News

​Obamacare is booming

November 7th, 2017

FARGO – In what critics describe as a Presidential temper tantrum, Donald Trump scaled back subsidies to reduce premiums after striking out with his administration’s attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

The cuts slashed funding, narrowed the timeframe for health insurance hunters to enroll, and gave insurance companies pause. North Dakota Democrats are pointing fingers at Republican leaders, saying Congressman Kevin Cramer, Senator Tom Campbell, and Senator John…

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“Radicalized capitalists are the terrorists”

November 4th, 2017

Judge Thomas A. Merrick - photograph taken by Liminal FilmsMANDAN – Defense lawyers are whittling down the cases involved with the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy, but the sudden imprisonment of two last month came as a shock, and has activists wondering if the state is either being vindictive, or changing strategies.

“I was singled out among many who were unjustly arrested,” Alex Simon said.

Simon, 27, is a teacher from New Mexico and served 13 days of an 18-day sentence for locking arms with activists – known as water protectors –…

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‘A thousand Saddams’

November 1st, 2017

Yazidi family’s journey from war-torn Iraq to AmericaYazidi family’s journey from war-torn Iraq to America

MOORHEAD – Today, Ezzat Khudhur Alhaidar is safe from ISIS guns, but the memories of war still haunt him. In 2005, he donned a U.S. Army uniform and began working as a front-line interpreter, a position that put food in his belly and a target on his back.

He leans back into a leather sofa while his wife, Zaman Alo, finishes setting a makeshift table with a mound of biryani, steaming hot chickpea soup. Onions covered with…

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​From the U.S. to India: emancipating women

November 1st, 2017

Over 7,000 miles yawn between Comstock, Minnesota, where the Begunahi Foundation is based, and Uttar Pradesh, the state in northern India, which Preeti Varma calls home. Yet, the charity has made higher education a reality for the young woman, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in history in her home country. She aspires to, one day, stand on the opposite side of the classroom, teaching university students.

On the backdrop of grim statistics, Varma is an exception. At 1.3 billion…

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Milk war worries

November 1st, 2017

FARGO – Nearly half a century has passed since North Dakota’s last milk war. In those days, when dairy farmers couldn’t make enough to live, years before North Dakota’s Milk Marketing Board began setting prices, farmers dumped milk on the streets in protest. Shots were fired, fences cut, fires set. Truck tires were slashed. Windows broken.

In 1964, two National Farmers Organization members were killed in Wisconsin when a cattle-truck driver ran them over as they attempted to…

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Drug deal gone wrong, drive-by shooting

October 30th, 2017

Ryan Kitch - Fargo Police Department FARGO – Two suspects were arrested Sunday after a drive-by shooting in South Fargo.

Oscar Kayee, 26, of West Fargo, and Ryan N. Kitch, 21, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit attempted murder, both class A felonies, according to Fargo Police Deputy Chief Joe Anderson. Charges may be amended by Cass County State’s Attorney’s office at a later time.

After police arrived at the scene, 1500 East Gateway Circle South, they received a tip…

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First anti-DAPL activists sentenced to jail

October 20th, 2017

Activists calling for prayer form human chain to prevent others from marching on law enforcement - photo by C.S. HagenMANDAN – Hundreds of trials for activists who stood against the Dakota Access Pipeline have seen the judge’s gavel, but only two, so far, received jail time.

Mary Redway, 64, a retired environmental biologist from Rhode Island, and Alexander Simon, 27, a teacher living in New Mexico, both were found guilty and sentenced Thursday to jail by Southeast District Court Judge Thomas Merrick. Both activists, known as water protectors, were arrested on October 22, 2016 along with 140 others,…

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Speaker at NDSU Purports Racist and Anti-LGBTQ Agenda

October 18th, 2017

Organizing committee Lutheran Student Fellowship Organization says nothingFARGO – A week before William Fleck decided to attend an anti-LGBTQ speech at NDSU, a transgender friend committed suicide. Fleck’s friend was bullied. He was persecuted – locally – and driven to a desperate act.

Fleck knew what he was walking into when he entered the Memorial Prairie Rose Room on October 17, but the audience’s acceptance still shocked him.

He attended the speech entitled "Religious Freedom and the Constitution,” organized by the Lutheran Student Fellowship…

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Rally against hate takes place of pro-white rally

October 14th, 2017

James Bergman sings a song he wrote during the rally - photo by C.S. HagenMOORHEAD – The original day set for a white supremacist rally came and went without so much as a whimper from local hate groups.

Multiple protests originally planned as counter rallies merged into one rally, which took place instead on the same day, Saturday, attracting more than 150 people celebrating diversity, called Standing for Humanity.

As in August’s North Dakota United Against Hate rally, chilly rains dampened the atmosphere, and the rally was moved from W. H. Davy Memorial…

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​College newspapers targeted by KKK

October 11th, 2017

KKK letter sent to university newspapers in North DakotaVALLEY CITY – The White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan are targeting North Dakota university newspapers in a cry for help: a book banning.

So far, Valley City State University’s ‘Viking News,’ and NDSU’s ‘The Spectrum,’ have received a letter postmarked Fort Myers, Florida, with no return address, from someone claiming to be a “Loyal American Patriot,” asking for help banning a book titled ‘The Slave Players,’ by Megan Allen, published by Burn House Publishing.

“Dear…

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