Month: June 2017

In a major victory for conservationists, and for the North Dakota Bad Lands they work hard to protect, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland of Bismarck ruled this week that the state of North Dakota and four western North Dakota counties have no right to go in and build roads in areas of the Little Missouri … Continue reading A Victory for the Good Guys. And the Bad Lands.

WARNING: In this article I’m going to rip some North Dakota politicians a new one. This isn’t personal, and it isn’t partisan. They’ve got it coming because of malfeasance in office. I’m not going to pull any punches. They deserve it. I know I’ve been pretty critical of some of our state’s leaders lately. Sorry. … Continue reading The Sellout of Van Hook Park

North Dakota’s Little Missouri State Scenic River lost most of its scenic protection this week when Gov. Doug Burgum reversed course and joined the members of his State Water Commission in opening the entire river to industrial water development. Last month, Burgum declared upstream areas of the state’s only official State Scenic River—the areas surrounding … Continue reading The Little Missouri State Scenic River Is in Trouble Again

I'm thinking about my dad, as we all do on Father's Day. He became a father 70 years ago this fall. He was a father to me for 37 years, and to my six younger brothers and sisters for not as long, before he died young, in 1984. I wrote this article about him a … Continue reading Happy Father’s Day, Dad

Here’s a short follow-up to a story I did a couple weeks ago about the proposed Davis Refinery, the big industrial plant the California company Meridian Energy wants to build next to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. You’ll recall the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDOH) sent Meridian a letter a month ago questioning some of … Continue reading Our Rich Heritage. Our National Park.

I crossed off another item on my North Dakota Bucket List last weekend. With Lillian, her two sisters and her daughter, I hiked to the top of Black Butte, and, at the top, promptly declared, to the amusement of the ladies, that I was the oldest person ever to climb to North Dakota’s second-highest point. … Continue reading Black Butte

The North Dakota Department of Health has called “Bullshit!” on Meridian Energy’s application to construct its Davis Oil Refinery three miles from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. In fact, in a strongly-worded letter to Meridian, Terry O’Clair, Director of the Division of Air Quality, says he has actually stopped the review of the application until Meridian … Continue reading Meridian Refinery Application Is on the Shelf. Where It Belongs.