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.

The added interview with Berglund begins at 5:53.

Keli Berglund (image provided by https://www.veterans.nd.gov/heroes/keli-berglund)

In this episode, we discuss the recent measles outbreak in North Dakota, marking the state's first cases in over a decade. Journalist Michael Standaert shares insights on the timely reporting done by the North Dakota News Cooperative, detailing the rapid spread of the disease and the significant role declining vaccination rates have played. We explore the outbreak's origins, current status, and efforts to mitigate further spread, including the response of local health officials and the rising vaccine hesitancy since the COVID-19 pandemic. This important story underscores the critical nature of in-depth journalism in keeping communities informed about public health crises.

Federal funding cuts are putting pressure on key institutions in North Dakota. In this episode, host Sabrina Halvorson talks with NDNC reporter Michael Standaert about how these cuts could impact the state library and major research universities. Programs like interlibrary loans, online databases, and services for people with reading impairments are at risk. At UND and NDSU, canceled CDC and NIH grants threaten ongoing and future research. This episode explores the growing uncertainty, the financial fallout, and how communities are responding.

Listen to the Backstory, then read the full article here.

In this episode, hosts Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert delve into the anxieties local veterans are facing regarding proposed staffing cuts at the VA, which could potentially affect as many as 72,000 positions nationwide. The discussion includes insights from various veterans, who express fears about longer wait times and diminished care quality. Despite reassurances from the VA, veterans remain skeptical about how these cuts will affect their care.

In this episode, hosts Sabrina Halvorson and Michael Standaert unpack what it means to be a “humanitarian parolee” in the U.S.—specifically focusing on Ukrainian immigrants in North Dakota under the “United for Ukraine” program. They break down how humanitarian parole differs from refugee status, why these distinctions matter, and what’s at stake as parolees face an uncertain legal future. The conversation also looks at how national attitudes toward Ukraine are shifting and what it could mean economically for local communities if these newcomers are forced to leave.

In this episode of The Backstory podcast by the North Dakota News Cooperative, CEO Sabrina Halvorson and lead reporter Michael Standaert delve into the effects of President Donald Trump's trade wars on North Dakota's $41 billion agricultural economy. The discussion highlights concerns and uncertainties faced by local farmers and agricultural leaders regarding tariffs and trade barriers, including insights from farmers and state farm leaders.