News

Native voices cry for justice

May 5th, 2018

MMIW marcher with sign - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO– Once again, Native drums and voices resonated through downtown Fargo Saturday morning raising awareness for missing and Indigenous women. More than 50 people dressed in red gathered at the Fargo Public Library and marched to Veterans Memorial Bridge for National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls.

They sang and marched because 84 percent of Native women experience some kind of violence in their lifetime, and on some reservations, Native women are…

‘Stop playing politics with people’s health’

May 4th, 2018

Hallie Skripak Gordon and others cheering as cars honk during protest outside of Congressman Kevin Cramer's office - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO – One year after the state’s only Congressman voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, concerned citizens protested his vote outside both his Fargo and Bismarck offices.

In Fargo on Friday, nearly a dozen people took a half hour from their lunch breaks to wave signs and attempt to bring attention that ACA, or Obamacare, has helped North Dakotans. They protested to remind current Congressman Kevin Cramer that the American Health Care Act, or AHCA, would have hurt…

Republican attempt to suppress Native votes fails

May 2nd, 2018

BISMARCK– After Senator Heidi Heitkamp won her race in 2012 against Rick Berg, a primarily Republicans legislature sought to tighten its hold on the state by passing stricter voting identification laws. Their attempts were foiled, however, after a federal ruling struck residential address requirement from the new law.

The law requires identification to contain a current residential street address, which thousands of minority, Democratic-leaning communities, and rural Indigenous people…

Meet your candidates

May 2nd, 2018

FARGO – Nine people are running for two seats on Fargo’s City Commission this year, which promises to be an interesting race. This year’s election cycle for the City Commission is not the city’s largest, but it’s close, with a return of former city officials.

Those running for the city’s commission include:

Tim Flakoll
Tony Gehrig (incumbent)
Liz Maddock-Johnson
Kelan Oster
Dave Piepkorn (incumbent)
Arlette Preston
Lenny N. Tweeden
Michael J. Williams
Linda Boyd

Instead of…

Nordic club targeted with white supremacist mail

May 1st, 2018

MOORHEAD – White supremacist groups have switched tactics and are attempting to spread their ‘alternative facts’ to a local Nordic cultural organization. Last year, groups including the Ku Klux Klan and Identity Evropa launched a massive national mail campaign focused on recruiting college students by saying they weren’t racist, but pro-white.

So far in 2018, the white supremacist front has remained relatively quiet, in fact, many are hoping their 15 minutes of Presidential…

Fentanyl trafficking ring linked to Chinese kingpin

April 27th, 2018

FARGO – What began as a local fentanyl overdose investigation caught the eyes of national leadership when the case became an international trafficking conspiracy spanning China to Grand Forks, and beyond.

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke to law enforcement and justice departments Friday morning at the Quentin N. Burdick U.S. Courthouse, first thanking them for their service, and then describing how the war on drugs has narrowed in on fentanyl with a major bust…

Destroying heritage

April 25th, 2018

One of the last old Wesley College buildings - photograph provided by UND

GRAND FORKS – Residual racism is a leading reason why the University of North Dakota plans to demolish the last brick-and-mortar remnants of Wesley College, some historians say. Wesley College, a former Methodist school, merged with UND in 1905, becoming one of the first American marriages between a religious college and a state university.

University personnel say racism has nothing to do with the upcoming changes, but that budget cuts and financial necessity are forcing tough…

‘Crazy on its face’

April 23rd, 2018

Brendan Medenwald, of Simply Made Apps, running for Representative for District 41, calls upon Governor Doug Burgum fo executive order to protect Net Neutrality - photograph by C.S. Hagen

FARGO– A legislator, hopeful politicians, and business owners appealed to the governor’s office Monday morning with hopes of an executive order to fight the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of Net Neutrality.

The Republican-led FCC voted last December to repeal Net Neutrality rules, which took effect on Monday.

“The FCC has repealed net neutrality, which has taken place today,” Brendan Medenwald, owner of Simply Made Apps, a computer programming company, said.…

Americans first, not ‘America First’

April 18th, 2018

FARGO – The day Tiffany Abentroth stood up before a thousand and more Trump-loving Republicans, she knew the GOP blessing was not within reach. She wasn’t even nervous about it. Still a Marine Corps staff sergeant, she squared her shoulders, and delivered the message with a confidence few others shared that day.

Halfway through her speech, ridicule came in loud whispers from within the delegate rows. Many others, however, came up to her afterward, and thanked her for breaking the…

A forgotten veteran

April 18th, 2018

MOORHEAD – With fingers twisted by acute arthritis, Kevin “NeSe” Shores pushed the lever to propel his wheelchair into the Clay County Courthouse. His free hand clutched a large white banker box filled with documents. Folded in worn leather rested an iPhone, his digital eyes.

A driver and assistant followed, told him when to steer right, when to stop. At times, he had to push him through a doorway.

“I’m literally going into court blind,” Shores, an Anishinaabe, enrolled in…