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For the first time ever, the Republican Party will be holding a midterm national convention, which President Trump annou...
09/01/2026

For the first time ever, the Republican Party will be holding a midterm national convention, which President Trump announced will be held September 9th–10th in Dallas, Texas. Unlike the traditional Republican National Convention, which is held every four years to nominate a presidential candidate, this event is being held during a midterm election year, something the GOP has never done before.

Republicans from across America will gather in Dallas this September to unite, celebrate their successes, and build momentum for victory in November. This is a historic moment for the GOP!

The Republican Party holds the White House, the House, and the Senate. Now, for the first time ever, they will be gathering for a National Midterm Convention. The momentum is real!

The goals are clear:

-Energize Republican voters heading into the November midterm elections.

-Highlight the Trump administration's policies and accomplishments.

-Bring together candidates, elected officials, grassroots activists, and Republican supporters from across the country.

-Focus national attention on key House and Senate races that will determine the future of the country.

Fargo has an $879,000 budget problem!Fargo's Finance Committee is struggling to close an $879,000 gap in the proposed ci...
08/30/2026

Fargo has an $879,000 budget problem!

Fargo's Finance Committee is struggling to close an $879,000 gap in the proposed city budget.

And when there's not enough money to pay for everything, the city has to make some choices.

What should Fargo prioritize?

More police officers and public safety?

Essential core city services?

Roads, infrastructure, and basic maintenance?

Or should hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars continue going to outside social-service and arts organizations?

The Finance Committee is currently looking at cutting approximately $440,000 in social service programs, while also discussing additional police officers, employee pay adjustments, and other spending increases.

At the same time, Fargo residents are being asked to absorb higher costs in other areas, including proposed utility increases.

When the city has an $879,000 hole to fill, the answer shouldn't automatically be “find more money from taxpayers.”

A public hearing is scheduled for September 14th, where community members can provide input. What are your thoughts on these budget concerns?

We haven't said much yet about the October 6th special election about Fargo's proposal to move to a ward-style system of...
08/28/2026

We haven't said much yet about the October 6th special election about Fargo's proposal to move to a ward-style system of government. Over the next five weeks, we will dig into this issue a little more.

For now, we believe everyone should ask themselves one important question and come up with their own answer:

Which is more important:

What is best for Fargo?

Or

What is best for my neighborhood?

Do we want Fargo commissioners thinking about what is best for Fargo or what is best for their ward?

We are 5 days away from the North Dakota Special Session which starts September 2nd.6 out of 20 bills that were introduc...
08/27/2026

We are 5 days away from the North Dakota Special Session which starts September 2nd.

6 out of 20 bills that were introduced have passed legislative management and will now be heard during the North Dakota Special Session which begins on September 2nd and allowing for public testimony on September 1st.

Below is a list of the 6 bills that were advanced, along with a brief description of what each bill would do:

Kratom Regulation:
Would allow kratom sales under a new state regulatory system, including 21+ sales, product requirements, retailer licensing, product registration and criminal penalties for violations.

Kratom Synthetic Derivatives:
A much more restrictive approach. Certain high-potency and synthetic kratom derivatives would be classified as Schedule I controlled substances, rather than simply being regulated as kratom products.

Data Center Non-Disclosure:
Would increase transparency around major data-center projects by restricting government officials from promising developers secrecy regarding negotiations and potential community impacts.

Data Center Moratorium:
Would essentially put a statewide pause on new data-center permits until July 1, 2027.

Heritage Center Line of Credit:
Would provide the Military Museum project with access to up to $35 million in state-backed financing, allowing construction to continue while fundraising catches up.

Primary Residence Credit:
Would change how the Primary Residence Credit is applied, requiring the 5% early-payment property tax discount to be applied first, while also providing $13 million in additional state funding for the credit.

Thank You, NDSU! Let's give a huge shout out to NDSU!Fargo First is very proud of NDSU for installing the new Reflection...
08/25/2026

Thank You, NDSU! Let's give a huge shout out to NDSU!

Fargo First is very proud of NDSU for installing the new Reflection Room at NDSU’s Offerdahl Hall!

This space provides students and staff with a quiet place for prayer, reflection, meditation, or simply a moment of peace. People of faith should never feel that they have to hide their beliefs or be excluded from public spaces.

No matter what religion you are, everyone should have the freedom to pray.

So, thank you NDSU for providing a space where students can reflect and pray.

“The freedom to pray should never end when you walk through the doors of a university.”

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” — Matthew 18:20

Farmers upstream of the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion may face the possibility of crop losses and financial impacts caused by...
08/23/2026

Farmers upstream of the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion may face the possibility of crop losses and financial impacts caused by the FM Diversion Project.

Now, there may finally be some relief.

A proposed Crop Loss Program could be included in the upcoming Farm Bill to provide compensation for upstream producers impacted by the Diversion.

The Diversion have always come with potential consequences, and many of those consequences may fall on landowners and farmers outside the city.

So, based on the current proposal:

-Upstream farmers/producers would be the potential recipients of compensation if Diversion operations damage crops or prevent planting.
-The Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Authority would administer the program.
-This $25 million program is proposed to come from the $100 million federal funding, not a newly announced special assessment district.
-The overall Diversion project itself is funded through a mix of federal, state and local sources, with local funding including sales taxes.

If the Diversion causes your land to flood or your crops to be lost, who should be responsible for that loss?

This is an important issue to watch as Congress works on the Farm Bill.

The expected cost of Fargo-Moorhead's Diversion has gone from an estimated $2.2 billion project to roughly a $3.2 billion project with some expecting costs to reach as much as $9 billion.

A few months back, more than 1,000 people gathered at 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn, New York for a drag parody fundraiser c...
08/21/2026

A few months back, more than 1,000 people gathered at 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn, New York for a drag parody fundraiser called “I Want You for Turning Point U.S. Gay NYC.”

The event raised more than $25,000 for the ACLU and featured performers impersonating and mocking conservative figures connected to the MAGA movement. The opening included a performance titled “We Are Charlie Kirk,” with a performer portraying Erika Kirk and then moved on to a portrayal of Charlie Kirk.

"Love Thy Neighbor."
"Choose Love Over Hate."
"Be Kind."
"Hate Has No Home Here."
"Everyone Deserves Dignity and Respect."
"Inclusion Means Everyone."

Unless you're Charlie Kirk?

The irony is almost too perfect. They demand that everyone respect their identity while they figure out if they are male or female.

"RESPECT MY IDENTITY EVEN THOUGH I DON"T KNOW WHAT A WOMAN IS!"

"ACCEPT ME, BUT DON"T YOU DARE ASK ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT I AM ASKING YOU TO RESPECT!"

"I DEMAND AGREEMENT BUT I CALL EVERY QUESTION HATE!"

"WE PROTEST VIOLENCE BUT THEN MOCK IT AT OUR FESTIVALS!"

"WE LECTURE SOCIETY ABOUT HUMAN DIGNITY BUT PROTEST THE RIGHT TO KILL HUMAN BABIES!"

On Monday, the North Dakota Legislative Management Committee heard testimony from state legislators attempting to introd...
08/19/2026

On Monday, the North Dakota Legislative Management Committee heard testimony from state legislators attempting to introduce bills and resolutions during the special session that begins September 2nd.

One of the most controversial proposals being considered goes back to a 1983 shootout in Medina, ND, that killed two U.S. deputy marshals, Kenneth Muir of Fargo and Robert Cheshire of Bismarck.

This deserves the attention of every North Dakotan.

State Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, asked the North Dakota Legislature to urge President Donald Trump to grant clemency to Scott Faul and Yorie Kahl, two men serving life sentences for their roles in this 1983 Medina shootout that left the two U.S. Marshals dead.

On February 13, 1983, federal marshals attempted to arrest Gordon Kahl(the father of Yorie Kahl) near Medina. A gunfight erupted.

U.S. Marshals Robert Cheshire and Kenneth Muir were killed. Other law-enforcement officers were wounded.

Faul and Yorie Kahl were subsequently convicted in connection with the killings and other offenses. They were sentenced to life imprisonment plus 15 years and have now spent more than 43 years in federal custody.

Now Magrum wants the Legislature to formally ask President Trump to grant them clemency.

It means asking the President to provide relief from their federal sentences — potentially reducing their punishment and allowing them to be released. It does not mean declaring them innocent or overturning their convictions.

Magrum argues that the men have served enough time and deserve another chance. Both have previously been denied parole.

But North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley has come out strongly against the proposal, arguing that it ignores the brutality of the crimes and the victims, including the two federal officers who lost their lives.

One lawmaker, Rep Zachary Ista, Democrat from Grand Forks, took offense to the testimony from Magnum, and even said "I can see a sheriff in the room with their blood boiling. This was a very offensive testimony."

This resolution was considered by Legislative Management as lawmakers prepare for the upcoming special session. The question isn't whether these men have spent a long time in prison.

The question is whether the North Dakota Legislature should formally ask the President of the United States to grant clemency to two men convicted in the deaths of two federal law-enforcement officers.

What do you think?

Should North Dakota lawmakers support Sen. Magrum's resolution — or should they leave the decision to the federal parole and clemency process?

This bill did not move forward to the special session but will more than likely be brought up at the regular session in January.

So this just happened:Former Mayor Tim Mahoney has been approved for the Fargo-Cass Public Health Officer position under...
08/17/2026

So this just happened:

Former Mayor Tim Mahoney has been approved for the Fargo-Cass Public Health Officer position under a five-year contract.

At tonight’s Fargo City Commission meeting, Public Health Director Jenn Faul made a request for approval from the commission to accept Dr. Timothy Mahoney as Health Officer at Fargo Cass Public Health. Tim Mahoney will now take over for Dr. Jessie Lindeman, who has returned to her private practice.

If the proposed agreement calls for approximately 16 hours of work per month at $3,600 per month, that works out to roughly:

$43,200 per year

The five-year agreement calls for Mahoney to serve as the Health Officer, who enforces the public health laws, regulations, and ordinances within Fargo and Cass County relating to preservation of life and health of individuals.

This item was originally on the consent agenda(consent agenda items are often overlooked by the public) but was moved to the regular agenda by Commissioner Turnberg. Commissioner Turnberg and Peterson made a motion to have this discussion tabled until the next commission meeting, but were outvoted 3-2.

If this is ultimately a $200+/hour position, plus additional compensation for media interviews, don't taxpayers have every right to ask why it wasn't presented as a standalone item for public discussion?

There is a lot of chatter right now about why the City of Fargo and the Fargo Police Department haven't publicly apologi...
08/17/2026

There is a lot of chatter right now about why the City of Fargo and the Fargo Police Department haven't publicly apologized to Angela Lipps.

For anyone who may have missed this story: Angela Lipps is the Tennessee woman who spent nearly six months in jail after being wrongly identified by Fargo investigators as a suspect in a bank-fraud case. She had never even been to North Dakota. Her charges were eventually dismissed after evidence showed she was in Tennessee when the crimes occurred.

We understand why people are asking.

But there is something important the public needs to understand: this situation is now a potential legal matter.

The Fargo City Commission has already met in executive session many times to receive legal advice regarding potential litigation involving Angela Lipps. The city has also acknowledged that it is complying with preservation requests related to potential litigation. More than likely, all of Fargo city staff have been told until this case is resolved, that they are not discuss the matter publicly or on social media.

So while people may want an immediate public apology, the reality is that the city and its attorneys have a legal process to navigate.

We are not lawyers, and we are not claiming to know exactly what instructions have been given to every city employee or police officer. But it is entirely reasonable to expect that, with potential litigation hanging over the city, public statements about this case are being carefully controlled.

And that is why we probably shouldn't expect a lot of answers from the City of Fargo or Fargo Police right now.

In fact, the police chief has already publicly acknowledged investigative errors. But when asked why he had not personally apologized to Angela Lipps, the response was that the matter remained active.

That tells us something.

There may come a point when this legal matter is resolved, and the city can speak much more openly. At that point, the public may not hear a formal apology, an explanation of what went wrong, or potentially a negotiated resolution.

There is also the possibility that any eventual settlement could contain confidentiality provisions that limit what either side can publicly discuss. We don't know if that will happen—and we're not saying it will.

And until that process is resolved, don't expect the City of Fargo or the Fargo Police Department to say everything the public may want to hear.

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