Month: November 2017

I don’t think North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has a disingenuous bone in his body. But sometimes political naivete can make someone appear disingenuous (actually, my definition of disingenuous is “fake naivete”). There’s still a bit of naivete in Burgum. The transition from the business world to government is not an easy one. He’s still … Continue reading Gov. Burgum Needs to Take Responsibility for His Own Actions, Not Pass It Off on a Commission

My old friend Darrell Dorgan and I decided to sit in on the sentencing hearing for Jason Halek this morning. A couple of old, retired newsmen, we both went there thinking we were going to see the full measure of the law applied to a Texas con man responsible for one of the biggest pollution … Continue reading Halek Sentenced: Probation and a Halfway House

If everything goes as planned Monday morning (which would be unusual—nothing much has gone as planned in this case) Jason Halek will walk into the federal courthouse in Bismarck tomorrow morning as a free man, and walk out—figuratively, if not literally—in handcuffs, headed for a federal prison. You’ve read about Halek here many times before. … Continue reading Maybe the Halek Case Is Over. Maybe.

President George Washington declared November 26th, 1789, the fourth Thursday of November, to be celebrated as a day of American thanksgiving. Try to imagine how much Americans of 1789 had to be thankful for. Just six years earlier they had fought and won a war for their independence, to create their own country. Just two years earlier … Continue reading A Thanksgiving Proclamation

Okay, when technology fails you, sometimes you just have to do things the old fashioned way. I wrote a couple weeks ago about the North Dakota Department of Health’s Environmental Incident database, and how difficult it is to track the performance of various oil companies. I haven't heard back from the Governor yet, and being … Continue reading Crying Over Spilt Oil. and Brine.

There’s an old story that goes like this. A ship sinks in the South Pacific Ocean and two survivors are washed up on the shore of a deserted island: Sigourney Weaver and a fellow named Joe. A couple of months go by and no rescue is in sight, and the two decide they might be … Continue reading Men Just Have to TELL!

Dear Governor Burgum, I am writing to you today about transparency. Transparency in government. Transparency in North Dakota government. Transparency in North Dakota government as it relates to our environment and environmental protection. You've said often you believe in transparency. Here's a chance to prove it. You’re a new Governor this year, and you come … Continue reading A Simple Request to the Governor: Let’s Get Technical

John Bluemle’s new book, North Dakota’s Geologic Legacy (actually published in 2016 and now in its second printing) is a culmination of a career of more than 40 years he spent with the North Dakota Geological Survey, researching all facets of North Dakota’s geology, carrying the title of State Geologist. It’s his fourth in a … Continue reading Read Bluemle’s New Book