Category: Commentary

Commentary: America, for so long a state of mind, is losing its sense of mission

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By: Llewellyn King, Inside Sources |

America isn’t just a piece of remarkably fertile real estate between two great oceans. It is also a state of mind. Even when America has done wrong things (think racism) or stupid things (think Prohibition), it has still shone brightly to the world as the citadel of free expression, abundant opportunity, and a place where

Read & Share   sourced from: Inside Sources

We Are Better Than This!

By: Lillian Crook, Bismarck |

I read a news story about some of the February 2025 firings of North Dakotans working for the federal government. Last summer I attended the 50th anniversary celebration at Knife River Indian Villages, one of the most important National Park Service sites in North Dakota, where visitors learn myriad lessons of the indigenous people of

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North Dakota’s Delegation Should Face Voters

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

North Dakotans deserve answers. With tensions rising over U.S.-Canada relations, federal workforce cuts, and the balance of power in Washington, the state’s congressional delegation—Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, along with Rep. Julie Fedorchak—must step forward. These aren’t abstract policy debates; they impact tourism, jobs, and the lives of thousands. Thoughtful town halls, not scripted

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Will Parochial Schools Render Unto Caesar?

by: Jim Maxson  |  

Times change. Our state legislature is presently considering government assistance to parochial schools. My education from first grade through law school was all in public schools, with the exception of grades six through eight, which were at a Catholic school in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. All of my educational experiences, whether public or private, were

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What declaring war on The Associated Press really means

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by: MinotVoice  |  

The battle over renaming the Gulf of Mexico may seem trivial, but it’s part of a larger effort to intimidate the press. When the Associated Press refused to adopt “Gulf of America” in its stylebook, the White House retaliated—barring AP reporters and triggering a lawsuit. This is just one move in a broader strategy to

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

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The end of nonproliferation?

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The Trump administration’s shift towards a more unilateral foreign policy is threatening the stability of the nuclear nonproliferation regime. Once anchored by U.S. security commitments, nations like Germany, Japan, and South Korea now see their reliance on the U.S. security umbrella eroding, prompting many to consider developing nuclear weapons of their own. This shift toward

Read & Share   sourced from: Defense One

All Together Now: The Suburban Development Pattern Doesn’t Pay for Itself

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Winnipeg’s proposed billion-dollar road extension has sparked a debate over whether it’s worth the cost. A new city report claims the Chief Peguis Trail extension will eventually generate a $1.8 billion surplus—but only if property taxes continue to rise steadily for 75 years. The reality, though, is that this growth model doesn’t pay for itself.

Read & Share   sourced from: Dear Winnipeg

Forward Toward Justice

By: Carrie Evans |

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” –Martin Luther King, Jr. In my “baby” activist days in the early 1990s, I resisted accepting these words from Dr. King. I was certain social change could and should happen quickly. Fast forward a few decades, and now I am a “veteran”

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Port: North Dakota Senate refuses to record votes on same-sex marriage resolution

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

HCR 3013 is dead, but the real story is how it went down. As Rob Port points out, the North Dakota Senate voted on one of the year’s most contentious issues—without a recorded roll call. Lawmakers had the chance to go on the record, but most chose to keep their votes in the dark. Whether

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

A doc warns: We don’t want the return of measles

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Measles is back, and the latest outbreak is more than just a public health failure—it’s a symptom of something deeper. Decades of medical progress are being undermined by misinformation, fear-driven vaccine hesitancy, and policies that prioritize politics over public health. The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary only fuels these concerns, as

Read & Share   sourced from: Minnesota Reformer

Now Is the Time to Stand Up for Press Freedom

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by: MinotVoice  |  

The press isn’t perfect, but a free and fair one is essential to democracy. Yet, politicians on both the left and right have found it convenient to take swings at journalists—whether it’s a mayor lashing out after a tragedy or a former president using lawsuits to intimidate. The attacks aren’t new, but they’re escalating. Now

Read & Share   sourced from: The Bulwark

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Please Come to Bucha, JD Vance

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

A war isn’t just lines on a map—it’s the people who live and die within them. As U.S. leaders debate the extent of support for Ukraine, voices from the ground urge a closer look at the human cost of occupation. A recent exchange between Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underscored the

Read & Share   sourced from: The Kyiv Independent

Nutritious school meals are essential for learning

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By: Tony Burke, Michelle Wagner, Landis Larson, North Dakota Monitor |

The Together for School Meals coalition is deeply disappointed by the North Dakota House’s decision to defeat House Bill 1475, a bill that would have provided free school meals to every child in our state. This legislation had the potential to transform the lives of thousands of North Dakota children, ensuring no student would have

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Port: We elect too many people

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

County Auditor Mark Splonskowski is at the center of a political fight in Burleigh County, where commissioners are debating whether his position should remain elected or become appointed. It’s a conversation fueled by both his personal controversies and a larger question: Should voters decide on positions like county auditor, or is that better left to

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Prairie Fare: Connect with food during National Nutrition Month

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By: Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension Service |

When I was young, a homemade meal coordinated by the local “ladies’ aid” was a monthly event. We all looked forward to the food and fellowship at our small church. The delicious aroma filled the room and drew dozens of participants. I especially liked the meatballs with mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, homemade beet or

Read & Share   sourced from: NDSU Extension Service

Checks, Balances, Buying Bread and the Misnamed Mandate

by: Jim Maxson  |  

The present federal executive and legislative branches are operating at warp speed under the supposition that they have a “mandate.” In reality, the party presently in power has a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate and a 217-215 majority in the U.S. House. Our current President received less than half of the popular vote last

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