Value: Better Information

The great irony of the information age is that reliable, accurate information is harder than ever to find. We’ll dig in deep on complex issues, provide citation and reference when applicable, and constantly stay on the lookout for the simplest ways to communicate content.

Rural emergency: North Dakota ambulance services fight alarming lack of EMTs

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

There’s an emerging emergency in North Dakota’s small towns — a lack of people trained and willing to work as emergency medical professionals. The jobs are stressful, and in small towns, often involve responding to incidents involving people first responders know. Plus, if there’s pay, its minimal. Get the full story from the Fargo Forum.

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

OSU study says pitbulls and dogs with wide mouths cause most damage when bites occur

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In a study on dog bite severity by breed and type conducted by Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, researchers looked at data from 15 years of emergency room visits and information from other studies. Their findings: injuries from pitbulls are more frequent and severe. Watch the video recap of the study and read the full

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Minot City Council Agenda, Monday, June 17, 2019

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Minot’s City Council will meet for their second of two regular monthly meetings to consider the agenda below on Monday, June 17th at 5:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public and can be attended at Minot City Hall or watched via Internet livestream through the City’s Facebook page here or Youtube Channel here.

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Are you willing to secretly pay more for Walmart, Menards, Target, Home Depot and other big box stores?

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Have you heard of the retail apocalypse? It’s in the news on a regular basis; think of the headlines of all the big retailers like Sears closing stores. The impact of these closings and the often-distressed sale or lease of the associated properties is creating a record of low-value market comparables. When it comes to

Read & Share   sourced from: CityLab

When cities take over trash collection, they take heat — but it pays off, too

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Do you appreciate the City of Minot’s standardized trash service? Or, do you think the city should stay out and let the private industry pick-up our weekly discharge? We’ve heard both sides of the argument in the recent past during discussions about landfill expansion. To see a different perspective, we only have to look to

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What makes a good neighborhood?

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The Brainerd, Minnesota Planning Commission is asking the question what makes a good neighborhood? Is it walk-ability, a mix of businesses among the houses, is it having housing of one type separated from housing of another type? The answers aren’t static, but they do have to be discovered. And the manner in which Brainerd is

Read & Share   sourced from: Brainerd Dispatch

New York Senator calls for FEMA explanation of proposed flood insurance rate changes

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

When and exactly what the changes to flood insurance premiums will be is a national political question, but what’s certain is that the program isn’t financially solvent. There are only a couple ways to address solvency issues, and one that FEMA is proposing is revising premium rates to better reflect flood risk. In New York,

Read & Share   sourced from: silive.com

Why Companies Are Moving Back Downtown

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

If you’re paying attention to local issues, you’ve likely noticed a renewed focus on Minot’s downtown. For a car-centric culture like North Dakota, that may seem a bit strange, but when trends from across the country are accounted for, it may be that we’re simply acknowledging and attempting to catch a wave of change that’s

Read & Share   sourced from: Governing.com

Plastic recycling: the scourge of cities becomes a resource

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Recycling. It’s been a regular topic of conversation in Minot recently. People — this writer included — want to see us be better stewards of the environment. Others — this writer included — aren’t sure we should be making big public investments in an industry that’s being turned upside down. Where’s it all going to

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The struggle to hire and keep doctors in rural areas means patients go without care

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The ripples of health care policy are constantly bouncing around in our lives, and among the bigger trends shaping rural landscapes are the loss of rural hospitals and near access to healthcare. NPR has both sides of the story — patients and providers — on the challenges facing health care in places like Minot. One

Read & Share   sourced from: NPR

Nuclear energy upstream from Minot? Sask legislature discusses options for aging coal infrastructure

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In a world headed towards less carbon-based energy, what do you do with a coal-fired power plant that’s nearing the end of its service life but still has a viable energy distribution network surrounding it? If you’re the Saskatchewan Legislature, the answer is to start talking transitions and alternatives and one that gets mentioned early

Read & Share   sourced from: Estevan Mercury

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North Dakota walleye fisheries in great shape, you can help keep it that way!

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

North Dakota’s walleye fisheries — particularly those a part of the Missouri River system and Lake Sakakawea are in great shape. But that doesn’t just happen. The health of the fish resource is regularly monitored by North Dakota Game and Fish and policies and stocking practices are aligned to match needs. And it’s tagging studies

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This is what happens when you cap property taxes; it’s not good

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Property taxes — we all hate them. Naturally, as a result of our disdain, we seek to remove that which we don’t like. This attitude is prevalent in North Dakota. In the past, we’ve voted down initiated measures that sought to eliminate property tax; in the recently closed legislative session, the House killed a bill

Read & Share   sourced from: Los Angeles Times

In one Minnesota lake, researchers remove invasive ‘lake killer’ by hand

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

When an invasive species takes root, it’s often the sign of an unfortunate end to a favorite place. But in Grand Lake, near Rockville, MN, the hopeful solution was biblical — painstaking labor. And after a couple years of disciplined hand pulling the starry stonewort from the water, they’ve got the plant on the run.

Read & Share   sourced from: MPR

Regina’s residential construction industry in ‘deep recession’

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In an insular world, it’s easy to think we’re the only people and place facing a down economy. It’s not so as this article from the Regina Leader Post points out. Also worth noting, the cause attached to the slow down; top-down policies that carry consequences into places they weren’t intended for. It’s a call

Read & Share   sourced from: Regina Leader Post

Social Security for me but not for thee

by: Jim Maxson  |  

In sixteen years, benefits paid out by the Social Security Administration will exceed generated surpluses. The options of the federal government at that time will be to reduce payments to the retired and/or disabled, increase payroll taxes on employers, employees or both, raise the cap on taxable wages, increase the age of retirement, or all

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