News

The new McCarthyism

February 27th, 2019

Design by Raul Gomez

BISMARCK – In the most collective state in the union socialism is a dirty word, and top elected politicians are already using “Wolverine”-style fear tactics to rally the far-right troops two years before the 2020 Presidential election.

Many say the McCarthyism, or “McCarthywasm,” a moniker once offered by Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower, dog whistling is the GOP’s next war cry.

Similarities to the 1984 movie “Red Dawn,” starring Patrick Swayze, cannot be…

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​Rockin’ around the clock

February 27th, 2019

Fargo's snow equipment - photograph by Ryan Janke

Fargo Public Works has been working around the clock since late December to clean up after a series of blizzards and winter storms. It has been hard for the department to try to keep up with the snowfall, but Public Works Director Ben Dow said he is committed to continuing the fight.

As of Feb. 24, Fargo had broken its 40-year-old record for February snowfall. After another 1.1” on Feb. 26, Fargo was sitting at 21.4” for the month and 47.8” for the 2018-19 winter season.

Average…

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​West Fargo police officer arrested

February 25th, 2019

West Fargo Police Sergeant Ryan Denis - West Fargo Police Department

WEST FARGO – A West Fargo Police Sergeant was arrested Sunday night after he crashed into a snow bank in the area of 19th Avenue East and Beaton Drive, according to a police report.

Patrol Sergeant Ryan Denis was arrested on charges related to driving under the influence after police dispatch was notified about a reckless driver. While officers were heading toward the scene, Denis crashed into the snow bank, police reports stated.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol was called out to the…

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​Hit me with your best shot

February 21st, 2019

Design by Raul Gomez

The FM Derby Girls will hold their first bout of the 2019 season on March 9 at the Fargo Civic Center. It will mark the beginning of the 10th competitive season for FMDG.

FMDG has come a long way

“In the beginning, we would draw the track with chalk on the basketball court in Island Park and play in our tennis shoes,” said Athena Funk, a pioneer of the league. Funk is referred to by some as the ‘godmother of the FM Derby Girls’.

“[Athena Funk] was instrumental,” said Beth…

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Two bills fight to define ND ethics

February 15th, 2019

Dark Money movie playing at the Fargo Theater - North Dakotans for Public Integrity's Facebook page

BISMARCK – Two bills are fighting for ethical supremacy in the North Dakota State Legislature.

Senate Bill 2148, sponsored by Senator Tim Mathern, a Democrat from Fargo, received a ‘Do Pass’ from Special Ethics Committee on Monday. The bill, if passed, will establish the creation of an ethics commission in North Dakota, enforce regulations on naming sole contributors for political contributions over $200, impose fines on violations, and adopt rules passed by popular vote…

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​ETP’s case against ‘eco-terrorists’ dismissed in federal court

February 15th, 2019

Frontlines of the DAPL controversy 2017- photograph by C.S. Hagen

BISMARCK – Legal battles between corporate oil and anti-pipeline interests made shocking claims when lawsuits were first filed, on both sides of the pipeline.

North Dakota courts dismissed hundreds of criminal charges against the 836 NoDAPL activists arrested. While official documents show TigerSwan never received permission to operate within the state, many of the civil charges brought by the North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board against the private security firm have…

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​Blackface in our own backyard, it’s not just in the South

February 13th, 2019

Design by Raul Gomez

FARGO – Blackface isn’t just a Virginia issue; it’s everywhere, even here in North Dakota.

Recently, prominent politicians in Virginia have acknowledged painting their faces black to stereotypically resemble people of African heritage. Closer to home, photographs from the 1950s or 1960s, discovered from a source who wishes to remain anonymous, shows that at Fargo Elks Lodge 260, blackface comedic acts were commonplace, as well as mocking Native American culture and women.

The…

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​More than two years later, last NoDAPL trials finish

February 5th, 2019

The legal tent at Oceti Sakowin where the Water Protector Legal Collective was born - photograph by Sarah Hogarth

MANDAN – The last trials for 836 activists arrested during the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy have finished, with a large majority of the cases dismissed.

On Tuesday, the state’s final court case was against Katrina Silk, who was found not guilty of engaging in a riot, disobedience of safety orders during a riot, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct, but was convicted of physical obstruction of a government function. District Judge David Reich sentenced her to 60 days of…

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State legislators attempt to dump Equal Rights Amendment

January 30th, 2019

National Woman's Party watchfire demonstrators standing with banners and fire in urn in front of White House during the early 1900s - Harris & Ewing, Washington, D.C

BISMARCK – Forty-three years ago, North Dakota became the 34th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and now white male legislators want to take it back.

Republican Representative Chuck Damschen proposed House Concurrent Resolution 3037 to the Sixty-sixth Legislative Assembly, to withdraw the state’s ratification of the 1972 bill.

The proposal comes at a time when many states are whipping up support for the Equal Rights Amendment, as adoption of the ERA into the U.S.…

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​Bill to help murdered and missing Indigenous approved, moves toward House and Senate

January 29th, 2019

Representative Ruth Buffalo of Fargo presenting House Bill 1313 - photograph provided by Ruth Buffalo

BISMARCK – Ruth Buffalo “ate no for breakfast” Tuesday morning and put on her red lipstick before the House Human Services Committee unanimously approved her bipartisan bill to help murdered and missing Indigenous people.

“Sounds like a recipe for awesome,” one friend responded to her Facebook post. Eating no for breakfast means Buffalo won’t take a refusal for an answer.

House Bill 1311 provides law enforcement with training regarding murdered and missing Indigenous. The…

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