News

47th Annual UND Writers Conference “The Art Of Science,” April 6-8, 2016

March 30th, 2016

The 47th Annual UND Writers Conference, “The Art of Science,” will take place April 6-8, 2016 at the Memorial Union on UND’s campus in Grand Forks. The Conference will feature authors/artists who incorporate the hard sciences into their work. The Conference will feature readings, panel discussions, book signings, workshops, and film screenings. The UND Early Career Big Data Summit, which includes a Hack-A-Thon, will be co-located with this year’s Conference. All events are free…

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​SXSW 2016 the Fame Monster

March 30th, 2016

I was told several times on my trip about how Austin was the fastest growing city in the United States, How there are 1,000 people coming to the city every single day. That last figure sounded, and was indeed far fetched. The actual figure is somewhere from 110 - 150. That doesn’t account for all the people leaving the city which some estimate is as high as 55,000 per year.

Regardless, there is something special happening in this city. Whether it’s the worldwide fascination with its…

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HPR goes to SXSW to meet with two indie rock kingmakers

March 24th, 2016

Fargo natives mark 20 years of running record labels

How do two brothers from Fargo manage to successfully run some of the biggest indie rock labels in the country, two of which are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year? It’s a little bit timing, part luck, hard work, and their ability to adapt to the ever changing music industry and sign exactly the right new acts on their way up.

Chris and Ben Swanson went to Fargo South high school and graduated in 1994 and 1996. In 1996, they…

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Three heroin overdose deaths in seven days

March 17th, 2016

Three heroin overdose deaths in seven days

By John Strand & Tom Bixby

Law enforcement officials representing several agencies warned the public Sunday about an extraordinarily dangerous situation involving tainted or laced heroin in the FM area.

“The purpose of this press conference is to provide a public safety message in relation to several narcotic or opioid overdoses that have occurred in the FM area in the last several days,” Fargo Police Chief David Todd stated at the outset.…

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​Ruth Rheault speaks openly of nephew’s death

March 16th, 2016

Ruth Rheault speaks openly of nephew’s death

By John Strand & Tom Bixby

Zachary Spieker died Feb. 22 in East Grand Forks due to a heroin overdose. A 2008 graduate of Moorhead High, he excelled academically and had been named to the National Honor Roll Society, as well as the National Who’s Who of high school students. He then attended Concordia College.

Zach’s aunt, Ruth Rheault of Rollag, spoke candidly with HPR about the ravages of addiction, difficulties individuals and families…

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Staying Alive

March 16th, 2016

Staying Alive: Jeremy Kelly and the F-M Good Neighbor Project

By John Strand and Tom Bixby

There are big organizations that help drug users. A small one in Moorhead goes where the addicts are and really takes care of business. HPR spoke with Jeremy Kelly, founder of the F-M Good Neighbor Project.

High Plains Reader: What’s your mission and what do you do at the Project?

Jeremy Kelly: Social justice. We go by the harm reduction model of human service in the addiction field: low-barrier…

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​Three heroin overdose deaths in seven days

March 16th, 2016

Three heroin overdose deaths in seven days

Law enforcement warns the public to be vigilant and to watch out for those at risk

By John Strand & Tom Bixby

Law enforcement officials representing several agencies warned the public Sunday about an extraordinarily dangerous situation involving tainted or laced heroin in the FM area.

“The purpose of this press conference is to provide a public safety message in relation to several narcotic or opioid overdoses that have occurred in the FM area in…

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​Help available for those battling heroin

March 9th, 2016

How do friends and family help addicts?

In my column last week, I wrote about the passing of someone in the region due to heroin overdose. Less than a week later, I heard of another. I heard some reports that it was due to a bad batch of heroin. So I decided to seek answers from experts on how people can get help for those in need which is never easy. A lot of people are hoping the deaths don’t continue happening, but that can only change with awareness on how to get help. Over in…

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​Stenehjem supports tougher gun laws for felons

March 2nd, 2016

Stenehjem supports tougher gun laws for felons

Says North Dakota law mirrors federal law but still needs to be changed

By Chris Hennen

As discussion has been sparked in North Dakota about changing our gun laws for felons following the shooting of officer Jason Moszer in Fargo by convicted felon Marcus Schumacher, we decided to ask North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, also a candidate for Governor for the Republican nomination, for his thoughts on the matter as the state’s chief…

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Fargo Republican to Introduce Bill to Ban Violent Felons From Getting Guns Back

February 25th, 2016

In the wake of the fatal shooting of Fargo Police Officer Jason Moszer responding to a domestic violence call at the home of Marcus Schumacher, many have wondered how someone previously convicted of a felony was allowed to possess firearms. There are have been various reports that Schumacher petitioned for his gun rights although the legislator we speak with below said that is unconfirmed.

The bottom line is this: the ATF told both the GF Herald and Valley News Live that Marcus…

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