Editorial

North Dakota’s Only Indie

November 20th, 2021

By John Strand

jas@hpr1.com

Our Opinion: The Little Newspaper That Could, still can.

Like most everyone else we know, HPR is different these days. The pandemic changed our world in ways we never imagined. Yet here we are. And as you can see, The Little Newspaper That Could is still doing.

But differently.

It occurs to us that it’s time to give you all an update on the state of the High Plains Reader. We’d like to share with you, our readers, where we are going and how we can all get…

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​North Dakota: More Than Meets the Eye

October 16th, 2021

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Our opinion: Let our character and characters define us

It’s no secret that North Dakota is one of our nation’s least visited states, in fact I can think of a handful of folks I’ve chatted with in Fargo who have barely made it past Casselton. Politics and weather aside, there’s more than meets the eye in our beautiful state, and if you’re rolling your eyes you must be one of those who never made it past Casselton, you poor dear.

That means…

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America’s New Rule of Thumb

September 15th, 2021

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Is Texas Senate Bill 8 only the beginning?

If it wasn’t so insulting to primates, it looks as if some of the most vocal anti-abortion lawmakers in North Dakota wish to adapt a monkey see monkey do attitude, according to a September 2 AP article quoting GOP State Sen. Janne Myrdal, who is one of the Legislature’s most vehement anti-abortion lawmakers. She “assumes” legislation will be crafted, eventually, that uses the Texas law as a template.…

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​Why are we risking our kids?

August 19th, 2021

By Alicia Underlee Nelson

alicia@hpr1.com

A plea for transparency in public schools

There are more active COVID-19 cases in North Dakota right now than there have been since April 2021. And the number is rising.

Even though COVID case numbers are increasing and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend universal masking for all K-12 students, faculty and staff, thousands of kids in North Dakota and western Minnesota will…

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Whistling Dixie

August 18th, 2021

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Our opinion: When hate and heritage go hand in hand

Last week during a demolition derby at the Kandiyohi fair, a vehicle proudly displaying a confederate flag and sporting a sheriff’s badge on the side door was spotted and created a bit of controversy for both the Sheriff’s Department and the county fair. The sheriff quickly denounced the vehicle and upon closer inspection, the star on the side of this small vehicle had six points instead of five and…

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​We’re fighting for the same thing

July 14th, 2021

Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

15 July 2021

Our opinion: Let’s work together instead of against each other.

Think of where we are now in comparison to last year. Think of what we’ve learned since and how this is affecting our futures, for example, now that we’ve seen what we can do and how we can support ourselves from the comfort of our own homes.

Does this mean that more people can and will be working remotely? This being said, will office walls and cubicles become a thing of the…

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Take the Roads Less Traveled

May 19th, 2021

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Photo by Sabrina Hornung

20 May 2021

Our Opinion: Don’t be afraid to ask for directions.

This is 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.

But to be fair, life really is one big lesson learned by trial and error -- so let that be your first lesson on the path to adulthood.

Dear Class of 2021,

The best…

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We’re Fighting for the Same Thing

April 22nd, 2021

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Our opinion: Let’s work together instead of against each other.



Think of where we are now in comparison to last year, think of what we’ve learned since and how this is affecting our futures... For example, now that we’ve seen what we can do and how we can support ourselves from the comforts of our own homes. Does this mean that more people can and will be working remotely? This being said, will office walls and cubicles become a thing of the past…

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Our Local Nonprofits Are Struggling to Survive

January 23rd, 2021

By John Strand jas@hpr1.com

21 January 2021

Like most of you, we are relieved to be past 2020. What a crazy year! Yet, the reality is we all have our hands full going forward and some in our community are struggling to survive.

Just like us here at HPR. First we shut down for nearly seven months when the pandemic hit and then we reinvented our business model to continue into…

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Hindsight is 2020: ​Hopefully 2021 isn’t a terrible sequel

December 17th, 2020

Last New Year’s Eve I found myself using the cheer “Here’s to 2020 vision” as I clinked glasses with my friends. 2020 was going to be my year.. Or so we all thought. I originally started to think that 2020 vision wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be but then again it made me realize everyday things that I took for granted prior to “the plague year.”

Remember going out and congregating? Hugging friends, hugging family... Heck, even hugging strangers in public spaces--…

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