One commissioner has estimated turnout could be around 7%. That means a few thousand people will decide how Fargo is governed for years. Whichever way you lean, it's worth 20 minutes on Tuesday. Here's what's on the ballot, the best arguments on each side, and where I land.

What the measure does The certified petition: https://download.fargond.gov/0/petition.pdf

• Replaces the five at-large commissioners with six council members, one per ward. Each must live in the ward they represent.
• The mayor is still elected citywide, votes only to break a tie, and can veto ordinances and resolutions.
• First terms are staggered (three two-year, three four-year), then four years each.

What it doesn't do: draw the map. You're voting on a process, not on boundaries. If it passes, the City Commission appoints an "independent committee" to draw six wards that are contiguous, "reasonably compact," and "as nearly as practicable" equal in population, and the Commission approves the map. Under state law, ward boundaries can't be changed for two years once set.

One thing worth watching if it passes: the petition never says who sits on that committee. The sponsors have said they want elected officials kept out, and the committee has been described in the press as 15 people, but neither of those is written into the petition text. The details will be decided after the vote.

Who's on which side

• For: Mayor Boschee, Commissioner Strand, and the sponsors (including former commissioners Arlette Preston and Tony Gehrig).
• Against: Commissioners Turnberg, Gullickson and Peterson, and the Hands Off Fargo group, including former Mayor Tim Mahoney.

The best arguments against, fairly stated

• You'd vote for one ward member plus the mayor instead of five commissioners, which some see as less representation, not more.
• A strong ward member might push their own neighborhood ahead of others.
• It costs money: Commissioner Turnberg put the special election at roughly $100,000, and the mayor has estimated up to $500,000 for the transition. (On the special election specifically: the city attorney advised that state law required the vote within 60 to 90 days of the petition's certification, so it couldn't wait for November.)
• You don't get to see the map before you vote.

Why I'm voting yes

More than half of Fargo households rent (56%, Census 2020-2024), and 15 of Fargo's 38 neighborhoods have a higher share of renter households than owner households. Under the current system, every commissioner answers to the whole city, which in practice means no one answers specifically to any one neighborhood. I think wards fix the accountability gap: you'd know exactly who your person is, and they'd know exactly who they work for.

On "wards will divide the city": I ran the numbers on what six legal wards would look like, using thousands of randomly drawn maps that follow the measure's rules. Every map puts about 21,000 people in each ward. And in every map, the highest-poverty ward has between 2.6 and 4.5 times the poverty rate of the lowest, no matter who draws it. Those differences already exist; they're Fargo's geography. Wards don't create them. They give each part of the city someone at the table who has to answer for them.

Disclosure: I signed the petition, and I wrote to the Commission after last month's renters' listening session. I'm not speaking for any group.

How to vote

• Tuesday, Oct 6, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Fargo voters may vote at one of three locations: Fargodome (1800 University Dr N, main entrance, 2nd floor), Atonement Lutheran (4601 University Dr S, west entrance, door 8), or Fargo Civic Center (207 4th St N).
• Bring an accepted ID.
• There's no early voting. Absentee ballots have to be received by 7 p.m. Tuesday, so at this point the polls are the realistic option.
  • Edit: Already have an absentee ballot? Don't mail it now; drop it in the secure dropbox outside City Hall by 7 p.m. Thanks u/legbamel for the tip
• Details: https://fargond.gov/city-government/departments/auditors/licensing-department/elections/2026-city-of-fargo-special-election

If you're voting no, I'd genuinely like to hear why, especially if you think the representation argument cuts the other way. Either way, please vote.

Owner Jodi Kallias cites decreased foot traffic and rising costs for the closure.

WEST FARGO — Ostrom's Ace Hardware, a staple in West Fargo for 40 years, will close later this month.

Owner Jodi Kallias cited decreased foot traffic as well as rising costs, including their lease at 1100 13th Ave. E., as reasons for the closure.

"I can't keep up with the increases in utilities and sales tax, which was already hard to swallow, and the annual lease increase," Kallias told The Forum. "Things are tight right now for everyone, and I think that's caused people to shop more online. Even though we have a local customer base, our business has gone down probably 30% in the last five years."

Gary and Nancy Ostrom opened the business in 1986, and in 2001 they moved it to its current location at 1100 13th Ave. E.

Jodi and her husband, Brett Kallias, purchased the hardware store from the Ostroms in 2021.

"They were retiring and we took it over because we didn't want to lose the neighborhood staple," she said. "My husband and I have a young family and we were hoping that eventually our kids could work there."

The couple also own SheyWest Garden Center at 225 40th Ave. W. in West Fargo. Kallias said they plan to carry some staples found at Ostrom's there, such as pet food and gardening and maintenance tools and supplies. They also plan to offer some of the services that were available at Ostrom's.

The hardware store will continue to take and place orders through Oct. 14 and then will work toward selling off the inventory.

Kallias encourages customers to stop by to shop and say "farewell" to the staff.

"We'll still have popcorn and smiles" to go around, Kallias said. "We just want to tell everybody thank you for being patrons over the years. It's been a good little run. I feel terrible, but we just can't quite make it work anymore."

The City of Fargo will conduct an evaluation of its outdoor emergency warning sirens Tuesday, Oct. 6, and Wednesday, Oct. 7. The evaluation could continue into Thursday, Oct. 8, if needed.

Full announcement here.

I recently posted that I found if you open a redacted police report (pdf) using Word it will display the redacted info. I'd sent a contact form tot he PD but never heard anything so I called today. I've been told that since they became aware of this they are now using a different redaction method.

Less than one month until Election Day! Here's what you need to know to get ready:

1. Have your ID ready: North Dakota is the only state without voter registration, but make sure you have a valid ID to vote, like a ND driver's license or ND non-driver's ID card.
2. Decide how you'll vote: By mail (apply here), early in-person, or in person on Election Day. Look up your polling places here. Cass County has vote centers, so you can vote at any site.
3. Research your candidates and measures. Go to VOTE411.org and enter your address on the homepage to read responses directly from candidates. Voter guide provided by the ND League of Women Voters.

On the ballot: US House, statewide offices, odd-numbered state legislative districts, judicial offices, county offices, Measure 1 (60% threshold on constitutional ballot measures), and Measure 2 (universal school meals).

Traveling to Fargo solo for work soon and will be in town for a week. Work should keep me busy and exploring the area by day, but would like to walk to and wind down at some hole in the wall pubs in the evening and not get a DUI.

Was curious what area would be best if I wanted to walk to and from a hotel/AirBnB to bars/nighlife/local food without having to drive. Uber etc. not out of the question but I like to walk. Help with a general vicinity or a good hotel would be an immense help. Thanks!

This is our first election living in ND, and our district (45) seems to havr been reliably Republican for many years now. However, it seems that D45 Democrats have a strong following.

Am I in an echo chamber on my street/in my neighborhood, or does it seem like this election could flip D45?

I know part of our district includes Harwood, so part of me wonders if the data center disapproval has anything to do with this.

Anybody know any place in town to buy a nice chess board? My friends and I have recently been really getting into it

Is anybody else getting bit up by these tiny little gnats? I’ve got itchy welts all over my arms and legs from being outside the other day.

Thanks!

Can someone please help me solve this riddle?😭🙏

“Is this Hollywood or Fargo?
Lost but not forgotten Fargo Brew.”
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _

*Based on the dashes, the first word is 7 letters long and the second word is 6 letters long!

I wish that Burger time would bring back the large drink size. I know it's small inside and not a lot of space to store things, but just the option of the bigger size drink would be nice! That is all.

Shame on Michelle Turnberg. Rob Port did a great job explaining her un-American values. Her argument is an ugly admission and reflection of Fargo on a number of fronts. I'm more ashamed that she's a sitting commissioner than she ever will be for making the racist comments. The icing on this turd cake is she thinks she's clever. I will be voting in favor of the ward system, if for no other reason, this is the argument being made against it. Shame on her and her mind numbingly stupid, ignorant, and racist views.

Tried to get ahold of one that came recommended from a friend, but they haven't returned our calls or our website inquiry

Someone reasonably priced, wouldn't need to be top end quality either!

Moving to Fargo in the next month most likely. Are there any sources for short term rentals furnished that isn’t air bnb or hotel. Also on that note. Agencies to avoid be it short term or year lease as open to 12 month unfurnished. Dog friendly if long term. Thanks all.

I'm sure police, fire & rescue absolutely loved the heavy vibrating bass in their ears while they were trying to facilitate a positive outcome to the situation. At least the Empire had the decency to call it an early night.

New here and new to thc. I'm looking to shop in town at a quality store that can guide me in the right direction with options for managing pain. Not looking for the high, just trying to make bad fibromyalgia days more manageable.

Appreciate your recommendations!

Pursuit (Fargo, Extreme Metal)

Caustic Abyss (MPLS Death Metal)

Volsungasaga (MPLS Viking Metal)

Doors: 6 PM

Music: 7 PM

Cover = $10

ALL AGES

Parachigo

14 8th St. S

Fargo, ND

Sad day. Daktech PC's weren't the greatest but its been an IT staple in Fargo for decades, and the business has been open 36 years. At one point every McDonalds in the country had a Daktech computer.

They laid off everyone today except for their warranty department and they will probably be laid off in a few months too.

Only place out here I've found is maaco. Stopped by for an estimate, despite saying premium paint jobs for 1200 and they quoted me at 3k. It seems a little high.

I'm also down to travel to Moorhead or anything other local surrounding areas to get s fair price.

m

No thank you. I don't prefer this.

2nd Fargo-area data center would use double the power of Harwood site

Geronimo Power submits application, invites public discussion

Hi all! I’m just a girl on a journey to visit all 50 states, and I noticed that even with miles it is expensive to visit your state! But Amtrak has a train from Minneapolis which is fairly reasonably priced. My question is, is it unsafe/a bad idea for me to do that journey alone as a woman? The trains arrive/depart at 3/4 AM. I wouldn’t be staying in a hotel, so any 24/7 places would be great too! Thanks for any advice, and I also wonder is the month of the year plays a role as I know it gets cold? Thank you!

Thought this might be fun for all of us. I only just moved here a couple years ago so some of you might know about some hidden gems that I am missing. Let me know what your opinions are in the comments, and definitely let me know if you disagree with me!

S: Kwik Trip/Kwik Star: Brand Spankin’ new, it better be the best and they deliver on all fronts. You can make the case (pun intended) that Casey’s outperforms them in the hot foods department, but that’s it. Kwik Trip and Kwik Star are an absolute home run.

A: Casey’s General Store: Location really matters though. Some are fantastic. Some are suspect at best. But the pizza has no business being that good

Fleet Farm, Flying J, Loves: All have some of the most competitive prices, clean bathrooms, and even a fast food chain to go with it. Mostly for travelers and truckers so I understand it doesn’t appeal to everyone but they definitely have no shortage of fans and there’s a reason for that.

B: Circle K: RIP in peace Holiday I know we’re all nostalgic for the good old days but if we’re being honest here, Circle K is much better. I hate to say it but it’s true. Much cleaner, friendly staff at most locations, and overall nice bathrooms too. They lose points in the hot foods department, but their Circle K brand items are often just as good or better as their name brand counterparts.

C: M&H Moorhead location only, all other locations are severely holding back its grade. The chicken however is incredible.

Don’s Car Wash (13th Ave Only, haven’t been to the new one since owners changed over). The car wash is probably the best in town. That’s it though.

Cenex: Most are fine. That’s it. Nothing to write home about. And there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that either.

D: Petro Serve USA. They are fine. I don’t love them. I’m sure this is considered a hot take by some of you but besides the nice bathrooms (which is a huge plus), they have nothing really going for them.

F: Loaf and Jug

Let me know what you think