Editorial

A new year’s resolution

December 23rd, 2014

High Plains Reader will be on vacation for two weeks. We’ll hit the shelves again on Jan. 15. Happy holidays to you all!

---

As a child, I was obsessed with sports. In particular, I loved playing basketball. I practiced nearly everyday, alone and outside. In my imagination, as I practiced by myself, I had an opponent and I would absolutely school him or her every which way. I out-dribbled her. I out-scored her. I out-ran her.

I even once said out loud that I would be the first woman in…

Read more...


​Last minute holiday gift ideas

December 17th, 2014

So You Think You Can Dance / Photo by Lee Cherry

Stuck on gifts? Here’s some random, fun ideas. Best yet, they are all available in town. Prices may vary.

-A selfie stick

An older gentleman by the name of Jim Bastian sells a contraption of this sort at a kiosk at West Acres according to Prairie Biz mag. Yes, selfie sticks are a thing … for better “groupie” shots.

-Tickets to the Steve Miller Band

I’m a joker. I’m a smoker. He’s coming on March 20th. Scheels Arena.

-“Burrito tour” gift card

I made this up … but it’s…

Read more...


One election, not two

December 12th, 2014

Our Opinion / How any special election is structured could hugely affect the functionality of Fargo’s City Commission for months on end.

Some call it a potential conundrum. Sitting Fargo City Commissioners are required to tender their resignations should they choose to run for the mayor’s seat vacated when Denny Walaker died. Conceivably, that could result in a real mess.

Let’s look at this issue piece by piece.

The City Commission is required to set up a special election in order to…

Read more...


Rest in Peace, Dennis Walaker

December 3rd, 2014

Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to Mayor Walaker’s family, friends, and colleagues

Sometimes, what’s ordinary can be extraordinary. That’s how we saw Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker, as an ordinary guy, a people person. After a brief and public battle with cancer, his death Tuesday night rocked the city.

We have absolutely no doubt that Denny Walaker would not be comfortable at all with the wave of accolades and kudos directed at him right now. On the surface, he was your…

Read more...


‘Times’ for an oil change

November 25th, 2014

Photo by J Earl Miller

Our opinion/ The New York Times’ “Downside of the Boom” provides an alarming wake up call to ND.

This week’s New York Times release of an exhaustive, nine month investigative look at the oil boom and its effects in North Dakota should be a wakeup call to state citizens. Quickly dismissed by state oil-boom cheerleaders, the two-part report, “The Downside of the Boom,” provides alarming, thorough detail about concerns raised by those who are willing to confront the good as well…

Read more...


In The Light of Day

November 19th, 2014

Our Opinion / The public has a legitimate interest in the unexpected and negotiated departure of Chief Ternes

Pretty much out of the blue, a media report Saturday, Nov. 8 let the cat out of the bag about city leaders “negotiating” the departure of Police Chief Keith Ternes. Mayor Walaker was quoted. By the next night, Sunday, Nov. 9, just after 8 o’clock, the city commission had announced a 7 a.m. special meeting for Monday, Nov. 10, “to discuss the Fargo Police Chief…

Read more...


Voting requirements as clear as mud

November 12th, 2014

Our opinion/ North Dakotans were stymied by new Voter ID law

Since Election Day, stories have been pouring in across North Dakota from voters not allowed to vote because of requirements from the state’s new Voter ID law. This year was the first general election vote following the ND Legislature’s enactment of the law.

In particular, many college students were unable to vote on Election Day because they had moved shortly before the election. The problem, however, seems to be not the…

Read more...


True honor will prevail: ​Redskins mascot is bound to go

November 5th, 2014

Last Sunday, the country’s largest protest against the Washington Redskins’ nickname was held in Minneapolis prior to the football team’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

While Washington owner Daniel Snyder has been very unwavering about not changing the name, the nation should expect to see continued escalating pressure from Natives and Native-mascot opponents alike. According to Sunday’s rally organizers, protestors will be at every Redskins game until the name…

Read more...


HPR Candidate Endorsements

October 29th, 2014

Our Opinion / For those wanting to vote early, you can go to the polls today and tomorrow

Last week, we shared HPR’s voting recommendations for the eight measures on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot. This week, we place our focus on a select few races hanging in the balance and of huge importance, at least in our opinion. For those wanting to vote, you can go to the polls today (Thursday) and tomorrow for early voting, or go vote at your regular polling place Tuesday.

VOTE ANDERSON,…

Read more...


HPR’s Ballot Measure Primer

October 22nd, 2014

Our Opinion / Get off your duff Nov. 4 and cast your vote

Far too many of you reading this editorial will sit idly on your duffs come Election Day Nov. 4 and the consequences will be immense. With eight measures in the balance, we implore you to get informed and to cast your vote. Following are HPR’s recommendations for ballot measures. Next week we focus on the candidates.

VOTE “NO” CONSTITUTIONAL MEASURE #1

This measure would create and enact a new section to Article I of the North…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry nicholes Tracker Pixel for Entry NewSalem2B Tracker Pixel for Entry blackbird Tracker Pixel for Entry farrms Tracker Pixel for Entry Bismarck1 Tracker Pixel for Entry Gruff2

Recently in:

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…