DAVE BRUNER: Photo Gallery — October Beauty
Photographer captured the essence of fall colors with these outstanding images taken in and around Grand Forks this past month.
Unheralded
Unheralded
TOM DAVIES: The Verdict —N.D. Ballot Measures Demand Good, Healthy Dose Of Common Sense
Between Marsy’s Law and the bill to increase taxes on tobacco in North Dakota, a whole lot of common sense has gone missing. Marsy is the sister of a wealthy California man who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Marsy’s brother is trying to buy his way into our constitution. With all of the sense of a bull …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University of Minnesota-Duluth
No. 2-ranked University of Minnesota-Duluth shut out No. 1 University of North Dakota 3-0 on Saturday night in AmsOil Arena in Duluth to complete a weekend sweep of the Fighting Hawks for the first time since January 1995. The Bulldogs received goals from Karson Kuhlman, Kyle Osterberg and Carson Soucy to up their National Collegiate Hockey Conference record to 2-0-0 and 5-1-2 overall. UND dropped …
JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — Some Thoughts On The Election
“All the Republicans are going to win.” “All the ballot measures are going to lose.” No, that’s not my election prediction for 2016 (although it’s pretty close). Those were my election predictions on my blog for 2014, written two years ago this week, just before the 2014 election. (You can go back and look at them here and here, if you want to.) …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University of Minnesota-Duluth
Unbeaten and No. 1-ranked University of North Dakota was unable to overcome a three-goal deficit against the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Friday night in Amsoil Arena in Duluth, eventually falling 5-2 to the No. 2 Bulldogs in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference opener for both teams. UMD (4-1-2 overall, 1-0-0 in NCHC) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first period as senior Alex …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Basketball Fan Fest
The University of North Dakota men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted a UND Fan Fest and Dunk Contest for the public Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons was on hand, and here are some of the images that he captured. Check out more photos from Russ Hons here.
RON SCHALOW: There Will Be More Blood
From a marketing standpoint, it was a serious breach of intellect. It’s 101 material. If you send out a product that explodes and kills people, you aren’t smart enough to grow hair. Mushroom clouds always draw bad press. There’s no middle ground. “Chad, does our new shiny thingy explode?” “No sir.” “Ship it. Where are we going for lunch?” Or, …
LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — La Farm: A 20-Year Celebration Of Family And Friends
Today marks the 20th anniversary of my sisters and I buying our grandparents’ farm.We have 33 acres tucked in the rolling hills of Otter Tail County near Ashby, Minn., where we grew up. As I look back over the years, I’m sitting at the old red formica kitchen table with its matching red upholstered and chrome chairs where we’ve eaten …
PAULA MEHMEL — Shoot The Rapids: A Visit To Witness The Mission Of Justice And Peace At Standing Rock
“When you move, you get the endorphins going, and you have more energy, more life. And that is where the healing begins.” Those words, spoken by Johnny Eagle, the Wellness director for the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, not only echoed the important healing taking place in the camp at Standing Rock for the mental well-being of its participants, who deal …
TOM DAVIES: The Verdict — Mni Wiconi, Water is Life
Without water, this planet would be uninhabitable. Without protecting our natural resources, our planet will be uninhabitable. As the polar ice cap (a major source of all water on earth) recedes, water levels will rise dramatically. With all of the activity at Standing Rock in North Dakota, the actual focus of tribal intent is being lost. The Native Americans aren’t …
JEFF TIEDEMAN: Straight From The Vest — The Perfect Puppy
Her name is Sadie. She’s a Golden Retriever puppy, about 13 weeks old. But she’s already acting like a big girl. Therese and I became the proud parents of Sadie last Tuesday. At the time, she was known as Charley, the name given to her by a too-busy couple from Grand Forks Air Force Base who made the hard decision to …
TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File —Remembering Bobby Vee
Forget show business, Bobby Vee was simply one of the nicest people on the planet. That is not an opinion. It is simply a fact. Bobby died today at the age of 73. He had lived with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. His wife, Karen, died in August of last year. They were married for 51 years. I was a Bobby Vee …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Bemidji State University
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey completed a weekend sweep of visiting Bemidji State University with a 5-4 win Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena, but it wasn’t without a little gut check in the third period. The No. 1-ranked nationally Fighting Hawks, who upped their record to 5-0 this season, were cruising with a 5-1 lead in the final …
JOHN STRAND: Taking Liberty — Your Vote Matters; Every Vote Matters
This is no ordinary election year. We trust that you want your votes to matter, to make a difference, to reflect your core values and principles. Between now and Election Day, your personal challenge will be to get up to speed on party platforms, candidates, measures and special election issues. Every American citizen is equal when it comes to the …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University of Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team showed why it’s ranked No. 1 in the country as the Badgers shut out the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks 2-0 on Saturday afternoon in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The loss is the second of the season for the No. 9-ranked Fighting Hawks, who are now 4-2-1 …
JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — The Great Meridian Energy Smokestack Scam
A couple of months ago, I wrote about the new oil refinery proposed by Meridian Energy Group, to be built just east of Medora, N.D., within three miles of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I wanted to wait with a follow-up until Meridian had actually submitted an application for an air quality permit, detailing what kind of steps the company was going to …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Bemidji State University
The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team surrendered two first-period goals to Bemidji State University on Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena, and things were looking a little bleak for the home team. But fueled by sophomore Brock Boeser’s natural hat trick — the third goal coming on a penalty shot a 12:52 of the third period — the Fighting …
CLAY JENKINSON: Concession V. Concussion
When Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams in the presidential election of 1800, Adams was bitter for several reasons. First, he was an important American patriot and revolutionary who believed he deserved to be re-elected by the American people. He could not understand why someone of his historical significance would be retired after a single term. He had the notion that …
TOM DAVIES: The Verdict — The Dumbing-Down Of America
I’m a little older than our two presidential candidates. Unlike many people I know, I really do watch the news as it relates to each of them and their spokespeople. I read the local newspapers, online stories by the national press and, last but not least, countless Facebook posts. I think Facebook has to be why the host of fact-checking …
RON SCHALOW: Where We Are Now — Our Sad State Of Affairs
I could start this Fish thing with something less nauseating, but political talk is required this close to an election. It’s a rule — or something. There’s no point in adding more words to the Trump and Clinton compost pile, but I will anyway. One is a grabby psychopath pig, that smells like an ugly 4-months dead squid. Or so …
CLAY JENKINSON: The Winter Humanities Retreats
One of the principal joys of my life is hosting humanities retreats at Lochsa Lodge, just west of Missoula, Mont., in the first weeks of January. People gather from all over the country to talk about books for four days. It’s not just about books, of course. It’s about the art of genuine, mutually respectful conversation. It’s about reading and thinking …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Minnesota State University
Finnish Olympian Emma Nuutinen scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the No. 10-ranked University of North Dakota women’s hockey team completed a weekend sweep against Minnesota State University with a 4-3 win on Saturday afternoon in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks, 4-1-1 (3-1-0-0 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association), also received goals from Gracen Hirschy, Kayla Gardner and Vilma Tanskanen. Megan Hinze scored …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — Bird Byway
The road to Thief River Falls is always full of wildlife, especially birds, as Grand Forks photographer Russ Hons discovered on a recent trip to the northwestern Minnesota city. Check out more photos from Russ Hons here.
MICHAEL BOGERT: Photo Gallery — Backyard Birds
Grand Forks photographer Michael Bogert loves to take pictures of wildlife. Birds are among his favorite. Here are some of the visitors he’s had to his backyard recently.
CLAY JENKINSON: Our Sad Fractured Republic
As the election lurches toward us, I find myself in a deep sadness, even a depression. Probably Hillary Clinton is going to win. If she does, it will not give her a mandate or even a reasonably good chance of proving herself as president. She will be wounded from the moment she declares victory. If you think the conservatives did what …
JEFF OLSON: Photo Gallery — California Dreamin’
Alexandria, Va., photographer recently traveled to the West Coast. Some of his time was spent in California, specifically Marin County, where he took in the sights in and around San Francisco, including Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods National Monument. Here are some of the images he captured.
CLAY JENKINSON: Donald Trump’s Appalling Game
By now, we all know that Donald Trump is a loose cannon. He says things he cannot possibly mean in order to whip his national constituency into a frenzy of xenophobia, islamophobia, race hatred, American-firstism and the zeal to depart 11 million to 15 million illegal immigrants. Every rational person now has to decide whether President Trump would try to …
DAVE BRUNER: Photo Gallery — North Dakota Snapshots
From the back roads and byways to the capital city of Bismarck, North Dakota offers some spectacular viewing, especially this time of the year. Grand Forks photographer Dave Bruner’s recent travels across the state presented some great photo ops, which he shares here.
DAVE VORLAND: Photo Gallery — The Emerald Isle
Ireland is a popular destination for a lot of travelers. Bloomington, Minn., photographer Dave Vorland recently visited the Emerald Isle and shares these images.
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — Homecoming 2016 — University Of North Dakota Vs. Southern Utah University
The University of North Dakota, behind quarterback Keaton Studsrud’s four touchdowns passes, defeated Southern Utah University 45-23 on Saturday in Grand Forks’ Alerus Center to remain perfect at 4-0 in the Big Sky Conference football standings. Studsrud was 20-for-27 through the air for 282 yards in the 2016 Homecoming victory as the Fighting Hawks won their fifth straight game after opening the season …
JIM THIELMAN: In This Election, It’s Not Him, It’s Me
To this day, I have no idea about Dad’s political leanings. When you run a business in a small town, you don’t want to give people a reason to find another place to do business, he said. Dad’s response to political comments was, “Oh? Is that so?” A well-chosen phrase that suggests both surprise and agreement to someone immersed in …
CHRIS ALLEN: Dubai Journal — What Is Dubai?
What is Dubai? Dubai is planted firmly in the Middle East. It is the most famous of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is a founding member of the once-powerful cartel OPEC, which controlled oil prices for nearly 40 years. It is now weakened by in-fighting and by a defiant Saudi Arabia, which is …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Joel Janatuinen, who scored only three goals last year as a freshman, recorded a hat trick Saturday night as the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 5-2 in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Linemate Ludvig Hoff, a freshman, chipped in two assists as the Fighting Hawks upped their record to 3-0. …
JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — Death By A Thousand Cuts
Pipelines leak. If North Dakota didn’t have such an awful reputation for not enforcing its environmental regulations in the Oil Patch, maybe we wouldn’t have a few thousand people camped out along the Cannonball River protesting the mother of all North Dakota pipelines, Dakota Access. Pipelines have been leaking oil and dangerous fracking saltwater all over western North Dakota for …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Montana State
The University of North Dakota women’s volleyball team extended its winning streak to five with a 25-17, 25-11, 25-12 win Thursday night over Montana State in Big Sky Conference play in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks were led by junior Julia Kaczorowska, who had 13 kills on just 22 swings without an error. Tamara Merseli and Ashley Brueggeman each added eight kills, while Sydney Griffin …
CHEF JEFF: One Byte At A Time — Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew
Fall can be a bittersweet time of the year for gardeners. Those who grow flowers and vegetables see what they’ve been caring for since late spring slowly — or quickly in the case of a hard frost — dying off. A couple of things can ease the pain a bit — the flower pots we bring in for the winter and …
TONY J BENDER: That’s Life —Requiem For A Once Great Party
Grand Old Party Born March 20, 1854 Died October 9, 2016 Epitaph: “Victim of Cowardice” Dearly beloved, we are called here to mourn the passing of the Republican Party, a tragic victim of cowardice. Do not be fooled by the dead-eyed zombie shuffling toward the election. Its heart stopped working long ago. A party that knew right from wrong, people …
NANCY EDMONDS HANSON: After Thought — Save The Medical Refugees!
Ray and Anita Morgan of Fargo spent the first six months of 2016 fighting life-threatening medical conditions with clipboards and ballpoint pens. By July, they and some 100 other volunteers had won their first battle, achieving a spot on the North Dakota Compassionate Care Act on next month’s statewide ballot with petitions bearing more than 17,000 signatures. The secretary of …
TOM DAVIES: The Verdict — It’s Time To Eliminate Tax Exemption For Churches
What do evangelical leaders Ralph Reed and Tony Perkins have in common with Roman Catholic Bishop Samuel Aquila — now bishop in Colorado, previously in Fargo? Notwithstanding Donald Trump’s recent lewd, debasing sexual comments and behavior, all three of them endorse him for president. To be sure, many evangelical congregations have condemned Trump and withdrawn support for him. But Aquila …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Sacramento State
The University of North Dakota women’s volleyball team defeated Sacramento State 3-2 on Thursday night in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, handing the California school its first Big Sky Conference loss. UND had five players in double figures in kills led by senior Chelsea Moser’s 18. Julia Kaczorowska had 13 kills, while Ashley Brueggeman added a career-high 12. Also in double figures were …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Sacramento State — Behind The Scenes
The University of North Dakota football team picked up a big road win Saturday, defeating Big Sky Conference foe Sacramento State University 40-7 in Sacramento, Calif. But there is much more to college football than action shots from the game. Grand Forks photographer traveled with the Fighting Hawks, and here is a behind-the-scenes look at the weekend, starting and ending with …
LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Stand
It’s been a couple of months since I’ve blogged about my Metaboli Balance® journey. A lot has been going on in my life, and yes, I’m still on plan. I even did a month on Phase 3 at the recommendation of my nutrition coach since I’d reached my halfway goal (I’m down 45 pounds since Jan. 2) of losing 88 pounds. …
TERRY DULLUM: The Dullum File — Nancy O’Dell Is A Class Act
For me, about the only good thing to come out of the whole sorry, sordid Donald Trump/Billy Bush/”Access Hollywood” tape affair is that I have new respect for Nancy O’Dell. O’Dell is the anchor of “Entertainment Tonight.” She is clearly talented, classy and — even by Donald Trump standards — beautiful. But until this past weekend, I’ve always been a bit ambivalent toward her, good at her …
RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Sacramento State
The University of North Dakota crushed Sacramento State University 40-7 in Big Sky Conference football Saturday In Sacramento, Calif. The Fighting Hawks, 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the BSC, were led by Brady Oliveira, who scored two touchdowns and rushed for 111 yards on 18 carries, and quarterback Keaton Studsrud, who passed for 203 yards. Check out more photos from …