Editorial

Our opinion/#Mystorystartedthere family immigration histories shared over social media

November 24th, 2015

You’ve come a long way, Baby

Haji Hagopian and his wife Nouritza fled what was once Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1923 at the tail end of the Armenian genocide, Nouritza was three people away from being gunned down by a Turkish firing squad. My Grandfather was merely three months old at the time and the family soon found themselves in Marseilles, France. After Haji's death the family relocated to Chicago in 1939. From there they found themselves in central North Dakota. Haji and…

Read more...


Our opinion/Governor Dalrymple wrong on refugees

November 18th, 2015

Hagopian and his wife Nouritza date unknown #mystorystartedthere

The facts show refugee resettlement is not the cause of terrorism

We were all shocked by the senseless terrorist attack in Paris recently. In particular holding people hostage at a rock concert which had nothing to do with politics or religion was abhorrent to many. But before the blood had even dried on the victims, brave social media commenters were making note of France’s gun control laws and calling for closing the border in America to Syrian refugees, using the attack as…

Read more...


Congratulations, Gov. Schafer. And thanks for offering to help your home state and alma mater

November 11th, 2015

A North Dakotan takes over UND’s helm

NEW UND LEADERSHIP

Former Gov. Ed Schafer this week was named interim President of the University of North Dakota upon the forthcoming retirement of current President Robert Kelley. This is a good decision.

Schafer has a long history of leadership not only in North Dakota but nationally after having served a stint as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He also has served on the UND Alumni Association and the UND Foundation boards of directors, which are…

Read more...


Our Opinion/Time to Legalize Medical Marijuana in ND

November 4th, 2015


Petition for ballot measure receives approval

This week supporters of a medical marijuana ballot measure had their petition accepted by the ND Secretary of State. Assuming all goes to plan in the process, they hope to be out in mid-November this year gathering the over 13,000 necessary signatures to get legalizing medical marijuana on the ballot for the November 2016 general election. They shouldn’t have much trouble gathering the signatures. Polls have shown majority support for…

Read more...


Our Opinion/Abortion Counter protests getting out of hand

October 28th, 2015

Hypocrisy exposed, time to move on

There’s been a lot of talk in the community both in social media and at local watering holes about a counter protester who was going after the hypocrisy of those participating in the 40 Days For Life campaign at the Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo, North Dakota’s one and only abortion clinic in the state.

Those protesters from the 40 Days for Life campaign say they want to “protect the innocent” yet never mind that one of them was convicted…

Read more...


Our Opinion / Dale’s smile was the face of Fargo’s newer, happier and hipper downtown

October 21st, 2015

One in a Million

This week HPR joins the family, Hotel Donaldson staff, friends and customers honoring Dale Powers, 65, who died Sunday after a year-long battle with cancer. Dale’s smile was the face of Fargo’s newer, happier and hipper downtown. He had been with the HoDo since day one.

Staff and friends will be holding a candle light vigil tonight, Wednesday, at the HoDo Lounge from 5 to 7 p.m. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., at Wright Funeral Home in…

Read more...


Our opinion/Anti-art, Post-modem art, and art for art’s sake

October 15th, 2015

The most recent issue of Juxtapoz (an art and culture magazine) featured an exclusive interview with Banksy, Banksy is a UK based street artist who has reached world-wide notoriety with his satirical politically charged pieces and has somehow managed to keep his identity a secret in a media savvy world where nearly everyone has some kind of a recording device on hand at all times.

Banksy’s most recent endeavor was called Dismaland bemusement park, an exhibition he curated consisting…

Read more...


Our Opinion/Changes coming for the 2015 Cocktail Showdown

October 7th, 2015

Annual battle for best local bartender & craft cocktail begins this week

It’s that time of the year again, the 2015 High Plains Reader Cocktail Showdown is upon us where local bartenders and mixologists get to showcase their talents and present a craft cocktail for the staff of HPR to judge. This week, your humble judges will begin their efforts to taste and decide who is the best local bartender and what is the best drink.

The art of mixology has blown up in recent years with…

Read more...


Our Opinion/New benches miss the mark

October 1st, 2015

Downtown Fargo should be open to everyone

Why have benches downtown if they are uncomfortable to sit on? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? Recently the city of Fargo at the request of the Downtown Community Partnership installed new benches downtown without backs in order to deter transients from loitering on them. Apparently businesses are concerned about the number of homeless people downtown. The problem in downtown Fargo is not homeless people but rather intoxicated individuals. …

Read more...


Our Opinion/ Columbus’ arrival in 1492 resulted in the genocide of Indigenous Peoples

September 24th, 2015

The Fargo Native American Commission is asking that Fargo change the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.

The resolution voted upon unanimously by the Native American Commission Monday night goes before the Fargo City Commission Monday, Oct. 12 -- Columbus Day. We strongly encourage the adoption of this resolution.

And, for the sake of disclosure, this writer is one of nine on the Native American Commission and helped author the resolution.

The remainder of HPR’s editorial…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry WritersConf1 Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem2B Tracker Pixel for Entry EmpireAUG2021 Tracker Pixel for Entry NN Tracker Pixel for Entry FFF Tracker Pixel for Entry Aquarium2

Recently in:

By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.comIt’s been eight years since the Water Protectors were cleared off the banks of the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers. It was a bitter ending to a battle to protect the water; and for most of us…

By HPR Staff We’re all a part of building strong, healthy and inclusive communities. But the region’s non-profit organizations do a lot of the heavy lifting. Now it’s time for these organizations to step into the spotlight.…

Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Hjemkomst Center202 1st Avenue N., MoorheadLet’s be real, Irish culture is on everyone’s mind in mid-March, so why not expand your horizons and…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com 2025 marks us halfway through the roaring 2020s. Boy, am I glad I didn’t bob my hair for this go-around. It feels like we’re off to the wrong roar, opening Pandora’s box of what-the-Fox…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comLennon: “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can!”On January 8, 2025, Timothy W. Rybeck of “The Atlantic" magazine published “How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days” with the…

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 As a food enthusiast, there’s nothing better than attending a local event featuring hotdish. And as far as hotdish events go, no place does it better than the fine folks at Brewhalla and Drekker…

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 Writer/director/performer Katarina Zhu’s feature debut “Bunnylovr” premiered to mixed reviews in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Despite the lack…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.com Everyone has heard the adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” However, it is safe to say there are far more than a thousand in Mickey Smith’s photographs. When one hears…

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 Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…

By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com On Dec 5, the Turning Point USA chapter at North Dakota State University hosted an event called BisonFest. This event featured Chloe Cole, a former trans kid, known for detransitioning and…

By Gilbert Kuipersgilbertkuipers@outlook.com I live in North Dakota District 24 and have been challenging the district Republicans about their understanding of climate science for years. There has been no serious response to my…