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.

In Winnipeg, Buy local plan fails to gain traction

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

A proposal from the Winnipeg City Council requested the City develop a policy that gave an advantage to local firms seeking the opportunity to earn City business. But upon further review, the recommendation of an administrative report is to better communicate opportunities to local businesses, but not give them favor on contract terms. This issue

Read & Share   sourced from: Winnipeg Free Press

Honeybees finding it harder to eat at America’s bee hot spot

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

It wasn’t that long ago that the conservation lands of North Dakota and South Dakota were a refuge of sorts, for honey bees. But policy changes and rising commodity prices led to changes in land use and in a short period of time, we’ve lost a lot of prime habitat.

Read & Share   sourced from: Associated Press

How to change your mind

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In this edition of Brain Pickings, Maria Popova dives into Michael Pollan’s recent work titled ‘How to Change Your Mind’. His work dives into new studies and neuroscience exploring the benefits of treating depression, addiction, and iminent mortality with a rediscovered catylst that’s proven effective and rewiring our perspectives.

Read & Share   sourced from: Brain Pickings

Public engagement in local decisions evolving rapidly on the shoulders of technology

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

How do we awaken citizens from their apathy and get them engaged with the decisions being made in their communities? One town in Colorado made an investment in technology, trashed the traditional model that only allowed input at live meetings, and catered to the lives of their citizens. The result is a cross-section of public

Read & Share   sourced from: Strong Towns

In Bismarck, expanding city results in expanding costs

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

When we need them, the fire department and our police officers show up, but it’s easy to take those services for granted. It’s even easier to forget that we have to pay for those services. And one of the first rules of municipal budgets, bigger cities, and more employees equals more costs. The Bismarck Tribune

Read & Share   sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

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What Summer Slide Actually Means—and 5 Ways to Fight it

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Unless you’re a teacher, the concept of the ‘summer slide’ may be foreign to you. It’s the phenomena that sees student learning and retention regress over the summer months when they’re not in school. It’s a real thing, and new studies suggest the slippage may be the equivalent to as much as a month of

Read & Share   sourced from: EdSurge

Concrete starts to flow at new Williston airport

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Minot International Airport is 18-months away from having a new regional competitor. One of the limiting factors for Williston’s Airport is runway length, but that will change when the new airport opens, and so will the competition for major carriers. The Williston Herald has the progress report on construction.

Read & Share   sourced from: Williston Herald

Schools around the world are now teaching kids to spot fake news

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In the information age, the great irony of our time is that we seem to be less and less trustful of information. And so it would seem one of the great skills that we’re in need of quickly developing is the ability to properly evaluate news and information we’re asked to consider as we make

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz

The cult of productivity has a counterproductive flaw

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Imagine you figure out a new way to do something at work, saving you five hours each week. Over a year, you’ll save 260 hours. Now suppose you spent 10 hours teaching this work hack to 10 of your colleagues. At the end of the year, your productivity would be 4% lower (you’d only save

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz

The simple step parents can take to teach their kids persistence and grit

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

If at first you don’t succeed, then what? Phrased in a way that will matter to every parent, if at first your child doesn’t succeed, then what? Dealing with failure and adversity has everything to do with how kids are taught persistence and grit. And it starts at a young age. Check out this article

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz

A retired army general offers four tips for cultivating strong leaders

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In government, in business, in athletics, and in our culture — it doesn’t matter the field, the need for leadership is inexhaustible. So, how do we grow a new supply that’s at the ready when we need it? Here’s one framework with four simple pillars.

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz

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It's the free, easy way to stay informed about what's happening in Minot, and it helps support independent local news and journalism.

North Dakota passes 400 percent fine increase for littering

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The police and highway patrol have been empowered to get serious about littering. Starting August 1, the fine for throwing out that cigarette will be something you notice if you get caught; it’s going from $100 to $500. The Grand Forks Herald has more on the story.

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

There’s evidence, E-cigarettes do help people quit smoking

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

The evidence is significant; it’s pulled from a study that included 160,000 people over 15 years. And what it points to is important, e-cigarettes help people quit smoking.

Read & Share   sourced from: The Verge

Shopping habits are hurting American jobs, especially today

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In the 1970’s and 1980’s, it was the rise of the mall that dramatically changed shopping habits and the retail delivery model. Today, it’s the Internet and giant online retailers like Amazon. The consumer behavior is shifting toward the model that provides lower prices and more convenience, and the pace of the change is increasing.

Read & Share   sourced from: The Washington Post

10 Farming Myths to Think About on Your Next Grocery Run

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

It’s true, here in North Dakota we’re closer to our food production here than most parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean some misperceptions about dinner gets from the farm to the table aren’t out there. This quick article from Science Alerts calls out the common myths about modern agriculture and food production and

Read & Share   sourced from: Science Alert

Our economic future depends on storytellers

by: Josh Wolsky  |  

Heard a good story lately? It’s kind of a trick question, because if you did, you may not even know it. Storytelling is a time-honored art form, but we’re just now discovering the relevance it has to what we think, who we trust, and how we act. And our ability to spin a yarn may

Read & Share   sourced from: Quartz