels range from exquisite to downright nasty. However, there are many…

June 3-6, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.FARGODOME, 2800 N. University Dr., FargoDo we dare call RibFest the ultimate summer kickoff in Fargo? Well, we just did. Enjoy succulent ribs, pulled pork, brisket and so much more. Featuring top notch…

Legendary actor Stephen Tobolowsky will appear in person at the Fargo Theatre on Thursday, June 11 at 7 p.m. for an evening of engaging stories from his remarkable life. The evening is hosted by Brent Brandt. High Plains Reader…

By Sabrina Hornung The Plains Art Museum has been a trailblazing force in the North Dakota art scene since its inception and it’s not slowing down any time soon. In fact, this summer they are preparing to break ground on a major…

Saturday, January 31, 6:30-9 p.m.Transfiguration Fitness, 764 34th St. N., Unit P, FargoAn enchanting evening celebrating movement and creativity in a staff-student showcase. This is a family-friendly event showcasing pole, aerial…

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 Eli Liverani Cholesterol is probably one of the first molecules I have ever heard of in my childhood. Most of the relatives on my mother's side had high cholesterol in their blood, and apparently, levels above a certain range…

January 31, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead2026 marks 10 years of frosty fun! Enjoy sauna sessions with Log the Sauna, try Snowga (yoga in the snow), take a guided snowshoe nature hike, listen to live…

By Jim Fuglie I was out for a walk on a fine Bismarck spring evening, strolling down 4th St. alongside the state capitol grounds, when I noticed some dirt work being done on the spot where the former governor’s residence had…