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The 69th Legislative Assembly has come to an end! Please help us improve our newsletter with your feedback! If you would like to have something added to the newsletter, email us at laura.dronen@demnpl.com. Spread the word about our newsletter by sharing our sign-up link today: https://demnpl.com/join-our-newsletter/.
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District 8 Social & Community Picnic
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Sun, Jun 1, 1:00pm-4:00pm CDT
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Sons of Norway Park
1500 ND-810, Bismarck, ND 58504
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Come join us for a fun-filled day at the Sons of Norway Park in Bismarc! Our Community Potluck event is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and enjoy delicious homemade dishes. The park is located at 1502 E Bismarck Expy, so pack your favorite dish and come on down! Let's share some food, stories, and laughter together. See you there!
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Virtual Town Hall with Rep. Jamie Raskin
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Tue, Jun 3, 7:30pm-8:00pm CDT
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Join the North Dakota Democratic-NPL and the Oklahoma Democratic Party for an evening of conversation with Congressman Jamie Raskin!
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Cass County Democratic-NPL Policy Meeting
1325 23rd St S, Suite B, Fargo, ND 58103
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Our monthly meeting which includes representatives from the 11 Legislative Districts in Cass County, elected Legislators and staff.
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Walk with D24 in the Valley City Community Days parade
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Sat, Jun 14, 9:00am-11:00am CDT
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District 24 Headquarters
200 Central Ave N, Valley City, ND 58072
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Come walk with District 24 in the Valley City Community Days Parade! Meet at headquarters at 9:00 a.m. to prepare and line up for the parade that begins at 10:00 a.m
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NO KINGS - FARGO - MOORHEAD
In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings. KICK OUT THE CLOWNS. KICK OUT THE CLOWNS (Women's March) and NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.
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🚨On Saturday, June 14, we’re taking to the streets nationwide. We’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind.🚨
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The flag doesn’t belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to us. We’re not watching history happen. We’re making it. NO KINGS - KICK OUT THE CLOWNS.
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On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings. Check out nokings.org for more information.
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A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.
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Fargo City Hall 225 4th St N
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Town Square Grand Forks, 1 S 3rd St
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Bismarck State Capitol Grounds, North 6th Street & East Boulevard Avenue
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Dickinson 3rd Ave West/Hwy 22 (in front of Prairie Hills Mall east entrance), Dickinson
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Minot City Hall, 10 3rd Ave SW
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Walk with D24 in the Lisbon Happy Days
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Sat, Jun 21, 3:45pm-5:30pm CDT
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District 24 Headquarters
200 Central Ave N, Valley City, ND 58072
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Meet at 500 8th Ave East at 3:45 p.m. to prepare for the parade that begins at 4:30 p.m.
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Executive Committee Meeting
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The Executive Committee Meeting for the State Democratic-NPL Party.
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Each Third Monday of the Month
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For more information, contact Adam Goldwyn at adam.goldwyn@demnpl.com
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Community & Ice Cream in the Park
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Thu, Jun 26, 5:00pm-8:00pm CDT
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Lindenwood Park
1905 Roger Maris Dr, Fargo, ND 58103
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Join us for Community and Ice Cream at Lindenwood Park on Thursday, June 26th. Drop in anytime between 5pm and 8pm for free ice cream! Then feel free to stay a bit to chat with your fellow D11 neighbors, senator, and representatives. Find us at the Main Shelter, further into the park, next to the green playground.
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Bring yourself, a neighbor, family, or a friend (from any district). Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there!
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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Federal cuts affect regional food access; more uncertainty to come
In 2024, the food bank served 151,000 people in North Dakota and Clay County. About one-third of those served are children; 16% are seniors, Njos said.
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“These are vulnerable populations that don’t have a lot of options if they’re hungry,” Njos said. “You don’t want them worrying about where to get their next meal.”
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AmeriCorps cuts hit rural North Dakota schools, communities
This week on The Backstory from the North Dakota News Cooperative, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with reporter Michael Standaert about his latest article uncovering the impact of federal funding cuts to AmeriCorps programs in rural North Dakota.
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Standaert shares what he learned from educators and community members who relied on AmeriCorps support, particularly in small towns where one volunteer could make the difference between a functioning daycare or afterschool program and none at all. From paraprofessionals improving math scores in Elgin/New Leipzig schools to vital staffing support in Cooperstown, the ripple effects of these cuts are already being felt.
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They also break down the reporting process, what it takes to track down stories like this, and why it’s important to shine a light on programs that many take for granted.
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The unseen roles AmeriCorps members fill in rural communities
Why some programs were more effective, and more vulnerable, than others
The challenges of covering cuts with little government transparency
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House Republicans voted for a budget that cuts vital programs
In the middle of the night, North Dakota Rep. Julie Fedorchak voted for a budget that will bring hardship and worse to many working families in North Dakota.
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In a time where working families are struggling to pay for the basics of food, housing, childcare, health care and prescriptions, Republicans in the House voted against helping working families on these basic issues. Instead, House Republicans voted for a budget that cuts vital programs to pay for Trump's tax breaks for a few super wealthy families.
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Jeff Lassle talks about how court ruling on Trump tariffs impact him
Joel Heitkamp is joined by Jeff Lassle from South Dakota for a conversation on President Trump's tariffs. A federal court ruled in favor of a permanent injunction that would block the global tariffs President Trump announced on “Liberation Day,” citing emergency economic powers. The ruling will also prevent Trump from enforcing the tariffs he placed on imports from Canada, China and Mexico earlier this year.
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Jeff is the President and Chief Executive Officer of NexEra Materials Group, LLC based out of South Dakota. NexEra, the manufacturer of Cem-Rock planned to break ground on two new manufacturing facilities—one in Rapid City, SD, and another in Waycross, GA, but he's changed his mind on it.
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“Misinformation and a mischaracterization”: North Dakota law enforcement upset with sanctuary jurisdiction accusation
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The North Dakota Sherrif’s and Deputies Association are speaking up against accusations from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that several mostly rural North Dakota counties are actually sanctuary jurisdictions for illegal immigrants.
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DHS posted their list of sanctuary cities and counties this week. In North Dakota the list consists of Billings County, Golden Valley County, Grant County, Morton County, Ramsey County, Sioux County, and Slope County.
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Podcast: Interview with Keli Berglund on VA Cuts
In this episode, we expand on an earlier Backstory discussion with reporter Michael Standaert with an additional guest. Keli Berglund, the former Department Commander for Disabled American Veterans in North Dakota and current mayor of Lincoln, joins us to discuss the critical challenges faced by veterans in accessing healthcare, especially in rural areas. She highlights the impact of potential funding cuts on the VA’s administrative staff and how it could increase wait times and reduce the quality of care for veterans. Bergland emphasizes the importance of telehealth and mobile clinics in serving rural veterans and urges the community to voice their concerns to protect these essential services.
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North Dakota tribes ask circuit judges for rehearing of voting rights case
“Turtle Mountain fought hard for a fair and legal map. When the state draws unlawful districts, Courts must step in to protect voters — not pave the way for injustice,” Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Chairman Jamie Azure said in a statement published by the Campaign Legal Center, one of the organizations representing the plaintiffs in the suit. “We will continue to fight for fair representation.”
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Future of Kevin O’Leary-backed Wonder Fund ‘up in the air’ due to anti-DEI order
But new directives put in place by the second Trump administration have cast some doubt on the program’s future, according to O’Leary Ventures partner Matt Scalise.
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“It’s a little bit up in the air whether or not the program will continue,” Scalise told The Forum. “I think most likely it will, but it was one of the programs that the Trump administration tried to shut down because there’s a DEI aspect to it.”
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Letter: Medicaid services can be lifelines to some
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Last month was Autism Awareness Month. But awareness without action is meaningless. Real awareness means protecting the systems that allow people like me to thrive. These programs aren’t optional; they’re essential.
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I urge North Dakota’s elected officials to reject these cuts. And to my fellow citizens: speak up. These supports are lifelines. Let’s make sure they stay that way.
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Letter: Urgent attention required! NPWRC in Jamestown has been drafted for closure
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center is a world-renowned research center in existence for more than 60 years. The people at NPWRC conduct research on ecology, wildlife, and habitat that provides critical information for wildlife and public land management agencies both locally and around the world. We all depend on this scientific community to establish hunting regulations, monitor wildlife populations, monitor native and non-native plant species, and find solutions to environmental questions. The people that make up NPRWRC are quiet heroes that are friends, neighbors, and an important part of our community.
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Burdick Job Corps waiting for direction amid news of nationwide pause
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We wanted to know if—and how—this would affect the Job Corps campus in Minot.
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Burdick Job Corps in Minot told us they are still waiting to hear from its contractors about the impacts on their campus.
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The Minot location has been around for three decades.
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Check out these messages from national Democrats
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The MAHA Report Cites Studies That Don’t Exist
Epidemiologist Katherine Keyes is listed in the MAHA report as the first author of a study on anxiety in adolescents. When NOTUS reached out to her this week, she was surprised to hear of the citation. She does study mental health and substance use, she said. But she didn’t write the paper listed.
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“The paper cited is not a real paper that I or my colleagues were involved with,” Keyes told NOTUS via email. “We’ve certainly done research on this topic, but did not publish a paper in JAMA Pediatrics on this topic with that co-author group, or with that title.”
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‘Well, we all are going to die’: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst defends Medicaid cuts at heated town hall
At a sometimes raucous town hall meeting Friday morning, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst faced vocal opposition to her support for spending cuts to programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.
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Like many other Republican lawmakers holding events with constituents throughout the country, Ernst faced a crowd at the Aplington-Parkersburg High School who were upset with decisions made by President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress — particularly as they relate to funding for health care and food assistance programs included in the “big, beautiful” budget reconciliation bill that narrowly passed the U.S. House earlier in May.
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Trump administration knew most Venezuelans deported from Texas to a Salvadoran prison had no U.S. convictions
Colmenares was not flagged as having a criminal history in the DHS data we obtained. Nor did we find any U.S. or foreign convictions or charges in our review. Trejo said her brother stayed out of trouble and has no criminal record in Venezuela either. She described his expulsion as a U.S.-government-sponsored kidnapping.
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“It’s been so difficult. Even talking about what happened is hard for me,” said Trejo, who has scoured the internet for videos and photos of her brother in the Salvadoran prison. “Many nights I can’t sleep because I’m so anxious.”
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Memorial Day Special: We Talked to Veterans
Many rural veterans join the Hot Dish for this special Memorial Day episode. Marine Corps Infantryman and North Dakota Army National Guard First Sergeant Bradley Aune discusses issues veterans face when rejoining civilian life. North Dakota Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Jessica Petrick offers her perspective on what Memorial Day means to her. And One Country Project board member and former Senator and Member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, Joe Donnelly, leads a discussion with Brigadier General Art Austin, Master General Frank Morales, and Staff Sergeant Sean Coulter about their experience with VA services.
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On this Memorial Day week, gain a deeper understanding of what it means to transition from military to civilian life and how vital public programs and support systems are for veterans. Hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp emphasize the need for collective action and listening to veterans’ voices to improve systems meant to serve them. This episode will remind us all of the ongoing cost of service, the importance of advocating for continued funding, and the strength found in rural communities as they support their own.
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Exodus of USDA veterinarians and others drives fears that U.S. farms are at risk
As part of the overhaul, USDA allowed more than 15,000 employees — close to 15% of its workforce — to resign with pay and benefits through September.
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Those departures have led to new concerns for Randle, including whether the federal government will be able to respond quickly in a crisis. She's been told that many of USDA's Area Veterinarians in Charge, who get the first call whenever a pest or disease is detected on a farm, have resigned, including the one assigned to New England.
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With avian flu likely to return with the fall bird migration, and other diseases including New World screwworm and African swine fever creeping ever closer to the U.S., Randle knows U.S. farmers and ranchers, along with the U.S. food supply, could be at risk.
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Trump nominates official with ties to antisemitic extremists to lead ethics agency
The Trump Administration recently promoted Kingsley Wilson to the role of Pentagon press secretary over the objection of the American Jewish Committee, which said Wilson was "unfit" for government service, because she shared "antisemitic conspiracy theories lifted right out of the neo-Nazi playbook." The White House has justified the attempted deportation of international students and the withholding of billions of dollars in funding to universities as parts of a plan to combat antisemitic hate.
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‘My stomach just dropped’: foreign students in panicked limbo as Trump cancels visa interviews
The changes have left many international students who are planning to come to the US for the 2025-2026 academic year scrambling and in limbo.
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Cropley said that he paid all of the application fees for the US visa including the last administrative fee last week to schedule his visa interview, but he has been unable to schedule it or reach anyone at the US embassy.
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“I was looking forward to Kansas. I love America, the wildlife, the culture,” Cropley said
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A court halted his deportation. The Trump administration deported him 28 minutes later.
Matthew Borowski, a lawyer for Melgar-Salmeron, told POLITICO that he intends to ask the court to order the government to return his client from El Salvador and to hold government officials in contempt.
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In court papers this week, officials blamed a “confluence of administrative errors,” including missed emails and an inaccurate roster of passengers on the May 7 deportation flight. The Justice Department declined to comment, and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.
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Trump & Elon’s Most Unhinged Press Conference Yet
Sam Stein and Will Sommer break down the surreal Trump–Elon press conference that covered Elon's ketamine allegations, strange gifts, DOGE's "accomplishments," and an awkward farewell that raised more questions than answers.
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The Century Club supports our year-round work to build party infrastructure supporting candidate recruitment, local district and regional leadership, issue-based education, and tools for Dem-NPL success.
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Help us elect great Democrats up and down the ballot!
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The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is launching a new grassroots program called “Neighbor to Neighbor” where volunteers will connect with voters in your community to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for connecting with voters in 25 homes in your neighborhood or friends and family to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot about 3-4 times this year.
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Grassroots organizers are the lifeblood of the Dem-NPL! Sign up to volunteer with the Dem-NPL!
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