The new year is a time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and set new goals for what we plan to do in 2025.

Many will make New Year’s resolutions – those promises we make to ourselves – but not everyone will keep them throughout the year.

Certainly it was quite a year we have just lived through.

Following a long campaign for the White House, we will have a new U.S. president and vice president, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, respectively, this year,

Our state already has a new North Dakota governor and lieutenant governor, Kelly Armstrong and Michelle Strinden, both sworn in earlier this month. Armstrong is the state’s 34th governor in the 135-year history of North Dakota.

Our former governor, Doug Burgum, has been picked by the president-elect as his nominee for secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior and would concurrently serve as the chair of the new National Energy Council.

For state legislators, the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly will convene on Tuesday, Jan. 7, in Bismarck.

There is so much ahead for this country, North Dakota, our local communities and citizens in 2025.

The new year will graduate the first class from Minot’s new high school, Minot North. There’s the promise that years of efforts to bring Missouri River water could come to fruition in 2025 with the water intake system at Snake Creek expected for completion. Many other positive changes could be in store for the community as other projects are planned or in progress.

No one knows what the new year will bring, but this new year is filled with opportunity for all of us. It’s a new year with new hope and possibilities.

We wish all of you a very Happy New Year.