Podcasts about north dakotans

A notable North Dakotan of the past was a man named James Morris O'Neale, well-known as a Civil War veteran.

North Dakota was sweltering during the summer of 1930. The state was in the grip of an oppressive heatwave. Heat and humidity had caused extreme discomfort for several days. Temperatures hovered in the high 90s, and the humidity made things even worse. Hettinger was the hottest spot in the state, hitting 101 degrees. Other towns weren't far behind. Beach and Grand Forks recorded 99, and Williston reached 98. North Dakotans were getting tired of the heat.

07/09/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by the Emergency Management Director for Richland County, Brett Lambrecht, and the Communications/911 Manager for Richland County, Jill Breuer. Joel asks them about our emergency alert system and how rural North Dakotans would be alerted in an emergency. This conversation comes after Texas and New Mexico had flash floods that have caused an increasing death toll. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jak Urlacher (Grand Forks, ND) found the pole vault in high school after a suggestion from his head coach. Urlacher, who translated his background in gymnastics into the vault, would go on to become an All-American and the greatest North Dakotan to ever pick up a pole. Listen to Jak's insightful interview as he describes his growth in the sport and what it took to soar to new heights.

06/23/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by the Governor of North Dakota and former Congressman, Kelly Armstrong. After the severe weather outbreak over the weekend, which included a tornado outbreak, the Governor joins Joel to talk about the statewide disaster, communities impacted, and more. Joel also asks him about the United States bombing Iran and how he's upped security after the assassination of MN State Representative Melissa Hortman. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a recent column, I argued that the concept of "baby bonds" — a verison of which is included in "big beautiful bill" President Donald Trump is backing in Congress — is something North Dakotans should implement whatever the federal government might do. We have hundreds of millions in revenue from the Legacy Fund's investments, and we have the Bank of North Dakota to administer the program. A rough estimate based on the average number of live births in our state every year is that this would cost the state about $20 million or so per biennium. After I published my column, Treasurer Thomas Beadle reached out, saying it's a topic that intrigues him as well. "I think that you get a little bit of a a stakeholder society," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Children are being set up with these accounts, and the parents are managing these accounts on behalf of their kids, so they will be vested. They might have a stakeholder interest in making sure that programs like this are viable." Speaking of investments, also joining this episode was Jodi Smith, executive director of the state Retirement and Investment Board, and Kodee Furst, a director 50 South Capital. They discussed the ongoing efforts to implement the Legacy Fund's in-state investment program. The goal is to have the Legacy Fund at $1.3 billion invested inside of the state by 2030. Some of the challenges in getting there early on were negotiating the producer-investor rules. State investment officials have a responsibilty to maximize returns, but with the in-state investment program, the idea is that some of those returns aren't in the form of interest on investments but rather economic development. This balance is important. "We're not providing a grant," Smith said. "We do expect a return to come back to us." If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

The North Dakota Republican Party censured Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong at a recent meeting. And yes, despite what some party leaders are now saying, Armstrong does see it that way. "It was a censure," he said on this episode of Plain Talk, going on to expand on his immediate reaction to the censures which was "I don't care." The censures expressed disapproval in Armstrong's property tax plan, along with his veto of book ban legislation, but he says that serving the party isn't his top priority. "I just view it this way: I'm a North Dakotan first. I'm the governor second and a Republican third." He accused some in NDGOP leadership of being obsessed with "microniche" issues and wanting to control Republican elected leaders with party rules and censures. "I mean, one of the problems I think you're running into in this is...this was always 'we hate the smoke-filled back room,' right? That was always the argument forever. That's not really true. What they want to do is control the smoke-filled back room," he said. "I don't think they spend near enough time talking about how to win elections, which is what people rely on the party for," he added, further arguing that party leadership is elected by small groups of people. "Matt Simon got elected with 24 votes," Armstrong said "I hope he does great. I hope he brings unity." Also on this episode, we discuss Rep. Scott Louser's decision to forgo a property tax ballot measure challenging the relief lawmakers passed earlier this year, as well as the recent No Kings protests and how their momentum compares to the 2009 "tea party" movement that changed the shape of North Dakota politics. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Patriotic North Dakotans enlisted in large numbers when the United States declared war on Spain in 1898. The 1st North Dakota Volunteers were sent to the Philippines. But not all North Dakotans served in that unit and not all went to the Pacific.

05/30/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak on "News and Views." Their main topic is President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" and how it would impact North Dakotans. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the closing hours of the legislative session, lawmakers came to a consensus around a property tax plan endorsed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong which provides $1,600 credits for the primary residences of North Dakotans and a 3% cap on the growth in overall property tax bills. Rep. Scott Louser voted for that plan, and encouraged his colleagues to vote for it, but in a surprise move, also announced in a floor speech that he had drafted language for a ballot measure campaign for his own property tax plan which had been amended into oblivion earlier in the session. "I wanted everybody to vote for property tax relief," he said of his eyebrow-raising move. "I just think there's a better way to do it." Louser wants the state to buy out the 60 mills funding school districts across the state, something he estimates will cost $750 million. He says his plan wouldn't nullify the plan lawmakers did pass, but he pointed out that the primary residence credit would have to be reauthorized by lawmakers next session anyway, and that his expectation would be, if voters approve his ballot measure, that lawmakers reduce of eliminate the credit. But wouldn't that mean some people, who saw their property tax bills eliminated by the primary residence credit, would start getting bills again? Louser said the next legislative session ould have to take that issue up, too. "If this were to pass, we are going to be in a situation next session where we have to evaluate for all of those people that had their taxes zeroed out," he said. "How do you balance that? How do you keep it at zero at a lower amount and then continue to step up the credit in the future?" Though Louser also indicated that he's not entirely decided on whether to go forward with his measure campaign or not. "It's hard for me to answer, 'are you going forward?'" he said, indicating that he like to do some polling of the public first. "If the polling shows that it's a 25 point no, why proceed with it? I don't have that answer yet." Louser also expressed frustration about the failure of a campaign finance reform bill which was originally intended to require legislative candidates to disclose beginning and ending fund balances, as well as campaign expenditures but ran into a wall of what was at times viscerally angry opposition in the House chamber. "It was almost all about process and not about the product," Louser said of the debate. "In the end, it's the product that we that we leave for the for the public to see. And the product that we have now is nothing. Nothing changed," he continued, referring to the fact that the legislation, drained of any real reform by the House, ultimately failed. Louser pointed out that taxpayers have "spent a little over a million dollars" on a new campaign finance system for the Secretary of State's office"to make this reporting easier for us as legislators, easier for the public to read," but that system now won't be fed with better data. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

When we think of politics, I think a lot of us feel intimidated or like there isn't room for us in the process–we're not “political,” or we don't have time, or we're not the right kind of person. Today's guest shows that being an unlikely politician may actually be the best thing, and why we need more real people in politics (yes, that means you!) About Erin: Erin Oban is a lifelong North Dakotan and proud, Class B kid, raised in a farm family in Ray, ND. Her professional career has included experience as a middle school math teacher, in nonprofit management and educational leadership, and in politics and public service. In 2014 and again in 2018, Erin was elected to represent central Bismarck's District 35 in the State Senate. In 2022, she received an appointment from President Biden to serve as North Dakota's state director of USDA Rural Development, a federal agency responsible for making financing and technical assistance accessible to rural and Tribal communities across the country. When not engaging in issues of importance and finding ways to make an impact, big or small, in her community, Erin enjoys a cold beer on the patio with friends, a cup of coffee with a stranger, live music and comedy, traveling, and being comfy at home in Bismarck with her husband, Chad, and their son and favorite human, Evin. In this episode, we cover: How Erin became involved in the legislative world (kind of by accident!) Why voucher schemes and school choice don't help our small towns How every single one of us has something we can offer and something we can do about the things we care about Resources Mentioned: https://www.ndforpublicschools.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ND4PublicSchools Think Again by Adam Grant Small-Town Shout-Out! Wahoo to the unincorporated community of Guelph, ND (just a stone's throw from Oakes) for showing that no town is too small to do big, cool things when people care. Two cool things we're highlighting: Off the "Sheulph" Guelph purchased the old school building, where they host markets throughout the year and rent out the historic wood gym for events, and a young couple transformed the old train depot into a beautiful Airbnb, giving visitors a reason to come and stay. Good job, Guelph!! New Segment Alert! We think some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're introducing two new parts to the show:  “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that.  If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!

04/24/25: Cally Musland, former Producer for "News and Views" and current Editor of North Dakota Living, is filling in for Joel Heitkamp. She's joined by the Executive Director of Humanities North Dakota, Brenna Gerhardt. Humanities North Dakota is an independent nonprofit agency, which provides free or low-cost, accessible meaningful classes and events for North Dakotans to pursue lifelong learning. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this vibrant, community-rooted episode of What's On Your Mind, Kevin Flynn takes the mic for Scott Hennen and brings listeners an energetic and down-to-earth morning show filled with local updates, inspiring community stories, and timely political commentary. From shoutouts to legendary entrepreneur Harold Hamm to a spontaneous town hall on downtown Fargo's evolution, this episode pulses with passion, perspective, and a healthy dose of humor. Kevin welcomes surprise guests Crystal Duker, Sammy and Katie from the Kilbourne Group, and even chats about twirly chairs and downtown housing over breakfast tacos. We meet fascinating locals like Mike Warner — retired farmer turned author and software entrepreneur — and explore how ordinary North Dakotans are doing extraordinary things. Meanwhile, listener calls and commentary dig into timely political issues like mayoral pay, carbon capture skepticism, and how energy policy ties into economic opportunity. From state pride to spirited debate, this episode keeps the mics hot and the community engaged.

HB 1540 was passed by the North Dakota Leglislature and is heading to Governor Armstrong. Erin Oban, North Dakotans for Public Schools, joins Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness to discuss how this might impact learners in our state.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

04/17/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined for his monthly conversation with the Governor of North Dakota and former Congressman, Kelly Armstrong. They talk about the North Dakota legislature, specifically where he stands on approval voting and public dollars supporting private schools. They also dive into national politics by addressing President Trump's tariffs and how they impact North Dakotans. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the wind!" Many a North Dakotan has lamented the state's well-known whirlwinds—and for good reason. North Dakota is relatively flat, with few natural formations to block the wind. So, it's no surprise that the weather has been a topic of interest in newspapers since the region became a state.

04/08/25: Joel Heitkamp is broadcasting from the Capitol to focus on a few bills that aim to put public dollars towards private schools. Erin Oban is a former State Senator from Bismarck and served as the state director of USDA Rural Development. She's now working with North Dakotans for Public Schools, to advocate against Senate Bill 2400 and House Bill 1540 that would use public dollars for private education. Learn more about their organization at ndforpublicschools.com (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I think we are for certain going to see another property tax measure if that's the version that we kick out." That's what Minot Republican Rep. Matt Ruby said of the watered-down version of Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax plan that the state Senate is currently backing. "I don't think that that measure failing by that amount was because people love paying property taxes," Ruby continued, referring to the Measure 4 proposal to abolish property taxes, which more than 60% of voters voted against last year. "If we don't have a stepped plan where eventually we get to the point where it's zeroed out as best as possible...we're going to be right back in this position fighting." Ruby also took questions about the failure of Attorney General Drew Wrigley's truth-in-sentencing legislation, and his decision to repudiate his vote in favor of a resolution opposing same-sex marriage. Also on this episode, Sen. John Hoeven talked about tariffs, trade, the Department of Government Efficiency, and impeaching judges. On that last, Hoeven called the push to impeach judges "concerning," saying it could threaten the independence of the judiciary, though he also said that there are things Congress can do to address practices such as judge shopping, or judges delaying infrastructure projects for years by allowing endless litigation. Hoeven also took questions about whether he'd hold town halls. "I do public meetings all over the state and people can come. I mean, everybody's got their own style in terms of a town hall, but these are public meetings and I've always done many of them all over the state and I'll continue to do them," he said. "I also come on and talk to guys like you. I answer questions to the press, to the radio. People can come in and see me. I have meetings. I work pretty hard on staying connected with uh North Dakotans, and I respect them, and it's an honor and a privilege to serve him." This episode is presented by North Dakotans for Public Schools. North Dakotans for Public Schools is dedicated to protecting and strengthening public education in North Dakota. United by the belief that public schools are the cornerstone of our communities; North Dakotans for Public Schools fights against harmful policies like voucher schemes that divert resources away from public schools. By bringing together educators, parents, school boards, and citizens; North Dakotans for Public Schools amplifies the voices of those who understand the critical role public schools play in shaping the future of North Dakota's children and communities. Learn more and get involved at www.NDforPublicSchools.com. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Guest host Jamie Selzler was joined by Erin Oban, discussing possibility of school vouchers coming to North Dakota. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MINOT — Our attitudes about health insurance shift, depending on the context we're in. When we're healthy and paying premiums, we want costs to be low. When we're sick or hurt or sitting alongside a family member suffering some malady, we want expansive coverage and not a lot of bureaucracy. Unfortunately, these things are in tension with one another; part of it is the process of prior authorization. What is that, specifically? "When a provider requests a procedure, a prescription, or anything like that, what they do is they request this through the insurance provider to make sure that it's covered," Sen. Scott Meyer said. That can sometimes be a lengthy process, taking days or weeks, which aren't happy days or weeks when a person is hurting. Sen. Meyer has sponsored Senate Bill 2280, which targets a specific type of insurance (self-funded policies) for regulation on prior authorization. "If we're going to be reviewing a prior authorization with the insurance company, it needs to be done by a physician rather than a business analyst, an algorithm or AI," Sen. Meyer said of his bill. "The people that ultimately get hurt in this, though, are the patients," added Andy Askew, who is the Vice President of Public Policy for Essentia Health and appeared alongside Sen. Meyer. "This is meant, again, to help these folks that need help, need care, and to get it in a timely manner." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discussed a Minnesota lawmaker backing legislation to define criticism of President Donald Trump as a mental illness (and his recent arrest for soliciting sex from a child), the progress on a book ban bill, the status of Gov. Kelly Armstrong's proposed property tax reform, and how my reporting ended up on a Court TV live stream. This episode is presented by North Dakotans for Public Schools. North Dakotans for Public Schools is dedicated to protecting and strengthening public education in North Dakota. United by the belief that public schools are the cornerstone of our communities; North Dakotans for Public Schools fights against harmful policies like voucher schemes that divert resources away from public schools. By bringing together educators, parents, school boards, and citizens; North Dakotans for Public Schools amplifies the voices of those who understand the critical role public schools play in shaping the future of North Dakota's children and communities. Learn more and get involved at www.NDforPublicSchools.com. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

It's no secret that the oil industry is central to North Dakota's economy. Still, it's surprising even for in-the-know citizens to look back at the remarkable growth of that industry over the last couple of decades. The North Dakota Petroleum Council routinely commissions studies into the economic impact of their industry, and the findings are eye-popping. The first study was conducted in 2005. "At that time, the oil and gas industry, we were producing 92,000 barrels of oil a day. We had 3,300 mostly tired oil wells from non-Bakken formations. We employed about 5,000 people," NDPC President Ron Ness said on this episode of Plain Talk. "Today we are a three $3.2 billion industry." "We employ 63,000 people," he continued. "We produce 1.2 million barrels of oil a day. "It's as you said, the rise has just been incredible." But what about the future? Ness says there are opportunities to find new avenues for growth that North Dakota must seize lest oil production and its attendant boons in terms of economic impacts and tax revenues ebb. "With the best technology in all the world focused on this resource, out of every 100 barrels of oil, we're still leaving 85 in the ground," he said. "If we can get another 15%, that's a doubling of the ultimate recovery, and it will add generations and generational wealth and opportunities for future North Dotans. Without that, we're going to we're going to deplete this resource." How do we seize this opportunity? "We're going to need massive amounts of CO2," Ness said, pointing out that the NDPC, along with partners at North Dakota's universities, have been pursuing enhanced oil recovery methods using carbon dioxide. "We've been studying enhanced oil recovery through the use of carbon dioxide since 20 3 with the [University of North Dakota Energy and Environment Research Center]," Ness said. "The uniqueness about carbon dioxide and what it does is it mobilizes new oil off the rock. You've got to keep that that pressure up in that reservoir. Natural gas will help that. It'll do some of that, but CO2, as proven by EERC in Bakken rock, will mobilize new oil." Also on this episode, Sen. Paul Thomas, a Republican from Velva, joined us to discuss the rural perspective on the property tax debate. One concern he has is that the focus of House Bill 1176, which was introduced by Rep. Mike Nathe and is supported by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, is exclusively on property tax relief for primary residences. Thomas argues that this could create a political unbalance that has the spending promoted by a majority of voters supported by a minority of farmers and business owners. "In many of the counties, agricultural land provides the majority of the tax base for that county," he said. "In certain communities, obviously if you go to you know Ward County or you go to Cass County with the larger cities, it's not going to be as high a percentage, but when you get out in the in the other rural counties, the agricultural land is providing a majority of the tax." HB1176 provides property $1,450 tax credits for primary residences. Thomas says he'd like to see that combined with House Bill 1168, sponsored by Rep. Scott Louser of Minot, which buys out school credits. The combo, Thomas argues, would deliver the direct and dramatic relief for homeowners that Gov. Armstrong has asked for while also delivering some relief to business owners and farmers. This episode is presented by North Dakotans for Public Schools. North Dakotans for Public Schools is dedicated to protecting and strengthening public education in North Dakota. United by the belief that public schools are the cornerstone of our communities; North Dakotans for Public Schools fights against harmful policies like voucher schemes that divert resources away from public schools. By bringing together educators, parents, school boards, and citizens; North Dakotans for Public Schools amplifies the voices of those who understand the critical role public schools play in shaping the future of North Dakota's children and communities. Learn more and get involved at www.NDforPublicSchools.com If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Clay sits down with Nolan Johnson, fellow North Dakotan and Listening to America's talented videographer and podcast editor. Nolan joined Clay with cameras and drone in hand at key points along Clay's 21,000-mile Travels with Charley journey in 2024. The two discuss plans for this year's Lewis and Clark trek from Monticello to Astoria, Oregon, and back again. Clay notes that following John Steinbeck's 1960 journey was relatively simple with only a dozen must-visit places on the Travels with Charley trail. With Lewis and Clark, things are much richer and more complicated. How can one pay respect to a river journey across the continent by driving along those rivers pulling an Airstream trailer? Nolan has his own history with the expedition's winter quarters at Fort Mandan in North Dakota and is excited to join Clay at Lewis and Clark sites across the country. Clay outlines his plan to get on each of the principal rivers of the 1804-1806 expedition, his goal to do a series of public events at Lewis and Clark interpretive centers, and his hope of making genuine discoveries along the way.

Comes now the time of year when North Dakotans of a certain age will tell you stories about the Blizzard of 1966. Which I myself, being not averse to storytelling, might do on a given day, but today I'm going to talk about the significance of this particular tale. It's a Lutheran question: What does this mean?

Unlock the power of community and innovation in rural North Dakota as Cally Peterson, editor of North Dakota Living Magazine, joins me, Jim Sabby, for a riveting exploration of Rural Electric Cooperatives. Listen to compelling stories of the brave farmers and ranchers who banded together to light up rural areas, overcoming harsh winters like that of 1977-78. This episode shines a spotlight on the enduring cooperative spirit, celebrating the unsung heroes who keep North Dakota's lights on against all odds.Explore the dynamic landscape of electricity in rural America, where demand is soaring with the advent of smart technologies and electric vehicles. Cally and I discuss the intricate challenges posed by the shift from traditional power sources to renewables. Despite the complexities, we bring promising news of how electric cooperatives are stepping up with strategic plans to meet future energy needs, ensuring continual reliability for rural North Dakotans.Step into the heart of rural communities, where the cooperative principle of concern for community thrives. Together with Cally, I highlight the integral role of cooperative employees and the charm of local museums that weave rich tales of North Dakota's past. We encourage active community engagement, inviting listeners to contribute to the vibrant tapestry that makes rural life unique. Join us in this celebration of community spirit and shared efforts that keep rural North Dakota flourishing.Follow at www.americalandauctioneer.com and on Instagram & FacebookContact the team at Pifer's

The first automobile in North Dakota sparked a wave of excitement when it appeared in Fargo in 1897, igniting the state's love affair with cars. In 1898, Samuel Holland's homemade steam-powered jalopy became the first car manufactured in the state. North Dakotans didn't wait for mass production; they started building their own vehicles. Some, like Holland, sold their creations, while others, like William Walton of Neche, built them for personal use. When Henry Ford's Model T hit the market in 1908, it sold for four hundred dollars—equivalent to about eleven thousand dollars today.

Lawmakers in Bismarck are considering a number of school choice bills which would, in various ways, make public dollars available for parents to use toward private school tuition. The most important one, perhaps, is Senate Bill 2400, introduced by Sen. Michelle Axtman, and it does a whole lot more than just fund school choice. As currently amended, it would create what's called education savings accounts, making at least $1,000 available for every student in North Dakota who attends a public school or is home-schooled. For students attending participating private schools, there would be $4,000 available per student for families making 300% of the federal poverty level or less, $2,000 for families making up to 500% of the poverty level, and $1,000 for everyone else. These funds could be used not just for tuition, but other things as well, like a STEM camp or tutoring, but there's a big price tag attached. The most recent fiscal note attached to the legislation estimates its cost at north of $200 million per two-year budget cycle. Sen. Axtman joined Plain Talk to discuss this legislation, including its cost, the impact it may have on funding for public schools, and the process through which North Dakotans would access these funds. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talked about the status of culture war bills in the Legislature, as well as Rep. Lori VanWinkle's vile comments about infertile women. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

02/11/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by North Dakota's Attorney General, Drew Wrigley. The Attorney General is urging North Dakotans to call/email your state senator and urge a yes vote on Senate Bill 2128 regarding transparent sentencing of criminal offenders. Joel also gets his take on Costco's DEI policy and the President's birthright citizenship executive order. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our promotions for this episode of Plain Talk, we had indicated that state Rep. Nico Rios would be joining us. Rios has made some fairly ugly headlines over the past year or so. He derated two law enforcement officers with bigoted and homophobic comments during an arrest for DUI. More recently, with regard to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, he wondered in an X post "if the CIA would help Trump overthrow and kick this Jew out of power in Mexico." He's also introduced a resolution, in the current legislative session in Bismarck, which would have the State of North Dakota "acknowledge the Kingship of Jesus Christ over all the world," something that likely violates the state constitution, the U.S. constitution, and would not be in keeping with what many North Dakotans -- those of the Jewish faith, or Islamic, etc. -- believe to be true. Me and my co-host, Chad Oban, were looking forward to a respectful interview with Rios about these words and actions. Unfortunately, just minutes before the agreed-upon time for the interview, Rios backed out. "Ay dude I'm not going on your boring little show," he told me in a text. "When I initially agreed to come on Sunday afternoon I thought it was just to promote my Christ is King Resolution, but you seem to be focusing on my social media. NOT NEWS. Got more important things to do than chat Capitol gossip." We did have a very good interview with state Rep. Mike Nathe, who spoke about his property tax bill (which carries Gov. Kelly Armstrong's plan for reform) as well as legislation he's backing that would require all candidates seeking a political party's nomination to collect signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Currently, candidates endorsed at party conventions do not have to collect signatures. "I'm just glad they got this one out so everyone can see it," he said of his property tax bill, which just emerged from the policy committee with a "do-pass" recommendation and some amendments. The committee added the option for local voters to approve a 10-year exemption from the budget caps promoted by Gov. Armstrong. It also lowered the amount of the primary residence tax credit by roughly $100, and added an income tax cut. "If it was my desire that would have been in a separate bill," he said of the income tax portion. Nathe also responded to some of the controversy around Rep. Rios. "I don't agree with it," he said of Rios's words and actions. "My colleagues don't agree with it." Asked if he felt his party should remove Rios from the caucus, and strip him of committee assignments, Nathe deferred to House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, though he did have this message for the people who elected Rios: "The people of Williston have got to stand up." This episode is presented by Dakota Resource Council. For nearly 50 years, DRC has worked across North Dakota to protect our land, water, and future. Become a member; volunteer and take action; or donate today at www.DRCinfo.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive  

Winter is a time for many to slow down and relax by visiting family and friends during the holidays. However, one group of people is not slowing down—they're just getting started. With the arrival of snow, ice, and wind, the dedicated workers who plan, coordinate, and remove the snow are hard at work, ensuring North Dakotans can continue their holidays and stay safe while traveling.

In North Dakota, game and fish officials have the authority to restrict bait hunting in order to protect animals from diseases like chronic wasting disease. And that's what they've been doing. When a case is found in the deer population, they ban the use of bait for hunting in an area 25 miles around it. This has a very vocal faction of the hunting community incensed. Many of them insist that chronic wasting disease is a hoax, or at the every least an exaggerated threat, and they want state officials stripped of the ability regulate bait hunting. There are three versions of bills to do that before lawmakers in Bismarck. Brock Wahl is a fifth-generation North Dakotan and chair of the North Dakota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers organization. On this episode of Plain Talk, he told co-host Chad Oban and I that while regulation of bait hunting hasn't been perfect, it is necessary, and it is protecting state deer populations from CWD. "It's undoutable that this is making a difference," he said. As for the opponents? "I think some of these folks are on a disinformation campaign." Wahl spoke at length about the history of prion diseases like CWD, or other maladies like so-called "mad cow disease, calling them "both vertical and horizontal" threats. Part of what he means by that is CWD can spread to other species. Is that a threat to livestock, which is an important part of North Dakota's economy? Wahl said he didn't want to exaggerate the threat. "I don't know that it's a significant concern," he said. But he argued it's like playing the lottery. The odds may be against it, but buy enough tickets, and eventually you'll have a winner. Wahl said that some opponents of baiting regulation invoke property rights, arguing that they should get to do what they want on their property, but Wahl pointed to Article XI, section 27 of the state constitution, which states, "Hunting, trapping, and fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage and will be forever preserved for the people and managed by law and regulation for the public good." The property may be privately owned, Wahl said, but the wildlife belongs to everyone. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss the debate over bills mandating the 10 commandments and the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools, the first hearing over Gov. Kelly Armstrong's property tax proposal, and the debate over the explosion in charitable gaming. This episode is presented by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation. ND Petroleum Foundation provides education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advances quality of life initiatives, and promotes and enhances the conservation heritage of North Dakota.    Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Professor E.F. Ladd was North Dakota's food commissioner. Known as a determined enforcer of the state's pure food and drug laws, Ladd was a determined watchdog for the safety of North Dakotans. In October 1911, he visited the Fargo branch of Armour and Company and requested to purchase three pounds of lard. Instead, he was sold a pail containing two pounds and six ounces. North Dakota's pure food and drug law required that containers of lard contain one, three, or five pounds, or a multiple of those weights, and not a fraction. As a result of Ladd's purchase, North Dakota took Armour and Company to court.

North Dakotans told a pollster in December they favor property tax reforms, universal free school lunches and increased public education funding as the Legislature is set to convene its 2025 session. Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, joins Joel Heitkamp to discuss the results of their poll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hard to remember why there was fear that the world might end on January 1, 2000, when we now know that nothing happened. During the late 1990s, computer programmers around the world worked hard to fix computer software to ensure that computers did not mistake the year 2000 for the year 1900, which could have caused infrastructure crashes. Despite reassurances from experts that nothing bad would happen, many people reacted in panic, hoarding supplies or foreseeing an apocalypse.

WDAY First News anchors Lisa Budeau, Scott Engen and Lydia Blume break down your regional news and weather for Monday, December 30, 2024. InForum Minute is produced by Forum Communications and brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. Visit https://www.inforum.com/subscribe to subscribe.

When state Rep. Eric Murphy decided to introduced an abortion bill that, while perhaps representing where most of the public is on the issue, is likely to incite blowback from activists on both sides, he decided he wasn't going to ask any of his fellow lawmakers to co-sponsor it. "This is going to be a charged bill," he said of the draft legislation, which he'll introduce next month during North Dakota's legislative session. He said he felt "no need to expose anyone" to the threats and vitriol the bill could inspire. Murphy joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss the proposal, which would make abortion legal as an elective for the first 15 weeks of of a pregnancy, illegal after 26 weeks, and allowable between 16 and 26 weeks only with approval from a panel of medical professionals who deem it medically necessary. Is Murphy's bill a pro-life bill? That side of the argument would probably say no, because abortion would be completely legal for the first 15 weeks. Is it a pro-choice bill? That side of the debate would likely say no, because abortion is restricted after 15 weeks, and completely banned after 26. But that middle ground between the two extremes on the issue is precisely where Murphy wants to be, and where he thinks most Americans, and most North Dakotans are. He told co-host Chad Oban and I that "we have to move away from the morality play" that the abortion issue is typically cast as. "Nobody is getting what they want," on this contentious issue, Murphy argued. He says it's time to start creating laws we can live with. Also on this episode, columnist Gary Emineth joined us to discuss property taxes. In a recent column, Emineth, who supported the constitutional amendment to abolish all taxes on property values which failed on the November ballot, argued for the Legislature to pass a somewhat narrower ban on property taxes, specifically removing them from only residential properties. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive    

North Dakotans were both alarmed and annoyed by a crime spree in 1925. People kept an eye out for anyone who looked suspicious. In November, thieves visited the turkey farm of A.L. Orange, just outside of Jamestown. When neighbors returning from town noticed a suspicious car parked by the farm, they acted. The car sped off at high speed, and the neighbors followed, resulting in a high-speed chase that reached fifty miles per hour. The chasers got close enough to obtain the license plate number and a description of the getaway car. They shared the information with law enforcement, but the thieves managed to escape with nine turkeys.

Heading into their 2025 legislative session, which starts in January, North Dakota lawmakers will consider dozens and dozens of bills dealing with property taxes. That makes sense because despite a ballot measure aimed at abolishing property taxes face planting on the statewide ballot, North Dakotans are not satisfied with the status quo. What property tax reform and relief will look like coming out of this legislative session is an open question, but Senate Majority Leader David Hogue told Chad Oban and me on this episode of Plain Talk that there is one certainty. "There will be caps," he said.  Which is to say, lawmakers will be capping property tax increases, though Hogue explained that how those caps will be structured will be an open debate. Will the caps apply to all local spending or only that funded by property taxes? Will the caps be a flat percentage or tied to inflation? We'll see, but after years of demuring on caps, won over, Hogue said, by the local control argument, the Legislature is ready to get it done. Hogue also spoke about steps the Legislature plans to take to strengthen its oversight role in policy. The majority leader says the plan is to move dozens of executive branch officials who evaluate policy to the legislative branch. Which makes sense. If the Legislature wants to measure the success or failure of a given policy, it might not make a lot of sense to get that analysis from someone working for an agency head who lobbied for the policy in the first place. This move is also aimed at addressing the challenges presented by term limits. Now that the legislature is going to see more turnover, by law, it's going to be losing some level of institutional knowledge. Moving these workers to the legislative branch serves as a buttress to that brain drain. Hogue also spoke to impending debates over state jail and prison populations and state-provided mental health services, including the push to build a new state hospital in Jamestown, which he said is far too expensive. Also on this episode, Oban and I discuss Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong's decision to appoint Democrat (and erstwhile Plain Talk gust host) Rep. Corey Mock to his administration, and provide some local analysis of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet choices. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy—leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Listen in as America’s most attractive audio engineer and her host talk life, death and taxes, dying, murder and survival, justice, morality and what your vote really means. North Dakotans are going to vote to end property taxes, (but there … Continue reading →

When it comes to the sounds of plants, wind through the conifers and the quaking of aspen leaves are often mentioned. But I suspect that for many North Dakotans, the rustling of cottonwood leaves are even more iconic and may evoke some vivid memories.

No doubt many North Dakotans hear a loud, gurgling call emanating from overhead during spring or fall, and look skyward in search of the source. After a bit of searching, you finally identify the source as a flock of large birds, way up there! If the flock is lower, long legs might be visible sticking out behind them. Ahh, the call of sandhill cranes!

Are the proponents of Measure 2 "elite and out of touch?" Are they "condescending" and "disrespectful" to the electorate? Or do they view North Dakota's initiated measure process -- particularly when it comes to amending the state constitution -- as flawed and needing reform? Measure 2 is a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the Legislature, which would prohibit people who aren't North Dakota residents from collecting petition signatures for initiated measures. It would limit measures to a single subject. And, for constitutional measures, it would raise the signature requirement from 4% to 5% of the state's population and require that those proposals be approved through two statewide votes: once on the June primary ballot and again on the November general election ballot. Ellie Shockley, a columnist for the Bismarck Tribune, joined this episode of Plain Talk to make the case against the proposal. It's her words that I'm quoting above. She views this proposed amendment as motivated by a desire among lawmakers to diminish the will of the people in making policy. Sen. Janne Myrdal, a Republican from Edinburg, also joined this episode, and she argued that it's become too easy for deep-pocketed, often out-of-state interests to hire professional signature gatherers (who themselves are often not North Dakotans) to force a vote on complicated policy proposals that aren't often explained well to the voters. This point-and-counterpoint conversation at times got heated, because it deals with some of the bedrock assumptions we make about our system of government. The political power in our republic ultimately comes from the people, but as a question of process, is legislating what are often complicated policy proposals at the ballot box where a distracted electorate, already asked to evaluate candidates for everything from weed control boards to president of the United States, really a good way to make sound policy? The Plain Talk Podcast is the voice of North Dakota politics. To subscribe, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or click here for more information.

For many, be they native North Dakotans, transplants, or those just passing through, it often takes some time to warm to the wide-open spaces of the North Dakota landscape. Although there is a lot of cropland, I suspect that for many people, the wide-open expanses of prairie are a large part of what calls people to love and appreciation of the landscape.

09/13/24: A state district judge struck down North Dakota's abortion ban yesterday, saying that the state constitution creates a “fundamental right” to access abortion before a fetus is viable. District Judge Romanick wrote in an order that the abortion law — one of the strictest in the country — was too vague. Meetra Mehdizadeh is a staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights. Prior to joining the Center, she worked as an agency attorney at the New York City Commission on Human Rights. She joins Joel on "News and Views" to talk about this important ruling for North Dakotans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The property tax is a good tax," Jared Walczak told Chad Oban and I on this episode of Plain Talk. "You may not love it, but you will not like the alternatives better." Walczak is the state projects director for the Tax Foundation, a right-of-center think tank that focuses on -- you guessed it -- tax policy. His organization recently published an article critical of Measure 4, a constitutional amendment that would prohibit taxes on property values. Walczak has also presented his group's arguments to state lawmakers. Walczak's argument is not that North Dakotan's shouldn't feel upset about their property taxes. "There's legitimate frustration," he said. The problem is that eliminating the property tax would produce "real economic upheaval" by shifting tax burdens from a tax that "has very little economic drag" to others, like income taxes or sales taxes, which do. Eliminating the billions collected locally in property taxes would mean replacing those revenues with tax dollars collected state wide. "You're talking about essentially doubling your other taxes at the state level," Walczak argued. "No one else has done this for pretty good reasons," he said, and he's not just talking about state governments in America. He said that no other country in the developed world has eliminated its property taxes. What should North Dakota do to address the genuine public consternation over property taxes? He says state policymakers should look at caps on how much locals can raise through property taxes, coupled with some pressure relief valves that would allow the taxing jurisdictions to exceed those caps in specific circumstances, like if the voters ok the increase on the ballot. Also on this episode, Chad and I discuss the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, including everything from Harris's facial expressions to Trump's blood libel attack on immigrants. The Plain Talk Podcast is the voice of North Dakota politics. To subscribe, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, or click here for more information.

When U.S. House candidates Julie Fedorchak (a Republican) and Trygve Hammer (a Democrat) sat down for a debate on the Plain Talk podcast with me and my co-host Chad Oban, one of the first questions I asked them was why they wanted to be elected to Congress. Hammer, a Marine Corps veteran, said it's because less than 80 of the current 435 members of the House of Representatives have served in the military. He also said he wants to promote an atmosphere where leaders talk to one another instead of past one another. Fedorchak wants to focus on issues like border security, "record high inflation," and energy policy. One of the last questions I asked them was about their top priorities if elected. Hammer said a new farm bill and the national debt, as well as "talking to North Dakotans continuously" and taking his cues from the people. For her answer, Fedorchak said constituent services, arguing that, even if progress on making policy is stalled, members of Congress can still "be a force" for individual North Dakotans. Our debate covered a myriad of issues, from campaign promises made by national candidates to eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security benefits (Fedorchak wouldn't commit to supporting either, Hammer said he supports both with some caveats), to the national debt, to civility in politics, to America's foreign policy in Ukraine and Gaza. One area where the candidates agreed very closely was the need for a new farm bill. Both acknowledged that American agriculture has been operating under an old and badly out-of-date farm bill. An area where the candidates disagreed sharply was on the issue of abortion. Asked about her support for a national abortion ban -- something presidential candidate Donald Trump has come out against -- Fedorchak described her position as wanting a national "gestational limit" on abortions after around 15 or 16 weeks, with exceptions for the life of the mother and rape or incest. This "would allow states within that framework to be a little stricter," she argued that it would put the United States in line with "every civilized country in the world." Hammer said he does not support a national abortion ban and argued that even state-level bans are often "unnecessarily cruel." He pointed to the failure of a pro-life ballot measure in 2014 as evidence that North Dakotans don't want government interference in the abortion issue "at any level." Our intent with the Plain Talk debates is to foster conversations where the candidates can compare and contrast with one another on the issues. As with our previous U.S. Senate debate between Democrat Katrina Christiansen and Republican incumbent Kevin Cramer, Hammer and Fedorchak engaged civilly, providing robust answers while disagreeing without being disagreeable. Want to follow Plain Talk and be kept up to date on all of these debates? Click here for an archive of past shows and for information on how to subscribe, or just search for the show wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.

In 1917, there were still North Dakota veterans who remembered serving in the Civil War. Their sons had stepped up in 1898 when the 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry set off to serve in the Philippines during the Spanish American War. Now, with America's entrance into World War I, it was again time for North Dakotans to serve their country. A number of them had seen service in the Philippines and volunteered again.

On this date in 1969, as many North Dakotans were sound asleep, a severe storm ripped through Ramsey county. Approximately six miles wide and nine miles long, the storm's path of damage started in the Webster area and moved southeast. Hailstones the size of hens eggs ripped through farms, with damage to buildings, equipment, and crops.

Election results are in for the North Dakota primary. Voters passed a ballot measure Tuesday that puts age limits on politicians from the state that hold federal office. Its passage adds a constitutional amendment that bars North Dakotans from being elected or appointed to Congress if they would reach their 81st birthday before the end of their term. For more on what we can learn from our neighbors in North Dakota, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Jared Hendrix, who led the charge to get this issue on the ballot with the group Retire Congress North Dakota.

MPR News is tracking severe weather across the state. Our chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joined us at the top of the hour with the latest weather updates. The Minneapolis Public Schools school board president broke down the district budget cuts passed last night.On Wednesday, North Dakotans voted to set an age limit for people who can run for Congress in their state. We spoke with the person who helped get the measure on the ballot. PWHL Minnesota is embroiled in controversy. A hockey reporter shared what he thinks is happening behind closed doors. A new photography studio is making sure LGBTQ+ folks feel comfortable in front of the camera. And a new coffee shop is hoping to be a third space for Muslim youth in Minnesota.