MINOT — Our friends from Applied Digital have been doing well in North Dakota. Their projects in our state have gone swimmingly, so far, including a completed project in Ellendale that locals say was worth the growing pains.

It has seemed like the company is intent on being a good partner that's responsive to criticism, even as they build out projects to help diversify our rather monolithic state economy.

Then, my colleague April Baumgarten broke the news that the company has been requiring local officials to sign non-disclosure agreements, including some that don't contain an exception even for state open records laws.

Harwood Mayor Blake Hankey signed one, as did several Fargo officials, including Mayor Tim Mahoney, Commissioner Dave Piepkorn, Administrator Mike Redlinger and Assis

See Full Page