“High turnout for Democratic convention in Fargo,” reads the headline over a weekend article by Wendy Reuer. Unfortunately, the headline is inaccurate. Little more than a regurgitation of talking points put out by the political activists on hand. “At least 200 voters attended the convention,” Reuer writes, and while that’s not a bad crowd, it’s…
Governor Burgum and the Grand Forks Herald Are Feuding Over the Wrong Thing
Governor Doug Burgum sure cheesed off the folks at the Grand Forks Herald. Ahead of a recent visit to Grand Forks to meet with city leaders, said city leaders told the Herald that it was Burgum’s first “official” visit to the city since taking office. Burgum took offense and made some comments during his visit pushing back…
Maybe It’s Not the Government’s Job to Set Values for a Community?
The Grand Forks City Council is struggling with an “inclusion resolution” which, if passed, would create for the city a statement of values (albeit one without the force of law). The problem local government officials are finding is that it’s hard to define a set of values for a community. From the Grand Forks Herald:…
Fargo City Commission Needs to Reconsider FedEx Tax Deal
In an editorial published today the Fargo Forum admits that it was wrong for the City of Fargo to hand out a tax exemption to FedEx after the company told the city commission that they’d move even without it. But the paper also claims that there was no intention to use the incentive to lure FedEx…
Ban Tax Breaks for Businesses Moving Within the State
“Lawmakers should ban incentives for companies that move from one North Dakota community to another—because when it comes to within-the-state shifts, incentives always wind up with this result: Taxpayers lose,” writes Tom Dennis in an editorial for the Grand Forks Herald today. He’s right. What he’s referencing is a tax exemption given to FedEx which is…
Terry Bjerke: Vote To Keep More Of Your Own Money
My name is Terry Bjerke, and I am running for mayor in Grand Forks. I am campaigning on a pledge to not raise property or sales tax. We also need to review the city codes, as the people and businesses in this town are overregulated, overtaxed, and have been denied their property rights. I plan…
Kudos To Students For Wanting Controversial Topic In Curriculum, But Cover All Sides Of The Issue
In Grand Forks, students at Red River High School want to include in their curriculum a book about the supposed “rape culture” on college campuses, and not just at their school but all of the high schools in their city. The book in question is “Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town” by…
Let's Not Jump To Conclusions About Juba Coffee House "Hate Crime"
Earlier this year a homosexual man told police he was stripped of his clothes and beaten while being subjected to homosexual slurs at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity near the University of North Dakota campus. The reaction from some was swift and thoroughly political. UND President Robert Kelley issued a statement condemning the incident as…
Grand Forks City Councilman Terry Bjerke Announces Campaign For Mayor
Terry Bjerke, a Republican, is a long-time member of the Grand Forks City Council. In fact, he’s long been the lone conservative voice in city government in what is perhaps one of the most left-leaning parts of the state. Bjerke has become somewhat legendary for being the lone “no” vote on one city issue after…
Grand Forks City Leader Trying To Walk Back Opposition To Free Speech
In today’s Grand Forks Herald city councilor and University of North Dakota professor Bret Weber tries to walk back comments he made about inhibiting free speech in his community. Weber, you might remember, organized a meeting of city leaders last week in an effort aimed at prohibiting or at least inhibiting future speeches in the…