Major League Baseball stepped into the future with its recent announcement that “robotic umpires” will be introduced next season. Under MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike challenge system, teams will have the opportunity to contest pitches they believe were called incorrectly, with an artificial[...]
Category: Commentary
Commentary |
Rebuilding civic life requires truthful, independent journalism
The steady collapse of local journalism isn’t just a story about newspapers — it’s a story about democracy itself. In a Constitution Day address, Wisconsin Watch CEO George Stanley traced how the digital marketplace hollowed out the business model that once sustained[...]
Commentary |
Port: When do those checks and balances kick in?
When power tests the limits of principle, the response reveals more than any campaign speech. Columnist Rob Port recalls a recent conversation with North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, who once told him her red line for Donald Trump was simple: he must[...]
Commentary |
Port: In Minot, an example of how democracy is supposed to work
In an era when political reversals are rare, Minot’s latest City Council vote stands out. After earlier deciding to withdraw from the North Dakota League of Cities, the council reversed course and reinstated its $25,000 membership—a move sparked by new member Mike[...]
Commentary |
Regionalism: The next wave of public-service delivery
Federal support is receding, and the strain is rolling downhill to states, cities, and the neighbors who run them. Roger J. Cohen argues that this moment could spark a reinvention: regional councils and planning bodies—big enough to gain scale, close enough to[...]
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Commentary |
Keeping local news strong because of you
Every month, Sabrina Halvorson of the North Dakota News Cooperative pauses to take stock of what community support makes possible — and this time, her reflection carries extra weight. As nonprofit newsrooms across the country cut staff or close their doors, NDNC[...]
Commentary |
The Experiment Continues: The American Imperative to Leave Others Alone
When Thomas Jefferson included the words “… Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” in the Declaration of Independence, he signaled that America was different, even revolutionary. Gone were the tribal rights of Englishmen. In their stead were universal, individual rights. Individualism[...]
Commentary |
Quantum computing is a path to energy-efficient AI
AI’s appetite for power is growing faster than the grid can keep up — data centers now use as much electricity as some countries. But a new technology may offer a path out of this energy crunch: quantum computing. By processing information[...]
Commentary |
Vaccines Are One of the Most Amazing Achievements of Humanity
Vaccines are a vital tool that saves millions of lives annually. Concerningly, the U.S. government wants to cut funding for a key organization that saves lives worldwide through immunization. Amid vaccine safety debates, the world is witnessing a rise in measles cases.[...]
Commentary |
Watch & Listing: Plain Talk: ‘Republicans should not be in favor of tax increases’
Steve Forbes is bringing his trademark mix of sharp economics and plain talk to North Dakota this month. Ahead of his October 23 lecture at NDSU, the former presidential candidate and longtime Forbes Media editor didn’t mince words on tariffs—calling them “just[...]
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Commentary |
High Praise for Høstfest’s Toughness, Talent, and Tradition in Minot
I am not, nor have I ever been, a Scandinavian. I’m half German and half human. That said, I must confess to being a fan of the Norsk Høstfest. It is a Minot creation and the brainchild of the late Chet Reiten.[...]
Commentary |
Port: These Republicans aren’t singing from the same songbook
While national Republican leaders tout a booming economy under Donald Trump, North Dakota officials are painting a very different picture. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring describes farmers squeezed between low crop prices and soaring production costs, much of it worsened by tariffs. Insurance[...]
Commentary |
Port: Ethics for thee, but none for me
In North Dakota politics, a minor misstep has sparked an uproar. Newly appointed Rep. Dustin McNally admits he mistakenly used his UND email to jot down talking points — a technical violation, but hardly a scandal. Still, former lawmaker Brandon Prichard and[...]
Commentary |
When It Comes to Public Space, Management Matters as Much as Design
Cities love to celebrate new plazas, parks, and open streets — but too often, the harder work of keeping them clean, safe, and welcoming falls through the cracks. Public space management, the daily care that makes these places thrive, is usually piecemeal[...]
Commentary |
Counterpoint: Smithsonian Should Not Propagate Ideology
For an alternate viewpoint, see “Point: Yes, Trump Is Censoring History.” President Trump is right. The Smithsonian is “out of control.” And it should be a concern to all Americans, whether you agree with Trump on other issues or not. It is[...]
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Commentary |
Point: Yes, Trump Is Censoring History
For an alternate viewpoint, see “Counterpoint: Smithsonian Should Not Propagate Ideology.” On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Trump administration is rewriting history by wielding the tools of censorship and erasure. At the[...]