Articles

ALWAYS IN SEASON: ‘Lark woodpecker’: A trickster in the bird world

A long-delayed and very compressed migration is now at full tide. The first barn swallow of the season showed up at my place west of Gilby, N.D., on Thursday evening.

• Lark woodpecker

MATTERS AT HAND:: An ugly session in N.D., but we’re grateful

Regarding the North Dakota Legislature’s 2013 session, blessedly adjourned in the wee hours of the weekend: Remember that it’s good to be grateful.

• Mike Jacobs

ALWAYS IN SEASON: Ibis sightings liven up spring

Valley wanderings put birds beyond northern range

• Ibis
• Mike Jacobs

ALWAYS IN SEASON: Spring comes, and with it come the birds

Spring has arrived, and with it the birds — both all of a sudden. The rapid influx of birds has made it almost impossible to keep track, but for me, two species stand out.

• Mike Jacobs
• Morning Dove

MATTERS AT HAND: Bill Guy stands out among N.D. political figures

North Dakota produced an abundance of colorful political figures during the 20th century, but Bill Guy was not one of these.

• Mike Jacobs

ALWAYS IN SEASON: Slowly, winter birds give way to spring species

It’s tempting this week, with this weather, to write only about winter birds.

• Tundra swan

OUR OPINION: Talent, humility and courage bring honor to Erdrich

There are many ways to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Louise Erdrich.

• Our Opinion

MATTERS AT HAND: How the N.D. legislature is like a snake in the grass

Watching the legislature in its waning days is a little like watching a snake moving through the grass. The creature lurches from side to side, but it still makes forward progress.

• Mike Jacobs

ALWAYS IN SEASON: If these are American kestrels, it must be spring

Paul Kannowski often chided me for thinking that birds were reliable signs of spring. Plants are better indicators of the passing seasons, he said. Insects better still.

• Mike Jacobs
• Illustration of Kestrel

MATTERS AT HAND: N.D. university system needs rigor

North Dakota’s person-of-the-winter was in Grand Forks on Thursday. Hamid Shirvani was the keynote speaker at the Economic Development Commission’s annual meeting. Shirvani is chancellor of the North Dakota University System.

• Mike Jacobs

Columns

MATTERS AT HAND: Modest proposals for a stronger North Dakota higher ed board

In an earlier controversy, the board bowed to pressure from the president of North Dakota State University and fired its own chancellor. In this instance, the board seems intent on deferring to a strong chancellor, even it means breaking the law. What’s needed is a stronger board.

• Mike Jacobs

MATTERS AT HAND: Reconsidering presidential impact on N.D.

In Washington, D.C., last week, I popped into the National Portrait Gallery, one my favorite indoor places. I was there to apologize to James Monroe. I left Monroe off my Top 10 list of U.S. presidents who’ve had an impact on North Dakota. I stopped by the portrait of Chester Allen Arthur, too.

• Mike Jacobs
• MATTERS AT HAND: The presidents in N.D. history: A Top 10 list

MATTERS AT HAND: The higher ed debate we should be having

So far no one has confronted the question at the heart of the issue. So let’s do it here. Is the chancellor system a failure?

• Mike Jacobs

MATTERS AT HAND: Media had role in ‘kerfuffle’ about higher ed

Here’s a riddle for you: What’s the difference between a coyote and a chancellor? The answer? Not so much. They both behave differently when there’s media close by.

• Mike Jacobs

ALWAYS IN SEASON: Curious in several ways, starlings make us curious, too

The starling is a curious bird — in both senses of the word. It is an eager learner, especially of songs, and an energetic explorer of its surroundings. It is also a bit odd. They also evoke questions from human observers, and I’ve found them quite fascinating.

• Mike Jacobs
• Starling

ALWAYS IN SEASON: The blue jay: Insouciance embodied

When it comes to describing blue jays, quite a few words come to mind. This is because the blue jay projects contradictory images.

• Blue Jay
• Mike Jacobs

MATTERS AT HAND: The economic implications of admission standards

Ralph Kingsbury, a former member of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education, likes to tell about the Walsh County farmer who reacted to news that the state university system might impose admission standards in this way: “I pay taxes and my son has a right to flunk out of the university.” That’s about to change.

• Mike Jacobs

MATTERS AT HAND: Heitkamp defies the odds to win a Senate seat

The bottom line on the election for me? I won money and lost face.

• Mike Jacobs

MATTERS AT HAND: One scenario left would elect Heitkamp

A federal judge has lengthened North Dakota’s campaign season by a day. A state law pro-hibiting campaigning on Election Day is unconstitutional, Judge Daniel Hovland said.

• Mike Jacobs

MATTERS AT HAND: A bad week for Heitkamp, but still plenty of unknowns in U.S. Senate race

The week began badly, with a poll showing her 10 points behind Rick Berg, and it didn’t improve much — until the very end of the week.

• Mike Jacobs