opinion

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead It was about a decade ago that a push began at North Dakota State University for the Bison football team to transition from Division II competition to Division I. It was not met with universal approval. Indeed, many of the sports "experts" in Fargo (including...

So the seventh year of the Barack Obama administration, the first year of the new Republican Congress and the year before the 2016 presidential election now begins. Like most years, it begins with much promise. Like most years, it also holds great peril. But 2015 brings with it an...

I have enjoyed debating the oil extraction tax issue with my colleague, Sen. Lonnie Laffen, R-Grand Forks, over the last several months. Given his decision to rehash the issue in an op-ed that was published Wednesday in the Sun, Laffen must enjoy the debate as well. I also recognize...

Today's WDAY-TV special report on sex trafficking in North Dakota's Bakken oil region and beyond wraps up Forum News Service's multimedia investigative project. The print and online series concluded Saturday. Keven Wallevand's half-hour examination of trafficking begins at 10:35...

Having just had another of numerous birthdays, I have become more aware that this constant aging is becoming more and more hazardous to my health. The hazardous warning label should be put on every curb, stairway, slippery spot, high spot, ladder, kitchen and bedroom. We often think...

University of North Dakota’s new head of diversity is urging students, staff and others to be mindful of cultural insensitivities during hockey season and while the university continues the difficult process of picking a new nickname. Associate Vice President for Diversity and...

As North Dakota legislators start this new session I ask them to reflect on the Gospel message of “May your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” Those legislators who call themselves Christian have a responsibility to bring this about through their public service. One of...

The Jamestown Sun hands out these bravos and buffalo chip this week: * Buffalo chip to the jury duty scam, where scammers contact people and claim they have missed jury duty. The calls or messages threaten people with arrest or jail time if they don’t pay the fine for “missing”...

This week marks the 13th anniversary of the arrival of the first post-9/11 prisoners to Guantanamo Bay, the most notorious prison on the planet. This grim anniversary, and the beginning of normalization of diplomatic relations between the U.S and Cuba, serves as a reminder that we...

North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple will never be accused of being governor gloom and doom. He is not one to run around the Capitol barnyard like Chicken Little. So, despite the steep downturn in the price of crude oil, the governor's State of the State address did not suggest -- not...

Some legislators want to reduce the North Dakota state income tax rate to zero, virtually eliminating the income tax as a source of revenue for our state. North Dakotans have been justifiably proud of a balanced tax structure with income, sales and property taxes. Each tax has its...

As the snow and cold blow outside it is time to thank our hard-working legislators from both parties. While we can and do disagree with their views, most, if not all are hard-working, conscientious individuals serving the public good. Sen. Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, can frequently...

An outbreak of measles has occurred in southeast South Dakota, linked to a family that chose to not immunize against that contagious disease. The number of confirmed cases of measles linked to the family in Mitchell, S.D., is nine, as of the end of last week. The South Dakota Department...

The North Dakota Legislature will grapple with many challenging issues during the upcoming session. Infrastructure, tax relief and education top the list. Perhaps the most daunting challenge will be figuring out what to do about our state’s oil tax structure. Put into place in...

The North Dakota Legislature convened in Bismarck, and here's hoping wiser lawmakers carry the day this session. That has not always been the case in previous sessions. Let's hope they pay attention to the nuts-and-bolts business of funding and enhancing the functions of state government,...