Editorial

​Political Chaos

October 16th, 2024

By Jim Fuglie

jimfuglie920@gmail.com

As a political columnist, I know I should be writing an election preview for the issue of this paper that comes out just a couple weeks before what is being labeled, once again, as “the most important election of our lifetime.” Okay, so here goes my election preview:

  • In North Dakota, the Republicans are going to win. Pretty much everything.
  • In the United States of America, we’re going to elect our first woman president.

Well, now that we have…

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The Little Newspaper That Could

September 19th, 2024

Happy 30th Birthday HPR

By John Strand

jas@hpr1.com

Thirty years ago some gutsy UND student journalists hanging at Whitey’s in East Grand Forks got enough liquid courage to create their own damn newspaper. Then with drinks raised, they toasted the paper’s name, the High Plains Reader. The first issue was dated September 8, 1994.

There's been a lot of water under the bridge since then. Hundreds of editions, thousands of pages and bylines. Countless contributors and advertisers. The…

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We still have glass ceilings to shatter

August 15th, 2024

We’re making progress.

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Yay Kamala! It is such a relief to see a candidate for POTUS who is actually capable of doing the job and preserving our representative democracy. And, of course, she’s female and endorsed by Hillary Clinton, the best-qualified presidential candidate of the century so far.

But after cruising social media for the last few weeks, it’s quite apparent that our nation has an extremely unhealthy attitude toward not only women,…

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Prayers are not enough

July 18th, 2024

Recovering from Pennsylvania

By John Strand

jas@hpr1.com

Holy shit, America! Is this a path we want to stay on? Is this the tipping point or brink we’re at? Is it a sign of more to come, or a come to Jesus moment where we decide enough is enough?

The unbelievable reality that a 20-year-old kid would decide to take a semi-automatic long rifle and attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a political rally in Pennsylvania yesterday is stunning beyond words. Thank God he…

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​Our opinion: Let’s explore what’s best for future generations.

June 20th, 2024

The WFF Unified School District?

By John Strand

jas@hpr1.com

Both the Fargo and West Fargo School Districts are strategizing their futures. This is necessary, because of immensely challenging financial and geopolitical changes facing both districts.

While both districts are weighing options, there’s one very glaring option missing that neither is considering, at least to our knowledge. We’re remiss when we do not put all potentialities before the decision makers and ultimately the…

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The end of the Zandbroz era

May 16th, 2024

Our opinion: Has Fargo lost its cool?

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

On April 24, The Forum reported that Zandbroz Variety would be closing its doors after 33 years, and the announcement hit like a ton of books.

Upon hearing the news, long-time regulars and former employees, affectionately referred to as “Zandbrozians,” reconnected with fellow Zandbrozians sharing the news and eulogizing the space and the spirit of Zandbroz with the certain somber tone of finding out that a…

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It can’t happen here

April 18th, 2024

Is this a repeating pattern?

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.comThere’s a quote circulating around the world wide web, misattributed to Sinclair Lewis: "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." According to The Sinclair Lewis Society, it sounds like something he would agree with but there’s no proof that he actually wrote or said it.

In Sinclair’s 1943 novel “Gideon Planish,” he wrote, "I just wish people wouldn't quote Lincoln or the…

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Be the vote that mattered

March 21st, 2024

By John Strand

jas@hpr1.com

What’s that you just said? “Tell somebody who gives a shit”?

Stop reading this now if you don’t care about anyone else. Don’t waste your time. You’ll only get mad. Vocal. Obstinate. Unforgiving.

You know what we’re talking about. And you know who you are.

This is a liberal rag. You already know that. A liberal rag in a conservative state. So don’t feign victimhood if you’re reading about our advocacy of people and issues you simply don’t…

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​Political infighting: Who are they working for?

February 15th, 2024

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

When one googles “What traits are desirable in a new employee,” some of the first words that pop up “from sources around the web” include “communication,” “team player,” “leadership,” “honest,” “reliable.” Now take these words and think: How do these words best apply to my preferred candidate on a local, state, and national level?

That’s our role as voters. We elect these candidates so they can represent us and to make…

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Arts Off the Beaten Path

January 18th, 2024

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Our Opinion: Reinvigorate that sense of wonder

This month’s focus at High Plains Reader is the State of the Arts. From a regional standpoint, we’re small but mighty – and there are so many organizations that go above and beyond that deserve a shoutout and are certainly worth a day trip. A quick google search can determine dates, times, and reservations, if needed.

The Ellendale Opera House and Ellendale Area Arts Council is located just an hour…

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