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Judge denies Greenpeace request to investigate mailer critical of DAPL protests • North Dakota Monitor

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Judge denies Greenpeace request to investigate mailer critical of DAPL protests • North Dakota Monitor


A judge has denied a request by environmental group Greenpeace to gather evidence on a right-wing, pro-fossil fuel mailer that may have targeted potential jurors in its legal battle with Energy Transfer, the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Some Morton County residents in October reported receiving a 12-page direct mailer called “Central ND News” containing material complimentary of Energy Transfer as well as stories that highlighted criminal activity by anti-Dakota Access Pipeline protesters. 

Greenpeace is one of many activist groups that backed the demonstrations in 2016 and 2017. Protesters camped in rural south-central North Dakota for months in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which says the pipeline is a tribal sovereignty and environmental threat.

Energy Transfer filed suit against Greenpeace in Morton County District Court in 2019, accusing the group of coordinating a misinformation campaign against the company and of engaging in criminal acts during the demonstrations.

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Greenpeace seeks court permission to research mailer critical of DAPL protests

The pipeline developer seeks tens of millions of dollars in damages from Greenpeace.

Greenpeace says its role in the protests was limited, that it did not spread misinformation about Energy Transfer and that it never participated in or endorsed criminal activity. The case is scheduled for trial before a nine-person jury beginning in February.

In court documents, Greenpeace expressed concerns that the direct mailer was written specifically to give Energy Transfer the upper hand when the suit goes to trial. It requested permission from Southwest Judicial District Court Judge James Gion to conduct discovery into a Texas company that printed and distributed the Central ND News.

“We should have the right to figure out who sent it, when they did and why,” Everett Jack, an attorney representing Greenpeace, said in a hearing in December.

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Energy Transfer has disputed this claim, arguing there’s no meaningful evidence the mailer was intended to prejudice the jury. Trey Cox, representing the pipeline developer, last month called Greenpeace’s motion a “thinly veiled attempt” to delay the trial and move the case to a different court.

In a Dec. 17 order, Gion seemed to agree with Greenpeace that the mailer may have been an effort to sway jurors.

“The Court takes an extremely dim view of attempts to influence a jury panel before the trial,” he wrote.

Still, the judge found it would not be appropriate to approve the discovery request without further evidence the mailer has had a measurable impact on the jury pool.

“There is only one way to determine if such an attempt is successful, and unfortunately the Court agrees with Energy Transfer that way is through the jury questionnaires and jury selection,” he wrote in the order. “If the Court cannot empanel a jury in Morton County, there will obviously be a delay in the trial and the Court can revisit this issue at that time.”

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The direct mailer resembles a print newspaper. Its distribution in Morton County residents was first reported in a joint article by the North Dakota News Cooperative and climate news publication Floodlight. The article identifies the owner of the publication as Metric Media, which has launched hundreds of conservative-leaning local news outlets that rely heavily on algorithmically generated content.

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Bids awarded for construction of Highway 85

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Bids awarded for construction of Highway 85


WATFORD CITY, N.D. (KUMV) – The North Dakota Department of Transportation awarded more than 150 million dollars in bids to continue expanding highway 85 south of Watford City.

More than $83.8 million will go to Park Construction out of Minneapolis for one segment. It covers about five and a half miles south of the Long X Bridge, going through another section of the badlands. It’s expected to be a three-year project due to the rough terrain.

The next segment covers 12 and a half miles south from the badlands to the highway 200 intersection. The winning bid went to Strata out of Grand Forks for $61.7 million. It will be a two-year project.

Funding for these projects were provided by both the state and federal government.

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Griffin’s 18 lead Western Illinois past North Dakota 69-66 in OT – WTOP News

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Griffin’s 18 lead Western Illinois past North Dakota 69-66 in OT – WTOP News


GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Isaiah Griffin had 18 points in Western Illinois’ 69-66 overtime win against North Dakota on…

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Isaiah Griffin had 18 points in Western Illinois’ 69-66 overtime win against North Dakota on Saturday.

Griffin had three steals for the Leathernecks (4-7). Karyiek Dixon scored 17 points while shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line and added 18 rebounds. Lucas Lorenzen shot 3 for 13 (1 for 9 from 3-point range) and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points.

Eli King led the way for the Fightin’ Hawks (4-9) with 13 points, two steals and four blocks. Greyson Uelmen added 13 points for North Dakota. Garrett Anderson had 11 points and six rebounds.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.



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Community rescues grieving North Dakota widow — by harvesting their late pal’s 1,400 acres of crops

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Community rescues grieving North Dakota widow — by harvesting their late pal’s 1,400 acres of crops


In North Dakota, farmers aren’t neighbors — they’re family.

When a sudden car crash tragically took the life of a beloved community member, the goodhearted folks of Antler came together to carry out one final act of kindness: they harvested his crops.

Randy Fyllesvold was killed in September, and his grieving widow, Kharra, and their two sons were left reeling, in no condition to deal with the 1,400 acres of corn and soybeans still in the fields surrounding their home.

Randy Fyllesvold, seen here with his wife Kharra, was killed in September. Kharra Fyllesvold/Facebook

That’s when the close-knit community stepped in.

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Two of Randy’s pals — Wyatt Thompson and Andy Gates — decided to organize a large-scale harvest of their late pal’s crops.

First, they put out a call for help.

And the people answered. In a flash, more than 75 volunteers from surrounding communities were rolling onto the farm on 12 combines, in 40 trucks, all loaded with other equipment — along with willing hands.

They worked together like a well-oiled machine, and the massive effort was locked up in just a couple days.

Kharra said being among so many people harvesting her husband’s final crop was “nothing short of breathtaking” and she feels blessed to be the recipient of so much love and support in such a harrowing time.

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The tiny North Dakota community banded together to help the family bring in the harvest. Kharra Fyllesvold/Facebook

But they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“To know Randy was to love Randy,” said buddy Wyatt Thompson told local station KFYR. “..The reach that he had was kind of endless.”

Kharra said she’ll never forget what they did for her.

More than 75 volunteers stepped up to help bring in the harvest. Kharra Fyllesvold/Facebook

“As I stood in the shop and looked around before the final Randy Fyllesvold corn harvest started, I was flooded with memories we created with all of you,” she wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post.

“The day was full of emotion, but I found so much peace in watching it unfold … but from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I will always remember this and Randy would be so proud.

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“God Bless all of you and the boys and I love each and every one of you. 12 combines, 7 grain carts, over 40 trucks all for you Randy.

“I know you are smiling down.”



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