Unheralded

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Minnesota-Duluth

The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team quest for a ninth national championship was cut short Saturday night in Fargo’s Scheels Arena as the Fighting Hawks were defeated 3-2 by the University of Minnesota-Duluth in a five-overtime game. North Dakota (22-6-1) trailed 2-0 late in the third period before pulling goalie Adam Scheel and tying it up on goals …


Unheralded

CLAY JENKINSON: Future In Context — From Wounded Knee To Pipeline Access, The Lakota’s Enduring Power

Most histories of the “Indian Wars” in the American West end with the Wounded Knee Massacre on Dec. 29, 1890, when U.S. troops of the Seventh Cavalry killed between 200 and 300 Lakota (Sioux) people, the majority of them women and children, most of whom had been disarmed, at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota, just one year into its …


RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. American International University

The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team used a four-goal first period outburst in the span of just over seven minutes en route to a 5-1 win over American International University on Friday night in Fargo’s Scheels Arena to advance to the NCAA Midwest Region championship tonight against National Collegiate Hockey Conference rival the University of Minnesota-Duluth. UMD gained the …

CHEF JEFF: One Byte At A Time — Chicken Vegetable Soup

Most recipes usually serve four people at the minimum and often are meant for eight. So that means if you are cooking for two, be prepared for a lot of leftovers. That’s the case with preparing an entire chicken. Whether the bird is cut up for frying or left whole for roasting, if you’re only serving two, there is going …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Nordic Walking Unmasked

Who knew I’d enjoy exercising so much? That was certainly a new experience. Sure, I enjoy water aerobics, especially since recovering from two knee surgeries in 2018. But walking has never been at the top of my list of exercising practices. Until this past January, when I discovered the joys of Nordic Walking. It was time to take off the …

JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — A Short, Sweet, Norwegian Celebration

Three groups have been cheering the appointment of Debra Haaland as President Biden’s Secretary of Interior. WOMEN. Although 21st century presidents have done better, over the years, probably only about 10 percent of all Cabinet secretaries have been women — I think I read somewhere the total is about 30 since we became a country — so when a woman gets …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. North Dakota State University

The University of North Dakota’s No. 2 ranking didn’t seem to impress No. 4 North Dakota State University on Saturday in Gate City Bank Field in the FargoDome as the Bison defeated the Fighting Hawks 34-13 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play. The Bison (5-1 overall, 4-1 MVFC) won its 32nd straight home game in handing the Fighting Hawks (4-1 overall, 4-1 …

CLAY JENKINSON: Future In Context — Nicholas Christakis And Understanding Our Year With COVID-19

Nicholas Christakis’ “Apollo’s Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live“ is an outstanding book. I agree with the eminent historian of ideas Niall Ferguson, who called it “magisterial” in his review in the Times Literary Supplement. I could not recommend it more highly. It’s not only the most readable of the books published on …

LILLIAN CROOK: WildDakotaWoman — Sun Halo And The Vernal Equinox

Spring weather came to North Dakota early this year, the fifth-driest winter here on record. The sky has been filled with migrating Canada Geese, and some crazy fishermen have already had their boats on the nearby Missouri River, even though there is still ice on the banks. My first birding excursion of the year took place earlier this week with …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot The Rapids — Addressing The Color Divide

From time to time, I see Facebook friends who I know to be decent people post things about “cancel culture,” decrying what they see as an “attack” because someone found something offensive. It always makes me sad because I believe that a lot of this “forced” divide in our nation could be addressed if we opened our minds, heard the …

RON SCHALOW: HB 1298 Technically Not Discriminatory Towards Any Gender

“Technically.” That’s all the Republicans were shooting for with HB 1298. As in, “No transgender girls are playing high school sports in North Dakota, but technically they can’t if we pass a law.” But there are big loopholes that won’t please the anti-transgender zealots. I especially worry about how Sen. David Clemens, R-West Fargo, is going to take it when …

CLAY JENKINSON: Future In Context — Living Through The Pandemic: A Review One Year Later

A year into the modern pandemic era, it seems reasonable to ask, what have we learned? And what should we have learned? I found answers to those questions in a wide-ranging interview with Nicholas Christakis, the author of “Apollo’s Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live.” Christakis is the Sterling Professor of Social and …

JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — April Is A Key Month For The ‘Bridge To Nowhere’

There are a couple of new developments in the ongoing saga of the proposed Little Missouri River Crossing north of Medora, N.D. I’ve written about this extensively, most recently in December. Here’s what’s going on right now: There’s a new look to the Billings County Commission. Longtime Commission Chairman Jim Arthaud, the driving force behind the bridge proposal, was defeated …

JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — Pollert vs. Becker; Pollert Wins; Luke Who?

In the end, the vote this past week to kick Luke Simons out of the North Dakota Legislature wasn’t about Luke Simons at all. It was about Chet Pollert showing Ricky Becker who’s in charge. Pollert’s the Majority Leader in the North Dakota House of Representatives. He introduced the resolution to kick one of his own caucus members out of …

JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — A REALLY GOOD FRIEND and a REALLY GOOD WIFE

This is a story about a REALLY GOOD FRIEND and a REALLY GOOD WIFE. It started about a year ago when my friend, Mike Jacobs, offered to place a bet on the 2020 June North Dakota primary election. It seems he had made a bet on a candidate in a contested primary race but was having second thoughts, so he …

RON SCHALOW: NDGOP Targets Mythical Transgender Supergirl Athletes

The latest on House Bill 1298: In a 65-26 vote, representatives voted to ban transgender girls from high school sports and flash their bona fides because their “convictions” — Rep. Scott Louser’s word* — tell Republicans that the current number of zero transgender girls on a girls athletic team is still too many to bear. The North Dakota Republican Party is acting …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Denver

The University of North Dakota women’s volleyball team dropped a three-set Summit League match to the University of Denver on Saturday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks (2-10 overall, 2-8 Summit) fell 20-25, 22-25, 21-25 to the Pioneers (9-1 overall, 9-1 Summit), one of the top teams in the Summit. Lexi Ahres paced the Hawks with  nine kills and …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Nebraska-Omaha

The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team was handed only its second home loss in 28 games, falling 3-2 in overtime to the University of Nebraska-Omaha in National Collegiate Hockey Conference play Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The loss spoiled Senior Night for eight UND players. The Fighting Hawks (18-5-1) battled back from a 2-0 deficit on goals …

JIM FUGLIE: View From The Prairie — The Winter Of Our Discontent

I’ve been away. It’s been nearly two months since I took a punch to the gut, the likes of which I have never experienced. I lost a brother in the COVID pandemic. He was younger, just 66. Unknown to his family or friends, he suffered from severe depression, which engulfed him during the isolation of the last year, taking him …

MICHAEL BOGERT: Photo Gallery — Spring Fever

March 1 signals the start of meteorological spring. One day, it might be record-breaking warmth; the next, a storm or blizzard strikes. Well this year, the former has been case, as unseasonably high temperatures in the Red River Valley of the North have been setting records. These Canada geese, as captured by Grand Forks photographer Michael Bogert, may or may not …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of South Dakota

The University of North Dakota football team picked up its third straight Missouri Valley Conference win, a 21-10 decision over the University of South Dakota on Thursday afternoon in the Alerus Center. The No. 4-ranked Fighting Hawks (3-0, overall, 3-0 MVC) once again were led by running back Otis Weah, who rushed for two touchdowns and 163 yards. Quarterback Tommy …

CLAY JENKINSON: Future In Context — Guy Fawkes And The Plot To Blow Up The U.S. Capitol

We live in head-shaking times. In a congressional hearing Feb. 25, acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman reported that heightened security around the Capitol will continue at least through President Biden’s upcoming State of the Union appearance, the date for which has not been set in part to prevent domestic terrorists from being able to prepare a coordinated attack …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot The Rapids — Separating The Wheat From The Chaff

The faux rage about “canceling” Dr. Seuss because the corporation that preserves his legacy removed a small handful of his countless books because of content that clearly is not appropriate and is hurtful in 2021 is so off point. Much of what Theodor Geisel wrote was lovely or fun. That is not going anywhere. It is the process of separating …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot The Rapids — My Lenten Discipline

This year, as my Lenten Discipline, I decided to devote 30 minutes a day to deep and intentional anti-racism reading and reflection. I selected a few books that have been on my “meaning to read” list and put them next to my recliner.  Every evening after dinner, if I have time before a meeting, or before bed if I don’t, …

CHEF JEFF: One Byte At A Time — Chicken Stew

Nothing is better on a cold winter day than a big bowl of stew. And while most people think of beef at the mention of stew, chicken is a great substitute for those looking to cut back a little on their red meat consumption. The following recipe, which I came up with after contemplating what to do with leftovers from …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. South Dakota State University

The University of North Dakota football team knocked off its second nationally ranked team in two weeks with a 28-17 win over No. 3 South Dakota State University on Saturday afternoon in the Alerus Center in Missouri Valley Conference play. Last week, the Fighting Hawks (2-0 overall, 2-0 MVFC) defeated No. 24-ranked Southern Illinois University in its first-ever MVFC contest. The …

CLAY JENKINSON: Future In Context — Donald Trump Has Earned Membership In The President’s Club, The World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity; What Does It Mean?

For only the third time in history, there are a record six living presidents in the United States, including the current White House occupant Joseph R. Biden Jr., along with Barack Obama, who he served as vice president. The list also includes George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and now Donald J. Trump. All went into the White House …

CHUCK SCHUMACHER: Coach Chuck — The Normal Mind: Path Of The Competitive Athlete

“He makes hitting a ball look so easy.” “Her golf stroke seems effortless.” Is it just natural ability or are there other forces at work that separate successful athletes from others? It depends on the level of competition. In youth sports, natural ability alone can play a huge role. But to successfully compete with or against someone who has already …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Nebraska-Omaha

The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team claimed its second straight National Collegiate Hockey Conference championship Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena, defeating the University of Nebraska-Omaha 7-1. The Fighting Hawks (17-4-1) received two goals from Collin Adams and single tallies from Brendan Budy, Tyler Kleven, Jordan Kawaguchi, Jasper Weather and Shane Pinto in securing the Penrose Cup for …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. Southern Illinois University

The University of North Dakota football team’s first Missouri Valley Football Conference game was one to remember as the Fighting Hawks (1-0 overall, 1-0 MVFC) defeated No. 24-ranked Southern Illinois University 44-21 Saturday afternoon in the Alerus Center. Quarterback Tommy Schuster, in his first career start, threw three touchdown passes while completing 15 of his 25 passes for 118 yards. Brett …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Nebraska-Omaha

The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team inched closer to capturing the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s Penrose Cup with a 4-1 win over the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Jacob Bernard-Docker, Jasper Weatherby, Tyler Kleven and Jackson Keane scored for the Fighting Hawks (16-4-1), who need only one more win — or a St. …

CLAY JENKINSON: Future In Context — Gutenberg To Zuckerberg: A Tale Of Two Revolutions

To put it in a nutshell. No Gutenberg, no Luther. No Luther, no Reformation. At one point, Luther (1483-1546) was publishing a book (more like a pamphlet) every three or four weeks. The advent of moveable type and the printing press (ca. 1440) made it possible for an obscure monk’s critique of late medieval Catholicism to travel all over Europe. The …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot The Rapids — Taking Something Up For Lent

Ash Wednesday is tomorrow, which is a time when many faithful Christians begin the process of their Lenten Discipline, or what is often referred to as “giving up something for Lent.” This year, though, I suspect I am not alone in my reaction to the thought of “giving up” something after a year of giving up a whole lot of …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of South Dakota

The University of North Dakota men’s basketball team, paced Bentiu Panoam’s 22 points, completed its weekend sweep of the University of South Dakota with a 85-81 Summit League victory Sunday afternoon in Betty Engelstad Sioux. Panoam led the Fighting Hawks (8-15 overall, 7-7 Summit) to the Saturday win with 24 points. Also scoring in double figures Sunday for UND were Filip …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of South Dakota

The University of North Dakota women’s basketball team lost its final home game of the 2020-21 season, a 64-47 Summit League decision to the University of South Dakota on Sunday in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Fighting Hawks (2-17 overall, 2-11 Summit) were led by Jaclyn Jarnot and Juliet Gordon, who each scored eight points. The Coyotes (12-5 overall, 8-2 …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Denver

Jasper Weatherby scored two goals and added an assist to lead the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team to a 5-2 National Collegiate Hockey Conference victory over the University of Denver on Saturday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks (15-4-1) solidified their hold on first place in the NCHC with 44 points, four ahead of St. Cloud State …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University Of North Dakota Vs. University Of Denver

The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team moved another step closer to clinching the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s Penrose Cup with a 3-0 victory over the University of Denver on Friday night in Ralph Engelstad Arena. The Fighting Hawks (14-4-1) reclaimed first place in the NCHC with 41 points, ahead of Minnesota-Duluth (39) and St. Cloud State (37), which …

ED MAIXNER: America Needs Remedies From Its Voter Flu Pandemic

As 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic ravaged Americans’ health and economy, distrust of our election system infested the bloodstream of U.S. democracy. The result is a nation with voter flu, even leading to a feverish mob physically attacking Congress in session, enraged about imagined ballot fraud and a stolen presidential election. My own service as a foot soldier in the 2020 election …

LILLIAN CROOK: WildDakotaWoman — The Crooked Little Missouri River And Its Headwaters

The crooked Little Missouri River is in my bloodstream, deeply embedded in my psyche. I grew up working and playing on its banks in Slope County, North Dakota, and have canoed and kayaked almost every North Dakota mile of the river countless times, and frequently written about my explorations on my blog. My favorite stretches of the river are in …

CLAY JENKINSON: Future In Context — The Double Edge Of Our Digital Revolution

The holidays just past made me reflect on the digital revolution. It’s hard for us to see it whole because we find ourselves in the heart of that revolution, but I believe those historians are right who say this one will be more disruptive, significant and impactful than even the Gutenberg Revolution of 1436-1455. Our COVID Odyssey It started on …

PAULA MEHMEL: Shoot The Rapids — Beyond Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day, the day when Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his burrow to see if he sees his shadow to determine whether there are six more weeks of winter. Today also feels like Groundhog Day, as portrayed in the 1993 comedy classic starring Bill Murray. The premise of “Groundhog Day” is that a TV weatherman finds himself reliving …