September 19th, 2023
By John Strand
Our Opinion: Thank you, Reader readers, for 29 fulfilling years
Chugging along, The Little Newspaper That Could commences its 30th volume and year with this issue. Simply getting here speaks volumes. Just imagine the words, the bylines, the opinion pieces, the heart that has been part of the High Plains Reader’s nearly three-decade storied journey.
At the risk of sounding like a relic – spanning a couple generations can do that – HPR has always tried to be…
August 14th, 2023
By Sabrina Hornung
sabrina@hpr1.com
Our opinion: Governor Burgum, you’re embarrassing us.
As Jason Aldean’s song “Try That in a Small Town” soars to number one on the billboard charts here in the Divided States of America, has it managed to become a right-wing anthem in this ever abysmal culture war?
The lyrics themselves aren’t the most controversial part of this pop cultural talking point. The song came out months ago but didn’t get people talking until the music video…
July 16th, 2023
By Janessa Jaye Champagne (Chris M. Stoner)
Photo by Studio 208
Guest editorial: The homophobes and transphobes forget that queer folk have been through this before.
I’m not going to lie. Celebrating Pride this year felt…different.
Obviously, last year was difficult, what with the death threats and the doxing and constant online harassment from a small group of religious fundamentalists organizing through a Facebook group.
There was less of that this year as the…
June 11th, 2023
By John Strand & Thomas Bixby
jas@hpr1.com
Our Opinion: No way to delay, trouble comin’ every day.
Whatever happened to dignity, empathy, and so much that goes into our hard-won civilization. How did we get here and where are we going?
These United States are on the brink of collapse, each in its own way. The divisiveness is so prevalent that about the only consensus is a sense of noncohesion.
The polarization of otherwise ordinary people is palpable, borderline dangerous. Except now more…
May 16th, 2023
By Sabrina Hornung
Our opinion: Keep your chins up, class of 2023
As the school year draws to a close, this seems to be the time of year when most editors offer up their best advice to the most recent graduating classes, so here are a few words of wisdom from one of the last people who should be doling out advice.
I’d like to direct these words of wisdom and encouragement to those who are having a tough time. To those who lacked encouragement, who didn’t get endless…
April 17th, 2023
By Faye Seidler
The Theme of the 2023 ND Legislative Session
In the North Dakota 2021 Special Session, Representative Bill Tviet introduced House Bill 1514, otherwise known as the Ivermectin Bill.In testimony he describes the helplessness he felt in a hospital while his wife was struggling with Covid and painted a picture of the need for medical autonomy to try what he personally felt was effective. He demanded the government overrule medical bodies and allow…
April 5th, 2023
By Faye Seidler
Guest editorial: If I can help you, I will do it. Even if you’re a legislator hurting people I care about.
Being a Republican has never been more unappealing to me than watching this 2023 legislative session unfold. We’re censoring books, taking medical autonomy away from parents, banning vaccinations, and otherwise legislating morality at a cost to small and large businesses.
A smaller state government has never seemed like a better idea and…
February 12th, 2023
By John Strand
jas@hpr1.com
Our Opinion: Who on Earth would ever want to move to North Dakota?
Let’s talk about the left hand and the right hand. Or, more correctly, let’s focus on the right hand, being as there is no left in ND to speak of, or that matters, or with any influence.
North Dakota’s right hand, the Grand Old Party that runs everything and without any counterbalance or outside voice, seems to do their level best to push our state even further back into social dark ages.…
January 18th, 2023
By Sabrina Hornung
sabrina@hpr1.com
Our opinion: The sound of ND collectively holding its breath
As the legislative session nears one may notice a certain stillness in the air as a good part of North Dakota’s population collectively holds their breath.
There’s a lot at stake this session as women CONTINUE to fight for their bodily autonomy and to be viewed as more than a brood sow by our state. If women get pregnant it’s “God’s will,” if men become impotent Viagra can be…
December 14th, 2022
By Laura Simmons
laurasimmons2025@u.northwestern.edu
Our opinion: Jesse Harris of Summit LLC: objections
Last month I wrote an article titled “Proposed Carbon Pipeline.” Summit Carbon Solutions Director of Public Affairs Jesse Harris had some follow-up comments for my article. Harris wrote in a text message that my article contained inaccurate information.
Harris requested that the High Plains Reader update the article to fix the inaccuracies. This article aims to share and address…
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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…
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…
By John Strandjas@hpr1.com One description that perhaps aptly describes the mental state of many lately is that they feel they are attached to a string. Or several strings. Call it the notion that people are played like puppets,…
By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comFor sale: White House in D.C. housing dung beetles and giant leechesI suspect someone close to Donald Trump has read “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,”because the Trump administration is…
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 Filmmaker Antonella Sudasassi Furniss constructs an engaging sophomore feature with “Memories of a Burning Body,” selected by Costa Rica to be entered for consideration as a possible Oscar…
By Raul Gomezraul@hpr1.com Minutes before Modern’s Celebration of Life opened its door at the Sons of Norway, I was fiddling with the bar computer, trying to pull up the playlists of Modern’s work I had set aside for the…
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 There appear to be differences in the incidence of mental illnesses between men and women. For example, women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress…
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…
