Read more about it here.

My favorites from the list linked to above:

• Oil on the Fort Berthold Reservation, published this past May (the Fort Berthold Reservation sits over the Bakken oil formation) 
• Exploring Traditional, Healthy Food–chokecherries and corn, in this case 
• North Dakota Tribe at a Turning Point with Oil–my favorite post so far, because Yellowbird states so clearly that there is a danger in getting too rich too quickly.

Yellowbird addresses everything from her way of life to the upcoming presidential elections and educational issues in North Dakota.  I hope I have the chance to visit with her in person some day.

It’s exactly what I see.  The people of North Dakota may not like change (they treasure traditions of hard work, family closeness, creativity and innovation), but they are warm, friendly and easy to get along with.

(And I personally like the fact that there are some things they’re not open to–it helps keep ND a safe and happy place to live.)

From the article:

The Ten Outstanding Young Americans program is one of the oldest and most prestigious recognition programs in America. Annually since 1938, the United States Jaycees has sought out the 10 young men and women who best exemplify the finest attributes of America’s youthful achievers.

And:

As an oncology nurse at the Altru Cancer Center, Gillund, 39, co-founded Filling the Gap, a grant program designed to help lower income families with the financial and travel difficulties of their stay at the Cancer Center. The program works to “fill the gap” between what insurance, personal finance, and other methods of financial support can provide. She received a $50,000 grant for the program and worked to raise another $150,000. She received a scholarship to attend the Oncology Nursing Society Congress in 2007 to present information about the Filling the Gap program to other nurses internationally.

As an active and compassionate North Dakotan, Gillund makes a great representative for the rest of the state.

According to this Bismarck Tribune article, Brachman has worked with the CIA and recently directed West Poin’ts Combating Terrorism Center.  Brachman will be returning to the state to help develop a Homeland security center through NDSU.  The center will be used to develop strategies to keep the nation’s transportation systems secure.

The Red River Valley Research Corridor plays an important part in our state economy.  There are around three business incubators in the corridor associated with University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University.  NDSU’s research and technology park has some very cutting edge things going on, and UND has a great aerospace program. 

Seymour is right to spotlight the Red River Valley Research Corridor and those scheduled to speak at this conference.  Like the Bakken oil formation and the energy corridor on the west side of North Dakota, the research corridor on the east side of the state has a lot to offer the entire nation.  

Getting that information to the rest of the country is key to interesting investors in what ND has to offer.

Everson is also the owner of Grizzly Groundswell, a conservative political blog that in the past year organized a national network of conservative bloggers and thinkers.  Under his direction, the network has grown to more than 20 credentialed bloggers, 320 plus offsite bloggers, over 35 internet radio shows and two 24/7 video channels.  But the real news is what the network plans to do: report, in its own way, on the upcoming Republican National Convention.

“If you remember how television changed politics with the first televised presidential debate, not necessarily for the better, with our Grizzly Groundswell Strategy we have the potential to change politics in a good way, a Main Street Media way,” Everson said.  ”We are unleashing conservative thought, voice and image with this online media empire.”

A Radio Guide listing the Grizzly Groundswell Internet radio shows covering the Republican National Convention includes call-in numbers for people listening to the shows.  Everson said people from across the nation are encouraged to listen to the shows and call in with their comments and questions, including whether or not the news articles appearing in their area are accurate. 

Everson said the Internet media event has a three-pronged purpose:  1) to hold traditional media resources accountable for the way they report the convention, 2) to validate Internet resources like blogs as a serious form of media, and 3) to create a groundswell of conservative political ideas that will influence upcoming elections and policies.        

The network has some serious conservative muscle on its side.  Mad Irishman, Patriot Games and Everson himself are some of the radio shows/bloggers that will be discussing the convention. 

At the very least, Everson’s hard work and creativity are great examples of the kind of people that come out of North Dakota.  Having Grizzly Groundswell/Main Street Media coverage will make the upcoming Republican National Convention a very exciting week.   

In case of changes in schedule, Grizzly Groundswell radio show hosts are welcome to leave updates as comments on this post.  Grizzly Groundswell bloggers, feel free to add teasers here about things you’re doing on your own blogs, as well.

And, of course, all other decent comments are encouraged!

In North Dakota, Schafer is well known for his efforts to increase high-speed internet connections across the state that allow for telemedicine and like programs in very rural areas.  Ethanol production seems to be an issue, too.  From the article:

Since he became agriculture secretary in January, Schafer has fought arguments that ethanol production is chiefly to blame for rising food prices because of the industry’s demands on the nation’s corn crop.

“Things have become apparent that while ethanol production … is a factor in increased (food) prices, it’s not the driving factor,” Schafer said in remarks to reporters. “Energy, and increased consumption globally, are the issues here that are pushing the show.” 

Ethanol may make a good scapegoat in the face of rising prices, but blame never seems to help.  The truth is, it’s a good idea to think about alternative fuels like ethanol and wind energy.  It’s good to discuss how we can develop clean and renewable resources. 

It’s just not wise to mandate changes that we don’t have enough information on–including what the unintended consequences may be.  Schafer may be trying to say that we need to get a wider view of the entire picture before we write ethanol off.

It will be interesting to see if anything comes of this.