The Backstory from the North Dakota News Cooperative

What was it like to cover one of the biggest events North Dakota has seen in years? In this episode of Backstory, NDNC reporter Michael Standaert takes listeners behind the scenes of the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, including President Donald Trump's visit, the intense security, and the atmosphere throughout the community. "I think Medora was a special place be...

North Dakota hit the big leagues of agricultural innovation, but it's stayed quiet until now. In this episode of The Backstory, Sabrina Halvorson talks with reporter Michael Standaert about how North Dakota quietly secured a position as one of the nation’s premier agricultural technology hubs through a massive federal initiative. Listen now:   Standaert discusses the National Science Foundation’s...

In this episode of The Backstory, Sabrina Halvorson talks with Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension Food and Nutrition Specialist, about the programs helping North Dakotans learn more about food, movement and health at every age. Garden-Robinson discusses Extension’s Field to Fork program, On the Move to Better Health, Nourish, youth health programs, and the work being done to update nutrition cu...

A federal push for rural wellness is underway, aiming to tackle state health concerns and get North Dakotans moving. In this episode of The Backstory, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with reporter Michael Standaert about his latest article on the Rural Health Transformation Program and the "Make North Dakota Healthy Again" initiative. The conversation highlights how federal funding is being used for...

Why do so many men struggle in silence before reaching out for help? In this episode of The Backstory, Melissa Markegard, Suicide Prevention Administrator for North Dakota Health and Human Services, discusses the factors that can increase suicide risk, the warning signs friends and family should recognize, and the role communities can play in supporting mental health before a crisis develops. "We...

The latest North Dakota Poll takes a closer look at how residents are responding to major national issues and reveals some notable divides across the state. In this episode of The Backstory, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with reporter Michael Standaert about the latest North Dakota Poll results, which examine presidential approval ratings along with opinions on issues such as the war in Iran, immig...

Rising fertilizer and fuel costs are creating ripple effects across North Dakota’s economy, reaching far beyond the farm. In this episode of The Backstory, reporter Michael Standaert’s latest story looks at how global disruptions, tariffs, and supply chain uncertainty are driving up agricultural costs at a critical time in the planting season. Sabrina Halvorson speaks with economist John Bitzan of...

Family caregiving across North Dakota often happens quietly, but its impact is anything but small. In this episode of The Backstory, Michael Standaert discusses his reporting on family caregivers and the enormous role they play in helping loved ones remain at home. The conversation centers on new data that puts a dollar value on work that many families simply consider part of daily life, even as i...

The Bakken oil boom reshaped western North Dakota in ways that are still unfolding today, from strained housing and schools to long-term questions about water safety and community stability. In this episode of The Backstory, Michael Standaert discusses his reporting on a new book by Sebastian Braun, Bearing the Burden of the Booms: Energy Extraction, Communities and Landscapes on the Plains. Drawi...

What happens when you put farmers, ranchers, and ag leaders in a room and just listen? In this episode of The Backstory, North Dakota News Cooperative CEO Sabrina Halvorson shares what she heard after organizing a four-hour agricultural roundtable at NDSU’s Peltier Center, where producers spoke candidly about the pressures shaping their work and way of life. Reporter Michael Standaert documented t...

New diversion and reentry programs aimed at steering some low-level cases away from the courts are beginning to take shape in North Dakota after a slow rollout. In this episode of The Backstory, reporter Michael Standaert discusses his reporting on two bills passed during the last legislative session. One created pilot diversion programs designed to steer some low-level cases away from the traditi...

In this episode of The Backstory, North Dakota News Cooperative CEO Sabrina Halvorson speaks with Allison Olimb, editor of the Walsh County Press in Park River. Olimb discusses how she first became interested in journalism, the influence of mentors who helped shape her career, and what it means to report on the people and issues in a small rural community where the stories you cover involve neighb...

New national nutrition guidelines are pushing schools to serve healthier meals, but the changes require more than simply updating a menu. In this episode of The Backstory, reporter Michael Standaert explains how new federal school meal standards are affecting districts across North Dakota. The updated rules emphasize reducing sodium and sugar while increasing the use of whole and minimally process...

In this episode of The Backstory, NDNC reporter Michael Standaert tells us how a long-lost World War II sailor from North Dakota may finally be identified and returned home more than 80 years after his death.    the work of retired Marine Ted Darcy, who has dedicated years to identifying unknown World War II service members. Darcy reached out to NDNC with information suggesting that the remains of...

Many of North Dakota’s longtime newspaper publishers are turning a page as they prepare for what comes next. In this episode of The Backstory, NDNA Executive Director Cecile Wehrman joins us to talk about ownership transitions, workforce challenges and what it will take to sustain strong local newspapers across the state. Wehrman shares what she’s hearing from publishers across the state, includin...

A new statewide study offers a rare, data-driven look at the health of North Dakota’s local newspapers and what may be required to keep them alive. In this episode of The Backstory, NDNC reporter Michael Standaert discusses his reporting on a two-year research project examining the state’s newspaper ecosystem. The study surveyed publishers, journalists, and news consumers, and took a close look at...

Concern over immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota is rippling beyond state lines, raising questions about how communities in North Dakota are responding, and whether similar fears could take hold closer to home. In this episode of The Backstory, NDNC reporter Michael Standaert talks with host Sabrina Halvorson about his reporting on how faith leaders in North Dakota and Minnesota are navig...

A new biography examines the life and long career of North Dakota’s longest-serving Supreme Court chief justice, tracing how decades of public service shaped both the man and the court he led. In this episode of The Backstory, NDNC reporter Michael Standaert discusses his reporting on former Chief Justice Jerry VandeWalle, whose 65-year career in state government included 45 years on the North Dak...

While North Dakota’s overall economy remains relatively strong, recent polling shows that rising costs are affecting residents unevenly. In this episode of The Backstory, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with NDNC reporter Michael Standaert about what the data reveals, how inflation is being felt differently across the state, and why methodology matters when interpreting poll results. Michael explains...

How electricity prices are determined is often less visible than other parts of the energy system, but they’re shaped by a mix of infrastructure, demand, and long-term planning. In this episode, we take a closer look at how those forces interact in North Dakota and what they mean for future energy costs. Reporter Michael Standaert explains how electricity rates are influenced by infrastructure upg...

Artificial intelligence is entering North Dakota classrooms, and while some educators see new opportunities, some are struggling to keep pace with the fast-moving technology. In this episode, reporter Michael Standaert joins Sabrina Halvorson to break down how schools are navigating AI use, what guidance exists at the state level, and where the biggest challenges are emerging. Standaert explains h...

North Dakota’s first major winter storm has arrived, and while many families are settling into the holiday season, others are facing a harsher reality: rising evictions, limited shelter space, and growing housing insecurity. In this episode, reporter Michael Standaert joins Sabrina to break down the shifting landscape of homelessness services and the renewed effort to address it statewide. Standae...

In this episode of The Backstory, host Sabrina Halvorson and NDNC lead reporter Michael Standaert discuss his recent reporting on childcare in North Dakota. Michael outlines what he heard from parents, providers and community leaders about the ongoing difficulties many families face in finding reliable, affordable care. He highlights the innovative program at the James Valley Career & Technolo...

This week on a special edition of The Backstory, host Sabrina Halvorson takes listeners behind the scenes to explore how the North Dakota News Cooperative came to be. She sits down with NDNC board co-chair Steve Andrist, one of the organization’s original founders and a lifelong champion of local journalism. In their conversation, Andrist reflects on the changing landscape of the news industry, th...

Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert discuss NDNC’s latest story examining how a proposed $100,000 fee for H-1B visas could impact schools, hospitals, and universities across North Dakota. From tribal districts that rely on international teachers to rural schools already struggling to fill classrooms, the added cost could worsen a statewide teacher shortage. The episode also explores related fe...