Value: Community & Responsibility

Federal tax credit for multi-generational home renovations now available to Canadians

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

What happens when the cost of housing is so expensive that young and old alike can’t get started or can’t afford to continue living alone? In Canada, the solution the federal government is incentivizing is renovating single-family homes to accommodate more people and better allow for multi-generational living. Why does it matter in Minot? We’ve

Read & Share   sourced from: CBC

Shared Power Used to be the Norm in Statehouses. Now It’s Nearly Extinct

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

North Dakota is what is known as a trifecta state. It’s a  term that describes the circumstance of a single political party controlling the governorship and both houses of the state legislature. In North Dakota, we have a Republican trifecta. It’s a trend more common in states than it has been in a long time;

Read & Share   sourced from: PEW

North Dakota lawmakers weigh income, property tax cut bills

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The State of North Dakota’s budget surplus is among the reasons Governor Burgum and legislators are signaling tax relief, but there’s no consensus yet on what it should look like. Jack Dura and Jeremy Turley, in a joint news story between The Bismarck Tribune and Forum News Services, have the details on the property tax

Read & Share   sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

Bill would require personal details about those requesting public records

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

When it comes to government, transparency is the foundation on which trust is built. And the law that protects transparency more than any other is the one that says government records are public records and we the public can access them. It doesn’t matter the reason why. The law and its protections are very much

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

ND bill aims to cap K-12 superintendent pay, merge leadership of small districts

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

House Bill 1251, if successful, would consolidate the administration of the state’s smaller school districts and put a cap on superintendent salaries. Controversy is sure to emerge anytime local control is challenged. C.S. Hagen’s writing for Inforum has the full story.

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A Modernist Skyscraper Falls in South Texas

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

It was built in 1962 by a locally owned bank. It was a community-marking achievement — a symbol — for its place and time. It was also filled with asbestos and went through multiple owners toward the end of its productive period. Eventually, it was scooped up by a speculator and fell into a state

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Minnesota river restoration project showing big results in a short time

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

What happens when you make an investment in a river with poor water quality, recurring algae blooms, and a history corrupted by human interests? North of Minneapolis they’ve been running just such an experiment, and the early going, the results are remarkable. Check the story linked below on the restoration of Rice Creek from the

Read & Share   sourced from: Star Tribune

Hey Minot, Don’t miss night two of Dak Jam 19!

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Doors open at 6:30, Hairball (A Bombastic Celebration of Arena Rock) takes the stage at 8:30, and if night two is anything like night one, you’re in for music experience that’s second to none in the region. And what a setting! It takes vision to recognize the potential in an empty parking lot and turn

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Minot’s weekend of all weekends! Get out and enjoy it!

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Starting Thursday, there’s more to do in Minot than you have time to get to. Here’s the rundown in no particular order: First Thursday — It’s a Creative Night Out with downtown businesses partnering with local artists that add to Minot’s atmosphere. The highlight — the performance of the Minot City Band will play on

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People-centric events reclaim streets in Minneapolis this summer

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Typically, cars reign supreme on the streets, but for six days this summer, 22 blocks of Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis will be reclaimed by people; no cars allowed. Last year the events drew nearly 45,000 people who simply wanted to enjoy their ‘place’ without the threat or worry introduced by the motoring public. Get the

Read & Share   sourced from: MPR

Could the library, cafe, market, or bar down the street change your life (and our community)?

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Cover image credit to Prairie Sky Breads, find them on their website or on Facebook here. As more of our civic discourse moves online, we become less connected to our communities and real people — unless you frequent a local library, bakery, cafe, or bar. And it’s where we live in relation to these amenities

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It's the free, easy way to stay informed about what's happening in Minot, and it helps support independent local news and journalism.

Congratulations to That German Place!

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

For what small businesses bring to our community in the form of new products, flavors, and experiences — I’m not sure we celebrate them enough. And when they newly open, we have all the more reason. To that end, That German Place opened today; congratulations to owners Stephanie and Chad, an thanks for taking the

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Minneapolis’s unique approach to community engagement — bridge dining

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

When you’re about to rebuild an Interstate Highway through a community, how do you reach out to citizens to get their thoughts? In Minneapolis, the MNDOT’s approach: host dinner on a bridge overlooking the construction site. It’s an idea worth noting because if you’ve ever been to government attempt at community engagement (information and idea

Read & Share   sourced from: Next City

Are the Internet decks stacked against the Minot’s ‘shop local’ message?

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Shop local! It’s the mantra preached, spoken, sung, by community-minded people across the world. It makes sense — dollars that stay have a bigger impact than those that drive away. And there’s plenty of evidence that suggests these small changes in behavior have big impacts on places. But in a global market place where local

Read & Share   sourced from: Forbes

Another week, another voter-rejected school bond proposal

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Another Williston-area school district was asking for bond authority to build new schools. The voters said no. This theme has been on replay across Western North Dakota in recent months. It matters in Minot because we have our own school capacity problem. But Minot School officials remain mum on what the plan or approach is

Read & Share   sourced from: Williston Herald

Are better cities the key to curing America’s obesity epidemic?

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Are you trying to lose a few pounds before summer? Is your self-discipline toward diet and exercise a little lacking? Maybe the problem isn’t you, maybe it’s the place you live. What if the place you lived invited you to live a life that made walking natural, made hidden exercise a part of your daily

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz