MINOT, N.D. — An economic development project in Grand Forks has attracted attention because the company at the heart of it is Chinese. The Fufeng Group wants to build a corn-milling facility in Grand Forks, and they’re seeking some heavy investments from the taxpayers to make it happen. They want tax exemptions. They want infrastructure. The usual…
A bizarre political attack precipitated by the 4-year anniversary of my dog getting lost
MINOT, N.D. — The North Dakota Republican Party has gotten a lot of flak over new rules requiring contributions to the party from candidates seeking the party’s endorsement. It’s pay for play, critics, including this one, have said. Though I don’t support the rule change, because I don’t think money is the best way to go about…
UND made the right call by halting new gender inclusion policy
MINOT, N.D. — The University of North Dakota was considering a draft policy that would have punished misgendering and allowed the use of even facilities as sensitive as locker rooms based on the declared gender of an individual. Now the institution isn’t. “As a result of the recent discussions and because existing policies already provide…
Nobody wants to be the king of the clowns
MINOT, N.D. — Wednesday evening I got word from my sources in legislative District 7 that state Rep. Rick Becker, the founder of the Bastiat Caucus wing of the North Dakota Republican Party, wouldn’t be seeking re-election to his seat this cycle. I was told he wouldn’t be on the ballot at all for any…
Acting against Rep. Rick Becker’s medical license would be a mistake
MINOT, N.D. — Rep. Rick Becker, who works as a government-subsidized plastic surgeon as his day job , is a sterling example of a grandstanding politician. He’ll pander to any sort of twaddle he feels will appeal to his political base, truth be damned. In modern politics, the grandstanders usually go on to political punditry, where they…
Republicans must stop being afraid of the truth
MINOT, N.D. — “The election was fair, as fair as we have seen. We simply did not win the election, as Republicans, for the presidency,” Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota told ABC News during a recent interview. Not so long ago saying such a thing would not be an act of courage. But in today’s…
UND hasn’t earned the trust to implement a controversial gender inclusion policy
Minot, N.D. — Back in October this column brought to public light a draft gender inclusion policy at the University of North Dakota. Among other things, the policy would punish students or university employees who intentionally use the wrong pronouns. It would also grant transgender students the right to use all university facilities, including bathrooms and even…
If North Dakota can’t spend rental assistance money prudently, then we shouldn’t spend it at all
MINOT, N.D. — The State of North Dakota received $352 million in funding through the federal government’s Emergency Rental Assistance program. The money was intended to help renters who had fallen behind during the pandemic, but now the state is set to return about 42% of that funding, or $149 million dollars. Why? The state…
Sen. Cramer, you can’t fight hypocrisy with hypocrisy
MINOT, N.D. — During a recent appearance on the Larry Kudlow show on Fox Business, Sen. Kevin Cramer, rightly, decried Democratic efforts to federalize elections. “[Democratic Majority] Leader Schumer wants to bring up the voting rights bill which is just an absolute fake crisis that they’re trying to create so they can open up the…
Port: The ‘You Betcha’ guy has tapped into a underserved market
MINOT, N.D. — Why are we so divided? It’s a question we’re all grappling with. What drives the culture war? Why does it seem like so many Americans are living their lives in different reality bubbles? Perhaps we have an answer from an unlikely place: The comedic stylings of a washed-up local football star turned…