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Category: Collom's Column
GATX 47814 (car 19), above, and GATX 47982 (car 22), below, sustained catastrophic shell fractures. Car 22 hit the house visible behind and to the left.

The 2002 Minot Derailment: What Went Wrong, and What Came Next-Collom's Column

Following up from the last piece on this, we left off immediately following the ammonia disaster in January 2002. In the days and weeks following Minot residents searched for answers, and when the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its findings, those answers proved to be disappointing. Today, we will dive into why the derailment […]
by K.L. Collom
•
May 12, 2025
Looking southwest at the derailment accident scene

No Warning: The Anhydrous Ammonia Spill of 2002-Collom's Column

MINOT, ND — Flashback to early 2002: 9/11 was still fresh in Americans’ minds, the New England Patriots had yet to win a Super Bowl, and the L.A. Lakers were in the midst of the Shaq and Kobe dynasty. In North Dakota, Governor John Hoeven was just into his second year, all three seats of […]
by K.L. Collom
•
May 3, 2025
Governor Langer’s pose in this portrait shows his characteristic energy.

North Dakota's Maverick, William "Wild Bill" Langer-Collom's Column.

William “Wild Bill” Langer remains one of the most controversial, charismatic, and enduring figures in North Dakota’s political history. A lawyer, reformer, outlaw governor, and longtime U.S. senator, Langer’s life embodied the contradictions of prairie populism: deeply rooted in the struggles of ordinary people, yet unafraid to bend, or break, the rules of the system […]
by K.L. Collom
•
April 26, 2025
Minot Lags Behind the State Averages for Mayoral Turnout

Growing City, Shrinking Votes: Minot's Mayoral Turnout Paradox

So after last weeks article breaking down statewide Mayoral election turnouts, we saw a steady recent trend for Minot's turnout numbers. Despite being the fourth largest city in the state, it is twelfth in turnout among the 13 largest cities in North Dakota. This led to a followup thought of why this might be, and […]
by K.L. Collom
•
April 25, 2025
Graph of Major ND Cities Mayoral Turnout since 2010( *denotes presidential-year elections)

North Dakota Voter Turnout in Mayoral Elections Since 2010-Collom's Column

Did you know North Dakota has 13 cities with populations over 5,000 (excluding Minot AFB)? In a state defined by close-knit communities and a tradition of practical politics, you'd expect local elections to bring voters out in force. Yet across North Dakota, mayoral races held in lower-profile June primaries often draw fewer than one in […]
by K.L. Collom
•
April 19, 2025
AI rendering of Adult Dire Wolves Romulus and Remus

Like a Phoenix Rising From the Ashes, Dire Wolves are Reborn: Could They Return to ND?-Collom's Column

Romulus, Remus, and now Khaleesi and Titus are the first living dire wolves in more than 10,000 years. Born through advanced genetic engineering in late 2024 and early 2025, these pups represent a monumental leap in science, one that has long been theorized over and now seems to be reality. Thanks to the work of […]
by K.L. Collom
•
April 12, 2025
April 5, 1987 Front Page of the Minot Daily News following the Fire

When Minot Turned Black: 38 Years Since the Westchem Disaster – Collom’s Column

(With deep thanks to the Minot Daily News for preserving the historical record through its extensive public archives via the Minot Public Library) On April 4, 1987, a thick black cloud billowed into the skies above Minot, carrying with it the haze of smoke, the stinging acrid stench of chemicals, and the uncertainty of an […]
by K.L. Collom
•
April 5, 2025
Arthur LeSueur, Tom Ross, and Thomas Lee, all have resigned as mayor

This Isn't Minot's First Mayoral Resignation

Minot-Mayor Tom Ross’s sudden resignation on April 1, 2025 marks a rare and dramatic moment in Minot’s political history. While this news has rocked Minot and made national headlines, it isn't wholly unprecedented. Though incredibly uncommon, he's by no means the first mayor to vacate City Hall before completing a full term. So, with this […]
by K.L. Collom
•
April 4, 2025
North Dakota's 19th Governor Thomas H Moodie(photo from State Historical Society site)

Thomas Moodie, North Dakota's Shortest Tenured Governor-Collom's Column

Alright, here is a fun one today, a little dive into North Dakota's shortest tenured governor, Thomas Hilliard Moodie. North Dakota’s nineteenth governor, he holds a unique place in the state's political history both for his tenure length as well as being the third of 4 governors in a matter of just 7 months. Born […]
by K.L. Collom
•
March 29, 2025
Small lake in a coulee beside the battlefield. Photo by L. Barkwell, 2011.

The Forgotten Battle Just A Few Miles South of Minot-Collom's Column

I joined The Dakotan with aspirations of making documentaries, and while that remains a goal, I felt the need to share one of the stories I planned to bring forward. Imagine a large-scale military siege unfolding just south of Minot in an unmarked modern day field. An event largely forgotten by history, overshadowed by the […]
by K.L. Collom
•
March 22, 2025
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