Editorial

​Our opinion: A glimpse of women from North Dakota history

March 27th, 2019

As March roared in like a lion, it appears that it’s leaving a lamb in this final week. Along with that observation we’d like to point out that it’s the final week of Women’s History -- or rather HERstory month. According to womenshistorymonth.gov, the intent is “to amplify women’s voices to honor the past, inform the present and to inspire the future.”

Let’s take a moment to think about a few things we’ve learned about North Dakota women in history.

Last July we spoke…

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​Our opinion: Knoephla soup for our moral consciousness

March 21st, 2019

Photograph by Sabrina Hornung

“North Dakota Nice,” is a phrase that I see getting tossed around more and more these days. Many are sincere and others display yet another facet of our disposition that’s not nearly as desirable.

Yes, we’re professin’ our passive aggression. Say what you will but North Dakotans are good people. There are a lot of small close-knit communities around here and a lot of us have roots that reach back to that culture -- North Dakota Nice is etched upon our moral compass like a worn…

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A right to critique

March 14th, 2019

Now in the Twilight Zone - political cartoon provided by Mark Cabot Robinson

It is possible, even ethical, to stand behind Israel and criticize the nation at the same time.

No country, no man or woman, is without fault. While we at the High Plains Reader believe the U.S. House of Representatives’ resolution, passed earlier this month to condemn “anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, and other forms of bigotry” is on target, we will not jump on the bandwagon saying anything critical of Israel or Jews is anti-Semitism.

That in and of itself rings true as…

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HPR sends out a few thank you notes

February 20th, 2019

Doghouse - by Susan Morrissey

Growing up, whenever Christmas or a birthday or really any time I received any sort of a gift, time and a certain level of guilt was set aside to write thank you cards. To this day, I’ll send a few out to people or organizations that have helped me out, or if I’ve had a really insightful interview. My desk is also filled with half-written cards that never quite made it in the envelope. Though, they clearly weren’t romanticized, “letters I’ve written never meaning to send”…

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​Our opinion: Surfing the lonesome crowded internet

February 13th, 2019

Scherenschnitte - by Sabrina Hornung

It will be Valentine’s Day by the time this issue hits the stands, but who knows you might even be picking it up after you’ve finished eating the last of the chocolates you bought for yourself for Valentine’s Day.

We’re not judging. In fact, you’re not alone. That’s exactly what I was planning to do after the issue came out, or I might even buy myself a drink and take myself home.

On February 5, Tess Williams over at The Forum wrote a piece called, “It's not you, it's North…

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​Anne Krapu-HPR journalism scholarship opportunity

February 6th, 2019

Artwork by Jessi Schmitt

Last winter HPR grieved with Gary and Madeline Krapu of Valley City over the unexpected and untimely death of their daughter Anne Krapu. Anne, 31 had been a contributor to HPR and Valley City Times Record for nearly half of her life covering popular culture, politics, and social justice issues. She traveled the world as an educator and worked tirelessly as a political campaign staffer. It may be fair to say that during her brief time here, she lived more than most.

In her memory HPR is…

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​Musings from the Polar Vortex

January 30th, 2019

Tom Bixby vs. the elements - photograph by Sabrina Hornung

As midwesterners, I like to think we’re the masters of small talk and with our ever changing weather patterns there’s plenty to talk about. Winter blues are running rampant this time of year but morale is relatively high here at the HPR office. While record-breaking cold temperatures sweep through the midwest thanks to that pesky polar vortex we’re trying our best to stay positive.

I once had a neighbor who moved from Portland (Portland, Oregon not to be confused with Portland,…

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​Our opinion: This isn’t the face of North Dakota

January 16th, 2019

Nazi flag hanging from a house in Glenville, Minnesota, 2018 - photograph provided by Britt Long

A couple of days before Christmas, a video of “Virgin Island Vicky,” went viral. Her real name is irrelevant, but she’s a Minot native. The video shows her going on multiple public racist rants while she and her beau were on vacation in the Virgin Islands. The video shows that he tried to shush her multiple times to no avail. The situation eventually escalated to the point where the police were called and escorted her from the island, according to the UK-based publication The…

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Guest editorial:  I’ve learned more from the people than I have the projects.

January 9th, 2019


by Ryan Janke
ryan.janke78@gmail.com

Some readers will remember a Reba McEntire music video from the 1990s called, Is There Life Out There. They played it on CMT back when music television stations actually played music videos. Anyway, the story of the video followed a woman (McEntire) as she was getting set to graduate from college. She had a paper on her desk that she had been working on for, “three weeks,” and her children wound up spilling coffee on it. When she got the paper back…

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Our opinion: Advice from a professional: Ask too many questions

December 19th, 2018

I’m a big fan of sharing and collecting oral histories, and then again I can’t think of a single person who doesn’t enjoy a good story. As we prepare to make our holiday treks, now is the time to share our stories as we prepare to surround ourselves with generations of friends and family.

Full disclosure: this is coming from a sentimental wannabe folklorist, but at least story sharing keeps our minds off of our gadgets and off of politics for the time being.

To quote my grandpa,…

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