Letters to the Editor

​North Dakota can’t afford this boondoggle of a budget bill

June 2nd, 2025

To the editor:

As a North Dakotan who cares about our rural communities, I’m concerned about the House’s recently passed tax and spending bill. Touted as a “big, beautiful” solution, this 1,100-page boondoggle is anything but — it’s a massive giveaway to the wealthy that threatens to rip vital support away from rural communities.

While a few short-term tax breaks like an increased child tax credit or temporary tip tax relief may sound positive, they’re just window dressing…

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​No Strings Attached

May 15th, 2025

By John Strand

jas@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, the sensation of a pulling on one’s own lifeline — and the knowledge that others are similarly situated. Everywhere you turn, vast numbers are bobbing up or down according to the tugs on their strings.

This is not an ordinary or customary historical experience…

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​An open letter to survivors: we see you, we support you, and you are not alone

May 15th, 2025

To victims and survivors across North Dakota,

As the news reveals more about Ray Holmberg’s decades-long abuse and exploitation of men and boys, we — the undersigned advocacy and service organizations for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, child abuse, neglect and human trafficking — want to speak directly to you.

We know this is a difficult time. The graphic details emerging through the news cycle, social media and local discussions have created a wave of renewed pain and…

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​There are many ways to get involved

March 8th, 2025

To the editor:

When I spoke out against the resolution that seeks to have the Supreme Court overturn marriage equality last week, I was not prepared for the subsequent outpouring of love and support. What started as a difficult moment has become a powerful reminder of the amazing community we have.

The first half of this legislative session has brought forward several troubling bills — ones we wish we could overturn. The attack on marriage equality is just one example. We’ve also seen…

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​Dems…Don’t Do Stupid

March 8th, 2025

To the editor:

I have attended the Wellstone Academy Advanced Campaign Strategy training. One thing they emphasized, Don’t Do Stupid (DDS). It has become obvious my Dem-NPL friends no longer follow this practice.

HB 1242 (Shared Parenting) recently came to the house floor. It failed by one vote initially, and four votes on reconsideration. Not one Democrat voted in favor of this cost saving common sense bill. The bill was co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Tim Mathern. It is very…

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Think this through: Vote No on Measure 4

October 21st, 2024

Fred W. Evans

fred@tttoil.com

Concerned tax-paying citizens of North Dakota:

Taxes, taxes no doubt, we all don’t like taxes! As the saying goes, the two things in life are certain, death and taxes!!

Fair and equitable, what taxes are both fair and equitable? None, whether income tax, death tax, gas tax (electric-cars, free) or any other tax, there are always inequities, not fair, but regardless have to be paid!!

What about property taxes? Are they fair, and why is this an issue in…

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The Fair Credit for Farmers Act will improve the lives of farmers in North Dakota

April 18th, 2024

To the editor:

Farmers and advocates across the country are asking their legislators to support farmers’ access to credit by co-sponsoring the Fair Credit for Farmers Act.

The Fair Credit for Farmers Act directly addresses many of the barriers farmers face as they attempt to access credit at the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Many farm families look to pass their farm to the next generation, credit is an essential tool for farmers to access land, yearly operating funds and the ability…

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​The Country of Origin labeling fight is not settled yet

April 18th, 2024

To the editor:

The USDA has recently just released a new rule regarding Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef products. I’m happy that beef products being born, raised, and slaughtered in the USA will now be the only products that can receive the “Product of the USA” label, “Made in the USA” label, or an American flag on packaging. However, their extension date of Jan 1 of 2026 is way too long to wait to require compliance. Companies can even ask for a deadline extension.…

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Em Christie, Letter to the Editor

December 10th, 2023

Degrading the Humanity of All Involved

To the editor:

Learning a new name for someone can be hard, new pronouns, even

moreso. Gender-neutral pronouns seem to vex more than most, though the

grammar has long been a part of our language.

An easy way to remember to use gender-neutral pronouns is to pretend like

you don’t know the gender of the person you’re talking about. (e.g. Someone

left their car keys behind. They’ll come back soon.)

How the media talk about gender can shift societal…

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​ND State Senator Ryan Braunberger

January 18th, 2023

Dear Editor,

The North Dakota legislative session has started to pick up. Many of the bills that have come before the committees are just cleaning up some language; others that are yet to come are troubling.

The bills that I am currently the most concerned about are as follows.

Senate Bill 2150 is meant to clean up and merge the language from multiple other statutes and counter the trigger ban currently in the court system. The new bill is the lesser of two evils; however, it is still a…

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