Letters to the Editor

Letter to the editor: ‘A rising tide lifts all boats’

July 5th, 2018

Rick WeilandDear Editor,

President Kennedy was fond of using the phrase, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” It is a phrase worth remembering as we look toward the November election and a new Congress.

There have been repeated attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. While complete repeal has been unsuccessful, one effort, to do away with the ‘individual mandate,’ succeeded. As a result, insurance premiums are on the rise and insurance companies are now complaining they can no longer afford…

Read more...


Letter on special assessments

May 16th, 2018

Letter to the Editor

For nearly 20 years I’ve been fighting the city of Fargo special assessment abuse. I ran for the city commission twice and have written dozens of letters to the editors over the years explaining numerous faults, including over charges in interest and fees added on by the city. What if Fargo spends the special assessment “revenue" for the benefit of a few. Maybe the biggest benefactor is the Home Builder Association. Did you ever wonder why the HBA hosts a…

Read more...


UND and old Wesley College ​- ‘For labor and learning’

May 8th, 2018

Old Wesley College at UND - photograph provided by UNDLetter to the editor

UND wants to tear down buildings. Why can’t UND use the buildings to teach people that want to learn how to restore old buildings?

They could use students from college university majors that are relevant. Work with trade school type schools. For labor and learning. High schools build houses to learn.

Maybe I should just believe that President Kane is showing so much ignorance (lack of intelligence) that he should be fired. What do you think?
- Susan I. Roman,…

Read more...


North Dakotans Deserve More from our Tax Commissioner

April 25th, 2018

To the editor:

I was completely dismayed to see Governor Burgum’s proposed budget guidelines for the 2019-2021 biennium. In short, he is asking each department to cut 5-10 percent of their budget, in addition to setting aside an additional three percent of the budget “just in case.” Further, most agencies were asked to cut employees by five percent. 

After hearing plenty of concern from friends and colleagues, I thought I’d see if the Tax Commissioner had any reaction to this…

Read more...


​An Open Letter to North Dakota Trans Youth

April 18th, 2018

My name is Faye Seidler and I was a trans youth who grew up mostly in rural North Dakota and Minnesota. My parents seemed to move every year, which meant every year was a new school system, and new people. It was hard to really keep any friends, because I knew every year it’d be different people.

I wasn’t openly trans or even knew what being trans meant at that age. I didn’t have anyone I ever trusted to have that conversation with. I also didn’t know anyone who could really help…

Read more...


‘I’m not buying it, and neither should you’

March 7th, 2018

Senator Tim MathernTo the Editor:

The attacks against Senator Heidi Heitkamp by out-of-state partisans follow a predictable formula: Find a wedge issue that inflames people on both sides. Manufacture an outlandish attack against Heidi, no matter the facts. Amplify the attack louder and louder until it drowns out North Dakotans’ better judgment.

I’m not buying it, and neither should you.

The latest, desperate attack out of Washington, DC, transforms a cordial “hello” between colleagues into something…

Read more...


​Cramer vs. Cramer

February 14th, 2018

To the editor:

Congressman Cramer often boasts of his unfiltered honesty – and while his comments on women’s clothing or defense of Nazi comparisons certainly proves his lack of filter – the honesty part has proven more difficult, especially as of late.

After being cast aside by his own party for months due to his repeated gaffes, speculation surrounding his potential Senate run finally mounted – and Cramer clumsily danced around the subject for months to keep it that way –…

Read more...


​Night soil

January 26th, 2018

To the Editor:

If I were in politics, I would be a radical moderate or a middle-of-the-road extremist. But I am a writer and seek the mean in a concern for the use of language in both literature and public life.

Recently, Donald Trump’s use of an obscenity to describe certain nations caught my ear. I do not favor that kind of mean.) The subsequent apologetics among his minions were jesuitical and funny, contorting logic and, in the end, playing ostrich: “I did not hear it,” “nor…

Read more...


​Buffers and habitats

January 26th, 2018

To the editor:

Meridian Energy Group is doing things the right way with the Davis Refinery. Much has been made about the local impact, and in my opinion the impact is only positive. The much-needed, permanent local job creation in the area will be substantial. This project will create 200 permanent, high paying, competitive jobs. The tax base in the County is expected to double, and will bring in an estimated 2 to 3 million a year.

Meridian has followed the law with every step of the…

Read more...


​March, run, serve

January 26th, 2018

To the Editor:

It may be true to say that women are generally patient but persistent. History shows a long and winding road to gain the right to vote, to own property and to hold office.

In 2017 women marched in Washington, D.C. and across the nation, even in Fargo, to show their opposition to our new president and political positions they opposed. During the year, hundreds of women continued to voice opposition to being bullied and sexually abused by men in authority.

The recent 2018…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry 7Clans Tracker Pixel for Entry Blackbird

Recently in:

By Bryce Vincent HaugenFor the first nine months, the dysfunction of the Trump administration and Congress was a four-time-zone-away abstraction for a Moorhead native living in Alaska’s interior. But it became all too real when…

By Michael M. Millermichael.miller@ndsu.edu I would like to recognize some of the scholarly Germans from Russia from Canada and USA shared on the GRHC website. There are additional names not included here. If you have suggestions…

December 17-21, 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and SundayThe Fargo Theatre, 314 N. Broadway, FargoCould this be the end of an era? After 26 years of doing the Holiday Soul Tour and 35 years together as a band, The…

By Sabrina Hornungsabina@hpr1.com I scroll through comment threads on the news stories in my social media feed and come across the retort, “You voted for this.” Sure the vote’s in…but when someone’s livelihood is at stake,…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comDemocrats have MAGA, MAHA, MAWF, and Trumplicans to fight My favorite analyst of things religious and political is Finton O’Toole who uses plain English, curses, temper, and knowledge to make a…

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 Mandy Dolneymandy@ksbsyndicate.com This cake will be on the menu at Nova Eatery through Thanksgiving served with maple crème anglaise Ice cream. It uses pumpkin pie pumpkins grown locally at Ladybug Acres and local apples grown…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Dakotah Faye is a hip-hop artist from Minot, North Dakota, and he’s had a busy year. He’s released two albums. This summer he opened for Tech N9ne in Sturgis and will be opening for Bone…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Japanese director Hikari, born in Osaka and originally named Mitsuyo Miyazaki, is poised for a significant stateside breakthrough with “Rental Family,” the new film she co-wrote with…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Gallery 4 downtown recently celebrated its 50 year anniversary, making it one of the longest consecutively running galleries in the country. With different membership tiers, there are 17 primary…

Press release“Shakespeare with a sharpened edge.” To launch its 2025 – 2026 season, Theatre NDSU is thrilled to team up with Moorhead-based organization Theatre B to perform a co-production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and…

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…

sBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com The holidays are supposed to be magical: party, presents, fancy food, lights and sparks. You are looking forward to it. You work very hard, you put in long hours at work as well as at…

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.comPersonal background and historical perspective My deep concern about tariffs stems from my background as a fourth generation North Dakota farmer. Having lived through the 1980s farm crisis…