News

​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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​Fargo finds ways to help after police officer shooting

February 17th, 2016

The city of Fargo was rocked to its core last week when a police standoff following a domestic violence call resulted in the death of police officer Jason Moszer. While the shock hasn’t subsided, the community has sought various ways in the days following to heal and help. Support has been shown for the police officer with vigils and a fund was started for Officer Moszer’s wife and children. A funeral will be held later this month at Scheels Arena.

This week activists started a fund…

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​Has Gentrification Come to Downtown Fargo?

February 10th, 2016

As Fargo continues to experience major growth and redevelopment in its downtown region, some are concerned that it has a ripple effect resulting in gentrification. It is an issue being discussed more and more across the country as cities experience continued years of rapid growth.

Major cities like Austin and San Francisco are experiencing extreme gentrification currently where tech firms have settled in. Developers build condos, raise rent, and force out long-time residents, restaurants…

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​ND budget projections get worse

February 4th, 2016

A new budget forecast for the state of North Dakota shows a little over $1 billion dollar shortfall from projections made for funding during the last Legislative session. Because of that, Governor Jack Dalrymple called on most state agencies to cut over four percent from their budgets this week. For his reaction to this news, how it happened and what it means, we interviewed ND State Rep. Kylie Oversen (D-Grand Forks), who is also Chairman of the ND State Dem-NPL party. Does this mean…

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2 Degrees To DiCaprio

January 27th, 2016

Loren Yellow Bird has a memory he won’t be forgetting any time soon. He was standing in the mountains of Alberta, surrounded by the cast and crew of a Hollywood film and having celebrated film actor Leonardo DiCaprio shout out to him for help after struggling with a line.

This wasn’t an average day for Yellow Bird, who had never worked on a Hollywood film before, and in DiCaprio’s defense, he was speaking a language that wasn’t his own. He was speaking the native language of…

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