Bismarck hires two new coordinators to support Native American students

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The transition from a reservation school — where administrators and teachers are more attuned to the particular challenges of native students — to a city school can be daunting. And in Bismarck, where native students make up ~9% of the enrollment, the School District is making an investment in helping these transitions and other challenges

Read & Share   sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

U.S. Said to End Iran Oil Waivers After May 2 Expiration

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Nothing moved North Dakota’s economy over the last 10-years like oil development and even with the slow down of the past few years, energy still has a massive impact on our economy, our communities, and our government budgets.  All that makes us heavily dependent energy price fluctuations and those are prices that move on large,

Read & Share   sourced from: Bloomberg

North Dakota oil patch and small district teachers earn more

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The legislature took up the problem of North Dakota’s teacher shortage by easing teacher licensing requirements and there’s a potential state revenue to school district increase in conference committee. Teacher salary is another obvious tool in the teacher recruiting arsenal, and this report from the Grand Forks Herald shares some statewide comparison numbers as well

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

The funeral as we know it is becoming a relic – just in time for death boom

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Have you noticed our rituals around death changing? You’re not just imagining it, and as the largest generation in U.S. history begins contemplating end-of-life issues, we’re likely to experience as many changes to the conventional funeral as we’ve seen in other stages of the baby-boomers life experience. The Washington Post has the story.

Read & Share   sourced from: The Washington Post

St. Paul asks residents to weigh in on alley plowing

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In an example of the ever-evolving snow removal plan, collaboration, and community engagement, the City of St. Paul is surveying citizens on whether the city should plow alleys. In Minot, our alleys are maintained by the City but typically only when they become a priority for maintaining services like garbage pick-up. Still, potential revisions to

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Hey Minot, care about the plastic problem?

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Once you see it, you’ll see it everywhere. I’m talking about plastic. Particularly single-use plastic and especially plastic bags. This time of year is especially troublesome because we’re forced to look at what’s been hiding under the snow all winter. And if you’re among those who can’t unsee it and think we should do something

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Street art proving to be travel-worthy in India

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

On the other side of the world, people in India are traveling to see street art after Delhi’s Lodhi Colony laid claim to being the country’s first public art district. Get the story from Quartz, and consider whether Minot’s emerging street art movement and reputation as a regional arts center is an overlooked opportunity to

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz

Bill allowing ND cities and counties to raise speed limit fines signed

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Should local governments be forced to take a financial loss by pulling over a traffic violator? In other words, should the fine levied at least cover the costs of pulling over the individual? And is a $15 fine for going 40 mph in a 25 mph zone a deterrent? Those were the questions that informed

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald