Leafy spurge: To the critics of KVLY/KXJB television of Fargo, who are beating up the station for its decision to drop the popular and effective "Coats for Kids" program. The station, which is owned by a Texas corporation, apparently made a decision based on, as the station manager put it, the burden on staff. Fair enough. Critics might wonder why the burden got so burdensome this year, after so many years of the station's wildly successful public service effort. But that's an internal business and personnel decision, the details of which are privy to station management. Critics also suggested that the out-of-state ownership (Hoak Media of Texas) is somewhat disconnected from the community its station serves. C'mon! Give 'em a break. Someone else (maybe with more local sensitivity) will step up for kids and families in need. And KVLY and Hoak will go about their business as they see fit.
Prairie roses: To retiring Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., for donating his papers to George Washington University of Washington, D.C., (his alma mater), and the North Dakota State Historical Society. Both repositories of the records of his years of public service will offer students, historians and others access to a remarkable record that goes back to Conrad's time as tax commissioner and through his terms in the U.S. Senate. He was elected to the Senate in 1986 and steadily rose to leadership positions, including his current assignment as chairman of the Budget Committee. His papers will be a valuable trove of general and personal information and observations about a pivotal era in American history during which the senator was a major player for his state and nation.
Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper's Editorial Board.
